Cairns Home Life February 2017

T h e M ag a z i n e f o r L o c a l s

F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 7

Helen Bellingham

Kitchens Finance Builders Gardening Homes

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LIFE On Real Estate

HELEN BELLINGHAM LIVING HER DREAM - AND HELPING OTHERS WITH THE IRS WORDS BY JANIE BARTON

|

PHOTO BY PHOTOHOLIC STUDIO

It is never too late to start a new career, especially in real estate, as Helen Bellingham at Cairns Property Office has discovered.

While Helen has always had a passion for real estate, she waited until her children were older to pursue her dream because she believes being a top real estate agent means working all hours of the day and night, seven days a week.

“As a real estate agent, you need to be very focused and committed to deliver 100 per cent of the time,” she said.

“Real estate has always been a career I wanted to pursue, but I put it on hold while my two children were young as I felt it was important to be with them as much as possible as they grew up.”

Now Helen is thrilled to be living her dream.

“It’s such a fantastic feeling to be part of someone’s life and help them move on to their next adventure whether they are buying or selling property,” she said.

“It brings a huge amount of joy to both buyers and sellers and their excitement is contagious and something you never forget. It’s so rewarding to bring so much joy to people through property.”

“As a mature agent, real estate ticks a number of boxes for me where the value of my knowledge and experience allows me to see opportunities and be able to pass these on to my investors as a return of investment, based on knowledge and experience rather than a uninformed gamble, which is always a win-win situation to bring to any market.”

Helen has been in sales all her working life and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the real estate industry for buyers, sellers and investors.

“An opportunity came my way which I grabbed with the full support of my husband and children,” she said.

“Cairns Property Office is the largest independently owned real estate company covering all the Cairns region, and I am delighted to join its dynamic and growing team.”

CairnsLife 4 Magazine

Helen’s passion to the industry and Cairns itself is evident to her clients.

“It is always a privilege to be invited into a home and to be entrusted with selling someone’s property,” she said.

“I love giving my complete dedication throughout the whole journey of selling their home.

“Cairns is an exciting city in a very exciting time and to be apart of this growth is incredibly rewarding.”

Helen Bellingham Cairns Property Office, 66 Spence St, Cairns city Ph: 0408 660 885 Email: Helen@cpo.com.au www.cpo.com.au

LIFE On Real Estate

“

It’s so rewarding to bring so much joy to people through property.

”

CairnsLife 5 Magazine

Ph: 4054 5100

HELPING YOU POWER THROUGH P O W E R O U TAG ES D URI NG CYCL O NES AND S E VE RE STO RM S CAN B E BA D FO R BU S I N ESS, B UT T H E Y D O N’T HAVE T O B E.

W OR DS BY JANIE BA RTO N P HOTO BY SILVIA MOG O RO VI CH

4 0 Po n z o S t reet , Wo ree Thanks to Nqpetro, businesses, industrial sites, retails outlets and essential service facilities can have power throughout the harsh weather. The locally owned and operated business supplies back-up fuel tanks and auxiliary storage units that ensure generators are well stocked with fuel to keep operations running smoothly despite losing power.

“We have a range of storage tanks that sit on the ground and can hold between 1000 and 100,000 litres of fuel that can be piped into a generator,” operations manager Paul Redfern said.

“If we’re having long-term power outages during a cyclone or bad weather, people can fill up their tanks and keep their generators going. We have tanks that have up to 10 days of storage to help people get through times without power.

www. n q pet ro .co m .au www. f e s t an ks.co m .au “We offer a range of sizes and styles of relocatable fuel tanks, which are ideal for construction, civil and mining applications as well as all businesses and services that use generators.”

Nqpetro, led by founder and managing director Craig Cygler, started in Cairns in 2004 with Craig and one fitter. Today its 41 staff service and install petroleum equipment throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

The trusted fuel equipment specialists moved to its large purpose-built facility in July this year.

“This expansion has been focused around providing

CairnsLife 6 Magazine

our customers and our staff with the facilities necessary to better service their needs and requirements,” Paul said.

With cyclone season now upon us, turn to the experts at Nqpetro to ensure you won’t have any disruption to your business during severe weather.

“We prefer not to have any cyclones, but if they do happen at least businesses and essential services can keep operating,” Paul said.

“They can hire a tank or buy one from us to have that extra storage that will keep their business operating.”

LIFE Political

FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK MAY O R B O B MANNI NG

We start 2017 with an anticipation that has been missing for many years.

This year should bring unprecedented investment in our region and the chance to really cement Cairns’ place as a sophisticated and modern international city – but we still have to ‘bring home the bacon’.

On the back of a bumper year for tourism – which we expect to continue in 2017 – Cairns Regional Council is leading by example to stimulate business activity. We’re continuing to invest in major projects that will enhance our city and drive further external investment.

By mid-year, we will have a new-look city centre, as work wraps up on Stage 2 of the Shields Street Heart and the refurbished School of Arts re-opens its doors. The new Cairns Museum will be bigger and better than ever.

