T h e M ag a z i n e f o r L o c a l s
NOVEMBER 2016
cover story
Lisa Costa
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Housing Industry Association Awards MEET THE ENTRANTS
Kitchens Finance Builders Gardening Homes
Home improvements or renovation‌
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WELCOME TO OUR FINAL HOMELIFE FOR 2016! This edition sees the launch of our Real Estate section, which will feature property listings from some of Cairns’ most reputable and successful agencies each month. We have been incredibly impressed with Lisa Costa from Neocon Homes, who has designed and built a new flagship display home in Park Ridge. The architectural marvel is set to be unveiled next month, and is sure to be a talking point in the industry and wider community for the innovative use of materials and partitions to create a unique, pavilion style home. Also featured in this issue are some of the entrants in this years’ prestigious Housing Industry Association Regional Awards, with the winners being announced later this month. All of the entrants have proven the quality of their work and have built impeccable reputations in the industry for the high standards they set in their work. Best wishes for a safe and happy Festive season!!
BUILDING THE FAR NORTH TOGETHER Proud Business Partner of HIA and Supporter of the Far North Queensland Building Industry
Cairns Hardware would like to congratulate all nominees in all categories of the 2016 HIA Awards
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CairnsLife 5 Magazine
NEOCON HOMES
SIMPLY EXTRAORDINARY
A sensational new home currently being built in Cairns is destined to go down in the history books as being one of the most dynamic architecturally designed homes ever built in the city. Designed and built by Lisa Costa of Neocon Homes, the semi-pavilion split-level home is unique in every aspect. With triangular-shaped roofs over two pavilions, an internal entrance atrium, contemporary internal features and remarkable materials used in the construction, the home has an extraordinary ‘wow’ factor.
N E O CO N HOME S
The 420sq m house, at 36-38 The Peak at Park Ridge, will be open to the public in early December.
WORDS BY J A N I E BAR T ON
“It’s definitely different” Lisa said. “It’s more of a resort-style home, and it will be a really beautiful place to live within. So much architecture in homes today is the same, and at Neocon we want people to have individually designed homes that give functionality as well as a wonderful aesthetic beauty.” The pavilion roofs are constructed of specialised 400x400mm diamond-laid Adeka zinc-titanium tiles not before used in Queensland. Large 1200x1200 Italian Gigacer floor tiles and Paulownia timber ceilings are used internally to create a fresh open feel. Specialised tile laying methods are used on the main bathroom and external patios.
“This is a semi-pavillion home where the front roof just touches the ground above reflection ponds and gardens. These then become part of the internal area of the front pavilion when the doors are opened,” Lisa said. “There is an internal entrance landing between the two pavilions and specialised landscaping and gardens surround and meander throughout the entire property.” The home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an extra shower near the pool, kitchen, dining area, and 2 large entertainment areas. The main bedroom is able to be reconfigured with sliding partitions that slide back into pockets and become invisible so you can have one huge open parent’s retreat or you can pull the partitions out and divide the space into bedrooms each with their own ensuite. This gives the space quite a bit of flexibility. Lisa also designed “invisible” strip drains for the bathrooms, so the water disappears into the wall cavity. The back of the house faces east so most of the house including the back pavilion and bedrooms have views over the city.
Neocon Homes design and build one-off, totally unique homes, designed to suit client’s personalities, their families and their blocks of land. They also build on slopes, unusual shaped blocks and cliff edges, catering to both traditional and unusual designs. At Neocon, the person who designs your home also builds it, ensuring a simple and straightforward process. They can also do the interior design if required. This ensures a seamless project that perfectly matches your needs, your lifestyle, family and budget. They can design wow factor into your home with budgets that start in the $200,000 range through to any design you can imagine to build. “Everything we do in life is design-influenced and given the investment we put into our homes and properties they may as well be truly what we want and unique to us,” Lisa said. “I love designing and building homes that have a personal style and unique design. It just depends how far out there you wish to go with me.” Neocon Homes Ph: 0432 084 781 Website: www.neoconhomes.com.au
CairnsLife 9 Magazine
MIGHTY SHEDS
The doors have opened and the Centrobuild Building Centre, on the corner of Aumuller and Scott Sts, is ready for the Cairns public. The building has a prominent signage wall that is hard to miss, and inside, you are greeted with a full shed and a decadent tropical patio display. Welcoming and professional. The Centrobuild Building Centre has only been open for three months, providing anything from Patios & Decks, Sheds & Carports and Renovations and secondary dwelling designs available. Alan Taylor owner/ operator, is offering opening specials for their Mighty Sheds & Carports range over the next month. Alan is a registered builder and carpenter, with over 15 years’ experience in the industry.
ALA N & RO S E TAY L O R
“Sheds and carports are something both my wife Rose and I were always going to offer customers, having owned and operated the largest shed building company in Townsville from 20032008. We sold the business in order to return to Cairns, our home town, but sheds are in our blood.”
C a i r n s L i f e 11 M a g a z i n e
“From large commercial buildings and fitouts to smaller domestic sheds and carports, our range will surprise you.” It may seem impractical to see a fully built display shed, indoors, however Alan & Rose are happy that customers are able to come in and see what is available, the quality workmanship, and the level of professionalism throughout. “We use an independent engineer to certify all our buildings, where others have used in-house engineers we have found there is often conflicts of interest and integrity means a lot to me.” Alan says. The buildings are all accredited under the Shed Safe requirements, and engineered to withstand cyclonic winds and conditions. Mighty Sheds & Carports can do the whole job (Council, Concrete slab and build) from start to finish, or provide a kit and you can DIY. If you’re thinking about a shed or carport, it’s worth popping in to see the team at Mighty Sheds & Carports. Who knows, you may end up purchasing a lovely patio or deck instead!
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HIA AWARDS RUSSELL PARNICOTT HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LTD BRANCH MANAGER - CAIRNS
“
It’s not about how to hold your hammer correctly, it’s about running a business
”
Widely acknowledged as the building industry’s only genuinely national awards, the Cairns Housing Industry Association (HIA) annual awards offer potential for our local builders and tradespeople to take their considerable talent to a nationwide audience. HIA in Cairns has a membership base of approximately 300 builders, cabinet makers, and a wide range of trades. The awards are the highlight of their year, affording tremendous opportunity to showcase their products and expertise to their peers and the general public. Winners at the November 11 Cairns awards progress to the North Queensland regional awards, covering Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. There are no Queensland awards per se, award recipients from North Queensland heading directly to the national awards. Russell Parnicott, Area Manager for HIA in Cairns, says Cairns has taken out a significant number of national awards, with our custom builders presenting superb product and highly competitive environmental initiative, with Greensmart branding seeing many winners in the category of energy efficiency. “The Awards night is a celebration of talent, creativity and ingenuity, of which we have an abundance in our region, in all facets of the industry,” says Russell.
“There’s six sub-categories within the custom built home category alone, ranging from houses valued at under $400,000 to the category of $800,000 and over. Other categories include display homes, spec homes, project homes and renovations.
“After carpenters have completed their apprenticeship, and worked in the industry for a few years, they often want to become a builder in their own right. To do so, they need to attain a Certificate IV and that’s where we come in.
