Hi Mackers. I have posted a question in the other thread regarding asbestos and would love your opinion and help on my problem. Thank you so much.

Hi Mackers (and anybody else who can help me).We had our fibro roof replaced about nine years ago. The roofer assured us he would remove it safely, wet it down, try not to break it etc etc. I made sure the kids were not around, but I was home and what a load of rot about the safety precautions. They were up on the roof breaking it, dropping it all…[Read more]

Chamferboards have a "straight" finish with a bevelled edge at the top of each board. Because of the bevel each board sits flat and creates a nice straight finished line down the outside wall. Queenslanders usually are weatherboard and Californian Bungalows generally are chamferboard. Weatherboards don't have the bevel and each board slopes out…[Read more]

We have queenslanders, and I think you will lose value if you gyprock over them. People generally want VJ walls when they buy a queenslander and I think you could be making a mistake hiding them. At least if you gyprock over them, somebody can take it off later if they chose, but that is a waste of money for you to have somebody knock down your…[Read more]

1.  Probably sell one house to reduce our debt, or I would get a job two or three days a week if we didn't want to sell.2.  No problems for a buy and hold situation as long as rents keep coming in.3.  Highly unlikely, so not really needing an answer.4.  Contact the bank immediately to ask for a repayment holiday for a short time, but less imp…[Read more]

You probably are too late. The forms have to be in weeks prior to the end of the financial year. New documentation needs to be prepared and signed.With our loans, organising a prepayment means fixing the rate for a number of years as well.If you have a big tax bill, why not prepay your rates and land tax and insurance, and anything else you can.

On Entry Condition Form 1a there is space for you to tick that various things are in place and read the meter. We self-manage and have yet to sign a lease after 1 April, but plan to fill out the Form 1a, tick the appropriate boxes as they all were checked by the water audit we had, and sign it, and start charging for water usage. I don't see the…[Read more]

Have used one coat ceiling paint, and as long as it is over the same colour, it covers well enough.I just freshened up a ceiling using it and it was fine. I have also used the paint that goes on pink and dries white and it is fantastic because it is very hard painting white on white to see where you have done.Same house we chose a wall colour…[Read more]

We have been married 21 years and would both have preferred to do a low key quiet wedding, even registry office and a nice restaurant after. Our nephew has just done that, and it was a lovely day and I reckon pretty inexpensive. I am an only daughter so really did the big wedding for my mother's sake. I was uncomfortable being in the spotlight all…[Read more]

I know things are changing but in Brisbane landlords pay for water. We have always written in to the lease that tenants are liable for excess but it has been a very grey area as to who interprets "excess". It has never really been an issue until the drought hit, and now we are all very aware of water usage.I have leases due in a few months, and I…[Read more]

My brother works for a landscaper/mowing business in Brisbane. It has been hit hard and he is doing less work right now.Wylie

If it is a nice feature, I would not paint it. I have lived in a panelled house and understand how dark it can be. I had lights on during the day. But the silky oak was so beautiful I would NEVER have painted it.Could you put in a couple of those small skylights?If you paint panelling that is a selling feature you may regret it. If it is not in…[Read more]

From memory, the comment was made by a moderator (I think) that there was no "secret" suburbs mentioned, just an advert for a buyers agent, or something like that.

This same question was posted on Somersoft and has been yanked for being bait for the unwary. Be careful.

Does this mean that if I build a second house in the back yard but do not subdivide, I am still up for headworks costs etc even if I don't subdivide.Wylie

With a family member having been an extremely well regarded estate agent, I would very much doubt that any vendor would have someone push a price up to the last minute. It is too big a risk that the other party will pull out and they are left with no sale. Having said that, my relative (who didn't much like promoting auctions – preferred private…[Read more]

Why not offer a three month settlement with an appropriately lower purchase price. Vendors should see that accepting a lower offer for their house means they don't fork out for rent for the next three months. Work our how much rent they would pay in three months and work backwards.They may also be more inclined to accept your offer, because the…[Read more]

I think you are in a really fantastic position, holding three investment houses for such a small weekly amount, and with a good income. I would hold onto everything and pay off the personal debt as quickly as you can. ($70K personal debt is small fish compared to the assets you are holding.)We have sold a couple of houses to clear personal debt,…[Read more]

I'd like to know just what $40K would have bought in 2003. Obviously not in a capital city.If I was young and just starting out now, I would buy a cheapie house, rent it out while living at home. If living at home is not possible, next best strategy (my opinion only) would be to buy a cheapie (best cheapie I could afford) and rent somewhere even…[Read more]

We sounded out an architect (several years ago) about either building new or transporting in a removal house and his comment was that these days the costs of making it comply with the current legislation would make it (in his opinion) not much cheaper than building new. We never did take this any further at the time, so don't know any more, but it…[Read more]