Work will start on Stage 3 of Shields Street around the middle of the year, creating a pedestrian-friendly link all the way from Grafton Street to the Esplanade.

Work will continue on the Cairns Performing Arts Centre – a facility that will help Cairns to become the ‘Arts Capital of Northern Australia’.

When this two-theatre complex opens in 2018, it will provide the opportunity to host shows of a calibre never before seen in Cairns. We have already been in discussions with the Queensland Performing Arts Centre about how we can complement their future programs.

This will also be a year of strategic planning. The new Corporate Plan, review of the City Centre Master Plan

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and the development of the Smart City Plan will help to continue to shape the future of our city.

We have also commenced a master planning project for Cannon Park that will help us unleash the true potential of the site. This is an initiative that could have a profound impact on the future of the city. Without pre-empting the outcomes of the master plan, a future Cannon Park could be a multipurpose venue containing built facilities that could cater for horseracing and equestrian events, exhibitions and trade events and outdoor entertainment.

There will be a focus on future transport options, in response to residents’ desire for improved services. Public transport was identified as a major area of concern in the recent ‘Our Cairns’ survey. The majority of respondents supported the pursuit of light rail and this is something we will be investigating further in 2017 through the development of a smart transport strategy.

We’ll look toward long-term water security for our region, ensuring the water needs of our growing population will continue to be met.

And we will make preparations for an expanded arts precinct across three heritage buildings in the CBD, made possible by the recent purchase of the Court House Hotel.

In summary, we will spend this year making sure Cairns is well placed to continue its march towards becoming a modern, sophisticated, inclusive and welcoming tropical city.

CAIRNS AQUARIUM WORDS BY S U ZY G RINTE R | P HO TO B Y PH O T O H O L I C ST UDI O

You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink, and you can lead a tourist to the Reef, but you can’t make him swim. And thus, a good proportion of our tourists don’t experience our amazing marine underwater environment.

Born on a perfect day on the Great Barrier Reef in September 2011, the Cairns Aquarium concept is rapidly nearing fruition.

A well-earned break in the Cairns region saw directors and co-founders of the Cairns Aquarium, Daniel Leipnik and Andrew Preston, observing how few tourists on Green Island actually took to the water. Perhaps non swimmers, frightened of

stingers, or just out of their comfort zone in ocean waters, a large proportion of visitors stayed on terra firma, missing one of the greatest delights of the region, our fascinating and colourful marine life.

If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.

“We immediately saw a huge opportunity to bring the Great Barrier Reef to our visitors,” says Daniel.

It’s not surprising to learn that Daniel worked in pet shops and aquariums from the tender age of 11, and owned 200 lizards and snakes and innumerable fish tanks.

“

Developing a world class public aquarium has been a life changing journey for me.

”

The partners share a background in business, Daniel spending considerable time in export management in Sweden and Canada for the family’s plastics and industrial textile business based in Melbourne. As a television and film producer, he owned Canada’s third largest motion picture transport company.

Together they’ve led immensely busy lives, no strangers to hard work, buying and selling properties and selling Australian made products overseas over a 15 year period.

But the pair have always shared an inherent love of animals and plants, so the aquarium is the realisation of a mutual dream.

“Developing a world class public aquarium has been a life changing journey for me.

Five and half years ago, I could never have imagined that it was possible to make this happen,” says Andrew.

“Nature is both fascinating and intriguing.

We are spoilt by the incredible bio-diversity in the Wet Tropics and the ability to present aquatic creatures to people visiting Cairns is deeply satisfying.

“We are inspired by each other. We have both worked 7 days a week from this project’s inception and dedicated everything we have to commercialise the Cairns Aquarium.

“One of the current project challenges is to assemble 130 team members and develop a workplace culture where everyone is singularly focussed on providing an incredible visitor experience and optimal living conditions for our aquatic fish and animals.

“I’m looking forward to seeing smiling, excited kids and enthralled adult visitors when we open. However, having hundreds of thousands of people each year learning about the habitats and eco systems of the region and leaving Cairns with a desire to care more about the planet is certainly one of our broader goals,” adds Andrew.

Not surprisingly, the greatest obstacle the partners faced in making the Aquarium a reality, was the acquisition of the $50 million required to finance the complex greenfield project.

“Sydney firm FIIG Securities has been our main financier, and we have a lot to thank them for,” says Daniel.

“Twenty-five individual firms were involved in the engineering and design of the building and aquatic infrastructure. It’s a multifaceted project and it’s been quite a challenge bringing it all together.

“The finished Cairns Aquarium will comprise two components – the visitor oriented Aquarium itself, and the Research Centre. The intention is to develop an export based aquaculture enterprise. Our permanent team of scientists and researchers will work with industry, universities and other partner entities to develop marine science bio-technologies focused on key North Australia fish and crustaceans.

“We have a huge advantage in being able to utilise revenue from the tourism side of the business to finance our research and development initiatives.

“It’s been quite a journey, but we make a great team; Andrew’s my sounding board and vice versa. We’re great moral support for each other,” says Daniel.