“From those winners, the judges choose Home of the Year. It might not necessarily be a $2m home at Bluewater, it could be a $300,000 display home in the inner suburbs of Cairns.
“We operate a seven month course, working with them face to face here in our training room.
“As the Area Manager, I accompany the three judges as they spend four days visiting each of the entrants’ properties right across the region from Cardwell to Torres Strait and west as far as we need to go. It’s a good opportunity for me to ask the owners about their building experience. The judges have a very specific set of criteria, developed by HIA over the years including quality, street appeal, innovation, energy efficiency, and so on. “There’s a fair effort required of our members to participate in the awards, providing full sets of plans, photos, energy ratings, contracts and so forth, and quite often the final decision might be made with just a half a point difference between projects’ ratings,” says Russell. As I express a little confusion over the role of HIA in the building community, Russell explains: “Our role is to lobby government, cut red tape, advocate on behalf of our members. Our Canberra head office is very close to government, and we do have a State office in Brisbane. Even on a local level, I get involved with local Councils and industry groups on our members’ behalf, for instance with planning issues, so they can just get on with what they are good at, building. HIA is also a registered training organisation.
CairnsLife 17 Magazine
“It’s not about how to hold your hammer correctly, it’s about running a business; the legal requirements, contracts, financial management, insurance and liability, marketing, estimating and tendering, workplace health and safety. We don’t want cowboys out there,” Russell says. “Once they have their Certificate IV in hand, we direct them to Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) as the regulating authority. Applicants need to have referees, proof of supervisory and customer service experience and liaison with architects and draftsmen, knowledge of regulatory compliance, subcontractor coordination, and everything else they need to know to operate efficiently and safely in the building industry. “If they satisfy all the requirements, QBCC will issue a licence, and maybe we will see our trainees in the line for an award in the future,” says Russell. With judging completed in September, the award winners will be announced at Pullman International on November 11. “Our judges have selected winners from a truly remarkable range of entries displaying design and construction excellence, efficiency, and innovation, and a growing number of consumers with projects in the pipeline are looking to the results of the Awards to select their building guru,” Russell adds.
LIFE HIA Awards
MEET THE ENTRANTS The Housing Industry Association Awards is an annual showcase of the best and brightest – with categories for Interior Design, Kitchen, Bathroom, and Apprentices, as well as the coveted ‘Home of the Year’ Award.
Housing Industry Association
AWARDS
The building industry in North Queensland has proven to be an area with both unique prospects and challenges, and the Housing Industry Association has acknowledged the special conditions faced by the industry up here by offering a Regional Awards. All of the following entrants have displayed their understanding of our climate and location, and their work demonstrates the innovation and ingenuity that is an essential part of the building industry. With the city experiencing a minibuilding boom, there has been a solid financial injection into the local economy and that’s good news for all of us!
MyStyle Homes One of the region’s building industry leaders needs no introduction, which is why it’s no surprise that MyStyle Homes, perpetual industry award winners, has several finalist entries is this year’s Pioneer HIA Housing awards. This comes on the back of receiving other major industry awards, including recently winning at state level the Excellence in Sustainable Living Award. “Winning these types of awards promotes the Cairns region into the spotlight,” said co-owner Grant Hartwig. “Designing and building homes is something that we put our heart and soul into every day, so it’s a great privilege to get rewarded for it.” MyStyle Homes co-owners Heather Ghidella and Grant Hartwig are passionate in their belief that Cairns has a future in becoming a world-class livable city. “Part of the determination when designing our homes is that we want to capitalise on natural things that are free, like your natural breezes and your natural light,” Heather said.
MyStyle Homes is a family owned and operated home building company that specialises in new home construction that is designed and built to suit each client’s individual requirements. Already known for its exceptional kitchen and bathroom designs, MyStyle also showcases healthy, sustainable and liveability elements throughout its design portfolio which are the hallmarks of our award-winning homes, but Grant and Heather don’t take all the credit. “The fantastic MyStyle Homes team are a huge contributing factor to MyStyle Homes success,” Grant added. Why not experience MyStyle’s new display homes for yourself ? They are located at Smithfield Village and are open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. CL MyStyle Homes 55 Anderson Street, Cairns Ph: 40 510 510 Website: mystylehomes.com.au
CairnsLife 18 Magazine
LIFE HIA Awards
Artizan Cabinets Since the kitchen is the busiest room in the house, it makes sense to have the best kitchen possible, which is why homeowners turn to Artizan Cabinets. The award-winning company, led by certified kitchen designer Russell Kelly, is known for creating unique, custom-made kitchens that suit individual homes and personal needs. The company’s list of awards and achievements is lengthy and includes being a nine-times finalist for the Australian Kitchen Design of the Year Awards and winning six awards at last year’s HIA event. “I am always extremely proud when we do so well at the HIA awards,” Russell said. “I’m proud of my staff for their continuing efforts.” Artizan’s super showroom on Scott St features multiple custommade kitchens, vanities, wardrobes, TV cabinets, entertainment units, bars and all styles of cabinetry. Its range of materials includes glass, laminates, solid timbers, timber veneers, granite, stainless steel, two-pack polyurethane paint, acrylic Stylite door material and Corian solid surface bench-top material.
Russell and his close-knit team combine client’s ideas with their years of expertise along with high-quality materials and finishes to create individual kitchens that suit clients’ budgets, space and lifestyles. This year Russell and his team have eight entries in this year’s HIA awards.
