HomeLife Magazine June | July 2018

HomeLife MAGAZINE JUN-J U L 2 0 1 8

Meg & Lisa Walker Grifiths DYNAMIC DUO LEADS NEW REAL ESTATE AGENCY

KITCHENS | FINANCE | BUILDERS | GARDENING | HOMES

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Welcome to our HomeLife issue.

Meet the dynamic duo from new Real Estate agency The Industry and find out what sets them apart. Get the latest on going green and making your home more eco friendly with Russell Parnicott from HIA and find some handy tips and great products. Whether it’s buying, building or DIY around the home and garden, it’s a great time to refresh your real estate this winter.

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Natural Selection

Think natural, wicker style furniture and hand woven accessories and immediately you’re transported to another time and place.

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EDEN Potted Agave Green Leaves 80cm $99

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PERSONALISE YOUR VERY OWN NEW HOME. RO S LYN S MIT H

One of the best things about building a new home is that you get to put some of ‘YOU‘ into it.

You’ve decided on the block of land that is just you, and then you think about the design of your new home, and then the details that are individual to you.

If you renovate an existing home you are still working with someone else’s original ideas. That may suit you at the time due to budget, location or even the practicality of the home.

When you build a new home it’s your opportunity to start from scratch.

Whether it be that sleek looking freestanding plunge bath or parents retreat incorporated into the design or even the amazing floor tiles that you’ve seen in magazines. You might love the colour scheme and inclusions that you looked at in a builder’s display home. You may decide that you liked a part of a design but it just wasn’t quite right. We can design it so it suits you. That’s when you get to bring the rest of you into your new home.

Building a new home is your chance to personalise your home for your family needs now and also to look at the requirements you may need in the future when your family expands.

A good design will make the most of the land’s aspect, allow for good ventilation and air flow and also take into account the orientation of the sun and shade so that it works waell in our tropical climate.

Spend a little more time in the early planning stages so that you take this into consideration before confirming exactly what you are building. Much of these ideas can be included in your budget and the builder should be able to guide you through the process.

If you are looking to build a new home then drop in and we can discuss what suits your land or we can even suggest available land that is more suited to the types and style of home construction you are thinking of. I can look at conceptual budgets for your home which will give you an estimate of construction so that we can work together on the final building contract.

Roslyn Smith Winner HIA NQ Partner in Business 2017 Winner QMBA Women in Building 2016 Affinity Designer Homes & Value Homes (NQ) Building Designer & Licensed Builder Phone : 40518866 Mobile : 0439 855851 email - ros@affinitydh.com.au

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GOING GREEN TOP TIPS TO MAKING YOUR HOME MORE ECO-FRIENDLY EFFICIENT FITTINGS Selecting the right light fittings, appliances and tapware to reduce your energy and water consumption is a simple place to start for an eco-friendly home. Lights account for up to 15% of household electricity costs. Choose compact fluorescent lamps and LED’s for the best energy efficiency. When choosing toilets, showerheads and tapware look for fittings that have 3 stars or above Australia’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS). Appliances such as fridges and washing machines account for about 1/3 of an average home’s energy consumption. So opt for appliances with the highest energy star rating to suit your budget.

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN When building an eco-friendly home, orientation is one of the most important design elements. By positioning the building to take advantage of the natural climate and seasonal variations, you can greatly control and maintain the internal comfort of your home.

MODERN WINDOW SYSTEMS The climate you live in will determine the type of glass you should select for your windows to achieve optimal comfort and energy efficiency. Living in tropical north Queensland, you should opt for Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) windows with a low SHGC. EAVES AND SHADING Unprotected glass is one of the main ways heat enters a home.

By effectively shading a building and its outdoor space you can block up to 90% of unwanted heat gain, improve internal comfort and save energy.

Russell Parnicott Branch Manager HIA (Housig Industry Association Ltd) 5 Anderson Street, Manunda 4041 2604

GOOD CROSS VENTILATION To improve air flow in your home, you need to create a pressure difference from one side of the room to the other.

