Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Our Deepest Fear Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine, as children do. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others. By Marianne Williamson 1. Shooting from the HIPS The devastating effects of bushfires on property and homes could be greatly reduced in the future, following an announcement this week by CSIRO of research into new fire-resistant coating materials. It has been found that HIPS (`hybrid inorganic polymer system') coatings can withstand temperatures of over 1000_C - a dramatic improvement compared to current commercial coatings used on building materials and structures which break down at 150-250_C. Read More... The devastating effects of bushfires on property and homes could be greatly reduced in the future, following an announcement this week by CSIRO of research into new fire-resistant coating materials. It has been found that HIPS (`hybrid inorganic polymer system') coatings can withstand temperatures of over 1000_C - a dramatic improvement compared to current commercial coatings used on building materials and structures which break down at 150-250_C. Project leader, Dr Damian Fullston of CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, says the potential uses for HIPS are `almost limitless'. "Geopolymers are an emerging class of ceramic-like inorganic polymers produced at room temperatures that have the potential to transform the building products industry," Dr Fullston says. "They are not only fire-, blast- and acid-resistant, they are also strong, castable, sprayable, and extrudable." "The polymer additives in HIPS improve the flexibility and waterproofing properties and provide stronger adhesion, which are important properties for a coating." HIPS has the potential to form thin fireproof coatings on timbers such as weatherboards and on metals such as structural or galvanised steel. It can also protect brickwork, either as a thin coating or as a render. As water-based products, HIPS coatings are free of volatile organic compounds, do not burn or produce heat,and do not release smoke or toxic chemicals at temperatures up to 1200_C. Geopolymers are cost-competitive, since they are made from readily available raw materials. They can also be derived from industrial by-products such as flyash and blast furnace slag. They can be cheaper than organic resins and coloured with pigments or dyes. CSIRO also sees potential for the manufacture of fireproof wood composites and fire seals from HIPS technology, but has not fully explored these applications to date. Top 2. New home sales dip The month of May saw a surprising drop in sales of new homes, according to a recent survey of the nation's largest building firms. New home sales in May decreased by 5.7 per cent; however this is still 15 per cent above the low point in December of last year. Read More... The month of May saw a surprising drop in sales of new homes, according to a recent survey of the nation's largest building firms. New home sales in May decreased by 5.7 per cent; however this is still 15 per cent above the low point in December of last year. Sales of apartments and units grew 6.1 per cent during May. For the month of May, detached New Home Sales decreased by 9.9 per cent in New South Wales, 8.7 per cent in Victoria, and 13.5 per cent in Western Australia. Sales grew by 2 per cent in Queensland and by 3.6 per cent in South Australia. Top 3. Don't be bitten by frost fires As the cold sets in and the heating gets cranked up, it is important to keep an eye on the way we warm our homes, since the season comes hand in hand with a high risk of household fires. Something as simple as a faulty electrical appliance or washing left too close to a heater could put a home and family at risk, architectural body Archicentre warned this week. Read More... As the cold sets in and the heating gets cranked up, it is important to keep an eye on the way we warm our homes, since the season comes hand in hand with a high risk of household fires. Something as simple as a faulty electrical appliance or washing left too close to a heater could put a home and family at risk, architectural body Archicentre warned this week. Fire authorities report that the most common causes of winter fires are accidents or distractions in the kitchen, fireplace and heater-related incidents, and electrical faults. Archicentre's West Australian State Manager Brad Cook said there are around 11,000 house fires in Australia each year, and even in the cases where no one is hurt, the cost of losing a home is high on all levels. "Many homes damaged or destroyed by fire don't have working smoke alarms," Mr Cook commented. "In some cases fire authorities have reported the batteries have been removed from the smoke alarm, rendering them inoperable," he said. To ensure you and your family are well protected, Archicentre has put together a fire safety checklist - 1. Correctly install appropriate smoke alarms in effective locations. Test alarms regularly by pressing the test button with a broom handle. Vacuum them monthly to clean the vents. Replace the batteries annually. Use a long-lasting alkaline battery to ensure a continuous supply of battery power to your smoke alarm. 