Brisbane North

1. Start early

Your best intentions for all of those old belongings go out the window when it comes to crunch time. If possible start six to eight weeks early so you have to declutter responsibly. If you have to rush, you’ll be tempted to cut corners.

2. Sell used belongings

Before you move, take the time to simplify your life. eBay auctions generally take about a week to run, and there are smartphone apps that make listing very easy.

You’ll still need a few weeks to get everything listed, and handed over to the new owners. Gumtree is another good place to list your items.

3. Give items away

Donate unwanted items to friends, relatives or charity. If you can’t think of someone who wants an item, then Freecycle is a website that helps to match up your used belongings with a good home. You’d be amazed at some of the things that people want to take off of your hands.

4. Discard stuff

Everything that your removalist moves for you costs money, and burns petrol. If you have not used an item for a year, think very hard about letting it go.

5. Rent your boxes

Plastic boxes can be rented for the period of your move, for less than buying cardboard boxes. Even if cardboard boxes are reused (which many aren’t), they can usually only be reused three to four times. Plastic moving boxes can be reused many hundreds of times, before being finally recycled and made into new boxes.

6. Reuse packing materials

In Sydney around 300,000 people move each year. No matter where you live, there’s a good chance you’ll know someone moving, and you can give them your packing paper and bubble wrap.  If you don’t know someone moving, list the packing materials on freecycle and they will be snapped up very quickly.

7. Use what you’ve got

When packing up breakable items, use t-shirts, socks, pillows and blankets to help protect them. This not only minimises excess packing material waste, but it consolidates your belongings into less boxes (and saves you buying extra packing materials).

8. Put everything in a box

Saving by using less boxes is tempting, but when you are using removalists, time is money, and every time one of them takes a trip out to the truck with a loose item, they waste a few minutes. Those minutes add up.

Making sure everything is packed and labeled in a box ensures that the process is efficient, at both ends of the move, and your belongings will be more secure.

9. Green clean

Before handing over the keys to your old home, you will need to ensure that it’s thoroughly cleaned. Put together a small cleaning kit that you can carry easily. The bulk of your cleaning supplies will be boxed up, but if you plan ahead, you can ensure that the cleaners you use are biodegradable and non-toxic. Also consider using rags (from some of those old clothes) to save on paper towel waste.

10. Buy used items

Once you arrive at your new home, it’s likely you’ll need a few pieces of furniture. Consider the environment and check back on freecycle or eBay before heading off to Ikea. You could help out someone moving getting rid of items they no longer need.

Source : www.realestate.com.au (13 March 2013)

It may seem one of the more tedious aspects of buying yourself a home, but building inspections are a godsend. It’s surprising how many people don’t think about getting a pre-purchase building inspection or even contemplate forgoing one for the sake of saving a few hundred dollars. Others believe skimping on a building report will speed up the buying process, but as you’ll see below, an inspection is essential for a number of key reasons.

1. Checking for structural issues

A structurally sound building is a must when you’re making a purchase because of safety issues and cost concerns. Structural weaknesses can cause collapses that may injure a person, but there’s also the possibility that the structural issue will be nearly impossible to repair without major construction. Buildings must also conform to the Building Codes and Standards of Australia. If you purchase a home or commercial building that does not conform to these standards, you will be responsible for the cost of bringing the building up to code. Getting a pre-purchase building inspection done can help you avoid purchasing a building with major structural issues – saving you major financial and emotional heartache down the track.

2. Budgeting for repairs

You may feel it’s worthwhile to purchase a building that needs some repairs because it is available for a discounted price, but going into the sale without an inspection could mean big costs for hidden repair issues. If you opt for a pre-purchase building inspection, you know exactly what needs to be done to bring the building up to where you’d like it to be. Then you can look at hiring a professional to give estimates on the repairs that need to be done to complete an accurate budget for repair costs. For renovations, inspections are a cost saver and a life saver.

3. Electrical wiring and smoke alarms

New house, good. Smoke and fire, very bad. Faulty electrical wiring can make for a dangerous situation that could increase the risk of electrocution or fire. Not having enough smoke alarms installed increases the likelihood of injury or death in the event of a fire, so invest in a building inspection to avoid serious injury related to electrical wiring issues or fire. Many homes built post war around Wavell Heights, Albion and Wooloowin require further diligence to ensure appropriate Safety Switches are installed. Especially in homes that have house the same occupants since being built!

4. Identifying unsafe areas of a home

If you’re buying a home for your family, you want to be sure the home is safe and ready for you to live in. A pre-purchase building inspection will reveal any areas of the home that may be deemed unsafe, in particular, the presence of asbestos and other dangerous materials, missing or loose balustrades and cracks in walls. Uncovering such hazards gives you the opportunity to decide if you are willing to take on the cost of making the home safe.

5. Evaluating sundry structures

The building itself is not the only part of a property that may need the keen eye of a building inspector. Did you know sundry structures including sheds and patios also have to be examined? Local council regulations (and they vary from shire to shire) often dictate where these structures can be built, and purchasing a building that does not conform with these regulations can mean tearing down a building which may have been one of the reasons you decided to purchase the property in the first place. Opting out of a pre purchase building inspection may seem tempting on the surface when you think you can save a few hundred dollars, but making sure the building you are purchasing is safe, requires no expensive repairs and conforms with council regulations is absolutely essential. Inspecting could stop you making the biggest financial mistake of your life – it’s a very small price to pay.

Source : www.realestate.com.au (13 March 2013)