“It’s very rewarding when you work with clients and do a job they’re very happy with,” said Russell. “We aim to supply customers with the kitchen, bathroom, laundry and cabinets of their dreams.” CL Artizan Cabinets 178 Scott St, Bungalow Ph: 4051 4007 Website: www.artizancabinets.com.au
LIFE HIA Awards
Eastbuild Designer Homes
After previously winning HIA regional and state Home of the Year awards, and being a finalist in the esteemed Australian Home of the Year awards, it’s no wonder Eastbuild Designer Homes is one the city’s most sought-after builders. The team at the locally owned-and-operated family business knows the industry inside and out after 30 years in the industry, and is well respected for its professionalism and for setting the benchmark in building high-quality homes. Led by respected builder Ron Easterbrook, who personally oversees all projects, Eastbuild’s expert team includes an in-house architect, leading-hand experienced foremen, a team of highly skilled carpenters, dedicated apprentices and a team of high-quality contractors who have been with Eastbuild for numerous years. “Our team of experienced, skilled professionals are committed to working hands-on with our clients,” said Ron. “ Hands-on management is a hallmark of this family-owned and managed company, and we work as a close and committed team to deliver quality homes that exceed our clients’ expectations.” A multi-award winner in previous HIA regional awards, Eastbuild is a finalist in four categories in this year’s North Queensland awards. “I think the HIA awards are really great for the industry because they recognise quality, established builders and homes,” Ron said. “There are a lot of builders around, and it’s great to be recognised for doing exceptional work.” Not only is Eastbuild Designer Homes an award-winning company for designing and constructing homes, it’s also sought after for renovating existing homes and building home additions such as decks and patios. Every project is professionally project-managed from initial design to handover, and Ron and his team pride themselves on innovation, quality and commitment in constructing homes to exceed client expectations. CL Eastbuild Designer Homes Ph: 0438 876 221 Website: www.eastbuildqld.com.au
A & C Constructions in Kuranda, you will have selected the builder of your dream home. The biggest investment of your life needs to be backed by an assurance that your builder has built your new home with the same exquisite craftsmanship, care and consideration as if building it for his own family. There’s more than one reason why A & C Constructions have acquired a formidable reputation as one of Cairns most prestigious builders. Innovation, casual elegance and sophistication combine the company reputation for extraordinary attention to detail never falters. It speaks for itself that A & C Constructions relies almost wholly on word of mouth to promote its exceptional workmanship and integrity. “We won’t compromise on quality to save a dollar. That’s The company prides itself on its individual approach and personal
care, taking clients on a personal journey through initial ideas, design and plan, through to completion and after care, and custom building to suit client requirements, while matching design and materials to the site and environment. “We really do treat each home as if we were building for ourselves. We have a wonderful team of subcontractors but Adrian is a handson builder, on site throughout construction. We even perform the pre-completion clean ourselves; that way we know it is perfect when we hand over the keys,” says Cassie. A & C Constructions also undertakes renovations and commercial building. CL A & C Construction Ph: 0427 937 808 Website: www.accnq.com.au
C aa ii rr nn ssLLiiffee 22 00 M M aa gg aa zziinnee C
LIFE HIA Awards
Ash Moseley Homes There’s nothing more reassuring than having an award-winning builder create your dream home, which is why Ash Moseley Homes is in such high demand. Since its inception 26 years ago, Ash Moseley Homes has won more than 100 industry awards at local, state and national levels, and this year the highly respected building company has three finalists in the regional HIA Awards. “The effort put into our projects by our team, our contractors and suppliers culminates in showcasing our product at the HIA awards night, and those in the building industry and the general public get to see what’s actually getting built and the finished product,” said Michelle Moseley, who runs the business with her husband Ash. “If you are the recipient of an award, it’s a team effort and you do receive recognition from your colleagues and the public, and the owners also like to know they are living in an award-winning home.” Ash Moseley Homes slogan is Excellence in Building, and this approach has been recognised not only with winning multiple housing awards each year for more than two decades but, more importantly, with having happy, satisfied clients.
“We build each home as if we were building it for ourselves, so we always strive to ensure the finished product is the best it can be,” Michelle said. The award-winning business success comes from building custom designs and personalised homes, listening to their clients and paying close attention to the little details. “Clients like to feel that the home we are building for them has a point of difference, a certain uniqueness,” Michelle said. “We offer advice to the owners yet we allow them to make their own selections.” CL Ash Moseley Homes 37 Mt Milman Drive, Smithfield Ph: 4038 3911 Website: www.ashmoseleyhomes.com.au
LIFE HIA Awards CAIRNS’ BUILDING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN BOOMING OF LATE, AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE THINKERS IN THE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTING TO GROW OUR TOWN. EVERY YEAR THE HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HOLDS AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE TO CELEBRATE THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF DESIGN, AND LED THE FIELD IN THEIR INDUSTRY IN THE REGION.
ENTRANTS CairnsLife congratulates the Award nominees on the high standard of their work and commitment to the community. Best of luck to all the entrants!
A & C CONSTRUCTIONS NQ
AWARD CATEGORIES
AFFINITY DESIGNER HOMES ALL SEASONS HOME IMPROVEMENTS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
INTERIOR CABINETRY
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
KITCHEN DESIGN
BATHROOM DESIGN
KITCHEN OF THE YEAR
BATHROOM OF THE YEAR
KITCHEN RENOVATION OVER $25,001
BATHROOM OVER 8SQM BATHROOM UP TO 8SQM CUSTOM BUILT HOME $400,001 - $550,000 CUSTOM BUILT HOME $550,001 - $650,000 CUSTOM BUILT HOME OF THE YEAR
ALLARO HOMES CAIRNS ARTIZAN CABINETS ASH MOSELEY HOMES BEN AUDEN CONSTRUCTIONS BRENDAN GRANT HOMES
KITCHEN RENOVATION UP TO $25,000 NEW KITCHEN $30,001 - $50,000 NEW KITCHEN OVER $50,001
CAIRNS QUALITY HOMES CAIRNS SPECIALIZED CABINETS CCW CABINETWORKS
NEW KITCHEN UP TO $30,000 OUTDOOR KITCHEN
COUGAR HOMES PTY LTD
CUSTOM BUILT HOME OVER $800,001
OUTDOOR PROJECT PROJECT HOME OF THE YEAR
EASTBUILD DESIGNER HOMES
CUSTOM BUILT HOME UP TO $400,000
RENOVATION/ADDITION
GJ GARDENER HOMES CAIRNS
PROJECT OF THE YEAR
DISPLAY HOME $300,001 - $450,000
RENOVATION/ADDITION
HEDLEY HOMES
PROJECT UP TO $300,000
KENICK CONSTRUCTIONS
DISPLAY HOME OF THE YEAR
SPEC HOME OF THE YEAR
KILFOY CABINETS
DISPLAY HOME OVER $450,001
SPECIALISED HOUSING
DISPLAY HOME UP TO $300,000
TOWNHOUSE/VILLA
GREENSMART ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT
EFFICIENCY
TOWNHOUSE/VILLA OF THE YEAR
HOME OF THE YEAR
MYSTYLE HOMES (QLD) PTY LTD RLO POOL CONSTRUCTION STATEMENT HOMES STYLE LINE CABINETS
Affinity Designer Homes While it’s fantastic to be a finalist in the Pioneer HIA awards it’s a win-win across the board for all entrants, finalists, winners and even clients. “I believe it’s important to be part of the HIA awards because it’s good to see what is fresh and innovative in our industry,” said resident building designer Roslyn Smith of Affinity Designer Homes, a finalist in the prestigious awards. “It‘s great recognition of the work we do and it motivates me to keep thinking ahead with new concepts for home design.” Affinity Designer Homes has been building homes for 20 years winning a number of HIA awards in the past including accolades for best home on a sloping site, best home for tropical living and best custom-built home. “It’s good to be acknowledged for the work you do, and it’s also good for the client who has an award-winning home,” added Roslyn, who has been designing and building homes in North Queensland for
more than 30 years and who recently won an industry Women in Building Award. Affinity is well respected in the industry for building custom designs to suit our tropical climate to ensure the house is energy efficient and sustainable in both designs and materials, which ultimately saves the clients money. They also pride themselves on working within client’s budgets for homes that suit their land and lifestyle. Roslyn’s award-winning work is supported by a team of quality trades people and is backed by professional and qualified staff. Together, they specialise in unique designs building homes on sloping sites, narrow and irregular-shaped land. CL Affinity Designer Homes 144 Mulgrave Road, Cairns Ph: 4051 8866 Website: www.affinitydh.com.au
CairnsLife 22 Magazine
LIFE HIA Awards
RLO Pool Construction It was first-time lucky for RLO Pool Construction when they entered the HIA awards last year. The local family-run business, led by Richard Olfen, has gained a solid reputation as one of Cairns’ leading pool construction companies since it started in 2005. The team won the Outdoor Project Award at the HIA regional awards last year at its first time entering the prestigious event, went on to win the state awards and was a finalist in the national competition. “It was a great sense of achievement to be recognised locally and nationally for the hard work that goes into all our projects,” Richard said. “Gaining recognition for outstanding works is rewarding for all involved within the company.” RLO Pool Constructions is well known for creating the most innovative and high-quality pools whatever space and budget clients have to work with. Their attention to detail, service above and beyond and their friendly and exceptional builders combine to make the company highly successful and in demand.