2. Never leave the room when cooking, or oil is being heated on the stove. If you throw water on a burning fat or oil fire, it will cause an explosive reaction. Put a lid over a burning pan or use a fire extinguisher or fire blanket. Install a fire extinguisher - a dry powder type. Obtain a Fire Blanket for kitchen stove top fires. 3. Prepare and practice an evacuation plan with an escape route and including door keys. Install lever handle latch on doors for quick exit without keys. Install deadlocks that can be opened from the inside without keys. If using deadlocks, leave keys in the lock inside the door so that you can escape in an emergency. Ensure security grilles are operable to open from inside the home. 4. Clean the exhaust fan grill over the stove to remove fire fuel fats and grease. 5. Clean the lint filter from the clothes dryer grille after each use and always let dryers complete the cool-down cycle 6. Install a Safety Switch on power and light circuits. Unplug appliances when not in use and if possible have appliances checked annually by a licensed electrician. Tidy up - remove if possible all extension leads. Do not run electrical leads under carpets or rugs. Push appliance power point plugs fully into power points and always turn off the power points when not in use. Get rid of double adaptors and reduce the use of power boards. Unplug the TV - don't leave it on standby - it may cause meltdown and fire. Switch off the electric blanket before you go to sleep. Have your heating units and ducted heating systems professionally serviced prior to winter use. 7. Never leave children alone around heating and cooking appliances and keep lighters and matches out of reach. 8. Take extra care with naked flames particularly the use of candles, and oil burners for essential oils and incense. 9. Don't smoke in bed. Ensure cigarette ash and butts are extinguished. 10. Use free standing space heaters with extreme care. 11. Avoid hanging clothes to dry too close to heaters as clothes can soon ignite. 12. Turn off heaters when you go to bed. 13. With an open fire ensure logs in fireplaces have burnt down before you go to bed. Use a heavy duty fire screen in front of fireplace to prevent sparks and burning logs rolling out of the fire onto the floor igniting the floor or carpet. Ensure the fire screen can't be tipped over if a burning log rolls out. Consider installing a wire fire screen or curtain within the fireplace. Remember that in a fire, every second counts. Archicentre recommends not stopping to pick up possessions but to get everyone out as quickly as possible and then call '000' from your neighbour's phone. Top 4. Young and restless Young Australians today are more likely to move across the country than any other generation, according to the latest Australian Social Trends publication from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Read More... Young Australians today are more likely to move across the country than any other generation, according to the latest Australian Social Trends publication from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Nearly two million Australians moved to a new city or region in the five years to 2006. The movers tended to be younger than the rest of the population, with 40 per cent of them aged between 20 and 39. Southeast Queensland - particularly Brisbane, Gold Coast-Tweed and the Sunshine Coast - and southwest Western Australia were the most popular destinations. The report also shows that when they are `at home', more young Australians today are likely to be living with their parents and working on a casual basis. Top 5. Making a clean sale When preparing your house for sale, investing a little time and effort can reap huge returns. Consider spending a weekend in the garden, clearing out and cutting back messy overgrown plants, as well as a few days dedicated to cleaning up the clutter inside the house. You're going to be moving anyway, so start culling the old furniture, broken toys and bikes, old clothes, linen and kitchenware that you don't want in your new home. Most things can be recycled, through eBay, freecycle, Vinnies or another local charity. Reducing the clutter creates an impression of openness. Ideally, prospective buyers should be able to look past your furnishings and start planning how they'd arrange their furniture in your house. Top 6. Carpet ease without the VOC's Living in a heritage or rustic home is appealing to many people, but when it comes to renovation or repairs, maintaining the olde-world charm and authenticity can be a nightmare. This problem can be further exacerbated if you want to install sustainable or `green' features as part of the renovation. TacTiles from InterfaceFLOR are glue free adhesive films that connect carpet tiles together to form a stable surface, creating a floating floor over almost any hard surface. They're a sustainable alternative and also perfect for heritage fitouts, where maintaining original flooring integrity is a concern. Easy to remove and recycle, the films eliminate the health hazards of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) prevalent in conventional carpet glues, making them ideal for use in any home, heritage or modern.