What not to tell a selling agent at an inspection
With 20 years real estate experience under my belt, I can assure you buyers who reveal any information in relation to their motivation or time frame for wanting to buy are likely to pay more.
Lest we forget …
Next Thursday is Anzac Day. Making news this week, rooftop solar generating over 10% of Australia’s electricity; house approvals jump; and gold toilet thief confesses
Houses lift approvals
Approvals to build new houses jumped in February, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
However, the total number of homes approved fell 1.9 per cent, due to a tumble of 24.9 per cent in approvals for multi-unit housing, specifically large apartment projects.
Rooftop solar powers up
Rooftop solar now accounts for 11.2 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply, with households and businesses playing a leading role in Australia’s renewable energy transition, according to a report published this week.
NSW broke the record for the highest annual installed capacity of any state, while Queensland was the first state to surpass a total of one million rooftop solar installations.
Time to check for water damage
With communities across the eastern states again mopping up after torrential storms, now is the time to check for water damage to your home.
Not all water damage is as obvious as flooded crawl spaces or pools of water collecting against building foundations. Storms can cause structural damage, and it is often the small, undetected leaks that cause the most damage in the long run.
Boost for affordable housing
With many Australians finding their dream of home ownership out of reach in the current economic climate, some community housing providers are finding innovative solutions to get homes on the ground.
Small kitchen seating
Is your kitchen too small to fit a table all the family can sit around?
Consider installing bench seating along a wall or corner, with a table that can be pushed back over it when it’s not in use. Optimise on storage by incorporating cupboards or lift-up lids on the benches, then add comfy cushions to welcome long chat sessions over dinner or a cuppa.
Gold toilet thief spills
A man has finally pleaded guilty to the 2019 theft of a £4.8m (AU$9.3m) gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, where it was part of an exhibition.
The fully functioning 18-carat toilet was plumbed in at the time, causing extensive flooding and damage to the heritage home when it was removed. The thief has previous form, having been caught for numerous ‘grand’ thefts including tractors, and trophies from the National Horse Racing Museum.