“We work closely with our clients to achieve their expectations within their budget, always concentrating on the end result and keeping workmanship as a priority over profit,” said Richard. Richard’s team is passionate about creating pools and lifestyle areas that exceed expectations and staying up to date with the latest materials and applications, which makes RLO Pools one of Cairns’ leading pool construction companies. RLO just doesn’t build pools, however. They offer the complete pool-scaping service including water features, ponds, pool fencing, landscaping surrounds, gazebos, decks, and a host of landscaping services, making them the perfect company to turn to for all your outdoor area requirements. CL RLO Pool Constructions 51-61 Aurisia Street, Smithfield Ph: 4057 7112 Website: rlopools.com.au
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CairnsLife 24 Magazine
09.01.2016 14:33
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PROPERTY STYLING FOR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL Are you about to sell your property and want to maximise your sales outcome and you’re not sure where to start? Or you’ve watched the shows on TV and wish someone would come into your home and style it for you? Problem solved! Joosh It Up! Jan Warnock is the owner of the property styling enterprise, Joosh It Up, and it is becoming “the go to” for anyone selling or up styling their home or apartment. Jan loves helping home owners get the best value out of their property. Whether it’s updating, renovating or selling and moving on.
Jan sees the whole process of presentation as essential. As she says “When selling you have to present your home to maximise its full potential. As cliché as it sounds, as soon as the buyer walks through the front door what they see will leave a lasting impression. When buyers walk into your home they imagine themselves living there: entertaining their friends; having a drink after work; enjoying the home as a family. You need to be able to tell this story”. First impressions count. Always! And this is even more important now when most potential buyers have been searching the net to find that property that they love. They will also do a “drive by” to gauge what the neighbourhood looks like. Your property needs to not only stand out, but reflect a lifestyle that will entice the buyer to want to visit your open home.
CairnsLife 25 Magazine
So your property needs to look immaculate from the street. Your photos on line need to really enhance the properties appeal. And the interior must give the impression that it is clean, contemporary, light with no sign of its occupants. This is where a property stylist is invaluable. With the right advice and the correct styling, your property will be that stand out. By using the owner’s own furniture, the cost of styling is kept to a minimum. If you choose to be ‘Jooshed’, Jan will come in and add everything from rugs, artworks, bed and bath linen and key design pieces plus decorator items to really show off your property. And you’ll be surprised at how inexpensive this will be. Remember, “You only get one chance to make a first impression”.
CairnsLife 25 Magazine
TOP TIPS FOR MAKING MORE MONEY FROM YOUR AIRBNB PROPERTY JU LIE G E O R G E
Hosting your property could earn you thousands of extra dollars per year, but to maximise your earnings we recommend you take on board some of these tips…..
security codes, Wifi passwords, instructions for the remote, etc. List your mobile number so that the client can contact you with any concerns.
1. Photos – DO NOT take your own photos! (unless this is your profession). The majority of listings on Airbnb do not reflect how fantastic the properties are due to the poor photography. Airbnb offer a FREE professional photography service. They will send a photographer to your house to capture the best light, angles and features. If this service is not available in your area, please seek the services of a professional photographer…it will be worth the investment!
A map of the local area pointing out the closest convenience stores, bottleshop, takeway or your favourite restaurant is also a nice touch. If you are able to access a tourist brochure on your city (usually available at information centres or tour booking outlets) the guests will appreciate that information too.
2 Communication – Respond quickly to requests and enquiries. Messages with your guests prior to their stay allow you to discover what type of visit they intend to have and what type of interaction they will be expecting from you once they arrive. Airbnb monitors the communication between you and your guests and if you don’t stay in touch as often as you should, Airbnb takes action against your listing and could remove your listing or reduce your ranking, costing you time and potential guest bookings.
Host My Home Ph: 0475 268 309 Website: www.hostmyhome.com.au
3 Pricing – Vary your property’s pricing according to demand. If there are events in your local area such as a yearly sporting event, show or conference that typically brings in a lot of out of town visitors, increase your prices to take advantage of this. You will also want to charge more for weekends and school holiday periods when there is a lot of demand. Get to know your competition in the area – does your property offer more modern features? Is it closer to amenities? Do you have a coffee maker? Once you can determine your ‘value’ you can set a price that is accurate. We recommend charging a minimum cleaning fee to ensure your time changing sheets is worthwhile. 4. Holiday in your own home – It is very easy to miss minor details holiday home like an extra blanket, an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer or milk for your coffee unless you spend a night in your property like your future guests will do. A walk through is often not enough to pick up these small items and you do not want to be prompted about them by a guest review. 5. Welcome letter / Guide / Map – Although in most cases you will greet your guests when they arrive it is also a nice touch to have a Welcome letter that outlines the property features such as parking spaces,
CairnsLife 27 Magazine
6. FREEBIES! Have you ever stayed at a motel or guest house and been welcomed by a fruit basket, complimentary bottle of wine or even chocolates on your pillow? You don’t get much for free these days so when you do you will remember it well. It only costs a couple of dollars to purchase some snacks or drinks for your guests. 7. Personalise your space – There is a reason guests have chosen to book on Airbnb and not a Hotel Website….they want to experience an accommodation option with character! One of the most popular Airbnb properties in Cairns is an Igloo on the waterfront at Trinity Beach. It is not to say that you need to go crazy with design ideas, but make your property individual with some homely charms (prints on the wall, vases with fresh flowers, books, etc). 8. Extras – Does your property have the following extras that could earn you extra income? • $15-$20 extra per night for Breakfast • $10 extra per night for FREE Wifi • $10 extra per night for Television in the bedroom • $10 extra per night for Pay TV (Netflix is the preferred) • $5 extra per night for Coffee Maker • $5 extra per night for Outside BBQ Of course if you would like to implement the ideas above but lack the time, energy or knowhow you can contact the team at Host My Home and they can take care of this for you.
