Newcastle NSW - What A Great Place To Live!
Hello. Come right in..no, leave your shoes on, you're fine. Welcome to my Lens from Squidoo. If you aren't familiar with the concept yet, Squidoo is a groovy way to combine a pile of resources on a particular topic so that you can easily access what you need. And of course, others who are interested can access it too. Since the Internet has us inundated with TOO MUCH information (much of it NOT what we're looking for), the Squidoo "Lens" was designed to help us find a focus on those bits that are what we are actively seeking for more information. Enjoy. More links and resources will be added regularly, so come back and visit often!
So what's up with the lack of Australian businesses who have taken the trouble (!) to enable selling their wares on the Internet? Seriously, if you are running a business and NOT letting your customers buy online, think again! I've just road tested a couple of Australian garden mail order services. Check below for the results and addresses!
But let me focus! We're here to share information about building right? Right. Okay, lets go. After nearly three years helping people buy their new home with a large project builder locally, you'll understand I've a pretty good idea where the gaps in understanding are in the information between what's important to the buyers (that's you) and the builders (that's "them"). If you've ever built a new home before, then you'll know that there is a LOT of stuff to work through from the concept stage where you begin to explore the idea... through to putting your feet up to watch the telly in your new living room. Through this site, I hope to help you learn some things that will steer you in the right direction and help you to navigate to a great outcome. This is going to be a work in progress, so stay with me, and let me know if you've some ideas or questions that you have that are not addressed here yet.
Some starting thoughts for you.
Now, I can't stress the importance of this for you to understand. Once you "get" this you will be ahead of the Game. Builders Don't Care About Your Home.Don't be confused by the advertising. If you are lucky, they do care about building a quality HOUSE (because that means they don't have to go and fix stuff, which eats into their profits), and some builders care about building a quality home, more than others. That's life. Get used to it. Your emotional attachment to your project ( and it IS exciting!!!), is ho-hum to the builders, and you'll find the process much more rewarding if you expect your excitement to be shared with friends and family and people who care, and not your builder. When you are communicating with your builder, try to keep focused on what the practical issues are. While your builder is not attached to your job emotionally, again, if you are lucky, they may take pride in their work and that means a good job for you. Getting on the builders nerves is NOT a good way to build rapport, and you building rapport while they build your house IS a good idea!
More to follow... Stay tuned to find out what the banks care about!
There's also some newsy stuff and some internet favourites of mine to check out and be fascinated/horrified/amused by. Okay. Let's get on with the show!
Not Sure Where To Start?
Coaching For Home Builders, Buyers & Borrowers
Finding help with your building or home purchase can be tricky. After close to three years working as a Home Building Consultant with Huxley Homes in Newcastle and Central Coast, you'll understand that I have some idea what to look for!...And what to 'look out for'.What would you REALLY like?
Whether you have a:
Sloping Site
Narrow Site
Knockdown/Rebuild
Investment Concept
Mines Subsidence Conditions
Special Lifestyle Needs
Family Accommodation Needs
Downsizing
Or you just want :
Something Bigger
Something Better
Something Smaller
Something Different
Something Special... call now and arrange a Planning session.
Lindy Asimus 0403 365855 or email lindyasimus AT gmail.com
Invest or Move In!
Selected Property Is Now Available
If you'd rather buy a ready made quality residence that's all set to move in your tenant or relocate in your family, take a look at the properties that are now available in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley.Check out the link on the module below to access the properties. We have more stock available from time to time, as suitable properties become available, so email me at lindyasimus AT gmail.com with your wish list - and you may just be in luck! A great home and a great buy? What could be better? Well with a little help from Ian Huxley at The Mortgage Supermarket, you can get service and find the right finance to suit your needs too. Just email to find out how easy it can be.
For the link to the properties, check the link list below. Just go to NSW properties and you'll find them all there.
And if you're looking for something a little more up-market, remember to check out the fantastic waterfront apartment at Port Stephens. It's really something!
Before One Builds, Grasshopper...One Must Consider...New Home Questions
(Er...Preferably BEFORE you start..!)