The Cairns Aquarium will be host to 71 live exhibits, with 15,000 fish and aquatic animals.

“The large acrylic viewing panels we are installing to create views of key underwater exhibits will equally provide for a close up interaction with large sea creatures like hammerhead sharks, sting rays and reef sharks and make these long term interactions possible for everyone to enjoy,” says Andrew.

CairnsLife 9 Magazine

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CairnsLife 12 Magazine

IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S VALUE WO R DS BY JANIE BAR TO N P H O TOS BY PHOT OH O L IC S TU D IO

We all know from experience that when the summer rains come so does mould, wet leaves blocking gutters and the discovery of unwanted leaks in roofs and drainage.

If you’re selling your home, making sure your home and property are protected from monsoon rains is imperative.

Whenever possible you should be ready to show your home at a moment’s notice.

With today’s time-poor lifestyle, potential buyers may request an inspection at all hours of the day, and you’ll want to be prepared.

Before the wet weather arrives, it’s important to complete other outdoor preparations like oiling decks, attending to simple fencing repairs, pressure cleaning your driveway and clearing the gutters to avoid possible depreciation on the value of your property.

A general clean-up, including mowing the lawn and attending to maintenance and repairs such as fixing leaking taps, will help you achieve the best possible sale price, but you don’t have to overcapitalise.

All things equal a well presented home should sell for a higher price.

Hire a Hubby Edge Hill owner Shane said that dirty driveways and faded timber decking is a common problem for people wanting to sell.

CairnsLife 13 Magazine

Helen Bellingham of Cairns Property Office suggests sellers consider the following before putting their home on the market: Street appeal: • Clean driveway and gutter • Trim and weed all gardens and tidy with a fresh layer of mulch Entrance area: • Ensure your property looks inviting with clean pathways and oiled timber decking Inside the home: • Declutter - remember less is best • Clean windows and doors • Fix minor repairs such as leaking taps • Paint over scuffs and scrapes on walls Outside: • Have lawns mowed and gardens weeded • Take away general rubbish • Make sure pool and pool area are clean and sparkling

Helen Bellingham Cairns Property Office 66 Spence St, Cairns city Ph: 0408 660 885 Email: Helen@cpo.com.au www.cpo.com.au

www.marshproperty.com.au Expect an exceptional real estate experience

Unit 24 Northshore Tower - 209 Abbott St, Cairns

Low $500,000s

Stunning dual key city apartment – Designer fit out • 2 Ensuited bedrooms PLUS powder room • Sold fully fitted and furnished – W.I.W.O. • Permanent living or holiday rental • Designer furniture & European appliances • Security accessed lift • Potential holiday rental $280 per night

Contact Alex Martins - 0418 532 525

38 Pilosa St, Redlynch

mid $400,000s

Immaculately presented and rock solid • Elevated 600m2 corner block with fabulous mountain views.

• Impeccably maintained by the original owner • Central kitchen flowing to indoor & outdoor dining • Oversized double garage with workbench • Handy to schools, shopping and sports • Perfect for small families or investors

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38 Christensen St, Machans Beach

Offers over $599,000

Architectural resort style living • Soaring 4 mt ceilings – seamless indoor outdoor flow • Huge 1024m2 block • 4 bedroom – 2 bathroom + extra shower room • Oversized sliders open to private rear pool • Beautiful tulip oak floors • Huge double drive thru garages – Elefantus gates

Contact Chris Marsh - 0427 278 473

Alex Martins 0418 532 525

Chris Marsh

0427 278 473

MOUNT SHERIDAN 5 Boombil Close • Showcasing sleek lines and contemporary finished this home features expansive open plan layout

4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car

• Grand entry and soaring high ceilings with a rear outdoor deck brings the outside in

price:

• Fantastic master retreat plus an additional two bedrooms with BIR plus a 4th room/ study

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• Located in a quiet close this is positioned in a family friendly area on a 400m2 allotment

mid $400,000’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563

BENTLEY PARK 19 Pollock Close • PRICE REDUCED! This home must be inspected to really appreciate what it has to offer

4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car

• Positioned in a prestige close in Silkwood Ridge this home is suitable for professionals or families

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In the $400’s

• Large open plan living, dining and kitchen with a separate media/ family room for extra space

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• 657m2 allotment with drive thru access to the rear yard through the double garage

MOUNT SHERIDAN 43 Dorunda Street

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MOUNT SHERIDAN 18 Claridge Close

• Dual family living with views

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Car

• Cutting edge design

• Spacious throughout

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• Modern 2Pak kitchen

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from $599,000

• Swimming pool w/ courtyard

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• Amazing views

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• 1695m2 Elevated allotment

mid-high$600’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563

• 264m2 under roof

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BAYVIEW HEIGHTS 7 Gouldian Street • Offering low maintenance , low cost living at it’s best and all on a generous 725m2 allotment

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• Separated lounge from the open plan kitchen and dining area with access to the alfresco area

