Author Archives: Natalee-Jewel

Art, Events, FUN, Photography |

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Diwali, Festival of Light 2011

Brisbane City Council hosts Diwali Festival of Light (Deepavali/Devali) 2011 in King George Square, City Hall.

Diwali, Festival of Light 2011

For Hindus Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

Diwali (also spelled Devali or Deepavali in certain regions), popularly known as the “festival of lights,” is a festival celebrated on the one new moon night, between mid-October and mid-December for various reasons.

 
The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.
 
Amavasya, the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees.
 
Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the Bali, and banished him to Patala.
 
It is on the fourth day of Diwali, Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to patala and took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
 
Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers give thanks for the bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come.
 
Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and is the last major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.
 
There are two legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day. According to the first legend, on this day, Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan.
 
The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of the big three Vishnu, the incarnation he assumed to kill the demon king Bali. On this day, Vishnu came back to his abode the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.
 

Art, Education, Photography, Travel |

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Albert Kahn

I first learned of Albert Kahn by watching the acclaimed BBC4 television series, The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn.

From the beginning I was mesmerized and felt an instant affinity with a man who had lived a century earlier. In 1909 the millionaire French banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn embarked on an ambitious project to create a colour photographic record of, and for, the peoples of the world.

As an idealist and an internationalist, Kahn believed that he could use the new autochrome process, the world’s first user-friendly, true-colour photographic system, to promote cross-cultural peace and understanding.

A sentiment I whole-heartedly agree with.

Kahn used his vast fortune to send a group of intrepid photographers to more than fifty countries around the world, often at crucial junctures in their history, when age-old cultures were on the brink of being changed for ever by war and the march of twentieth-century globalization.

These privileged men documented in true colour the collapse of both the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires; the last traditional Celtic villages in Ireland, just a few years before they were demolished; and the soldiers of the First World War — in the trenches, and as they cooked their meals and laundered their uniforms behind the lines.

Amazingly, they took the earliest-known colour photographs in countries as far apart as Vietnam and Brazil, Mongolia and Norway, Benin and the United States.

Such pioneering feats make me green with envy and wishing I was born in an era when there was still so much of the world and technology to explore.

At the start of 1929 Kahn was still one of the richest men in Europe. Later that year the Wall Street Crash reduced his financial empire to rubble and in 1931 he was forced to bring his project to an end.

Kahn died in 1940.

His legacy, still kept at the Musée Albert-Kahn in the grounds of his estate near Paris, is now considered to be the most important collection of early colour photographs in the world.

Until recently, Kahn’s huge collection of 72,000 autochromes remained relatively unheard of; the vast majority of them unpublished. Now, a century after he launched his Archives of the Planet project, the BBC Book The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn, and the television series it accompanies, have helped bring Kahn’s inspiring imagery to a mass audience for the first time and putting colour into what we tend to think of as an entirely monochrome age.

Inspired by Albert Kahn – here is a sample of the faces I met on my travels through Cambodia.

Art, Photography |

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National Geographic Photographic Competition 2011

Natalee-Jewel has entered this years National Geographic Photographic Contest.

Her submission, entitled The Spirit of Laughter, was a special moment captured of 2 bashful girls giggling in hysterics as they celebrate the completion of a 102km Yalari commemorative walk to the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg in Queensland, Australia.

In the background are 9 RQR Army Reserve soldiers and Yalari.org volunteers who completed the trek with 37 Indigenous students to commemorate the walk done in 1902 by Aboriginal people who were forcibly relocated to the Cherbourg reservation.

This image represents the spirit of hope the community shares through the laughter of its children.

To see the image click here. We are grateful for your “Likes” and “Tweets”

See if you can spot the moment in the video Exercise Yalari 2011 – Faces of Cherbourg below:

Your support is always appreciated. Thank you.

Real Estate, Wealth Creation |

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Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home Fast & For Maximum Profit

Top 10 Tips for Preparing Your Home for a profitable Sale.

1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT!

Street appeal is a PRIORITY. You probably don’t realize just how many sales you lose before potential buyers even get to the front door. Buyers more often than not, do a “drive by” before an open house. You need to make your home stand out from the crowd! Look at your home from a buyer’s point-of-view: stand on the footpath or across the street and really look at your home.

• House numbers: Ensure your house number is visible from the road – buyers can’t view your home if they can’t find it!
• Colour: Paint the door a bright colour, plant pots of colourful flowers/plants.
• Simplicity: Minimize you knick-knacks to maximize your return. Don’t deprive your home of its soul but accept that the garden gnomes have to go!
• Prune: Trim branches, remove old palm fronds and manicure your lawn.
• Social Conscious: With a growing concern for environmental sustainability plant trees that require less water consumption. You can also appeal to your busy buyers who prefer low maintenance gardens.
• Hide & Seek: Emphasize the architectural elements of your home. Highlight features and downplay negatives. Put away the wheelie bins and tidy-up your letter box. Position plants to augment, but not hide exterior features.

