Oh to live in Darwin at this time of the year! Temperatures in that city this week are expected to average 32 degrees, with overnight lows of 21. For the rest of us, the pre-winter chill is certainly starting to bite. As we move into the colder months, here are 10 ways to warm up [...]
Winter can create a harsh environment for your garden, especially in cold areas. Growth slows down considerably and problems become more evident when a plant is in a cold-weakened state. But there are many things you can do to help your garden cope with the cooler months: Move potted tropical plants and other warmth loving [...]
Many small businesses operate from the owner’s home. This could mean the factory is a shed in the backyard and the office a corner of the kitchen or dining room table. For others the business can have a separate section of the home or permanent structure on the property used exclusively by the business. [...]
Balconies and balustrades have come along way over recent years. The choices are now far greater and the safety aspects have improved out of sight. Little ones can no longer easily climb up and wave down precariously at you from your second storey. This is very good news for parents! Glass is currently one of [...]
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Open plan living is in vogue at the moment – but how do you turn a big open space into a cosy interior that’s easy to live in and doesn’t feel like a warehouse? It’s all about zoning and creating intimate areas without walls. The best place to start is from the ground up. Use [...]
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Astute mortgage holders will undergo a comprehensive mortgage check every few years. It makes perfect financial sense to do so given the current competition between banks and non-bank lenders and the regular fluctuation of interest rates. If you are considering refinancing, be sure to avoid the following oversights: Automatically refinancing with your current lender without [...]
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The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates by 50 basis points in an unexpected move that should provide welcome relief to many homeowners. The reduction takes the official cash rate to 3.75 percent. Damian Smith CEO of financial comparison site RateCity called the RBA’s decision "a very big move". "They haven’t moved rates [...]
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Australia’s housing sector has called on the reserve bank to deliver a 50 basis point interest rate cut after a survey showed new home sales have fallen to their lowest level in more than a decade. The Housing Industry Association (HIA), which represents the residential building industry, says new home sales dropped 9.4 per [...]
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Many of us could spend hours (possibly weeks) pouring over pictures of hip homes in interiors magazines, and dreaming … If you’ve ever pondered the secrets of these pads’ photogenic success and wanted to emulate them, here are a couple of general tips: Story time: Most photoshoots capture pictorial vignettes – the sofa, the casually [...]
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A recent newspaper article highlighted some alarming information surrounding Victorian house fires. The Herald Sun piece published on March 30 issued a strong warning to home owners after a devastating spate of house fires across the city. It appears that overloaded electrical systems have overtaken candles as one of the main causes of home blazes. [...]
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