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• A great outdoor sitting area would be ideal for relaxing while overlooking the swimming pool

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• Extra features: 6x3 Power shed, front sail to accommodate addition 2 cars, recently renovated

high $400’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563

EARLVILLE 12 Rowe Street • Renovated two-story Queenslander with dual living potential, 3 Bedrooms upstairs & 2 downstairs

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• This home features 1 kitchens, 1 kitchenette, 2 living areas, 2 balcony's, courtyard and study nook

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• Convenient location and moments from the CBD puts this home in a perfect location

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• Positioned on a 546m2 block with side access and a outstanding swimming pool

MOUNT SHERIDAN 14 Woodrose Drive • Refurbished to brand new

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• 2 x renovated bathrooms

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• 637m2 block w/ side access

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KANIMBLA 7 Spowatt Close • Outstanding family home

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• 730m2 block w/ side access

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DREAMING OF AN OCEAN FRONT HOME? LOT 49 BEACHFRONT AVENUE - HALF MOON BAY

This palatial home stands proudly in Cairns most exclusive beach side estate, Half Moon Bay. Luxuriously appointed, direct beach access through your own private gate, sweeping views & ocean breezes, brand new and a sensational 330m² under roof.

Half Moon Bay: Big homes, big blocks, big beach lifestyle. Executive styles, lavishly appointed properties in the best location. Walk to the beach, the marina, The Bluewater Bar & Grill. Convenient to shopping, sporting facilities, schools & university.

The 784 m² lot is a tropical paradise of water features, gazebo, extensive landscaping with room to spread out without the high maintenance.

Fresh to the market, this rare diamond is attracting a great deal of Southern interest, as buyers appreciate the growing value of a beachside address.

Make an appointment for a private inspection of your new home.

Appreciate the gowing value and profit Other Properties Available: Lot 69 Coastline Parade 4 bed, 2 bath, + media Land size 807 m² - $625,000 Lot 66 Coastline Parade 4 bed, 2 bath, + media Land size 836m² - $695,000 Lot 76 Coastline Parade 4 bed, 2 bath, + media & pool Land size 834m² - $665,000

Cairns Key Real Estate Cairns Ph: 07 4032 0411 Beaches Ph: 07 4057 9903 www.cairnskey.com.au

Lot 77 Coastline Parade 4 bed, 2 bath, + media Land size 707m² - $645,000

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75-77 Alfred Street Manunda Qld 4870 Ph: 07 4032 6100 www.kenfrosthomes.com.au

“ ”

High End Homes with Low Maintenance

Kenfrost Homes proudly present their newest selection of luxuriously appointed homes in Smithfield Village estate.

The demand for high end homes with low maintenance gardens is increasing, as our busy lifestyles allow less leisure time.

We all crave a spacious new home without losing our free time to garden upkeep. With this in mind Kenfrost Homes have created a unique range of double storey homes along Foxville Circuit that accommodate all the living area’s you need, on low maintenance sites, giving you the best of both worlds. It’s all about allowing you to upsize whilst downsizing. With the abundance of parklands &

walking trails in Smithfield Village estate, the outdoor lifestyle is still well catered for.

All the benefits of a brand new home without the stress of building.

These homes all enjoy a lovely bush backdrop as their rear neighbours.

Fully air conditioned, porcelain tiling, stone benchtops, high gloss cabinetry, quality appliances and so much more.

5 brand new properties to choose from, starting at just $575,000.

Cairns Key Real Estate Cairns Ph: 07 4032 0411 Beaches Ph: 07 4057 9903 www.cairnskey.com.au

ELITE REAL ESTATE SERVICES

WHO WE ARE

We are a full service real estate business. We help people buy,sell and lease properties with an overall aim to provide exceptional service.

COMPANY DIRECTION

CairnsLife 20 Magazine

Elite Real Estate Services is not only our name,but is also what we strive to do everydayto provide the best service to property in-tenders.

We aim to be ELITE.

OUR NAME

FULL DISCLOSURE WO R DS B Y J AN I E B AR T O N When Troy McGuane and Karl Latham took over at the helm of Elite Property Services six months, they implemented a fresh, new approach to customer service and have already seen highly successful results.

“We have not only lifted the focus on providing the best sales experience for our clients but also on improving our service processes,” Troy said. “We focus on being totally transparent and very communicative with our clients, giving them all the latest market research, statistical data and information that we have to help them make an informed decision before buying or selling.

“We follow the old true customer service philosophy that the customer is always right, and we should be doing out utmost to do the right thing by them because for most people it’s the biggest purchase or sale that they’re going to make in their lives.”

To help potential buyers make the best possible choice, Elite gives them a Buyer’s Hit List, which includes a full disclosure on the property including an up-to-date detailed market analysis on the home including information such as medium house prices in the area, rental returns, price of rates, whether there’s been an increase or decrease in property prices in their area, development potential, etc.

“It’s a very detailed report that allows them to decide beforehand if they want to inspect the property,” Troy said.

“We don’t want to waste their time or show them a property they aren’t really interested in just to make a sale.”