Your Land* Have you a block of land in mind?(or do you know what to look for/avoid?)
* Do you own it?
* Do you know what restrictions affect the site? eg; mines subsidence, flood zone, covenants , bushfire restrictions, etc
* Are there particular restraints that apply to the land due to narrow frontage, sloping elevation, easements, poor access, etc?
* Do you know where North is relative to your site?
* Are there views that you want to access?
* Are there views that you want to avoid?
* Will the driveway be easy to negotiate when entering and exiting your site?
* Is a slab construction possible or desirable on your land, or do you need bearers and joists, and/or lightweight construction? Many parts of Newcastle for example, are in Mines Subsidence areas and are restricted on the type of building you may be allowed to construct
* What has to happen in order for you to know that you are ready to build this home now?
Practical Considerations
Your House Style
* Do you need a single-storied home so that you can get around easily now and into the future?
* Do you need a two-storied home in order to achieve views, or to maintain a nice size garden?
* Do you have adult children or parents who will be living in your home with you?
* Do you have family you DON'T want to move in with you?
* How many bathrooms will you require?
* Do you need a formal living area and a casual living area or would you prefer one large space for entertaining?
* Do you prefer modern contemporary styling or a more traditional look to fit the streetscape?
* What entertaining do you do inside and outside the home? Do you require a transitional space like an alfresco area to bring the garden into the home?
* How many bedrooms do you need - and who do they have to accommodate? A guest bedroom may suffice to be a smaller size than a bedroom for married children, etc.
* Are there any handicapped or aged persons that will be living in the home and may need special consideration for door or hallway width and access?
Newcastle Building Information Links
Handy Sites - Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Surrounds
If you have favourite websites that you've found useful and that should be included here, email me at lindyasimus@gmail.com and I'll add them in if they are appropriate.
- Property For Sale - Hunter Valley
- Looking for an affordable quality investment property, or a new home for your family? Check out these beauties! Quality, and affordable. What a combination!
- Energy Australia - Newcastle
- If you're moving home, you can easily arrange to connect or disconnect your electricity online. Special Offer* FREE weather station valued at $119 for customers who purchase and install ceiling batts*
- Department of Fair Trading
- Last resort if you have problems with a builder or supplier you can't resolve.
- Master Builders Association - Newcastle
- Home for the Master Builders Association.
Courses available including "Asbestos Removal" - Housing Industry Association
- Housing Industry Association Home site.
Check out the Guide to Kitchen and Bathroom Construction; Greensmart information; Apprenticeships, Builders and latest on the BASIX rollout. - Mines Subsidence Board
- Since much of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley is undermined, the Mines Subsidence Board can help with information on what is allowed when building or renovating on blocks of land that are affected. Also the place to go if you need to lodge a claim for damage due to mines subsidence.
- Hunter Water
- Information relating to water supply, rainwater tanks, drainage. Come here for your applications for rainwater tanks, etc. Also Guide To Trees and Sewer Pipes.
- Newcastle City Council
- Development applications and planning information for projects within the Newcastle council area here
- Port Stephens Council
- Development applications and planning information for projects within the Port Stephens council area here. From Raymond Terrace to Nelson Bay and surrounds. And if you are moving into a new council area remember to find out the garbage collection day!
- Lake Macquarie Council
- Development applications and planning information for projects within the Lake Macquarie council area here. You'll find the LEP 2004 & DCP No.1 here too.
- Home Buyers School!
- Fantastic brainchild of Ian Huxley, this is THE resource for people thinking of buying their first home and wanting to find out all they need to know to navigate the process, from raising and understanding how finance works, and how to arrange your finance to best suit what's good for YOU... through to selection of property, tips on buying well, right up to the legal steps and things for which you need to be on the lookout. Fantastic site, and a Newcastle creation.
- So..You Want To Build A Home?
- Find out what your options are if you are looking for information on building on a new site, buying or building an investment property or considering a knockdown/rebuild at your current address. With specialists in all areas to help you, save time and hassle and get help now from advisors who will put your needs first.
For those with hectic schedules and a chain tying you to the desk throughout the day, remember you can access an in office or after hours appointment to discuss your home plans.