Your landscaping needs to be attractive, neat and welcoming. Pique buyers’ interest, making them curious to see what’s beyond the garden. For more information about how to get a professional looking garden click here:

2. Clear the Decks!

Preparing your home for sale by de-cluttering has shown not only to add value but also generates quicker and more profitable contracts. Once again, you need to understand the psychology of your buyer. People walk into a space imagining how they would be living there. If they are distracted by your possessions and clutter they are not focusing on the home you are trying to sell them.

Don’t just hide stuff in cupboards, under the stairs, or in drawers. Potential buyers are interested in all nooks and crannies – they will open EVERYTHING! Your kitchen cupboards and underwear draws, I have even seen them open the fridge?! Not only does clutter make rooms look smaller, mess suggests to buyers that there is insufficient storage.

When (not IF) you sell, you are going to have to pack it all up anyway. Why not pack it now?

Top 5 Disposal Options:

A) Temporarily lease a small storage space (approx $150-300/month)

B) Karma-credits. Relish in the cathartic experience of passing on your less used wares to your local charity.

C) Simply pack your possessions in boxes, label and seal them storing them in the garage (not the spare room) ready for the removalist.

D) Have fun & earn some cash – have a garage sale. Or…

E) A combination of all of the above.

One Man’s trash is anothers treasure!

3. The Art of Balance.

While it’s important for you to become emotionally detached, remember you want to help your buyer make an emotional decision. Creating a warm friendly space helps buyers feel comfortable and visualize where their own furniture can be placed. Be objective and ruthless but don’t strip your home of all character.

Depersonalize and streamline your photographs and artworks; tone down bold decorations, but pack away the china doll and teddy bear collection. If you choose to re-decorate to sell, use neutral, light, modern colours that will not offend. There is an art to striking a balance between neutralizing and depersonalizing your home without leaving the place looking and feeling sparse, empty and unloved.

4. Attention to Detail.

The market rewards property owners that place a high-value not only on tidiness but particularly cleanliness. While you are scrubbing the floors:
• hammer down any loose nails;
• fix squeaky floorboards with talcum powder; and
• fill any dints.

Make the most of your views and let in the natural light by:
• cleaning the glass windows and doors;
• oil hinges and
• repair broken fly screens;
• wipe down walls with a soft cloth and a little sugar soap;
• use sample pots of colour-matched paint to touch up damaged areas; and
• stick down lifting wallpaper.

Scrub your bathroom and kitchen:
• whiten tile grout;
• replace washers on dripping taps; and
• remove built up stains and lime scale from glass screens, toilets, etc.

You should be able to eat off every surface!

Getting top dollar is a great motivation to finally complete all the little things that never get done around the house. Remember the buyers’ psychology – they are looking for any excuse to discount your asking price. The more apparent imperfections are, the more ammunition to justify markdowns.

5. Appeal to all senses.

Make your home as welcoming as possible by opening windows and allowing the natural light and breeze through. This can help circulate the inviting sent of fresh flowers, freshly baked bread, brewing coffee or a subtle aromatherapy candle.
• Consider replacing antiquated curtains with contemporary blinds as they open up the room.

• Add a mirror to a dark room to help it appear larger and lighter.

• Dry or steam-clean curtains, carpets and rugs removing imbedded odours, especially if you have pets.

• Remove cigarette paraphernalia

• Empty cat littler trays before your open house and either wash your dogs or arrange for a friend to mind them, particularly since you will have numerous strangers browsing through your property.

Sometimes we can become desensitized to our own odours. If you are unsure of how your property smells, ask your agent or a brutally honest friend to tell you the truth.

6. Eliminate the Chicken-Littles

While you are busy sprucing up everything in front of you, don’t forget to look up! Potential buyers, sure don’t. Dust away old cobwebs and replace blown light bulbs. Remember to think like a buyer. If a light does not turn on – is it the bulb? Or the electrics?

It is worth investing in any ceiling repairs, it may not cost as much as you think, but buyers consider cracks and discolouration warning signs of greater structural problems. You don’t want your buyers to be running around claiming the sky is falling as an excuse to reduce the price.

7. Watch your step!

Potential buyers look, listen to and feel what is under foot. New floor coverings are considered to be an expensive outlay for new homeowners, so don’t let inferior floor coverings cost you the sale.

If your carpets hold unpleasant odours, get them cleaned. However, the average clean will not help if they are dated, wearing thin or covered in impossible stains. Pull them up. Do not, however, over capitalize on refurbishing your floors.

Polished concrete, quick-click floorboards or simply a stylish rug are cost effective alternatives to expensive tiles and hardwood timbers. Otherwise compromise and make improvements to your homes appearance with out breaking the bank, such as re-carpeting only ‘comfort’ rooms i.e. bedrooms and lounge.