While also providing the latest market research and property statistics to vendors, they also provide them with feedback from potential buyers, letting them know what the buyer’s interest is in the property, what they like and don’t like, etc.

SERVICES PROPERTY SALES

We help people buy and sell property. We aim to make this process as informative and as easy as possible- providing great outcomes for all parties.

PROPERTY RENTALS

We help people lease and rent properties. We aim to protect and improve clients investments

COMMERCIAL

We help people buy and sell commercial properties

WE HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE THEIR LIFESTYLE DREAMS.

We are active and supportive of our clients and our community.

Elite Real Estate Service Elite Property Services, 86 Woodward St, Edge Hill Ph: 4053 8400 178 McManus Street, Whitfield Ph: 4053 8000 wwwelitecairns.com.au

OUR MISSION

Be honest, open and ethical in everything we do.

Be solution orientated. Constantly learning and evolving.

“We ask potential buyers key questions to diagnose what their interest is in the property and we give that information to the vendors,” Troy said. “We’re all about giving clients all the information we have.”

To ensure they are providing clients with the best possible service, Troy and Karl have enlisted the services of one of Australia’s top real estate business coaches, Josh Phegan.

“Karl and I travel to Sydney every three months and have regular coaching with Josh, who is an industry leader in real estate coaching,” Troy said. “When we return we give all the information we get from Josh to our staff. It’s been really beneficial for us and for our clients.

“I think real estate can sometimes be focussed on just selling the property whereas our view is we want to provide a business service as well as sales service.”

Troy and Karl ensure each of Elite’s 32 staff members in its rental office on McManus Street and its sales headquarters at Edge Hill keep up to date on all the latest market information, which has impressed its clients.

“Our feedback from vendors and buyers has been fantastic,” Troy said.

“They’ve told us that they like being given all the information available, whether it’s positive or not. They like our transparency and honesty.

“And we like keeping them happy. The nature of the business is that we can change someone’s life for the better anytime, and that’s what we love about the industry.”

OUR VALUES

Be energetic, healthy, passionate and professional.

CairnsLife 21 Magazine

ITS ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO

YOU CAN THANK GOD FOR CHRISTMAS BUT THE REST OF THE YEAR IS ON US.

We all like to give at Christmas, and to be fair, most of us like to receive as well! Since the invention of turkey and tinsel, the festive season has been a receiving very nicely. Just as tempting as another glass of Vino to wash the down the next roast spud or BBQ prawn, the temptation to say “Don’t worry, it’s Christmas!” is universal - even Scrooge himself finally let loose with seasonal joy - otherwise known as additional expenditure. So, now, after most of the New Year resolutions have been abandoned, and the majority of your gifts have been filed away with the ones from previous years, is it the time to have a good, hard objective look at your personal finances?? To be fair many of us don’t actually want to do that - but failing to overcome apathy won’t help pay the bills.

SC O T T B U RNE SS

Yellow Bri ck Ro ad

a property owner) is like walking through a fiscal minefield.

“Consolidation” is the industry term, but this doesn’t mean simply putting all your eggs in one basket. It should also include examination of debt you may have, compared to how much it’s costing you. Interest rates, fees and insurances all play a part - it’s not just about your monthly outlay, but also about ensuring that the borrowing comes to a timely end.

It goes without saying that this is a good time to engage a professional financial advisor.

Getting things wrong may not just be costly, but also stop you from achieving your future goals.

Contact us today on 40402040 for a free consulation.