AIRBNB PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Reed Realty ReedRealty Realty Reed Reed Realty A independent agency delivering personalised service, AAvibrant, vibrant, vibrant, independent independent agency agency delivering delivering personalised personalised service, service, A vibrant, independent agency delivering personalised service, vibrant, independent agency delivering personalised service, with the flexibility to be competitive whilst delivering unparalleled with with the the flexibility flexibility to to be be competitive competitive whilst whilst delivering delivering unparalleled unparalleled with the flexibility to be competitive whilst delivering unparalleled with the flexibility competitive whilst delivering unparalleled exposure and superior marketing exposure exposure and and superior superior marketing marketing exposure and superior marketing exposure and marketing personalisedflexibleexperiencedindependentresourcefulprofessionalclientfocussedadvisory personalisedflexibleexperiencedindependentresourcefulprofessionalclientfocussedadvisory personalisedflexibleexperiencedindependentresourcefulprofessionalclientfocussedadvisory personalisedflexibleexperiencedindependentresourcefulprofessionalclientfocussedadvisory personalisedflexibleexperiencedindependentresourcefulprofessionalclientfocussedadvisory
With over million in sales in Cairns most sought after locations including With over $50 million sales in most sought after locations including With With over over $50 $50 million million ininresidential residential residential sales sales ininCairns Cairns Cairns most most sought sought after after locations locations including including With over $50$50 million in residential sales in Cairns most sought after locations including - - ---
Edge Hill Stratford Freshwater Rainforest Edge Hill Whitfield Stratford Freshwater Rainforest Edge Hill Whitfield Stratford Freshwater Rainforest Edge Hill Whitfield Stratford Freshwater Rainforest Estate Redlynch Brinsmead Cairns North Parramatta Estate Redlynch Brinsmead Cairns North Parramatta Estate Redlynch Brinsmead Cairns North Parramatta Estate Redlynch Brinsmead Cairns North Parramatta Park City View Parkridge City Northern Beaches Park City Parkridge City Northern Beaches Park City View View Parkridge City Northern Beaches Park City View Parkridge City Northern Beaches
Contact me me for for no no obligation obligation advice on the sale Contact advice sale Contact Contact me me for no obligation obligation advice advice on on the the sale sale Contact me forfor nono obligation advice onon thethe sale of your property of your property ofyour your property property of of your property Darren Reed Darren Reed Darren Darren Reed Reed Darren Reed Principal & Licensee Principal & Licensee Principal Principal & Licensee Licensee Principal && Licensee 0418 774 734 0418 774 734 0418 0418 774 774 734 734 0418 774 734 darren@reedrealty.com.au darren@reedrealty.com.au darren@reedrealty.com.au darren@reedrealty.com.au darren@reedrealty.com.au
For Sale ForSale Sale For For Sale
Contact Darren Reed of Reed Realty on 0418 774 734 to inspect Darren Reed of Reed Realty on 0418 774 Contact Darren Reed ofRealty ReedRealty Realty on774 0418 774 734to toinspect inspect Contact Reed of Reed on 0418 774 734 to inspect Contact DarrenDarren Reed of Reed on 0418 734 to734 inspect
Contact Darren Reed of Reed Realty on 0418 774 734 to inspect
MOUNT SHERIDAN 9 Bambusa Close • 2 Pac kitchen with quality appliances • Open plan layout • Granite benches in kitchen & bathroom • Bedrooms with A/C • Saltwater pool & fully fenced private backyard • Great outdoor area • Spotless home ready to move in too
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car | Pool price:
from $499,000
agent:
nicole bragg 0428 455 563
MOUNT SHERIDAN 18 Claridge Close • Custom built home • Prestige elevated street • Approx 264m2 under roof • Views to the city • Additional room for a boat & trailer • Open plan layout • 2 Pac kitchen
MOUNT SHERIDAN 43 Dorunda Street • Spectacular panoramic views • Huge 2 Story home • 4 Large bedrooms on the upper level • Two modern kitchens • 3 Private outdoor areas • Massive 1695m2 allotment • Self contained retreat on lower level • Study & pool
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car price: agent:
low $600,000’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563
4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Car | Pool price:
from $670,000
agent:
nicole bragg 0428 455 563
KANIMBLA 9 Spowatt Close • Spacious family home • 3 Separate living areas • Media room • Sparking swimming pool with mountain views • Side access • 730m2 block with no rear neighbours • Family kitchen • 4 bedrooms with BIR & air-conditioning • Remote garage
EARLVILLE 12 Rowe Street • Renovated Queenslander • 3 Living areas • Two kitchens • Office nook and large storage room • Side access • Pebblecrete pool & landscaped gardens • Maintained traditional throughout • Minutes to CBD
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car | Pool price: agent:
nicole bragg 0428 455 563
5 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car | Pool price: agent:
low $600,000’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563
MOUNT SHERIDAN 14 Woodrose Drive • Beautifully presented inside & out • Impressive kitchen • Spacious open plan living, dining area • Side access • Two stunning new bathrooms • Quality fittings and fixtures through out
mid $500,000’s
3 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car price:
mid $400,000
agent:
nicole bragg 0428 455 563
MOUNT SHERIDAN 41 Lacewing Drive • Stunning 3.5m ceilings • Custom built home, 360m2 under roof • Spectacular panoramic views • 5 Large bedrooms full air con • Massive kitchen with quality features and fittings • 4kw Solar Power • Large deck to relax on with friends
MOUNT SHERIDAN 3 Cherry Close • 3 Separate living areas, dining, lounge & sitting room • 4 Spacious bedrooms plus separate study • Opportunity to convert the rear shed into a 5th bedroom • 700m2 Elevated allotment • Beautiful rear alfresco area
5 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car price: agent:
nicole bragg 0428 455 563
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car | Study price: agent:
$400,000 - $440,000 nicole bragg 0428 455 563
MOUNT SHERIDAN 63 Sawpit Street • Huge under covered outdoor entertaining area • Opposite parklands • Kitchen boast granite sink and quality appliances • Open plan layout • 4 Spacious bedrooms wit mirrored BIR & air conditioning • 1.8Kw solar panels plus solar hot water
$749,000
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car price: agent:
high $400,000’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563
MOUNT SHERIDAN 90 Barnard Drive • Rear 7x6 powered shed • Massive area for secure undercover parking • 700m2 allotment with side access • Freshly painted inside and out • Nice outdoor undercover area • Walking distance to local shops • A rare find with plenty of potential
3 Bed | 2 Bath | 4 Car | Shed price: agent:
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car price: agent:
low $400,000’s nicole bragg 0428 455 563
BENTLEY PARK 19 Pollock Close • Secure and massive outdoor entertaining area • Open plan living dining & kitchen plus a separate media room • Beautiful neutral tones throughout the property • Spotless home • Drive through access to the rear • Great size bedrooms
nicole bragg 0428 455 563
GORDONVALE 9 Swensen Street • Two large living areas the flow to the outdoor entertaining area • Separate media room • Flat and level 848m2 allotment • Opportunity to build a shed or pool • Great location in friendly street • Main bathroom features spa bath • 4 Good size bedrooms
low $400,000’s
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car price: agent:
$480,000 - $500,000 nicole bragg 0428 455 563
Celebrate Nature Your very own forest with a 3 level “one of a kind” home that really must be viewed to experience the craftsmanship and ambience of an all timber home. The privacy and seclusion you seek is well provided for on 6.7 acres or 2.75HA.. The main level has extensive living opening to a huge deck, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and well located kitchen. The views from the kitchen and deck take in the Emerald Ranges and undulating farmland. The upper mezzanine level features the master bedroom, another bathroom, plenty of storage and tree top vistas. The lower level has another bathroom, games room and extensive concrete pad for future expansion and would be ideal for a granny flat. The property has a bore, shed with power and an annex, circular driveway, double drive thru’ carport, fencing and located at the top of the Gillies with easy access to Cairns. Want a “ world of your own” property ? Investigate this one $570,000neg
Want Your Weekends To Be Different? Millaa Millaa region can provide a variety of weather conditions, brilliant clear blue skies or the lovely misty weather that’s just the right excuse for a fire. This is the reason you want a Tablelands weekender – a change in the weather! AND it’s at least 4 degrees cooler overnight! Picturesque 5 acre (2.02HA) property with a 2 level shed comes with a permanent creek with a swimming hole. The shed is set up comfortably with good size living area with bathroom, kitchen and sleeping area on the ground level with a substantial sleeping loft on the upper mezzanine level all warmed by a log burning fire. There’s a carport, 2 rainwater tanks and an all weather driveway from the main road. The property is located between two waterfalls and very handy to Millaa Millaa, there’s plenty to do on weekends with the walking tracks, country markets and boating activities on nearby lakes. ESCAPE THE COASTAL HUMIDITY $235,000
A Few Minutes To Mareeba • It’s the site for the house of your dreams • Build a shed that’s the envy of your mates • Keep a horse or a cow • Garden on a spectacular scale Located at the end of a quiet close is a small subdivision with bitumen road, power and some blocks have a bore. This is sought after acreage, near level and easy to build on with treed backdrops and BIG sky. All the blocks are a minimum of 2ha, just under 5 acres, am handy size if you want to keep a pony. Brooklands Estate is to the south west of the township of Mareeba, at the end of La Spina Road (off Roiko Road) past the gun and rifle clubs, so close to schools and shopping but with that true country feeling. Prices start at $185,000 why not visit the estate and dream and scheme about your future home? Just 4 blocks left – don’t delay.