Do not be tempted to scatter rugs throughout, to cover your floors imperfections. Having lots of rugs just adds to clutter and draws attention to the quality (or rather lack of,) of the flooring.

8. Make the most of what you’ve got.

You don’t need to refurnish your entire home, stand in the entrance to discover each room’s focal point. Where is your eye naturally drawn? The elegant fireplace, the Bay-window? Decide what your room’s attributes are and emphasize their features by deliberately placing furniture to enhance not hinder.

Not sure what the space’s highlights are?
Consider your audience. What’s the most likely demographic of buyers interested in your property? Young families; elderly couples; avant-garde professionals? Appeal to their needs; demonstrate the versatility of a room: transform a boring storage space into a nursery, study or even foldout guest room.

Dress rooms with a subtle but consistent theme by carrying through colours, textures and/or patterns. Furnishings such as cushions, throws, lampshades and matching frames are simple and inexpensive items that can continue a theme from one room to another.

Know that less is more and continuity is key.
You don’t want the buyers imagination to be disrupted by incongruence. Put things where they belong. Who wants their dinner party guest tripping over the exercise bike? Give new life to older pieces; re-define them if you have to. Your favourite antique chaise lounge that has been crowding up your modern media room would instead be a fantastic signature piece and help create a peaceful reading nook in the master bedroom.

If it is all too hard you can hire contemporary furniture or even an interior designer to help you get the ultimate look for your home.
CONTACT Impressions to learn how they can dress your rooms to ensure a quick and profitable sale.

9. Get the Best Team.

Whether it is professional decorators, tradies, contractors or agents, you want someone who really knows what they are doing. Finding the best people for the job will not only save you time and money, but make you money by generating quicker and more profitable sales.

If you’re working with a real estate agent, you’ll want one who can really sell. Someone who understands current market forces, knows your neighbourhood intimately, who is enthusiastic about your property and ultimately, someone who is trustworthy. Buyers lose confidence in agents who play games and act deceptively, providing misleading information or simply don’t return phone calls.

Do your due diligence. Shop around, research the reputable agencies and most successful, reliable agents in your area, ask them the kind of questions buyers ask, and ensure they are working for YOU, not the buyer and not just themselves.

And lastly but perhaps, most importantly…

10. Show your home in its best light from the very beginning.

Before potential buyers even do their “drive-by” or get to your door, your home maybe eliminated from their search based on the first impression provided by your marketing team. Buyers predominantly and increasingly are using the internet to find property. Quality photographic presentation is more important than ever. Buyers do not want to waste time, using external and internal photos to narrow their search and determine which homes make the open-house cut. If your homes internet marketing material does not “wow” them, the next property is just a click away!

Ensure your agent hires a professional photographer and does not use the sale of your home as the subject for their photographic hobby.

A professional photographer will know the best angles, aspect and lighting to promote your property. Buyers appreciate both interior and exterior shots by day as well as dusk. Don’t be tempted to publish too many photographs. Be selective and only post the shots that really present your property in its best light, sparking the buyer’s curiosity, thus securing an on-site inspection.

Depending on your budget and time constraints, consider whether you wish to invest in traditional photographic marketing material or if you also want to take advantage of technologies such as virtual tours.
Ask your Agent or Real Estate Marketer about your marketing options or to discuss your photographic and marketing needs contact Impressions Real Estate Marketing directly by clicking here.

Health |

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What Methods Are Used To Test For Allergies or Intolerances?

Your first step in investigating any potential food allergy or intolerance is speaking with your trusted family GP or naturopath, who should ensure your symptoms are not caused by any other illness.

They will initially try and diagnose the problem by asking you questions regarding your diet and lifestyle and whether you have noticed if symptoms are worse at any particular times, so take note at the time of your symptoms and have the information ready for your practitioner.

The medical profession varies in its attitude and approach to the treatment of allergies. I saw 3 different “doctors” (General Practitioners) before I was properly diagnosed. So it pays to get a second, if not a third opinion, if you feel you are not been taken seriously or if their approach is not holistic and well-informed.

You may need to be referred to a special hospital unit or clinic for further investigation or you may be advised to speak with a dietician, if dietry changes are to be considered.

There are various ways to test for allergies and not all of these methods are recognized by medical professionals as providing reliable results.

THE RAST (RADIO ALLERGO SORBENT TEST)

This test has been used to identify acute allergies when there is an immediate reaction. It measures the levels of IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibody in your blood.

THE SKIN PRICK TEST

By gently placing a few concentrated drops of the suspected allergen on the patients skin, the area is then pricked and the allergen seeps in. Signs of a reaction are then observed. This can be somewhat un reliable for food allergies as often reactions can be delayed by up to 24 – 48 hours.

THE HOMOEPATHIC VEGA TEST

In this test, an electrode is placed on an acupuncture point or held in the hand. Samples of allergens are placed on the connected machine and it reads for reactions.