Home mortage and business finance quotes are also available from The Mortgage Supermarket. Don't fall for gimmicky TV commercials. The right loan to suit your situation could save you thousands of $$ over the course of your loan. Check it out! - Business Coaching For Small Business
- Practical, Affordable Help For Small Businesses. We work with you in your business by enhancing what you know... with what we know. Fine tuning your business, might mean finding low or even no cost ways to make extra profit in your business. Creating a better system, keeping customers, increasing the amount per sale, and having those customers visit more often improves relationships with them and makes you more profits. Start getting the most out of your business today. Email now and see how we might help you in your business... lindyasimus AT gmail.com
Drowning In Debt? Happy Homebuying
Smart Strategies For Home Finance
Right now, some people are watching the market flatten out on housing prices. Some will be noticing that prices in their neighbourhood have actually come down. Prices move and not always upward.Nevertheless, the money we borrow for our home is for most of us a very big investment and so it is our duty to ensure that we're getting the best 'buy' on the money we take home from the bank, and don't get caught with some flashy product that when we get it home under the natural lighting, doesn't fit right and is far more expensive than it has any right to be. That's right. We buy money when we take out a loan, and not all money is bought at the same price.
Reviewing your home loan can be a very rewarding thing to do. Not only can you make sure that you are going to pay the best price for what you buy - you can make sure that the fit is one that is good for you and will not pinch you in the wrong places...or leave your butt exposed.
Email me and mention Squidoo for a mortgage review by The Mortgage Supermarket. Send email to:
lindyasimus@gmail.com
You've nothing to lose and maybe some dignity to save.
Lindy
Come Spy On The Neighbours!
Flickr A Great Way To Share Your Pics...And A Great Place To Find Inspiration For Your Next Project Or Trip!
Some of the photos that are shared are phenomenal. Expert photographers and happy snappers alike. Lots of great pics to explore and always something different to view. Try it out. See what people all around the global village are taking photos about and posting.
Garden Plan
Harnk! If You're Happy!
Dandy site. Get Yourself Something Nice!
What Gets Up Your Nose?
Building and Borrowing For Your New Home
I'd love to find out what your thoughts are on where you think the system lets you down when you are trying to put together your project to build and purchase your new home. Drop me a line if you like and vent your spleen! Somewhere...someone might actually listen and give the market what we need.!My pick for WGUMN is probably the advertisement touting home loans that target the poor schlubs that don't know how to total up the cost of that "free" holiday they are getting for refinancing their house and "consolidating" their loans (read : "paying for short lived, pointless consumables compounded on the never never"). I'm still trying to work out a reason why that isn't criminal on the part of the lending bodies, but maybe it's supposed to be a case of caveat emptor - let the buyer beware. Now don't even get me started on the "characters" trying to flog "no doc" loans for the high commissions, with no regard to the mess they may be creating for the hapless schlubs. Boy, looks like we need some real financial education made available ...and fast.
But perhaps that begs the question. Does anyone really want to know that there is no free ride? Is denial really what we prefer?
Australian Shop Online
Great Websites You Can Buy Stuff!
- Home Couture
- Great store! Fantastic range of kitchen utensils, cookware and decorator homewares for the kitchen, dining room and bath. Also check out their great furniture and accessories for the Home Office! I've ordered from this store and was delighted with their range, their prices and their service. They deserve some support. Check out their advertised specials, and they often have free delivery.
- Garden Express
- Handy site. I was after some hostas for the garden and this seemed to have a reasonable range compared to other sites I could find. Delivery was a little tardy, but the packaging was great and everything arrived in good condition. Size of the plants was a bit smaller than I expected, but seem healthy. Bonus is the catalogue and cultivating notes that came with the order. They have a great range of bits and pieces for the whole gardening operation.
- Post Office Farm Nursery - Hellebores!
- Lovely, lovely range of hellebores for the garden! Singles, doubles, you name it. Great range of colours and very well presented website that is a great credit to them. Pictures load easily and it is a pleasure to order from them. Order came very quickly and in fantastic order. The plants were a good size for planting, with great roots and ready to go. Fantastic! A great example to anyone looking at putting up an online retailing site.
