Oh to live in Darwin at this time of the year! Temperatures in that city this week are expected to average 32 degrees, with overnight lows of 21.

For the rest of us, the pre-winter chill is certainly starting to bite. As we move into the colder months, here are 10 ways to warm up your home.

1. Prune those sun-suckers

Shady plants are great in summer, especially on the north and western sides of your property. But at this time of the year you want to get as much sun into your house as you can. Now is the time to prune plants blocking out your sunlight, if possible.

2. Let the sun in

When the sun is shining, remember to open curtains and blinds during the day, especially on the northern side of your home, but also the east (in the morning) and the west (in the afternoon).

However, you might consider leaving south-facing blinds and curtains closed on days when it is colder outside than in as the sun won’t hit those windows.

It’s very common to see homes shut up all day long with the curtains drawn. But before you head off to work or out for the day, opening the blinds and curtains on windows that get the sun can mean coming home to a much warmer property.

3. Block the cold out

Overnight you want to stop the warm air from inside your home being lost through the glass of your windows. It’s important to cover the windows to do this.

Either use thick curtains and a pelmet overhead to stop the air from getting to the window, or consider good-quality honeycomb (also known as cellular) blinds, which pull up almost out of sight during the day to let maximum sunlight in, but do a fantastic job of blocking the windows overnight, or on colder days when there is a lot of cloud cover.

The great thing about honeycomb blinds is you don’t end up with the heavy look of thick curtains but still get the insulating effect. They do look a bit like they belong in an office and not a home though, and if that bothers you, you can layer them behind a very light sheer curtain to soften their impact. Or of course, for even more insulation, a heavier curtain.

4. Fan-tastic

If you have ceiling fans, now is the time to switch them over to winter mode so that they run backwards. Put them on their lowest speed and they will direct the warm air from across the ceilings where it sits high up, and down the walls.

If you get condensation on your windows overnight, you’ll probably notice that leaving a fan on in winter mode during the day can help to dry the windows out faster.

5. Draughts be gone

Gaps around doors and windows can let in a lot of draughts. Block them up with an appropriate draught-sealer. Your local hardware store will have plenty of options.

Consider also a good old-fashioned door snake if you find it hard to seal the bottom of doors, which is often the case in older houses where steps may have worn, or doors are not quite square.

If you have particularly cold rooms in the home – the spare bedroom or laundry, for example, consider draught-sealing the door that separate that room or rooms from the rest of the home.

However, it is important to note that if you use unflued gas heating or an open fire, you will need to ensure you have adequate ventilation at home.

6. Monitor it

If you happen to be someone who is at home during the day, you’ll have the opportunity to throw open the windows and let the warmth in on the days when it becomes hotter inside than out, which can often happen at this time of year.

It can be helpful to have a thermometer with an outdoor sensor set up in a prominent spot in the home to let you know when it is warmer outside than in. Hardware stores often stock them – I have one a bit like this.

It will also come in handy in summer when you’ve got the opposite problem and you want to know when it has cooled enough to open the windows in the evening.

7. Go passive

A few months ago we installed a solar heater, which draws the warm air from the roof cavity into the home. You can read about it here.

I’m pleased to say it seems to working well at this time of year (when we hoped it would) helping to raise the home’s temperature by a critical three-four degrees, meaning the heater has pretty much stayed off so far, even on cooler nights.

Because our home is well-insulated, draught-sealed and has honeycomb blinds on almost all windows, when it warms up during the day it manages to hold the temperature overnight.

8. They mightn’t be pretty but…

Okay, I’ll admit that old-style aluminium roller shutters are butt-ugly.

When we inherited two shutters on the ’50s brick box we bought a year or so back, I was tempted to rip them off. But instead we gave them a paint job (a marginal improvement) and now find in winter, we wouldn’t be without them.

When the shutter goes down about the same time as the sun it’s like instant double-glazing, you can feel the difference because the shutter helps to provide an air pocket between our old single-pane glass windows and the cold night air.

They work so well I’m even tempted to put them on a few more windows.

9. Cook up a storm

It really is a time of year for baking and slow cooking. The house will definitely warm up, but will you be able to resist all that yummy food?

10. Control the thermostat

Running your heater at 18-21 degrees will keep you comfortable without toasting, and will also keep your winter heating bills down. Just one degree more in temperature can increase your heating costs by 15 per cent.

Story by Carolyn Boyd is a property journalist and keen follower of Australia’s housing market.