EXCLUSIONS & CHALLENGE DIETS

Arguable the most effective method for testing your sensitivity to foods, the exclusion of suspect substances from your every day diet, waiting to see if there is any improvement, and the re-introduction of the food can take weeks and requires strict commitment. ** COMING SOON ** Click here for more information regarding exclusion and elimination diets.

Health |

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What is the Difference Between an ALLERGY, INTOLERANCE & SENSITIVITY?

Strictly speaking, the word “allergy” should only be used to describe a specific response caused by an over-reaction of the immune system.
 
An intolerance, however, is a broader term describing any unpleasant reaction to an offending substance.
 
Sensitivity can be used as a generic description covering both allergy and intolerance, although none of these should be confused with food aversion, which has psychological derivatives.
 
There are many different causes of food intolerance, which may be linked to the behavior of various enzymes or bacteria in the body. Lactose (milk sugar) intolerance is not an allergic reaction but occurs because the person can not properly digest the milk due to a lactase enzyme deficiency.
 
Specific components of food can also cause reactions, such as caffeine in tea, coffee, chocolate and cola can bring on palpitations and erratic bowel movements.  Amines found in chocolate, red wine and cheese can also trigger migraines.
 allergies, food, intolerance, sensitivity, allergen, cause, fix
As apposed to intolerances, the reactions of acute allergies are generally severe, immediate and can be life threatening. Reactions to peanuts, fish/seafood, eggs and even sesame seeds have been known to be fatal. Gone are the days when little bags of peanuts were served on aircraft before take-off. Too may people and in particular, children were seriously affected.
 
Acute reactions to milk and wheat tend to be less severe and can be delayed by 12 – 48 hours after ingestion, which can hamper efforts to diagnose the cause.
 
After an initial attack, you should be aware and try and avoid the suspect food.
 
Once confirmed, it is important to stay clear of the allergen and always carry appropriate treatment with you.  This should be prescribed by your GP or naturopath and will depend on the severity of your reactions. you may require a steroid inhaler, antihistamine tablets or if severe even emergency adrenaline for anaphylaxis/anaphylatic shock.
 

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FOOD ALLERGIES: Causes & Reactions

Allergic reactions, intolerances and sensitivities can take many forms, make life frustrating and prove difficult to pinpoint.

Although they are not thought of as an illness, they can sometimes make the sufferer feel extremely uncomfortable and unwell.

Depending on the nature and severity of your symptoms, the problem can be either a mild, short-term irritation or a more serious, long-term condition, such as coeliac disease.

I am luck, I do not suffer from coelic disease but I am allergic to a particular protein in wheat and cow’s milk. I am also highly intolerant to potatoes and slightly sensitive to other night-shades. This combination has made eating (in and out) complicated and incredibly limited. One benefit: it has highlighted the overwhelming amount of wheat, diary and starch-based fillers that exists in our everyday food. And I am grateful for at least reducing these in my general intake.
wheat intolerance allergy allergic reaction allergen
Once you have investigated your symptoms and tracked down the causes of your reactions, you can adapt your your diet to be nutritionally balanced while excluding anything suspect to which you are sensitive.

CAUSES & REACTIONS
An allergy is a reaction that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, causing irritation, disability and sometimes even fatality.

A substance that causes an allergy is called an allergen and can be anything either ingested, inhaled or that touches the skin, that causes an adverse reaction.

Our immune system usually defends us from harmful foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria that otherwise might cause illness. In the person suffering from allergies, however, the system believes that the allergen is damaging and reacts to it accordingly. A special type of anti-body called IgE (immunoglobulin E) is produced to protect from the threatening substance.

“Mast” cells in our body then release other chemicals, the most commonly known as histamine, which join the IgE antibodies in fending-off the invaders.

The result is an allergic reaction, with its associated symptoms.

The site of the reaction depend on the location of the mast cells, and is often in places such as the nose, skin, lungs or intestines.

Typical allergic reactions and their symptoms include:
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Hayfever
Asthma (coughing & wheezing, breathlessness)
Runny & blocked nose
Hives & skin rashes
Eczema

It is not known exactly how many people react badly to certain substances, since many cases are mild enough to go undetected or may be misdiagnosed.

Allergies, in general are on the rise and this may be a consequence of aspects of contemporary living, such as increased air pollution, the over use of chemicals, additives, preservatives and pesticides.

It has also been suggested that because modern medicine has reduced our risk of infection from “naturally” harmful foreign invaders, such as bacteria, our immune systems are now inadequately challenged, leading to a reaction, in genetically susceptible people, to ordinarily harmless substances.

There is a strong genetic link with allergies, for example, if someone in your family, particularly a parent, has an allergy to something, it is likely that this susceptibility may be passed on.

Greater awareness and recognition of allergies may also be a factor in our perception of the problem.