Home Buyers School - Newcastle NSW Australia
Training For Making This Most Important Purchase
FIRST HOME BUYERSAustralian Home Buyers School
Classes are now commencing for The Australian Home Buyer School. This is an information and education service designed to promote understanding of the processes involved in purchasing a new home for the first time. Topics range from borrowing and how to understand the finance aspect of mortgages and finance through to the legal intricacies property selection and more.
The Homebuyer School website is Home Buyers School
---------------------------------------------------------------
Note: If You Are A Professional Advisor
The Home Buyers School does not sell products, and is designed to be a purely educational resource for people new to buying a home. The classes will be run at regular intervals, and if you are a professional who would like to add value for your clients by a professional partnering with The Home Buyers School to run in-house workshops, please email me with your interest.
New Word of the Day
Comfy Corner - Home Stuff
Stuff You Can't Buy Locally in Oz
Newport Castle King Quilt
Price: $129.99
Now you know what Kath would say about this... "Oooh that's noice, Kimmy!!!" We just don't see this fabulous range of patchwork quilts in Australia. There is nothing more comfy on a chilly winter night than to snuggle under one of these... and they are light enough in summer to pull up when the temperature finally goes down...
Rose of Sharon Block (Downloadable Plan)
Price: $4.95
Not ready to stitch a full quilt yet? Here's a great starter! America's love of stitched patchwork quilts is one of their most endearing traditions. Here you can get crafty and create your own to pass down to generations to come. You'll find more examples to choose from on the site. And if you ARE ready to stitch a full quilt, there are patterns for that on the site too!
Bird Mansion (Printed Plan)
Price: $14.95
The original "gingerbread" house! Did you know? American's have another great tradition that I've not heard of in Australia. It's called a "Honey, do.." list. Here's one to put on your Honey's list! Birdhouses are another American specialty. They are so twee - and far too nice to put outside in the weather! Now what would a magpie make of these? Fantastic decorative element for the house. Ready made, if your idea of hammering wood isn't your thing. Just find the perfect spot and admire your new home addition.
New Salon
Read what's happening in the wide world. Grab a coffee and settle into the Salon for a little real world un-sanity.
- Walking on air
- Twin towers wire-walker Philippe Petit and "Man on Wire" director James Marsh talk about taking risks and making magic in troubled times.
- Critics' Picks
- What you need to see, read, do this week: A "Mad Men" bad boy, a vampire movie with bite, a succulent summer pop song.
- Everybody out for a long one!
- A California high school coach has created an offense that's a sensation before its second year in action. Everyone's eligible.
Fun Stuff To Explore
A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Come take a peek!
Yes. That's what this space is for. TTIN.
Make a note...
- DIY Guide To Roasting Your Own Coffee!
- Oh this is for all my fellow coffee addicts.
A sweet and rewarding vice. - Have You Discovered Google Earth Yet?
- Google Earth is THE place if you like to explore the world and marvel at technology at the same time. Warning: People have been known to disappear for hours at a time when they start playing with Google Earth!
New BoingBoing
The Directory Of The Wonderful
This is for the inquisitive among you.
- Soviet-era Estonian meat commercial
- Check out this 1980s, Soviet-era Estonian commercial for meat and meat products. Now this is what advertising is about: echoing chants, meat slurry being extruded from a machine, and nervous chickens. Link (via Kottke) Update: This one originally appeared on BB in 2005, thanks to Xeni -- good catch, Mecredis!...
- Sysadmin of the Year nominations open
- It's time again for Sysadmin of the Year nominations: The SysAdmin of the Year Award shines a spotlight on the IT superheroes behind the scenes working tirelessly to troubleshoot, problem solve and fight fires to keep the world running smoothly. They save the day on a daily basis and we think it's time they got the recognition they deserve. It's easy - grab your video camera, web cam, or cell phone and bust out a short 1-2 minute video about how you saved the day for your organization or client. Make us laugh or make us cry, and you could win fabulous prizes including an Apple Laptop, a Wii, xBox or PS3. First 500 entries get a heroic SysAdmin of the Year t-shirt. Link...
