The first signs that a home could have rotten or sinking stumps
If you are buying your dream home or investment property, it should be remembered that if the property is showing signs of stump damage, it is important to get a professional building consultant to have a look at your property. A house may appear q...
Read moreHow To Avoid Renovation Traps
Renovations done right can pay off. Literally. That said there are some serious traps to avoid.
Potential problems from wiring to asbestos issues often come up especially in older houses, so it’s important to seek professional help. Jim’s Buil...
Read moreProperty Styling - the Melbourne stats
Property Styling, Melbourne, works.
If you were considering property styling in Melbourne as part of your sale campaign, you can now rest easy knowing that every dollar invested in property styling is likely to return over $1900 to your back pocket ...
Read moreSmoke Alarms - America's Move May Trigger Australian Action
It’s an important topic. Will moves in the United States regarding smoke alarms trigger a debate here?
The dirt: As the ABC reported, new US smoke alarm laws look likely to drive ionisation alarms out of business – and an American expert has b...
Read moreCommon defects found in homes
Are you buying a home or investment property? Here are some of the common defects that our building inspectors in homes.
Termite damage
The advantages of getting a vendor report before putting your house on the market. Termite damage was found ...
Read moreAsbestos Imports - A Health Concern
If you follow the news, you’ll be aware that Chinese companies have been exporting asbestos products to Australia. But did you know that they’re not alone?
There’s a long list of countries exporting products with asbestos to Australia. They ...
Read moreBlacklists For Potential Tenants? You Betcha!
Yes.
Blacklisting tenants is a thing and may not be talked about because of shame-related issues.
According to the ABC, a person can be blacklisted without even being aware. His or her name in such a case will pop up on tenancy databases meanin...
Read moreWhat Does Jim Know About Building Inspections Anyway?
ACTUALLY, QUITE A BIT MORE THAN WE EVER REALISED!
We recently discovered that Jim Penman’s dad was a forensic engineer.
From an early age Jim’s father was investigating materials, structures and their components which failed o...
Read moreProperty Depreciation - Some Questions
Q: What’s property depreciation all about?
A: In a nutshell, depreciation is a tax deduction when your property’s value declines. The result: Less tax, more money in your pocket.
Q: Where can I find professional help?
A: Jim’s Buildi...
Read moreThe D-Word: Time To Talk Depreciation
Sad fact: Many Australian rental property owners are failing to correctly calculate depreciation.
“I have often seen clients who have owned investment properties for five, six or seven years and have never claimed any form of depreciation becaus...
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