The onset of an allergy or intolerance can occur at any stage in life and the culprit substance may be something that had previously been tolerated.

The most serious symptoms took affect when I was 29 years old and I had never experienced any sensitivity to wheat, diary or potato before this time. In fact, potato was (and honestly, still is) my favourite food and while I did not overdoes on any of the perpetrators, I did consume them regularly.

It has been a relief to learn that such sensitivities can also be outgrown and either through periods of exclusion or certain treatments, troublesome symptoms can also completely disappear.

Art, Events, FUN, Photography, Travel |

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The Eumundi BodyArt Carnival 2011

Eumundi BodyArt Carnival 2011

The Australian Body Art Carnivale is Australia’s premier body art event, attracting artists and spectators from across Australia and overseas.

Amazing artworks and music are performed all weekend and along with a sensational Sunshine Coast Street Party, with multi-cultral food stalls and local produce and craft markets.

The Carnivale was a ‘A Festival of Colour’ centred around body art in its many and varied forms.

It is nothing short of phenomenal to watch the human canvases take shape during the competitions.

For artists the carnival presents an opportunity to showcase their creativity, experience the amazing atmosphere of the Carnivale and compete for over $16,000 in cash and prizes.

The Australian Body Art Carnivale is held annually in Eumundi, the dates for 2012 are from Saturday 12 May and Sunday 13 May.

The 2012 theme is “Under the Sea”, providing an absolute wealth of inspiration for artists.

Real Estate, Wealth Creation |

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Top 10 Rules On How To Budget for a Renovation

When renovating it is imperative to create a budget, monitor, re-asses where necessary and stick to it as much as possible.

1. Be realistic!
Extensively research the value of products and services (get at least 3 quotes per trade) and consider worst-case scenarios. KNOW the value of your property before you buy it and be conservative with estimates and your selling price. Don’t under-estimate your time-frame.

2. Work backwards.
With all the knowledge you have accrued researching your particular market you should have a comprehensive understanding of what your property is worth now and what it will be worth once the renovations are complete. Knowing this, deduct the expenses (calculated as accurately as possible) from your potential selling price and consider if your plans are even worthwhile. Consider the time, effort and opportunity costs of investing in the renovation to realize a decent profit.

3. Don’t forget to build in a contingency buffer of at least 10%.
This is to ensure you are covered for unexpected emergencies – which ALWAYS arise. It is important to note that you can not control EVERYTHING. Sometimes mother-nature doesn’t have your schedule in mind and projects can be delayed through no fault of your own. It is better to be strict with your budget than to have to abandon the entire project due to failing funds.

4. Keep it Simple
Every new property presents the opportunity to be over-ambitious. The skill lies in discipline and self-control. Whether it be your colour scheme or your landscaping the more simple your design is the easier it is to keep to budget and to widen your target market appeal.

The old adage applies: Less is Best.
Keep to a simple palette of materials. By all means be bold and innovative but be consistent. A home filled with too many textures, colours and styles is busy and distracting. A combination of complementary finishes will help keep your design focused and themed and your budget on track.

5. Marry your Budget with a Schedule.
Work FAST! Time is Money. Aim to complete all projects within a realistic time-frame. Consider everything that must be done and what order it needs to be done in. Delegate who is responsible for each task and assign them of their duties. Keep them in the loop. Let them know what your expectations are of them (quality standards and timings). If plans change, inform everyone down the chain. You can’t afford to be the weakest link 😛

By analyzing your schedule you can plan for necessary equipment and save money by not having to double up on machinery. Try and co-ordinate your contractors and machinery (e.g.bobcat, scaffolding, etc.) so they optimize their time and reduce the number of site visit call-outs.


6. Know Your Limitations.
When considering all the actions that need to be taken to reach your end goal, consider realistically what you can and can’t do. Don’t be afraid to hand over the reigns on jobs you simply do not have the time or skill set to complete to the highest quality. It may seem expensive to bring in a professional, but it will save you on frustration and credibility come inspection time. A quality finish can mean all the difference in making a real profit or not.

By being honest with yourself and recognizing what you are and definitely not capable of to begin with, you can project a more accurate budget and factor in the costs of contractors.

7. Familiarity can breed contempt.
It’s always nice to work with people you know and like, but sometimes using the same tradespeople for every job can make them a little complacent. They may take liberties they wouldn’t otherwise. It can be useful to keep them on their toes by at least rotating teams. If you have worked with a contractor before, be sure to let them know that they have not automatically got the job this time round – that you are getting quotes and will seriously consider hiring their competitor.

8. Never Pay Retail.
For your initial budget it is wise to cost products and services at retail prices. But that doesn’t mean you should PAY retail. When renovating, I NEVER pay retail. It could be as simple as buy when the stocktake sales are on; bidding at auctions (on and offline); using vouchers, trade cards or loyalty programs; or simply asking “Is this your best price?” – Get creative and NEVER pay full ticked price. Those extra pennies you save on one item can allow you to splurge on something else – if you just have to have it!

