Why do I need a Handover Report?
What is a handover report?
What is a handover report?
Imagine if you could live mortgage free. According to Heather Shearer of The Conversation (November 5, 2015), Australian families are doing just that by building tiny homes on wheels that measure just 10 square metres or 7m long by 2½m wide... for less than $40,000.
The race is on to build 3D printed houses a breakthrough, which will have significant consequences for housing affordability, customisation and the environment.
The world's most destructive termite species, Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus) and Asian subterranean termites (Coptotermes gestroi), were previously thought by scientists to be prevented from interbreeding due to their distinct, separate swarming seasons. However, with climate change and human activity, they have recently been observed to swarm simultaneously in South Florida.
Nowadays a Building and Pest Inspection has become almost a prerequisite to buying a home. This is wise considering the enormity of your financial decision. That's why a detailed, independent Building and Pest Inspection Report is an important information tool to assist you in your decision making. But what separates a good report from a mediocre one?
You've just signed your contract and you're flushed with the excitement of purchasing the home of your dreams. However, did you know that safety hazards may be lurking within your dream home?
On July 15 2015, a new Residential Building Contract will come into effect in Queensland. According to the QBCC and Master Builders Queensland, it will incorporate a number of changes:
Up until now, the quality of your build has often been negatively affected by subcontractors employed and supervised by your builder not being incentivised to deliver the quality both you and your builder require. Only the principal contractor and not their subcontractors were held to be responsible for work. Disputes involving untradesmanlike work and unmet schedules have become rife within the residential building industry .
On 1 December 2014, the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act PAMDA) was replaced by 4 new pieces of legislation, one of which was the Property Occupations Act 2014 (POA). Changes aimed at streamlining and simplifying property transactions include the following key features: The PAMDA Form 30C Warning Statement was abolished.
Understandably, many vendors are anxious to sell so that they can get on with the next phase in their lives, perhaps even on to their next home, pending the sale of their current property. Unfortunately, in their eagerness to sell, vendors may behave rashly in an attempt to present their property in its best possible light. As a buyer then, you need to be constantly on your guard for these tricks including:
Quite to the contrary, just because there is clause 4.1 under Terms of the REIQ Houses and Land Contract, doesn't necessarily mean that you are obliged to follow through or even take it up. However, you would be extremely foolish not to.
If you've just purchased a property, no doubt you're nervously awaiting the results of your building and pest inspection. But there may be yet another inspection you need to have done particularly if the property has a pool or spa, a pool safety inspection is not normally included as part of a pre-purchase building and pest inspection as it must be conducted by a specialist licensed pool safety inspector.
Many purchasers of apartments or units in Queensland are unaware that they may be vulnerable because the current statutory home warranty insurance scheme only covers the construction of, extension, addition, alteration, renovation or repair to multi-dwelling buildings only up to 3 stories.
When purchasing a property you need to be mindful that severe weather events are becoming a fact of life in Brisbane which, being built upon a flood plain is prone to flooding especially during the summer storm season from November through to March.
While you're doing your pre-purchase due diligence you might also like to consider Brisbane City Council's range of free tools and information to help you understand the property's potential flood risk.
According to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, on "20 June 2014, the Queensland Building and Construction Board made the Rectification of Building Work Policy which replaced the 6 month building inspection report.
If your building contractor has carried out defective building work they may be required to rectify that work irrespective of whether they did or did not comply with the contracted plans and specifications for your work.
According to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, on "20 June 2014, the Queensland Building and Construction Board made the Rectification of Building Work Policy.
For you, this means that if your building contractor has carried out defective building work they should be required to rectify that work irrespective of whether they did or did not comply with the contracted plans and specifications for your work.
Moving house can be one of the most stressing times in anyone’s life, and with a family it can mean even more stress. ABIS understands the importance of moving house so we have compiled our Top 10 Tips to minimise the stress when moving:
If you’re building a new home – keep in mind that you need a number of inspections at different stages of build to ensure that you’re happy with the way the house is being built.
Foundation Stage Inspection: immediately before the slab is poured.
A good time to have your building inspection conducted is a day or two after a storm has passed. For Brisbane property - after the recent supercell storm in November that had hail and cyclonic winds it will give you a good idea about the structure of a house. It will also allow our building inspectors to view any issues the house may have with:
Home Owners are encouraged today to improve your energy efficiency through passive design. This is possible through good ventilation in the warmer climates and insulation in the cooler climates.
To improve air flow and air quality you should consider cross ventilation by having windows strategically placed in a home, within one room and from room to room. As well, louver windows encourage ventilation by capturing any air flow around you house. If ventilation isn't possible, consider installing ceiling fans to help with the air flow.