Navigating the innumerable financial products available (especially as

3 YEAR FIXED

STANDARD VARIABLE Company

Product

Advertised Comparison Rate Rate*

Product

Advertised Comparison Rate Rate*

ANZ

Breakfree Variable 250-499k

4.45%

4.84%

Breakfree Residential Fixed 3 yrs 150k+

4.19%

4.68%

Auswide Bank

RBA Rate Tracker Home Loan

3.99%

4.06%

Freedom Package Standard Fixed 3 yrs 80% 150k+

3.89%

4.25%

Bendigo Bank

Connect Package Variable Owner Occupied 250-499k

4.33%

4.57%

Connect Package Fixed Owner Occupied 3 yrs 250k+

4.19%

4.55%

BOQ

Clear Path Variable Home Loan

4.47%

4.60%

Residential 3yr Fixed 3 yrs

3.99%

4.49%

Commonwealth Bank Wealth Package Standard Variable 350-749k

4.62%

5.03%

Wealth Package Residential Fixed 3 yrs 150k+

4.09%

4.96%

ECU Australia

Premium Plus Standard Variable 250.00001k+

4.31%

4.66%

Premium Plus Standard Fixed 3 yrs

4.29%

4.88%

NAB

Choice Package Tailored Variable - P&I 250-499k

4.40%

4.78%

Choice Package Standard Fixed 3 yrs 150k+

4.09%

4.88%

QT Mutual Bank

Mortgage Saver

3.88%

3.88%

Choices Residential Fixed 3 yrs 20k+

3.75%

4.69%

Queenslanders CU

Special Variable Rate P&I 250-499k

4.03%

4.07%

Special Fixed Rate P&I 3 yrs

3.89%

4.42%

RAMS

Low Rate

4.45%

4.51%

Fixed Rate 3 yrs

4.24%

5.16%

Suncorp Bank

Home Package Plus Owner Occupied Variable 90% 150

4.05%

4.42%

Home Package Plus Owner Occupied Fixed 3 yrs 150k+

3.89%

4.38%

Westpac

Premier Advantage Rocket Repay Home Loan P&I 250-4

4.49%

4.87%

Premier Advantage Fixed Options 3 yrs 150k+

4.09%

4.91%

Yellow Brick Road

Empower Variable PI 0-80 100-749k

3.86%

3.86%

Empower Fixed PI 3 yrs

4.24%

3.96%

Source: www.canstar.com.au Based on loans available for $350,000 and an LVR of 80% and principal and interest. *Comparison rate based on loan amount of $150,000.

Data as at 19-01-2017

CairnsLife 22 Magazine

Spend less on your home loan and more on your dreams

Is now the right time to refinance?

✓ Looking to secure a better interest rate?

✓ Consolidating debt? ✓ Renovating?

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Free up some extra cash Switching between fixed and variable?

Pay off your mortgage sooner?

Take action and talk to us today Yellow Brick Road Cairns Ph: 4040 2040 • E: scott.burness@ybr.com.au • 154-156 Mulgrave Road Cairns • ybr.com.au/cairns

Home loans • Financial Advice • Insurance • Superannuation • Cash & Investments Yellow Brick Road Finance Pty Limited. ACN 128 650 037, Australian Credit Licence 393 195.

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ATLANTIS GLAZE • OLD STONE • CUSTOMISED WATER FEATURES • CONSULTATION • DELIVERY & INSTALLATION SERVICE

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Michelle 0447 166 888 113 Draper St Cairns, 4870

204 Spence Street (07) 40 511 715

exotic.impressions@yahoo.com.au facebook.com/cairnswaterfeatures

www.potsandponds.com.au

Beaches to Port Plumbing Servicing Cairns & Northern Beaches General plumbing maintenance Plumbing renovations Pre-purchase plumbing inspections Roofing and gutter pipes Burst water pipes Installation of all white goods Hot water systems installation and or repairs Outdoor showers installations Drainage and storm water repairs / replacements

• edging • mulching • green waste removal • pruning • fertilising • weed control • pressure cleaning • timber and rock retaining walls • timber fencing • planting • turf • steppers / paving • irrigation / repairs • garden makeovers •

mowing and sniping

Photos of work provided with invoice Invoices processed by email on day job finishes

landscaping packages for new homes

Contact Leyton Wood 0413 219 945 beachestoportplumbing@gmail.com

Dan & Anna 0434 964 539 trinitytrim@icloud.com Like us on Facebook

Lic No: 12213 QBSA:76573

CairnsLife 26 Magazine

PRELIMINARY PROCESS FOR BUILDING YOUR NEW HOME ROSLY N S M I T H

Once you’ve made the decision to build a new home make sure you know what you are getting in your contract. This is an exciting time and many people only do it once or twice in their lives, so spend a little time checking all the information available.

Display homes are a great way of seeing exactly what a new home has to offer. Some people need to walk through a home to get the size and proportion of rooms and layout. Builders use display homes to show the products they would normally include.

They may have upgraded some of their inclusions so always ask if this is a ‘standard inclusion’ or will it cost more. Don’t assume that something is included or not.

Maybe the builder you choose has a current display home. In that case they should be able to give you some addresses of previously completed homes similar to the type of home you want and could even show you through some of them.

Once you’ve decided on your floor plan and your builder, it’s time to make sure that everything you think you are getting is actually what you want included in your building contract.

‘Wom en i n Bu i l d in g ’ Winner Q M BA 2016

Awa r d

Some blocks of land are sloping or need retaining work and may require extra site preparation so your home can be built. The new contract process allows for the builder to determine this preliminary work and it can be included in the contract price. Some builders have not done this in the past which may have created difficulties for the owners in the future.

During the preliminary agreement stage the builder can produce preliminary plans and engineering, and then your builder should be able to present a detailed written quote with list of inclusions. This will have everything from the kitchen tap, to the numbers of power points and the pitch of the roof.

This way, once you sign your new Building Contract you and your builder know exactly what is included.

Builders have to place orders for materials sometimes many months before they are required on site so having as much info up front in writing is always the best way to go. What you may consider a small change may involve many levels for the builder. If you do want to change something after this stage the contract allows that this must be in writing and signed by both the builder and the owners.

Make sure your questions are answered and the inclusions are in writing to your specifications.

Our local building market is finally getting busier so smart owners are getting in as early as possible to secure current prices.