One of my favourite things to do on the weekend is just drive around my suburb, look at the style of homes, the latest trends, what other renovators are up to and most of all… check out garage sales. Some of my best bargains have come from garage sales. After all…

One man’s junk is another man’s profit!
Take the time to shop around. It may feel time consuming but it can save you in the long run. If you dread the carpark let alone the mall – check out prices online.

9. Buy in Bulk.
Included in your initial cost analysis should be an outline for all the materials required to complete the project. By outlining all the inclusions you can see, when and where all your materials are needed. Having calculated your mass requirements, you are in a better position to negotiate with suppliers. You don’t always have to buy the same exact product, often suppliers are just happy that you are buying in full from them, rather than going elsewhere.

Also, Buy your TIME in bulk. When hiring equipment, often you can get a better deal from companies who do not trade on the weekend. By picking up late on a Friday or early Saturday and dropping it back first thing on the Monday, you maximize time and value.

10. Build Relationships.
Arguably the most important factor in budgeting for a reno. Often, it is not what you know but who you know and by establishing lasting, positive relationships with your contractors, suppliers, agents, lawyers, accountants – everyone you meet, you can save $$$ and maximize profits.

I have saved thousands and made tens of thousands by talking to agents at open houses; knocking on neigbour’s doors; asking questions; getting recommendations and referrals; chatting and befriending repeat-business owners, discussing win-win outcomes with vendors/buyers. Call in favours and don’t be afraid to ask for mates rates.

It is important to remember all these people make up your team. You are leading and managing a team, the more smoothly the team runs the easier it is to keep to budget.

Real Estate, Wealth Creation |

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Rules of Renovating

To ensure a successful renovation and maximize profits I stick to a tried, tested and proven formula and apply the following essential rules of renovating:
 

1. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!

Focus on one or two suburbs and get to know it better than the back of your own hand!
By understanding the area intimately you will learn what properties are worth, what buyers want and what the market is doing.
 
OFF-LINE:
Attend every relevant open-house in your area; get to know the agents; ask questions and take note of who and how many other people are inspecting the same kind of property you are interested in.
 
Watch DIY television programs that demonstrate the latest trends and styles, challenges and strategies. My favourites are:
Grand Designs, Dream Home Abroad, The Renovators, Top Design, The Block, The lifestyle Channel in general and don’t forget Youtube 🙂
 
Attend Property Investing and Development Seminars; mingle & network – get to know other investors; learn from their strategies, experiences and insights. You never know who might meet. I have become great friends with fellow Seminar Junkies, who have ultimately helped me in some way. From lawyers to buyers agents, developers, builders, accountants, interior designers, photographers – whether they be active or passive investors, you may find a great JV partner.
Click here to find out the next property related seminars near you.
 
ON-LINE:
Investigate websites such as:
realestate.com.au
domain.com.au
abs.gov.au (Demographics)
 
2. DON’T OVERSPEND

The old saying, “You make the real money when you buy”, certainly applies. Ensure you stick to a tight budget from the beginning. By knowing your area inside out you will KNOW what the property is worth; what needs to be improved to meet market desires – what is costs to get there and therefore how much it will be worth and where the marketing will sit, once you are done. With this information you can confidently negotiate your terms and achieve the best price at sale.**
 
This goes for negotiating with contractors as well. And ALWAYS get at least 3 quotes for each trade. You would be amazed at how many times I have had drastically varying quotes. Sometimes, contractors over-quote because they are too busy or under-quote because they just need the work. You don’t always get what you pay for, so make sure whomever you go with has come recommended by someone you know or from work you have seen.
 
When calculating my budget, I work on a 1:3 principal. For every dollar spent – I aim to get $3 back!
 
Factor in a contingency buffer of at least 10%. This should cover those unexpected emergencies. It is important to note that you can not control EVERYTHING. Sometimes mother-nature doesn’t have your schedule in mind and projects can be delayed through no fault of your own.
 
**Please note: that achieving the lowest price is not always the best outcome of negotiations. Get creative with your offers and consider what terms and conditions would best suite you AND the seller. Often – a WIN-WIN negotiation is more successful than just a hard, beat-down of the vendor.
 
Constantly monitor your Renovation Budget. Often you can come across a bargain or two which allows you to re-structure your budget and allow for unforeseen circumstances, unexpected cost blow-outs or hopefully a little splurge.
 
3. SPEND BIG

Don’t skimp on the kitchen and bathroom. These rooms can make or break a house and if you have taken the time to renovate a property you should be catering to buyers who do not want to have to. The last thing they want is to go without a shower or sink for a week to make the improvements you should have made.
 