Source: www.domain.com.au

But there are many things you can do to help your garden cope with the cooler months:

• Move potted tropical plants and other warmth loving pots into more protected areas – perhaps onto a verandah or porch. If cold-sensitive plants are growing in the garden or are too heavy to relocate, spray them with a layer of Yates Stressguard. This see-through polymer can provide several degrees of frost protection.
• Reduce watering. Plants require much less water when the weather’s cooler. But when you do give your garden a drink try taking the chill off tap water by mixing in a small amount of hot water. This means it won’t shock the roots so much.
• Construct frames around the plants that are likely to be damaged by the cold or frosts. If supports are already in place it only takes a few minutes to throw a piece of cloth or plastic over them in the evening and remove it in the morning.
• If your garden soil has any drainage problems, winter is the season when they’ll expose themselves. Use a garden fork to push vertical holes into heavy soils. Create surface drains to carry away excess moisture. Dig gypsum where possible into clay. Gypsum has a miraculous effect on most clay soils. It binds particles together, allowing air to get into the spaces between the particles and helping excess water to drain away.
• Deep layers of mulch on soil can ensure that it remains cold and damp for three months or more. Hence, it can be a good idea to remove some of the thickness of mulch over winter so that the sun can penetrate and add warmth to the soil.
• If space is available and you haven’t done so already, try installing a rain water tank. You can store the precious water for summer 2013 when your garden will be thriving but thirsty!

First Time Offered (And Its Easy To See Why)

29 Wycliffe Crescent ELTHAM

Built by a very fastidious owner builder thirty five years ago and lovingly maintained ever since, this immaculately presented home, provides family living with demonstrable quality.

Offering poolside living in the sought after Woodridge estate close to schools, parks and within easy reach of Eltham, raked ceilings enhance substantial interior spaces including four bedrooms (main with ensuite) and huge rumpus opening to the rear yard. The generous living room with open fireplace steps through to an equally expansive casual living.

With wonderful tree top views and opening to an entertainer’s deck, this north facing sun-trap will quickly become the favorite room in the house. With all you need for a stylish lifestyle…plus the practicalities of tandem carport behind auto roller door, large internal workshop, ducted heating and cooling an abundance of storage and the bus stop out the front, ask your self “why not Wycliffe?”

Features include

• Land Size: 855 sqm
• Property Size: 32 sqm
• Car Spaces: 1
• Construction: Brick / Timber

• 423
• Auction: Saturday, 02 Jun 12:00 PM Venue: On Site
• Inspect:Sat, 12 May 11:30 AM – 12:00 PMSat, 19 May 11:30 AM – 12:00 PMSat, 02 Jun 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
• Contact: Dayne Kleeman – 0419 504 576
• Contact: Max Bevacqua – 0408 002 488

A Family Home Among the Gum Trees

$460 p.w.

9 Lavender Park Road ELTHAM

Quietly nestled at the end of sought after Lavender Park Road is this retreat style family home encompassed by Eltham wilderness. You will enter into a generous foyer which leads to a good-sized study nook, perfect for a home office. Down the hall you will be greeted by four bedrooms, built in robes, central light-filled bathroom comprising shower over bath and separate toilet.

Take the stairs to the lower level where polished boards pave the way to a generous kitchen/meals area offering air conditioner, gas cooktop and electric oven and walk in pantry which flows into a large living area. The large windows allow for plenty of natural light and treed views from every angle. Features include: ducted heating, parking for up to four cars or ideal space for caravan/boat, decked balcony to second bedroom, under house workshop and storage spacious yard with garden maintenance assistance included.

This a great opportunity to live in Eltham’s best location while enjoying the best that Eltham has to offer. 12+ MONTH LEASE. (Photo ID required prior to inspection)

Features include

• Car Spaces: 4

• 414
• For lease: $460 p.w.Bond: $2300.00
• Inspect:Sat, 12 May 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM
• Contact: Melissa Di Biase – 03 9431 2444

Consummate Quality In Stunning Spaces

7 Sugar Gum Boulevard GREENSBOROUGH

This contemporary home, backing on to a huge reserve, combines inspiring spaces, elaborate style and quality fixtures and fittings to set the benchmark in luxury living.

A hotel inspired glass roofed atrium leads to a guest suite with ensuite and fitted walk in robe, before opening to an open plan casual living room. Anchored by an exquisite granite kitchen complete with Smeg and Asko appliances it sweeps out through glass doors to an entertainers terrace with uninterrupted tree top views. The refined lounge, also opening to the wrap around terrace and featuring a relaxing log gas is perfect for parents to retreat too at days end.

A TV room on the upper level leads to three light-filled double bedrooms served by a well-designed family bathroom, while the main suite indulges with a walk-in dressing room and a luxury ensuite. The lower level offers rumpus room opening to an expansive terrace surrounding a sparkling pool and spa, spacious home office, store room, workshop/hobby room, fitted laundry and a full bathroom.

With oversize double garage, a long list of desired inclusions such as TV, internet and telephone points to the majority of rooms and hydronic heating it will deliver a privileged lifestyle for a fortunate family.

Features include

• Land Size: 1001 sqm

• 532
• Inspect:By appointment
• Contact: Graham Morrison – 0417 101 997
• Contact: Leigh Maher – 0400 663 599

Many small businesses operate from the owner’s home. This could mean the factory is a shed in the backyard and the office a corner of the kitchen or dining room table.

For others the business can have a separate section of the home or permanent structure on the property used exclusively by the business. The facts of each case will determine what costs can be claimed as a tax deduction.

