Victoria

Meth testing - the new norm for prudent home buyers

The New Norm? Including Meth checks in Pre-Purchase Building Inspections For home buyers there is nothing unusual about organising a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection on a potential property purchase. For smart buyers, a Pre-Purchase Building Inspe...
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The Politics Of Smoke Alarms

From 1993 to 2015, CSIRO conducted tests on smoke alarms but the public is yet to read the findings. This comes at a time when activists want ionised smoke alarms banned due to alleged issues with response times to common fires. In America, the alarm...
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November is Asbestos Awareness Month

Yes. It’s that time of year again. November is Asbestos Awareness Month. Why Asbestos Awareness Month? It’s a national effort with a noble goal. Asbestos Awareness Month is about fighting ignorance through education. The aim is to increase awa...
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Rental Reforms To Hit Queensland

Queensland’s 40-year-old rental laws are under scrutiny. One big potential change: making it easier for tenants to own pets and more pressure to address repairs in a timely manner. Property owners, however, may have more powers in their hands to ch...
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Blacklists For Potential Tenants? You Betcha!

Yes. Blacklisting tenants is a thing and may not be talked about because of shame-related issues. According to the ABC, a person can be blacklisted without even being aware. His or her name in such a case will pop up on tenancy databases meanin...
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Things to consider when building your first home

You might decide that rather than buying an established property as your first home, it would better suit you to build. Building your first home can be both an exciting and overwhelming experience. Building allows you to customise your home from t...
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Smoke Alarms - America's Move May Trigger Australian Action

It’s an important topic. Will moves in the United States regarding smoke alarms trigger a debate here? The dirt: As the ABC reported, new US smoke alarm laws look likely to drive ionisation alarms out of business – and an American expert has b...
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A Good Building Inspection Is Better Than An Expensive Cure

Put yourself in Hao’s shoes. He buys his dream home only to discover a buyer’s worst nightmare: most of his buildings are illegal. As the Whittlesea Council says: His bungalow was constructed without a permit. And to add insult to financial in...
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You could be unknowingly welcoming Termites into your home?

Termites are among homeowners’ worst nightmares. They aren’t just nasty little pests that make your home dirty – they can tear through your home’s materials, damaging your property and making your home less safe for your family and guests. Ta...
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What Does Jim Know About Building Inspections Anyway?

ACTUALLY, QUITE A BIT MORE THAN WE EVER REALISED! We recently discovered that Jim Penman’s dad was a forensic engineer. From an early age Jim’s father was investigating materials, structures and their components which failed o...
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