It’s not a case of sparing no expense – it is about matching the level of sophistication to your buyers demographic and then WOWING them by adding valuable extras and surprise features.
 
The internet is a great source for supplies. However, if you are not confident buying products effectively sight-unseen, then use the net to gauge the value of products and save time by comparing prices online. You can also use this information when negotiating directly with suppliers, e.g. “What’s your very best price? As I can have it delivered to my door for $……. from on online supplier, but I like to support my local”.
 
If you are going to use this negotiating tactic, be honest; make sure you a comparing apple with apples and know the ins and outs of the product for when the opposition tries to rebuff their online competitor.
 
Check out discount suppliers (on and off-line auctions), where you can often pick up a bargain because the product line is either discontinued, a slight scratch or dint or are display models.
 
GraysOnline.com.au
Ebay.com
 
4. DON’T CUT CORNERS

This goes for the quality of the finish as well as the bureaucratic processes.
 
Always present the best quality product. You don’t have to have a discerning eye to see shoddy paint jobs and craftsmanship. if you insist on doing the work yourself, ensure you take the time to get it right – right angles should be square, tapware should co-ordinate and tiling should be perfect. By all means – give it a go yourself but if you are not producing a quality finish call a professional. It may cost you more in the end not too.
 
There have been times when I could not afford to pay for 2 professional tradesmen, so I have asked if I could be their “off-sider”. This has not only allowed me to ensure a professional finish to the job but I have learnt some of the skills involved. For example: I was a plasters apprentice. I had done all the plastering of the walls and needed to install some decorative (and heavy) architraves. There was no way I could do the job myself even if I knew what I was doing. So I found a quality plastering, who was happy to have an extra pair of hands on site and to share his knowledge and skills.
 
Always check if your renovations require planning permits from your local council and as tedious as it may be, follow all the necessary procedures. If you do not, you risk costing unnecessary delays and expenses.
 
One Friday afternoon I received a phone call from my local council informing me I had illegally moved a Queenslander from one block of land to another in the next suburb. The council threatened me with legal action, an excessive fine and the very real potentiality of having to bear the cost and time of removing the house.
 
Initially, I was shocked but I knew that I had always followed council and building requirements to the letter. I spent the weekend waiting for council to open their doors first thing Monday morning, as I had retrieved the diligently filed documentation, that had all the necessary approvals. Unfortunately, councils filing system is not as comprehensive as my own and so they had “misplaced” their copies of the approvals. I did not receive an apology for their “mistake” but I always try to have a close working relationship with my case managers and town planners and so was happy to let that one fly.
 
It was reassuring to know that I had done the right thing and a great reminder that had I intentionally avoided due process it would have been very costly indeed.

 

5. KEEP IT SIMPLE

Whether it be your colour scheme or your landscaping the more simple your design is the easier it is to keep to budget and to widen your target market appeal. Try and keep your personal touches and bold colour preferences to styling such as furniture, cushions, bedding, etc. I am not saying that the space should be completely devoid of personality but consider your audience, their needs and taste. By using a fashionable but muted colour scheme you are not distracting potential buyers from visualizing what it would be like for their items and selves to be living in the space.
 
Keep to a simple mix of materials. By all means be bold and innovative but be consistent. A home filled with granite, stainless steel, glass, terracotta, metallics, slate, porcelain, timber, bamboo, it’s all too much. A combination of complementary finishes will help keep your design focused and themed.
 
Keep landscaping to a minimum with just a few plants and turf, with minimum maintenance and preferably water-saving vegetation and devices.
 
Natalee-Jewel
North East Corner
 

Personal Development, Real Estate, Wealth Creation |

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Cherie Barber

Cherie_BarberCherie Barber and partner Steve Tolle didn’t set out to swap being a mortgage broker and marketing manager for a renovating business. But when they took on a one-off renovating project and made $270,000 after four months of working just weekends, they realized they’d be crazy not to.

They began slowly doing one project at a time, which meant inspecting properties each weekend and lots of labour on their building sites. Now they’re able to work on up to three projects at once and the rewards are everything they hoped for.

“We can live life as we please, work when we want and where we want” Cherie Barber

Cherie and Steve have worked out a formula for selecting houses and renovating for maximum profit, making an average of $300,000 per house.

Cherie says the secret is:

  • Knowing the market
  • Keeping costs down
  • Working to tight timelines; and
  • Driving hard bargains with contractors and suppliers

Cherie has extended the business to teach others how to make money out of reno and present “how to” workshops all around Australia.


Click here to find out where and when you see Cherie LIVE for FREE and learn all her latest hints, tips and strategies!

Cherie also offers 2-day courses with take-home study kits (DVDs, Manuals, Discounts and after-sales support) which show people how to identify money-making suburbs and properties with potential.


Click here to learn more about Cherie and where you can next see her LIVE!

Art, Photography |

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Top 10 Tips for Struggling Artists

There are no set rules or career path in the arts, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything you can do to improve your chances of achieving your dream career.