Business owners are often keen to claim a percentage of the interest on a loan where a mortgage has been taken out to purchase the property. The ability to claim property related expenses will depend on two tests being passed.

The first requires part of the home or the property to be set aside exclusively as a place of business. This would mean the part of the home used for business purposes could not have a dual private usage component. Setting up half of a large rumpus room as an office, with the rest being used for private purposes, would not satisfy this test.

In addition to the exclusive use test the section used for business purposes must be clearly identifiable. This can often mean that there is an entrance for the part used as a home and a separate entrance for the section relating to the business.

Building a shed that is used exclusively by a business for manufacturing or storage purposes would result in part of a property being classed as business premises.

If these tests are passed a portion of the property related expenses can be claimed including interest on the loan to purchase the property and rates. The method used to apportion the expenses must be able to stand up to the scrutiny of the ATO. An accepted method is calculating the area used for business purposes as percentage of the total area of the home.

In addition to the property related costs a tax deduction can also be claimed for the occupancy costs such as electricity, gas, telephone and internet usage. For these costs the owners must again be able to prove how they apportioned them between business and private usage.

Where the business property tests cannot be passed a business can still claim a portion of occupancy costs.

The ability to claim property related expenses does however come at a cost. By establishing a home or property is used for business results in a loss of the main residence capital gains tax exemption for that part of the home or property.

This will mean the owners of the business need to have the home valued at the time it starts to be used for business purposes. When the property is sold a portion of the difference between the net sale proceeds and the value when the business was started will be taxable as a capital gain.

Thankfully in this situation if a business owner passes the small business capital gains tax exemption tests income tax may still not be payable.

Tax for small business, a survival guide, by Max Newnham is available in bookstores.

Story source: www.domain.com.au

Balconies and balustrades have come along way over recent years. The choices are now far greater and the safety aspects have improved out of sight. Little ones can no longer easily climb up and wave down precariously at you from your second storey. This is very good news for parents!

Glass is currently one of the most popular material options for balustrading. It works brilliantly on a new house or apartment and is also an excellent way to modernise an existing home under renovation. For obvious reasons glass is also a clear winner for properties with a great view. Glass balustrading is not for the budget conscious, however, and cleaning it can be somewhat of a chore, but glass doesn’t rot and need replacing over time.

The other extremely popular choice these days is the wire balustrade. This simple yet stylish look can instantly complete a coastal weatherboard home giving it that classic nautical theme. Wire can also look great on ground level decking or low level balconies that still need some kind of railing. Internal stair casing also looks chic with wire incorporated into the design.

For a more traditional look, you can’t go past timber. It’s timeless and attractive and blends well with most home types. It does require some ongoing maintenance but if kept in good nick, it’s a look that will stand the test of time.

Other more unique balustrade materials include corrugated iron, steel and a combination of several. Importantly, if you are thinking of updating your existing balcony and railing be sure to check with local council for any permit requirements.

The best place to start is from the ground up.  Use rugs to define your space and then use furniture to help partition spaces.

Display cabinets, such as the Sovita Curio or Forma, are perfect for this – adding sparkle and zing and the opportunity to showcase your treasures.

Turn your lounge seating in on itself to create a healthy conversation area.  In this way the back of your lounges and chairs help to create the living space.

Mix different styles of furniture to give the zones more personality.  Think a classic contemporary lounge in your  ‘living zone’ combined with a wooden farmhouse table in your ‘dining zone’.

The general rule of thumb with big areas is that you need big furniture, big artworks and big patterns which will help to counter the proportions of the room.

Tuck study spaces out of sight and away from the lounge area with either partitions or plants.  No thinking about work when you are relaxing (and no need to be constantly tidying your messy work area either).

The final trick is to arrange the furniture in such a way as to allow you to meander through the space rather than being able to take a straight path from the front door to the back door.

Avoid meaningless dead zones and make use of all your space by adding plants, lamps and chairs.

Story Source: Nick Scali Reviews

If you are considering refinancing, be sure to avoid the following oversights:

1. Automatically refinancing with your current lender without shopping around – loyalty should not be a consideration in the home loan game!
2. Switching loans or lender without being 100% certain of the total costs including discharge fees, establishment fees, legal costs, ongoing fees etc.
3. Being enticed by honeymoon rates, which ultimately revert to a higher rate at the end of the introductory period
4. Turning short term debt into long-term debt by refinancing to use equity to pay off credit cards without seriously changing your spending behaviour
5. Rushing through the process without reading the fine print and making quick decisions just to get a good rate
6. Not asking for help from a professional if the process seems too daunting or difficult. A mortgage broker can often end up saving you big dollars.

Refinancing your mortgage means repeating the whole home loan procedure, so be prepared for a thorough and sometimes time consuming process. It’s worthwhile making sure your credit records are in the best possible shape before you even start.

This will go a long way to avoid stress and frustration further down the line. Lowering credit card limits to manageable levels can also help.