It costs a lot! You could consider getting an asbestos remover to remove only the affected panels and replacing them yourself with fibre cement sheeting (it looks the same but contains no asbestos).Also, if you were to carry out repairs, asbestos sheeting that is intact and stable should present no particular hazard, however, when the sheeting is…[Read more]

Auction houses like Fowles are a good source as long as you know a) what you're looking for, and b) what the stuff is worth. No use buying stuff just because it's cheap. Most major cities run auction adds in the Saturday papers.

Valuers are not immune to the benefits of good design!So, if a place "feels" bigger and more open this must affect their opinions – at least subconsciously.Adding a deck or other features that improve the flow or the usefulness of a property can surely benefit the property. I guess the trick is to know where to spend the money for best effect.

It does vary in different states, but it's great location specific design advice!In Victoria, for example, double garages should generally be 6m x 6m, but there are also different rules for uncovered, covered and enclosed vehicle spaces. And moreover, different rules for car spaces depending on access.

alanak80 wrote:
looking at subdividing and putting a new house behind existing house.anyone know the implications of subdividing when the house is mortgaged. as effectively you are takihng value away from first house with the subdivision???

When the sub-division has been completed, and new titles are issued, you will have created "new"…[Read more]

Cashwalton,It seems from your posts that you intend to act as "project manager" for your project – and this is a good way to save money – but also means you need to know what you are doing.In order to know what you are doing you need not understand every detail of every part of the project, but you must understand the process so that you don't get…[Read more]

Hi Teds01,You can do one of two things to find a definitive answer:1. Go to the town planning department of your local council and ask them.2. Have an architect or planner assess the proposal for you.The town planners are on staff to answer questions, however, they don't always give the straightest answer so if your proposal is "borderline" in…[Read more]

Plenty can be done with a 10m wide allotment!Get in touch with a planner or architect and assess your options.Ryan seems to know his stuff, maybe he can help?

Hi Frugal,Let's get straight to the nitty gritty here!If the works you are proposing are not structural and do not exceed $12,000 in value, you will generally not require building approval for the works.However, if you are changing the use of the building (in this case by adding a bedroom) then you may be required to obtain planning approval for…[Read more]

Hi Cath,Good luck with your search for the property that's right for you. I have heard good and bad about buyer's agents, and would suggest that regardless of whether you use one or not, don't take short cuts on doing your own research to establish what you want and where you want it. This will ultimately make the job easier.I sourced several…[Read more]

YoungInvestor wrote:
Hi Christian, Have you had any experience with banks in terms of pre-sales to related entities? Generally pre-sales will only be classified as such if you have 10% cash deposits and the sales are to non-related parties. Now there are of course variations to this, but these terms will give you the least problems with your…[Read more]

propertyboy wrote:
Looking at purchasing a 2 bedroom terrace home.I know that they have heritage overlays on themBut, are there any hidden costs/things I should be looking at that the real estate agent may not tell me about?Is it true that all though there are no body corporate fees you have to paint the front fence and facade every year to meet…[Read more]

You'll get plenty of feedback on this topic!For me, West Heidelberg and Seaford.There's also plenty of other great posts on this elsewhere on the forum.

propertyboy wrote:
I am looking to purchase a warehouse in West Melbourne to live in for residential purposes.What is the deal with these properties? What should I be looking out for? What are the disadvantages/advantages?1. Could there be contamination issues?2. Title issues?3. Heritage overlays? Can you demolish and build a new house on…[Read more]

Given that the PPOR is CGT exempt, and the goal you've outlined is singular and clear, I reckon I would think about a 7 year plan to purchase, upgrade (renovate) and sell every 1.5 – 2 years. Buying and selling costs could be a burden, but at least it would provide a simple path. A more complex twist might be to do something similar, but instead…[Read more]

There's nothing wrong with shopping a few quotes. There are different types of valuations, the most common (and the most expensive) is a valuation for mortgage purposes – this is what a bank relies on.

When buying off plan you are ultimately relying on the strength of the documentation to describe exactly what you are buying. So the first piece of advice is to understand that documentation. If you're not familiar with plans, elevations, specifications and the like then find someone who will look over them for you and explain anything you may not…[Read more]

therock1 wrote:
What CGT will i be up for if i subdivide and sell off the vacant block off the land  but still keep the existing IP on the other block? (QLD)

I'm not an accountant, however I have done this myself and found it's rarely that simple, but all else equal you should pay CGT on the value of the land at the time of sale. The value of…[Read more]

In my experience there is nothing precluding you from getting your own valuation done. I have found that if you prepare properly researched, well presented "valuation support" documentation your valuer will be happy to use this as a reference. Make sure of course that the valuer you engage prepares a "valuation for mortgage purposes" and that they…[Read more]

dnh83 wrote:
Hi All,Just wondering if anyone can recommend some decent Property Development/Sub-Division Software ??I want to be able to design Site Plans, put together Block Layout Proposals, etc as well as do the internal designs for houses needing renovations and also design new dwellings from scratch…I know its a bit of an ask, especially…[Read more]