Having diagonally placed windows – one placed high and the opposite one a full height window or glass door with create convective air movement. This method relies on warm air rising to escape the building and draws in lower level cool air from shaded external areas.

LOW OR ZERO VOC PAINTS Some paints release low level toxic emissions into the air. The source: a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are chemicals emitted as gases. Paint technology has greatly improved, products like Haymes Elite interior paint, that is lowodour and 99% VOC free will help you to create a healthier living environment.

COMBINED USE OF CEILING FANS AND AIR CONDITIONS Ceiling fans are cheaper to run than air conditions and have a lowest greenhouse impact. However they don’t actually cool the air, they simply circulate it around the room. An air conditioner on the other hand will cool a room’s temperature. Combined together, you can reduce an air conditioner’s running cost by up to 40%.

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Meg & Lisa Walker Grifiths

DYNAMIC DUO

L E ADS NEW REAL E STAT E AGENC Y I N D U S TRY E S TAT E A G ENTS

Led by real estate passionistas Meg Walker and Lisa Griffiths, a new real estate boutique agency that opened in January this year has quickly made an impressive impact on the local real estate scene.

Starting with just the two women in January, the new agency – The Industry Estate Agents – has rapidly grown to a team of 11 who are all totally dedicated to getting premium results for their clients.

“We want to not only be experts in our industry, providing the utmost in real estate service solutions, but we also want to be experts in customer relationships,” said Managing Director and Lead Agent Megs Walker. “We want our clients to know that they always come first.”

The team at The Industry Estate Agents are experienced experts in the industry and are committed and focused on each client, from a new homeowner looking for their first home to investors and everyone in between. They take pride in assisting clients in every market environment and exceeding their expectations.

The agency also excels at property management.

“We pride ourselves on creating premium results for our clients,” said Lead Agent and styling guru Lisa. “We all specialise in our areas, but we have a team approach to everything we do and work together as a team.”

Also setting Industry Estate Agents apart is its exclusive VIP club where loyal subscribers are given the first opportunity to inspect newly listed properties.

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Real Estate Passionistas

“We all specialise in our areas, but we have a team approach to everything we do and work together as a team.”

WO R DS B Y J AN I E B AR T O N

Megs and Lisa met when they worked for the McGrath Real Estate Agency. The Industry Estate Agency also includes former McGrath staff.

“We’ve got such an amazing team,” said Lisa.

“We’re all friends, but our main focus is on our jobs. We really respect each other and help each other out whenever we can.”

Megs started her real estate career in 2012 and has gone on to win many awards, including being named to the 2016 and 2017 A-List, a Queensland-based list that recognises the state’s top real estate performers.

Lisa is well known for her faultless attention to detail and her natural ability to connect with people. Her Bachelor of Design studies are also

a huge asset to clients. Because The Industry Estate Agents offer complimentary property styling for sales as well as property management, Lisa’s skills are often called up to ensure a property is being shown in its best light.

“Our boutique agency serves the Cairns and Tropical North Queensland’s market and thrives on sharing industry insight and customer service,” said Megs. “We all share a passion for real estate, community and relationships.”

The Industry Estate Agents 11 Johnston Street, Stratford Ph: 4055 1551 www.theindustryestateagents.com.au

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HOME BUYING TIPS

Most often it is the largest financial investment you’ll ever make, so you want to be sure you are well prepared and informed.

We have compiled a list of 12 tips to help you on the road to a successful purchase.

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1 – Do your research Preparing beforehand is a must. Make sure you take into account your family’s requirements and budget. Analyse your assets and debts and then get pre-approved financing first so you know exactly how much you can afford. Be sure to consider the accessibility to schools and transport as well as research the neighbourhood to avoid crime areas and possible zone issues.