- Commando Nerd Patches for iPhone scanning
- John Young has written some cool projects for Make, such as this helmet-mounted water gun. He just alerted me to another nifty thing he made: Commando Nerd patches, which can be scanned with an iPhone. Here's how he describes them: You have an iPhone. And that means you're just HOURS away from being able to put a QRcode reader on it (there's one currently under review at Apple.) Once you have a QRcode reader, what will you do then? Why, you'll wear a stylish Commando Nerd patch all around town, naturally! You can configure the patch to link to anything you want. People can scan your code to see your blog... or buy your art... or watch a YouTube video of you giving them the finger. Here's my blog post taking it out from under wraps. I have about five or six velcro-backed patches left in the prototype set before I start making and selling them For Real. This'll be fun; the iPhone provides a lot more, and a lot more interesting, opportunities for offline to online integration than just "here's a link to my facebook page." One thing I want to do is link the patch to a paypal "subscribe to me" link. You know, you could offer help-desk services right there in person: THEM: "Excuse me, could you install a virus checker on my computer?" YOU: "Certainly! Just take your mobile phone and scan my patch right here..." THEM: "What's that?" YOU: "That will subscribe you to my IT services. Only ten dollars a month for up to three incidents!" THEM: "Uh... how about I just take my laptop to the Geek Squad?" YOU: "Oh, gosh, okay." Or maybe: THEM: "Hey, man, what happened to your leg?" YOU: "I broke it in five places. Scan the patch on my cast with your iPhone and watch a YouTube video of me ALMOST making the jump!" Commando Nerd patch...
- House Industries "Studio Lettering" font collection
- My favorite type designers, House Industries, have a new set of fonts called Studio Lettering. The description is intriguing: Before the era of digital publishing, highly-trained artists in lettering shops plied their talents to give personality to advertisements, editorials and package designs. While the eye-catching beauty of hand-drawn lettering is still relevant in today's visual landscape, this bygone skill has sadly fallen to the wayside. Designer Ken Barber brings the lettering artist's sensibilities back to the modern designer's desktop with our new Studio Lettering collection. More than three years in development, these fonts use advanced programming to create living and breathing lines of text that escape the rigid constraints of traditional type to flow as they would from an experienced letterer's hand. The first 200 purchasers receive a free 64-page hardbound Studio Lettering book! Price is $160. House Industries "Studio Lettering" font collection...
- Monster Corner vintage hobby shop
- Coop alerted my to this amazing photo of "The Monster Korner" in a New Jersey hobby shop from 1964. Every square inch is a treat to the eyeballs. The only place a shop like this could exist today is Tokyo. The text from the photo reads: Rich Palmer ran the nation's largest volume hobby shop in Parsippany, New Jersey. Aurora hired him to organize its Monster Customizing Contest in 1964. Aurora received national television attention when the CBS Evening News visited his shop. Walter Cronkite and Palmer held a conversation in the "Monster Korner" of the store. Big Frankie occupies the top shelf in the Monster Korner. Monster Corner vintage hobby shop (toyranch's photostream)...
Great Stuff on eBay
Are You An eBay-a-holic?
What can't you buy for your home on eBay? Stop by and bid on a bargain... or clean out that garage today! You know you've got piles of stuff that you don't want packed into cupboards and stashed into corners of the house. Sure you need more room? Get organized and you might find that you need less room than you think!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Great Stuff on Amazon
Feng Shui Anyone?
Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/26/2008)
Landscaping with Stone (Home Landscaping)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/26/2008)
Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands (Vol. 1): Guiding Principles to Welcome Rain into Your Life And Landscape
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/26/2008)
New Guestbook
|
lindyasimus
My goodness, I just found this comment after all this time! Posted June 27, 2008 |
|
nyfamily5
Great Lens on New Home Building. I had a new home built so and so many of your points hit home. Posted May 11, 2008 |
Lindy Asimus the best in-class business coaching
Posted December 09, 2006
|
Lamar_Morgan
Lindy, Posted November 03, 2006 |