ATHERTON TABLELAND PROPERTIES
Want To Live At The Lake? Built to enjoy the fantastic views, everything revolves around the most popular living area – the verandah. 18m long with an outdoor fireplace for the chillier nights, this is where you enjoy hours of relaxation or the envy of your friends when you invite them around – this is special scenery! it’s a comfortable house but the stunner is the privacy and views. This isn’t a “drive by “ house, you can’t see it from the road and the land and lake access needs to be viewed . Fenced all round with mature trees and nothing to interrupt a stunning panorama. The home is rendered block 392m2 under roof, enormous tiled double garage with roller doors at both ends that quickly converts to a great party place. The home provides 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms and 2 living areas. Situated on 2.5 acres with lake access and a “to die for” 5 bay shed with ensuite. RARE OPPORTUNITY $950,000neg
TO
BUY
LAKE
FRONTAGE
Space On A Grand Scale The perfect couple’s house, expansive master suite with guest accommodation. It’s a quality built workable design that has expansive formal and informal living areas that enjoy a semi rural outlook with golf course on 2 sides of the property. The living area has formal and informal areas with a stunning copper fire place and polished timber cabinetry. The kitchen design allows for easy entertaining and interaction with your guests. The master suite opens to the verandah, has a spacious walk in robe and a full size bathroom. The informal living area has so much built storage, including the laundry and study. Tiled for convenience it’s an animal friendly area and the ultimate casual entertaining area. The guest wing which includes two bedrooms and a bathroom opens to the casual entertaining area. Many extra’s include security screens, 2 bay shed, fernery and maximum privacy on 3968m2 of parklike land. All this and on the edge of the town, just minutes to everything. $695,000 neg
Hidden Assets- Atherton • High ceilings • Spacious rooms • Private secure rear garden • Freshly painted • Value at $349,000neg It’s a sought after location, it’s within walking distance of both the primary and high schools. This is ideal if you have children, are a teacher or just want a well located rental. It’s a very different floor plan with a designated walk through area to the rear tiled patio that doesn’t track visitors through the lounge room. The spacious rooms will thrill those with larger pieces of furniture, especially in the main bedroom that looks out onto the rear garden. The secure rear garden with a rural outlook is a bonus in this price range and the 900m2 block is fenced on 3 sides. 3 bedrooms, 1 huge bathroom and a double lock up garage with two roller doors and extra storage space with access to the house and the rear garden complete this home.
KAREN RANIE
M 0458408540
|
E karen@arearealestate.com.au
|
W www.arearealestate.com.au
BUY LOCAL WHILST SHOPPING THE MARKET SC O T T BU RNE SS
We all know spending money locally has huge benefits for the local economy, how can this work in the finance industry? Everyone should shop around when looking for a good finance deal, every day I hear people say why didn’t I look for a better deal for years ago. I see people putting food products back on the shelf to save 50cents – some of these people are paying hundreds or even thousands each year more than they need to for their lending WHY? Make some time and get someone to look over your debts, don’t put it off for another year, please keep this in mind when you decide to start shopping for a better finance deal, people who work in your local finance brokerage, building society, credit unions etc are putting funds back into the local economy, put them on your shopping list.
Yellow Bri ck Ro ad
I could retire very comfortably if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone complain about being transferred to Bombay or the Philippians when trying to sort out important issues with their finance company, the benefits of being able to speak with a local person can be HUGE!! Interesting fact about finance brokers,
around half of residential mortgages are now written by brokers in Australia. But is a broker for you? Mortgage brokers are intermediaries who stand between the borrower and a panel of lenders; their job is to understand the borrower’s financial situation and goals (brokers have a duty of care not to recommend a loan that will cause the borrower “undue hardship”). They match the borrower to a suitable loan, and package the loan to the recommended lender. The broker is paid a commission by the lender, and under legislation – the National Consumer Credit Protection Act – the estimated commission is disclosed prior to any application being made on behalf of the borrower. Along with loan selection and applications, brokers can offer advice and experience. For instance, too many unsuccessful mortgage applications can hurt your credit rating: brokers generally know where your application is likely to have the best chance of approval to avoid this problem. Contact us today on 40402040 for a free consulation.
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+
3.85%
4.89%
Auswide Bank
RBA Rate Tracker Home Loan
3.99%
4.04%
Freedom Package Standard Fixed 3 yrs 80% 150k+
3.69%
4.84%
Bendigo Bank
Connect Package Variable Owner Occupied 250-499k
4.23%
4.47%
Connect Package Fixed Owner Occupied 3 yrs 250k+
4.09%
4.45%
BOQ
Clear Path Variable Home Loan
4.32%
4.45%
Residential 3yr Fixed 3 yrs
3.59%
4.28%
Commonwealth Bank Wealth Package Standard Variable 350-749k
4.62%
5.03%
Wealth Package Residential Fixed 3 yrs 150k+
3.89%
4.91%
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+
3.89%
4.83%
QT Mutual Bank
Mortgage Saver
3.88%
3.88%
Choices Residential Fixed 3 yrs 20k+
3.69%
4.68%
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
4.30%
4.36%
Fixed Rate 3 yrs
3.99%
4.98%
Suncorp Bank
Home Package Plus Owner Occupied Variable 90% 150
3.95%
4.36%
Home Package Plus Owner Occupied Fixed 3 yrs 150k+
3.64%
4.36%
Westpac
Premier Advantage Rocket Repay Home Loan P&I 250-4
4.49%
4.87%
Premier Advantage Fixed Options 3 yrs 150k+
3.85%
4.85%
Yellow Brick Road
Empower Variable PI 0-80 100-749k
3.86%
3.89%
Empower Fixed PI 3 yrs
3.99%
3.93%
Source: www.canstar.com.au Products are chosen based on the lowest advertised rate available for relevant product types. Loans must be available for $350,000 and an LVR of 80%. *Comparison rate based on loan amount of $150,000.
