Hi Duckster
My accountant told me that a kitchen was a capital cost and was subject to the building write off (2.5%); even an oven if it was built in was depreciated at 2.5%. but a freestanding stove, dishwasher etc all came in under the fixture/prime cost depreciation of varying amounts. Can you clarify, as I been doing my sums thinking that new…[Read more]

Hi SMTM
Agents that try to plug north facing blocks are just jumping on the energy efficiency wagon without knowing their stuff. I am in Vic and am also an accredited rater, so the general principle is as follows…
The arc that the sun follows from dawn (when it rises in the east) to dusk (when it sets in the west) leans north. This arc is higher…[Read more]

Originally posted by Johno11:
Thanks Julie. I appreciate your reply. it was very detailed and helpful. If this happens to be the case then the project will still come in at well over 210k which is still 30-40k above budget.

The other option I am considering is going owner builder. Is there a book or website somewhere that i can look at to see if…[Read more]

Hi Carmelian
There is a new website launching on 27/2/07 which is advertised on page 7 of the latest API mag. It is called ‘NMD Data’ and will exclusively list National Mortgagee and Deceased Estate data. http://www.nmddata.com.au.

Hope that helps

Julie

Hi Milly
I would suggest that measure out the rough size that you want to build your deck (is it roofed?). I would ring a draftsman and ask for a quote to prepare the drawings for you; some price by the area of drawing and others charge by the hour. Make sure you get it in writing and make sure you understand when extra charges may be invoiced to…[Read more]

Originally posted by Johno11:
Hi everyone,

I am currenlty at the construction phase of a my project and have been getting quotes from builders that I feel are very exorbitant.

I am building a 14sq single story brick unit with two garages (one for front house & one dor rear unit) 3 square each. That works out to be about 20sq in total. The…[Read more]

Hi Krautcan
We have just put on hold some land to build one or two homes for that age bracket also (in Mildura). I wanted to build something very low maintainance but I also have noticed that many retirees these days (for all you early retiring property tycoons I mean elderly retirees) like to travel and often have their own caravans etc. I asked…[Read more]

Hi FITH
Someone has to have experienced the ‘hindenburg’ before others thought to check the exits and make sure they took a parachute! We are all here learning from the experience of others thus to avoid a mistake of hindenburg proportions! I bet all the people that witnessed that disaster told enough stories about it to ensure that it was never…[Read more]

Hi Fox
Love your sayings..lol. But I would suggest that it is better to have four forks in one pie than no pie at all.

If cannot afford to do it alone and you set it up properly with provisions for people to get out of the deal in the future, then go for it. Even if it is disbanded in the future, you will still end up with more than what you…[Read more]

Hi Matt,
I don’t know of any builders in Sydney, but we have been referred work from our local building inspector on several occasions, so I would suggest that if no-one can help with a referral that your mate rings a local building inspector and asks them for 2-3 names of good quality tradesman for the type of job he has. A building inspector…[Read more]

Hi RG
I will leave the cf+ advice to the experts as I cannot help in that department yet, but I may with the asbestos.
Regardless of whether a home is regional or metropolitan, if a home is over 20 years old chances are any eave sheets, fibro lining (internal or external), cement sheet weatherboards/roofs/downpipes and more will contain asbestos…[Read more]

Seeing as no-one with more experience has replied I will throw in my advice as a builder with some smaller scale experience.
For roads (in most regional areas) we speak to the local council, they usually provide this service (as they assume the responsibility after the development is taken over in the case of a subdivision). You could speak to…[Read more]

Hi Wayne
I was curious about all the different theories that people had on why they feel the reeds go up or down. I came across this website which not only offers another reason which I never would have factored into the debate, but also answers the fixing question you had and whether (or why) you would seal all ends. I noticed they placed…[Read more]

Sorry Guys, I just found out the the auction for Clovelly Ave was this morning. Sold for $273k. [blush2]

Julie Fisher
Daryl Fisher Homes

Hi All
I have been researching Adelaide suburbs for about 4 months now as an alternative to Mildura where I live. There was an auction, if anyone was interested, today or over the weekend for a very old house (large and could be modified) with future development potential – 800 sq mt in Clovelly st Christies beach it was offers over $175k but that…[Read more]

Hi Michael
I understand what you are saying but it sounds like you are presuming that we build set plans when we build a house. We are custom builders so every house we have built is unique/different; we have never built the same plan twice. If what you are saying is correct then, most custom builders (as opposed to the large companies with their…[Read more]

Happy Birthday Richard
I was going to make an effort and get that stuff off to you today; but now I’m not so sure that your advice will be much chop!!!![wacko] or [inlove]. So Daryl and myself hope you have a nice dinner

Regards Julie
Daryl Fisher Homes

I don’t think that as a rule you can buy a cash flow + property. I think you have to create it. You may be able to buy something as close to land value as possible – it will be a dump which is why it will be cheap. Do your due diligence. Tart the dump up with some good old fashioned hard yakka (or employ someone else to do it for you) new fence,…[Read more]

I can sympathize with the crazy by-laws some councils have. We have 4 large dogs (2 on their way out and 2 up and comers) on an acre, but we do have neighbors and fences so we are very mindful of how much noise they make. I view my dogs as a preventative security measure. Our dogs have beautiful temperaments (althought strangers wouldn’t know…[Read more]

In Victoria the zones are allocated by the state government but those decisions could be made with some influence by the individual councils when they need to free up some land for specific purposes. We bought a PPOR on an acre with the intention of selling off the back half to pay for renovations on the front half (as the agent said we could).…[Read more]