The building contract process has changed recently and the requirement in most cases now is to enter into a preliminary agreement. This process involves the builder doing some preliminary work like soil test, cyclonic rating, site inspection and other reports prior to confirming your contract price. The owner is required to pay for these services as the builder incurs costs to obtain this information. This cost may vary from builder to builder and that depends on what is actually involved for each home project.

R os l y n Sm i t h A f f i n i t y D e s i gne r H o m e s & Va lu e H om e s ( N Q ) B ui l di n g D e s i gne r a nd L ic e n s e d B ui l de r Phone : 40518866 M obi l e : 0 4 3 9 8 5 5 8 5 1 E ma i l - ros @a f f i ni t y d h .c o m .a u

SPECIALISING IN: • conceptual budgets • sloping sites • energy efficient homes • narrow or irregular land

• tailored specialist knowledge • individual design requirements

AFFINITY DESIGNER HOMES

N E W D I S P L AY H O M E O P E N Canopy’s Edge Estate, Smithfield

QBCC 71474

144 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns QLD P 07 4051 8866 M 0439 855851 E ros@affinitydh.com.au

www.affinitydh.com.au CairnsLife 27 Magazine

AIRBNB PROPERTY MANAGEMENT * Bookings

* Cleaning

* Key Exchange * Maintenance

We take care of everything!

Or if you prefer to Do It Yourself?

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PROFESSIONAL LISTING CREATION

Initial inspection of property & appraisal Professional photo package (10 shots) Creation of AIRBNB listing Initial training

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Phone 0414 446 992

www.hostmyhome.com.au

DIY OR PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT J U LIE G E O R G E

Host My Home Ph: 0414 446 992 Website: www.hostmyhome.com.au

Congratulations! You have purchased your investment property, furnished it, connected the internet and electricity and are ready to list it on AirBnB. The big question is DIY (Do It Yourself) or get a professional Property Manager to take care of it for you?

As AirBnB’s popularity grows and matures, so have the numerous amount of ‘Hosts’ in Australia. ‘DIY Hosts’ are continually looking for ways to improve their guest’s experience whilst balancing the life balance of work / family/ leisure / hosting.

The novelty of making beds, cleaning toilets and responding to booking enquiries in the middle of the night soon wears off. At a certain point a Host will often start asking themselves the question of ‘Is this something I can continue to manage myself or do I need to outsource the responsibilities of managing the property?’

The decision is often made based on the value for money a property manager may provide and the extra income that can be generated by a company working the listing on a daily basis to improve occupancy.

Relinquishing control over the property to free up time better spent with your family, friends or at work may also appeal too but be a hard call to make.

only takes a dirty coffee cup or a hair on a pillow case to bring in a bad review and crush your future bookings. Putting your trust in another person to keep the level of cleaning and customer service standards up isn’t always easy.

When you consider all of the steps involved in the process of successfully Hosting a property on AirBnB the question of whether you should DIY or use a Professional really comes down to whether you are treating your property and the listing as a ‘Hobby’ or as an ‘Investment’. If you are considering the management option, it costs nothing to have an appraisal conducted on your property and to have a conversation about different options.

One of these options is to have a listing put together for you by a professional. Host My Home are currently offering Consultation packages to clients that would like to try hosting but do not know how to put together a professional marketing package. There are also existing Hosts in Cairns that have had ‘listing makeovers’ (a consultation with professional photos and new text describing their property) to improve their bookings. Are you interested in finding out more??? Call Host My Home today on 0414 446 992.

The majority of DIY Hosts do not have a background in Hospitality or Cleaning, however they have pride in presenting their properties at a high standard and welcoming guests with a smile. This works well if the standards remain consistent and the enjoyment factor still remains. The expectations of AirBnB guests are on the rise and it AIRBNB PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

CairnsLife 29 Magazine

Amy Eden and Ruth Wade enjoy the luxurious, original Moran Chesterfield that they restored and reupholstered with Zepel Luxe in Petrol Blue velvet.

CairnsLife 30 Magazine

NO DISTRESS WO R DS & PH O T O B Y SI LVI A M O G O R O V I C H

Carpentry has long been a trade dominated by men, but following your passion should not be dictated by gender!

Amy Eden and Ruth Wade, a social worker and a graphic designer, started with two main goals when they began creating custom pieces of furniture – to have fun and to learn.

That they are having fun is a given: it’s obvious that the two friends enjoy each other’s company, and any comparative inexperience is certainly not visible in their creations – even a quick look at their Facebook page, Eden & Wade, will tell you everything you need to know about the level of quality of the pieces they produce. Their eye for colour and design, exquisite finishing skills and attention to detail are next level – not only in their own creations but also in the incredible restorations that they have been commissioned to complete.

At every stage, they strive to give the ultimate respect to the timber and materials that they use – from sanding up to a 400 grit, to sourcing original parts where possible, and also using Tung Oil, which is pressed

CairnsLife 31 Magazine

from the seed of the nut of the Tung Tree. Using ecofriendly products lends a further satisfaction to their projects.