CairnsLife 36 Magazine
Beat the banks with a better deal If you switch today, you could save over $30,000* on your home loan. *Terms & Conditions Apply.
Speak to us for a better deal today. Home Loans • Financial Advice • Insurance • Superannuation • Cash & Investments Scott Burness Wealth Manager & Principal Yellow Brick Road Cairns 154-156 Mulgrave Road, Cairns, QLD 4870
T 07 4040 2040 M 0402 073 375 E scott.burness@ybr.com.au
*Comparison rate based on Rate Smasher standard variable rate for a $150,000 loan for 25yrs with 70% Loan-to-Value ratio and comparable basic loans of major banks as at 12/8/16. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the example(s) given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and credit criteria apply. For full details visit www.ybr.com.au. Yellow Brick Road Finance Pty Ltd ACN 128 708 109, Australian Credit Licence 393195, AFSL 323825.
POSH LIFESTYLE W O RD S B Y JANI E B AR TON
Having recently returned from the one of the largest international furniture exhibitions in the world, Maggie Furnell of Posh Lifestyle can’t contain her excitement with the new furniture she has been able to bring back to Cairns. “The trade show in Shanghai China was absolutely fantastic,” she said. “It’s a huge event with so many new ranges of furniture. It was just excellent to see all the new trends from all over the world.” A number of those new trends are now showcased at Posh Lifestyle, where Maggie features furniture that suits our tropical environment, pieces that aren’t damaged by the heat, rain and humidity. One of the new trends in furniture, which perfectly suits resorts, commercial properties and outdoor areas in the tropics is made of steel and painted to look like wood. “This furniture is just fantastic commercially because it’s strong, durable, doesn’t rust and is practicable,” she said. “The new designs are really exciting, and they’re designed to withstand the heat, rain and humidity of our tropical climate.”
CairnsLife 38 Magazine
Maggie started Posh Lifestyle in 2006 as a retailer of homewares and furniture she sourced from throughout Australia. She expanded to include a wholesale division in 2010 where she soon became a Cairns’ leading importer of contemporary indoor and outdoor furniture sold factory direct to the public and wholesale to commercial clients. She’s also soon became in high demand for her interior design skills and furnishing services for homes, businesses and resorts. She has long-standing relationships with suppliers from all over Australia and she keeps up to date on all the latest styles and trends by attending trade shows in Sydney, Melbourne and throughout the world. While her retail and interior design side of the business thrives, so does her wholesale and import division, which has expanded so much that she has three warehouses of international-brand, highquality furniture. While Maggie is also well respected for her home-staging design service for properties on the market, she is also in high demand for
her commercial and restaurant fit-outs and has worked on a number of developments, businesses, resorts and hotels. She even designs individual pieces of furniture on request and has them custommade specifically for her clients. “I think furniture impacts on our life in a positive way, and I love being able to bring new and contemporary pieces to Cairns,” she said. “By going to trade shows all over the world, I can honestly say I know what’s happening out there and what’s new and trendy on the market, and I’m thrilled to be able to bring these products to Cairns.”
Posh Lifestyle 1/206 McCormack St, Manunda Ph: 4032 0233 or 0407 24 25 45 Website: www.poshlifestyle.com.au sales@poshlifestyle.com.au
CairnsLife 39 Magazine
We provide quality products and services,
all the time, every time. QUARRY, SAND, CONCRETE, TRANSPORT BITUMEN, AND ASPHALT PRODUCTS
Call Us Now
4047 8300 Lot 5, Maconachie St Woree QLD 4868 CAIRNS
PIONEER NORTH QUEENSLAND WORDS BY JANIE BAR TON PHOTOS BY SILVIA MOGOROVICH
It is Pioneer North Queensland’s ongoing support and strong relationships with builders in the Cairns area that makes it the perfect sponsor of the HIA awards. Since 1995, the largest producer of quarry, sand, concrete, bitumen and asphalt products for the building industry has been a key factor in the growth of the industry. “We sponsor the HIA awards because it’s a great medium that’s supporting the local builders,” said Pioneer sales and marketing manager Evan Walters. “It gives the local builders an opportunity to display their homes and all the great work that they do throughout the year. “There are some really stunning homes this year and some other great ones that will be available for the awards ceremonies next year as well.” Pioneer has developed long-lasting relationships with builders through
CairnsLife 41 Magazine
its six main operations in the North Queensland region – quarries, concrete plants, asphalt plants, spray sealing and transport division. Through a combination of quality products, the latest equipment and well-trained staff, the team at PNQ are consistently providing clients with a reliable and quality service. “We’re quite happy to support the HIA as a major sponsor of the awards, and we always look forward to partnering up and collaborating with those in our industry,” Mr Walters said. “Being a major sponsor of the HIA awards is something we look forward to every year. We enjoy spending a night with the builders in Cairns and seeing their work recognised.” Pioneer North Queensland Lot 5 Maconachie Street, Cairns Ph: 4047 8300 Website: www.pnq.com.au
SENSATIONAL
SPRING
SALE
NAL O I AT UE
S L SEN RA VA
0 0 50
T EX LY ON
$
NO
ONW !