2 – Find the right mortgage Finding out how much you can afford is absolutely essential before you begin. It’s also vital to have your loan preapproved (and not just pre-qualified) before starting. Picking financial packages can be tricky, so it’s advisable go to an independent finance broker who has a range of lenders and finance products.

3 – Don’t be influenced by market trends The property market is constantly fluctuating, varying from a buyer’s market to a seller’s one, but your needs are what come first. Waiting for the right time to buy can mean you out on the perfect home. Avoid letting short-term market conditions influence what will be a long-term lifestyle choice.

4 – Stick to your budget When looking, you might be tempted to buy a more appealing home that is outside of your budget. However, extending yourself beyond your budget can cause you financial worries down the track as changes in circumstances and interest rates can put your security at jeopardy. It’s vital that you stick to your budget.

PURCHASING A HOME, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S YOUR FIRST ONE, IS EXCITING BUT CAN ALSO BE QUITE DAUNTING.

5 – Keep emotions in check If you find a home you think is perfect, don’t tell the seller’s agents how much you love it. They are working for the seller and are skilled at negotiating the price for their client. If you make an offer and it’s refused, remember there’s more than one house out there at the right price just for you.

6 – Price isn’t everything Avoid buying a property just because it’s cheaper than others.

You will want to sell it one day, so make sure you buy the right one, not the least expensive one. Be sure to get a comparative market analysis from your agent. This will help you to compare asking and selling prices of similar homes in the neighbourhood and put you in a better position when you make your offer.

7 – Have protection clauses in contract Make sure your interests are protected before you sign any contracts. Standard purchase contracts allow for a coolingoff period, which differs from states, but be sure you have any changes or extensions to the contract added before you sign it. Even if you’re told changes can be made later, there is no guarantee a seller will agree after the contract has been signed.

8 – Don’t underestimate all the costs There are many costs associated with buying a house such as stamp duty, rates, valuation costs, loan application fees, mortgage insurance and agent’s fees. Moving costs should also be taken into consideration so be sure to set aside a budget for any unexpected moving expenses.

take a break from looking or get a buyer’s agent on your side who will do all the work for you.

10 – Organise a professional building inspection It is vital that you have a competent building inspector is who independent of the seller’s agent. It’s an inspector’s job to find faults so don’t be discouraged if they present you with a list.

Minor faults are easily fixed. It’s the major ones you need to know about first. A good tip is to ask the building inspector if they’d buy the property.

11 – Understand the role of real estate agents You will meet a lot of agents on your journey, and it’s advisable to remember who they are working for. Unless you have engaged the services of an exclusive buyer’s agent, agents are working for their clients, who are the sellers, and they are obligated to get them the best price.

12 – Find a good buyer’s agent Engaging a professional buyer’s agent will ensure your needs are met. Buyer’s agents are experienced in the industry and are there to protect your interests. You wouldn’t go to court without a solicitor, so don’t buy a house without a professional on your side to help you.

9 – Don’t give up It make take months to find the house that’s perfect for you and it can be a frustrating experience, but don’t buy a home because you’re fed up or desperate. If you’re getting frustrated, take a deep breath and think carefully about your needs. If you need to,

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LX 570 model shown.

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Featuring first-class refinement and advanced 4WD capability, the new Lexus LX 450d diesel gives you the confidence to explore uncharted territory.

Contact Lexus of Cairns today.

LEXUS OF CAIRNS 235 Mulgrave Road, Cairns PH: 07 4030 7555 www.lexusocairns.com.au

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Fresh water crossing shown.

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WHAT COLOUR

SHOULD I CHOOSE? Thinking of painting a feature wall in your home or trying to decide on what colour to paint with.

The colours of the rooms in your home reflect your personality. When deciding on the final colour remember that it can affect you every time you look at the colour. The colour you chose will influence your mood and thoughts. This is why it is important to take your time and chose wisely when it comes to decorating. You may wish to keep the following in mind as a guide. Happy Painting!

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