Victoria

The Case For More Home Inspections

Building surveyors are calling on Victoria’s state government to mandate balcony inspections. This follows the tragic balcony collapse in Doncaster East in late 2017. Sadly, two people died and many others were injured, according to The Age. In ...
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Depreciation - A Most Valuable Deduction

Looking to claim? For property owners, depreciation is the gift that keeps on giving and another reason to talk with the professionals at Jim’s Building Inspections. To wit, investors deduct the amount of income-producing assets in decline over the...
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Why Rental Safety Inspections Matter

“When Jonathan’s family rented a home they began experiencing recurring headaches,” reports news.com.au. “Then they made a shocking discovery.” It turns out that Jonathan and even his children were victims of dangerous traces of crystal ...
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10 Horrifying Traps a (Good) House Inspector Might Find

Number One: Asbestos. Enough said. Number Two: Termites. In a word: EVIL. Number Three: Fire hazards. Wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy. Number Four: Faulty smoke alarms. It’s a thing. Number Five: Ghosts. Okay, kidding. Okay, ma...
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Smoke 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...
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Beware Of Unqualified Building Inspections

How to avoid unqualified building inspections? In a Fairfax article, Chris Dyce, president of the Australian Society of Building Consultants, says go with experienced building inspectors. Make sure they’ve work experience in the industry and don’...
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Is your house cracking up?

Is your house cracking up? A long, spidery vein is inching its way across the dining room wall. It seems to be spreading even as you stare at it! You’re sure it wasn’t there yesterday! So what does this mean and how can it be fixed? Don’t...
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Asbestos In The News

Think asbestos is old news – and not relevant in today’s society? Think again. Here’s one of many asbestos-related news stories. From the Western Advocate: WORK on Bathurst Tennis Centre’s new $800,000 clubhouse has come to a halt after...
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Building? Here Are Mark Campbell's Lessons Learned

“My rationale for building new was threefold,” writes Mark Campbell, a working-class Aussie. “Firstly, it enabled me to have control over the end product and it made sense from an investment perspective because I could maximise depreciation and...
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What does Domestic Building Insurance means to Builder or an Owner Builder in Victoria.

Whether you are a homeowner who is using a Builder or an Owner Builder, it is mandatory to get a domestic building insurance. If you undertake domestic building work worth more than $16,000, then you need domestic building insurance. Furthermore,...
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