Over 2,000 house and land packages available online at www.dixonhomes.com.au Cairns Region – Mossman to Cardwell and the Tablelands 172 Mulgrave Road, Westcourt find us on
SENSATIONAL UPGRADES FROM RESORT SPECIFICATION KITCHEN
ENTRANCE FEATURES
• Caesarstone 20mm Square Edge Quartz Benchtop • Formica Gloss Kitchen c/w Brushed Aluminium Kickboard • Blum Soft Close Door and Drawers (Excluding Corner Cabinets/Pantries) • Blanco Median 1160mm Deluxe Double Bowl and Drainer Kitchen Sink • Upgraded Mixer Tap with Vegie Spray
• Custom 3.2 x 1.2m Portico c/w 590 x 390 feature colour columns and 1800 x 300 Cemintel Inlays (if optional façade shown on standard plan) • Corinthian Windsor 1200mm Stained Timber and Glass Entrance Door • Gainsborough Trilock 3 in 1 Omni 600mm Stainless Steel Pull Handle
INTERNAL FEATURES • LED Downlights
APPLIANCES
• Gainsborough Feature Lever Door Handles
• Option 1 – AstiVita 900mm Gas/Electric Upright Stove ASTCOOKGE90 c/w Gas Connection. Plus AstiVita 900mm Glass Canopy Range hood ASTCAN90SSGL ducted to eave • Option 2 – Rosieres 600mm Pyrolytic Electric Oven and Rosieres 600mm Induction Cooktop. Plus AstiVita 600mm Stainless Steel Canopy Range hood ducted to eave • AstiVita Eco-line Freestanding Dishwasher BIDI60FSS
• Corinthian Motive Smooth Finish Internal Doors • Mirrored 2.4m High Sliding Wardrobe Doors in Bedrooms
ENERGY EFFICIENCY • Solar Power 1.5kW System • Solar Power Twin Panel 250L Ground Mounted Solar Hot Water System
GARAGE PANEL DOOR
BATHROOM & ENSUITE
• Steel-Line 5.2m wide x 2.3m high Deco Wood or Metallic Remote Panel Lift Door (subject to engineering)
• G James Semi Frameless Pivot Door Shower Screens • Upgraded Tapware and Bathroom Accessories • Wall Faced Toilet Suites (Atlanta or Edge) • Napoli 1500 or 1700mm Freestanding Bath (upgrade from standard bath) • Custom Caesarstone Formica Gloss Soft Close Vanities c/w Porcelain Basins
^To approved applicants. *Promotion is based on Resort Specification only. We reserve the right to alter specifications and/or substitute the make/model or type of any standard inclusion, to a product of equivalent standard, without notice. Limited offer, duplex designs upgrades one side per promo. Two kitchen plans/butlers kitchens, only main kitchen is upgraded, conditions apply. Limited time only. Carrington Homes P/L trading as Dixon Homes Cairns QBCC 78120. Images for advertising purposes. Effective from September 2016.
$15,000 GREAT START GRANT AVAILABLE
*
*To Approved Applicants
1300 10 10 10
LIFE Home
DECK SANDING AND REFINISHING
0419 285 881
“We’ll make your Peeling Deck Appealing Again!”
CairnsDeckRestore.com.au
If you love grilling, you’ll love our new Char-Broil range! X200 GRILL2GO®
PATIO BISTRO® 240
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Inspirational outdoor living Stock may vary between stores. Images for illustrative purposes only.
CairnsLife 44 Magazine
tofs.com.au
CAIRNS BUILDING ON THE RISE
Recent announcements of new construction projects in our region are good news. Everything is pointing to a steady recovery for our North Queensland building industry. This will also reflect in the housing market as we will need more accommodation for the increase in population that will come from not only the construction of these projects but the permanent housing of workers once the projects are complete.
ROSLY N S M I T H
This may well be the time that you look at building that investment property you’ve been thinking about, especially if you have good equity in your existing home. Vacancy rates for homes and units are low which means that we need more good housing stock for the rental market. Due to the current low interest rates there are good rental returns compared to previous years. ‘Wom en i n Bu i l din g ’ Winner Q M BA 2016
Awa r d
House & land packages are still very affordable in the Cairns area. First home owners can build a brand new, good quality home for less than $350k
and you can’t do that in too many other areas in the country. With record low interest rates, government grants and some developers’ and builders’ incentives to help them on their way, prices can be further reduced. Most young couples saving for a home will be able to manage a mortgage for that amount and it may be similar to the rent they are currently paying. The early birds are already out there snapping up the best blocks of land and taking advantage of current building prices. As our market gets stronger the cost of delivering new housing such as supply of good land, quality materials and experienced labor, will increase. Builders who have been around for a long time and have a good standing in the community will have a solid base of tradespeople and they will be able to deliver quality new homes to their clients. So get in now while our building is still quite affordable. I’m happy to discuss some of these options with you so call into our display home at Canopy’s Edge Estate.
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 45 Magazine
TRANQUILLITY BY NAME, TRANQUILLITY BY NATURE STAGE 2 SED NOW RELEA
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STAGE 3 SED NOW RELEA
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UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
Hamelin Street, Bentley Park (Off Fitzmaurice Drive) One of the last remaining elevated hillside opportunities in Cairns. Large level blocks with stunning valley views stages two and three are now available for sale. www.tranquillitycairns.com
4050 5200
Over 2,000 house and land packages available online at www.dixonhomes.com.au Cairns Region – Mossman to Cardwell and the Tablelands /dixonhomescairns 172 Mulgrave Road, Westcourt
Interior Design / Kitchens / Bathrooms / Laundries / Wardrobes / Office / Alfresco / Custom Cabinetry
LIFE Build, Buy Or Boat
“Far North Queensland is well known for it’s alternative living, Homelife has a chat with three locals with very different outlooks” DON & ANNETTE TIDSWELL BUILDING A NEW HOME “Annette and I have lived in Cairns Aquarius, managing the holiday apartments for over twenty years. Eighteen months ago we decided it was time to move on and set about looking for a house. We pretty much knew what we wanted; a view, a good size pool, and a minimum 4 bedrooms. Our large family is spread throughout Australia, but mostly in Cairns, and we wanted a place where we could host family get-togethers. We viewed dozens of homes, but there was always some negative element for us. Then we looked at
a display home at Canopy’s Edge and realised that it had pretty well everything we wanted, plus the option of making minor changes and to choose the block and location for our new home. By far the major benefit is that this is exclusively ‘OUR’ home. No one has ever lived here. Maybe this was a subconscious reason for us to reject all the other homes we viewed. Watching the house grow has been quite a thrilling process for us and we compulsively visit the site at least twice a week.”
DAVID BRILL AND BRONWYNE EVANS CHOOSING LIFE AFLOAT David and Bronwyne live on Trinity Inlet on their 22 tonne, 52ft steel ketch, ‘Anais’ and operate ‘Coffee Bean Estate’ on Cairns Pier. “Bronwyne and I worked in the computer industry in Sydney, and owned four or five houses over the years. I guess we discovered we both loved boats. It’s in your blood or it’s not. So ten years ago, we made a real sea change. After just a few hours’ lessons, we loaded our belongings and the cat on and we were off. It’s good to get away from the neighbours, we
never get lonely. The boat’s fully equipped and there’s always lots of housework to do! Downfalls? We don’t have a water maker onboard, so we have to cart water, and it can be difficult when you have a commitment and have to head across the Inlet whatever the weather. We start at the coffee shop at 6am and often don’t finish till 9pm. We were going to stay here for three years, but eight years later we’re still here, and one day we can just up anchor and sail away to Hawaii!”
RENAE KUNDA
DECIDING TO RENOVATE Roy and Renae Kunda, owners of Cape York Motor Cycle Adventures, live in an iconic high set Queenslander ‘rescued’ from extinction on Captain Cook Highway north of Cairns. Renae says: “By chance we discovered that the old pink painted weatherboard Queenslander opposite the Machans Beach roundabout, built circa 1928, was going to be scrapped, so we decided to bite the bullet and save it. We moved it along the highway to its current CairnsLife 49 Magazine
position next to Thomatis Creek, and in the process of renovating, discovered notes under the fibro walls left by a builder who renovated in 1934! We opened up the verandah all the way around the house, and swapped rooms around, and now I have my dream home, right where I want it, at a third of what it would have cost to build from scratch. I just love the look of the house, and the feeling that it has seen so much history in the making in its long life on the Cook Highway.”