1. Engage with the Industry

If there’s something to read, watch, listen to , see or otherwise participate in it’s got something to do with your chosen field, do it!

With the creation of WordPress, Facebook and Myspace it is so much cheaper and easier to establish your own profile online. Showcase your portfolio and join and “like” relevant groups through Facebook and Twitter.

2. Find a Mentor/s

It can be useful to have a mentor who has been there, done that. The relationship you ave with your mentor can be formal or informal, long-term or short-term, face-to-face or remote e.g. via email/skype, etc. What matters is that your mentor is someone with professional and personal integrity, who is happy to share their experience and doesn’t see you as competition.

3. Be Professional

Whether you like it or not, being an artisit is like being a small business. Once you’re a rock star you can probably get away wth turning up late and behaving badly, but while you’re on the way you need to be as professional as possible. If you get an opportunity, don’t blow it by thinking it’s cool to be a slacker. In the long term, getting your head around things like tax, marketing and managing a small business can save you time, money and hassle.

4. Persistence… Determination… MotivationTips for struggling artists

Whatever you want to call it, you need it. No-one ever got their record listened to/their painting exhibited/ the lead in that play by sitting around wishing it would happen. Know what you want to achieve and get on with it.

There will be bumps along the road, but stay focused and true to yourself.

5. Network

It’s true; in the Art World – who you know is just as important as what you know. How many job ads have you seen in the papers that say “Major Label seeking New Artists for Recording Deal”? None, right?

You need to make sure people know who you are, what you can do and what you want to achieve.

If the idea of networking fills you with dread, try this technique:

Don’t hammer a new contact with info about you, instead, focus the conversation on them. Ask lots of questions about what they do and their interests. If it seems natural, ask them if it’s okay for you to have their contact details. If it seems appropriate, follow up a week or so later with a ‘nice chatting to you the other week, thought you might be interested in checking out my…..’ phone call or email.

Networking is a great way to build a support base of people who know and respect you and believe in what you’re trying to do.

Don’t forget to network, online. When you exchange details with a new contact – ask if they use social media. Connecting with them through outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. are great ways to learn more about their interest and for them to see yours.

6. Keep Learning

Did you know that makeup artists who also have hairdressing skills get more work?

Education doesn’t finish when you leave school/college/uni. Actively seek out new learning experiences and keep your mind open to new ideas. What are some complimentary skills you could use in your toolbox?

Refine your craft and work on always improving what you do.

7. How Great are YOU?

if you don’t believe in yourself, how are you going to convince other people to believe in you?

Confidence is key. Consider all you have already accomplished and how the skills you have and even the less successful experiences have equipped you with knowledge.

8. Play Nice

More important that who or what you know is HOW people know you. If they know you to be an exceptionally talented artist but a pain in the neck to work with, it may cost you more than you realize.

People like folk who are easy to get along with. If you had to decide between a really talented artist who is greta to work with nd an equally talented artist who is difficult to work with , who would you choose? Lose the attitude and don’t burn bridges. Building positive relationships is important. You never know which one of these annoying people in your drama class is going to end up as a famous festival director?!

Be nice to people on your way up, because on your way down you’re going to need their help.

9. Get Experience

The creative industries are ripe with opportunities to gain experience – volunteering, student placements, work experiences, extra-curricula activities and DIY are all great ways to develop your skills, meet and impress industry folk and enhance your CV. You wont get “discovered” by hoping, wishing and reaming but you WILL get discovered by getting out there and making stuff happen. Put on a gig, organise an exhibition, start an art show review blog. Activity creates opportunity. Don’t be scared about making mistakes – everyone does – just recognize the things that went wrong as feedback/advice/tips about the right way to do things in the future.

10. Expose Yourself Professionally

First impressions count, so ensure you present yourself and your portfolio professionally. If you are not confident creating your own website, and can not afford to  pay a professional web designer you may be able to find a web designer or web developer who is just starting out themselves and would like to showcase their talents. This is a win-win situation as you can help promote the designer by building their portfolio while showcasing yours.

If you are a control-freak and/or just want to try your hand and let your online creative juices flow check out free platforms such as WordPress or Blogger. And don’t forget Youtube or Vimeo. Create your own FREE dedicated channel and consider the creative ways you can display your work and boost your online profile. Once you have uploaded your videos don’t forget to share them with your friends online through social media and post them on your website/Facebook Fanpages.

For more focused exposure take a look at forums such as Red Bubble or Flicker.

For real-life examples check out the following:

WORDPRESS

http://irem.com.au (A free wordpress.org site – only cost is the domain name registration and hosting. Can’t afford hosting and domain name registration? Establish your site with wordpress.com – the only downside is that your URL is not completely personalized)

YOUTUBE

http://www.youtube.com/user/IREMdotCOMdotAU