There are services and books avail (eg: "estimators" and "estimation books such as Rawlinsons guide") that are current, and provide the set / standard rates for all trades ervices and materials. I too have had a gut full of rip-off merchants, but not just tradies. So, the best way to get even is to eduacate yourself (with such info as provided…[Read more]

Yes……painfully slow! I just discovered this post while trying to work out WHY?? Can't something be done to fix this?? I find the "new" emoticons exceptionally painful to wait for to load, and as a result dont want to use them any more either.Any comments from Steve???

A suggestion may be to call up the companies that actually do this (I have seen them advertised) and pick their brains. Maybe pretend you are a home owner to see how they would go about trying to convince you to sell yours, then apply the same strategies! Good luck. There's obviously money to be made.

Thanks for answers! I hope this helps others.

No, am trying to work out just how tight-a-fit  it would be to get 2 units on a small block. Council says min. 40m2 private space required, which makes it a very tight fit.

I personally think you would be crazy to commit yourself to a property priot to viewing and getting legal advice on a S32. They can hold info that may make the deal completely worthless, and you , broke! Such as: restrictive covenants, land title and alignment/ fenceline issues, etc,etc. Dont do it.

Hey! Thanks Mackar! I have asked several BUILDERS this question, and they didn't know!

Hi Terry, thanks for that. So, does that mean that if the purchaser dates it when they sign it, then it goes to vendor, and they sign it, say a week later, then the date of sale will be the date vendor has signed it??

Thanks Jon! A nice easy formula for something that's been bugging me for ages.  Can I ask another that perhaps you, or anyone nmay know:  Is there a set formula for how to know how much "private space" there needs to be between units on a certain sized alotment, with certain sized units? Eg: on a 700 sq block, how much private space (mts) would I…[Read more]

I believe this area is going to have a great "boom" in the future and have invested in the area too. I liken the area to the new "St.Kilda", and we all know how that changed. It went from scums-ville to multi-million dollar proerties over about a 20yr period.My research shows fierce competition for proerties in the area, with nothing remaining on…[Read more]

After thought: Are we not able to send private messages to each other now like we used to be able to? Cos I'd really like to contact you Hutch to ask you more on this subject!

Hey Hutch, what brilliant suggestions. I am a bit confused though…. can you pls clarify this:Can you purchase and onsell a house and land package??  Ie: I buy the land on an option, and onsell it without incurring stamp duty on the full price after build?? Or, is there some way you may know of (or anyone) to avoid paying the full stamp duty, if…[Read more]

Vic. Does that make a difference in the test??

Maybe send a letter to the owners letting them somehow (or blatantly?) telling them of your concerns, & that if anything should happen, you will inform the police of your suspicions. This might scare the crap out of them enough to not consider it, if they were in the 1st place.

Hey, make sure you DEMAND the interest  that your solicitor would have acrued from the deposit he was holding in HIS trust account. Might not be much, but it sounds like doesnt deserve a damned cent from you. Can you tell us who it is so we can all avoid him like the plague? ( are names allowed to be named on the forum???)

Here to help, tell bad jokes and generally annoy people – not in any particular order.Hilarious Marc! I love it…am going to use that as my new motto in life!

wow! What a nightmare you poor thing! My heart goes out to your poor folks. I have been forced to have to pay a compulsary road levy before, but only about $3k, that was bad enough.The worst thing was, that originally there were already sealed roads, then the dev't co tore them up & refused to re-build them. So, the saga went on for many years,…[Read more]

Oh….after thought:  I have been told a registered builder needs to also have a certain amount kept in the bank to maintain their licence. Is this true? If so, how much, & why, pls? Is this so if they are sued this will be (meant to be, but probably wouldnt) to go towards that? Thanks!

Thanks again Luke! I appreciate your informative reply.

Hey, thanks Luke. Where are you based ? I need a builder!