In last year’s popular Power of Pallets Charity Auction, not only did the pair win the Best Business Category, they also received one of the top 3 highest bids for their beautiful chevron bench – Jamie Durie was one of the judges and was effusive in his praise of their work, especially noting the quality of grain they had managed to reveal hidden in throwaway pallet wood. They keep an eye out for the older, hardwood pallets and both have been surprised at the quality of timber they have found through their philosophy of looking under the surface of things – taking a deeper view, and not just ‘judging a book by it’s cover’ As our culture has changed, so have our skillsets, and it’s refreshing to hear that in the Eden and Wade households, the kids know that both Mummy and Daddy can fix their broken things. www.edenandwade.com hello@edenandwade.com

LIFE Last word from Real Estate

STEADY AS SHE GOES FOR CAIRNS REAL ESTATE T R O Y MCGUANE

Purchasing a house is probably the biggest personal financial decision any person can make in their lives, but it is not a singular decision, many smaller decision have to be made along the way.

The smaller decisions will determine how susceptible the house you purchase is to the inevitable boom and bust cycles that circulate throughout the property market Cairns has had the best of both worlds over recent years ,rising in value gradually and therefore booming slowly but not suffering the bust that has severely affected other areas.

While others have talked about the doom and gloom for the real estate market, I have always maintained and have confidence that we would experience a constant, but slow rise in value over the coming years.

Troy McGuane Elite Cairns Managing Director and Licensee 86 Woodward Street, Edge Hill M: 0423 337 715 P: 07 4053 8400 D: 07 4053 8440 E: troy@elitecairns.com.au www.elitecairns.com.au

Ultimately you cannot go wrong with owning your own home provided you take the necessary precautions and plan

CairnsLife 32 Magazine

your purchase. Take the time to research and use the services of a reputable agent to educate yourself as to what the right decision is. Take into account the affordability of the property as well as what you can facilitate financially and buy at the right time. I believe the right time to buy in Cairns is now In other states, such as NSW, prices have jumped and became over inflated. Don’t be surprised if the cooling of this market continues for some time and the interest of the southern investor becomes focused on well performing regional areas such as Cairns.

Cairns buyers will be able to purchase a home, in good condition and watch the value of that investment grow above the inflation rate. This sets the base for a sound investment strategy and should form a major part of your wealth creation strategy.

Cairns can be confident in the local real estate market.

TRAINING SARAH & DARREN ALCORN As the school bells ring and the work routine starts again, your new pet might be wondering what is going on. Puppies are cute and cuddly, they are curious and full of energy. The much-anticipated joys of having a new pet in the family can also end up in exasperation and frustration if the challenges of managing a puppy become too much.

All dogs are ready to learn and the majority are eager to please their pack leader, if you starting training your new family member as soon as you bring them home this will help avoid your dog developing bad habits that drive you mad.

Remember, your dog can pick up bad habits if allowed to get away with certain behaviours when settling in. For example, you allow your puppy to sleep in your room for the first few nights because he is crying, but a few months down the line you cannot shut your dog in the kitchen at night because he barks the house down!

There are a range of options to get you started – you might choose to join a puppy school or dog obedience class but there are a few things you can do to get started at home.

LEADERSHIP Dogs are a pack animal, it’s important to establish with your dog who is the leader of the pack. As the leader, you will show and teach your dog how you want him to behave and what you expect of him.

Your dog will respect a strong, clear, fair leader. If you fail to establish this position for yourself, your dog will feel obliged to try to take the position of leader for himself which can lead to a range of difficult behaviours.

CONSISTENCY Decide on the ground rules before your dog arrives and stick to them. The only way your dog will learn is if there is a clear and consistent connection between your dog’s actions and your reaction. Everyone in the family needs to stick with the ground rules.

ROUTINE Having a consistent feed and walk time can help your dog settle into their environment. Routines can be reassuring for dogs of all ages.

REWARDS The best way to train your dog is to reward them when they do what you want. This technique is known as reward-based training and it is the most humane and effective way to train your dog. It also makes training fun and helps strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Rewards may be in the form of a food treat or verbal praise and attention - anything your dog likes!

ACTIVITY The pace of modern life means it’s not always possible to spend as much time as you’d like with your dog. Be warned, though, a bored dog can mean trouble with a capital T. Regular walks or play periods with your dog and giving him the attention and praise that he craves will make your dog’s life fun and stimulating. A happy dog is less likely to develop annoying behaviour problems.

SOCIALISE Dogs can benefit enormously from socialisation.

They need regular, friendly, social contact with humans and other dogs, particularly in the first 16 weeks of life. Friendly socialisation has been shown to decrease fear of other dogs and people, and improve a dog’s ability to cope with new situations.

There are a range of local services that can work with you to get started on training or address problem behaviours. Talk to your vet or local pet care store to find out more.

Cairns Regional Council have some further information on their website: “Tips and Tricks for Dog Owners” www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/ pets-and-domestic-animals/dogs/tips-andtricks-for-dog-owners “Responsible Dog Owner” www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0016/154600/Responsible-dog-owner.pdf

First Class

Pet Transport

CairnsLife 33 Magazine