Didn't dispute the thermal properties of tiles Simon, I am a accredited HER for FirstRate so I am well aware on that. The comment was just stipulating that in 'very cold winters'  tiles are cold. Not even a north facing aspect could make my tiles comfortable before 10 am in the winter! And by then most of us are already up, at work or at school. And then it is even colder in my non-north facing bathroom which doesn't have a window big enough to allow the tiles to heat up is cold every morning, every winter. I was being general not making a blanket statement as I am trying to spare everyone from my usual long posts.

If I was setting up from scratch with polished concrete or tiles on slab I would install in-slab heating element for just the bathroom areas; I am sure you can buy the kits now and an electrician can install. If you live up north then cold tiles/polished concrete isn't a big deal…it's probably a relief some days.

Good luck.

Julie Fisher

Daryl Fisher Homes.

Mark
We used to do alot of insurance assessing for IAG over a couple of states. I can tell you from experience that any total loss claim (or substantial claim due to fire) will be closely scrutinized by a loss adjustor who will investigate relevant reports from the attending fire authority into the cause of the fire. If they look suspicious, or have been listed as arson/malicious damage, the first person they look into is the owner and usually will engage professionals to determine if the owner was responsible. They will look into previous claims history, personal finance and criminal history etc etc so very few get away with it. I wouldn't be suprised if posts like this one, which are put out for all the world to see, would also be accessed and used to determine criminal intent.

If you are testing the water on this forum for hints, under the guise of general interest, then I suggest you look elsewhere. People funding anything from this type of activity are only ensuring that all of our insurance premiums rise; the money they get is the money the rest of us pay for our own premiums. Work your way to financial freedom, don't cheat or fraud your way there! Illegal definately, and also a slap in the face for everyone who pays insurance premiums.

Hi John,
Tony Roccisano – 0418 502101.
In Sunraysia it used to be a toss up between George Collie and Tony Roccisano on who was the commercial property king. I found out today that George isn't working anymore so Tony has been getting much of the business that Collie & Tierney used to get. Tony is the principle at Roccisano Real Estate (The Professionals) but ring him direct otherwise the staff will handball you to another salesman. Tell him Daryl Fisher Homes referred you if he asks how you come across his mobile number. 

Hope that helps…PM me with the name of the comm agent you aren't happy and why; I am interested as my friends of mine are advertising a commercial property at the moment also (Collie & Tierney I think).

Cheers Julie
Daryl Fisher Homes

While you are talking to the building inspector ask him what the council requires when illegal building works are found. In our council you can buy the property with unapproved work without having to repair or remove it (unless it is deemed hazardous). But as it is noted on the contract it can have an impact on insurance claims (if a claim is lodged from damaged caused by, or to, illegal work). For this reason I would want to be absolutely sure that the inspector has given you accurate info. If the fittings look old then the work may not be recent and could have been done during a time when council laws weren't as strict. If the fittings look fairly modern then you could ask the local council if there has been a building permit issued for the property within the last 7-10 years (your solicitor would find this info out for you anyway). Check the work on the shower in particular as you wont want any water issues if a home handyman did the work. The quality of workmanship may have been the indicator to the building inspector.

Handspray chemical barriers are usually the cheapest and last for between 7-10 years depending on how much water you get around your house. If you home is on stumps it is easy to respray when it is deemed necessary by your pest inspection. If you have a slab then you can still have a chemical spray done and provided the soil is not disturbed or watered (gardens) this would also last for some years and be the cheapest option. I won't give you the prices we pay as we are in Vic and they may not be comparable. Good luck.
Julie Fisher
Daryl Fisher Homes

Your success may also depend on how small the lots are that you would like to subdivide. From the sounds of it you would be similar to us. I know that we were allowed to go no smaller than the 1 acre because there was no sewerage infrastructure; the lots had to be big enough to sustain septic/reln systems. Some councils allow smaller lots than others for this depending on the soil types etc.
We were also within a irrigation network, in which the council were trying to discourage lots of land being sold off as large residential blocks etc. The change in the use of the land would have pushed the existing horticulture outside the irrigation network which would then require new infrastructure to be supplied for their water needs.
If the surrounding lots are 1 -2 acres you could be in luck.

We rented a villa in Williamstown last year and upon payment of the fee we were given a 4 pin code to enter into a keybox at the front door of the property. It only opened the small box itself and inside was the key to the villa. Upon leaving we were asked to put the key back into the box and close the lid. I would presume that they would change the PIN after each guest has left. I should say that they went to clean their property but in your case you would still need someone to go and change the code after each visitor has left.

Maybe not quite what you're looking for, but I thought it was a nifty idea at the time; especially for holiday homes.

Julie Fisher
Daryl Fisher Homes

I would get an independant valuation done on one (if they’re both the same) or both of the properties. This will give you a good idea of what they are worth at this point in time and will also be supported by recent sales in the area.
This should give you an idea what a reasonable price would be if you go to auction. Auctions can usually result in a bidder bidding more for a house than what they may have in a normal sale, but if they have a ‘subject to finance’ clause then they can still pull out of the deal and you are back where you started minus the auction fees. I would also think that at a poorly attended auction the agent would be able to suggest that it is because the price is too high and he may try to encourage you to lower your reserve; under pressure of not selling you may give in!

Ask the agent what he feels the house may go for at auction and if you think he is under/overpricing ask him what information he used to support his price. Do your own research in the meantime; you should know within a few grand, what new homes are selling for in your area and you can use this as a guide.

IMHO Julie Fisher
Daryl Fisher Homes

Sorry thek, we just fixed the claims. We didn’t sell the policies, so I cannot answer that question! You will have to do your own homework on that one. A good insurance broker will be able to provide you with a few options and you can compare the premiums and policy details amongst them.

Any fences that existed on the property when you bought it were included in your purchase price, as they could have been paid for by the previous owner. If the previous owner was the original developer then your neighbour lucked out, as a developer usually has a clause to state that they are not liable for half shares in fences for unsold neighbouring blocks. If your neighbour chose to erect a fence before the land around him was sold then he assumed total costs.

Any fence constructed after purchase should have been done so with your approval in writing after quotes were agreed upon as mentioned above.