5 Smart Tips For Choosing A House And Land Package

House and land packages are an attractive option for aspiring homeowners who want to own the ground on which their homes sit. The challenge is finding one that matches your budget and lifestyle preferences while offering high-calibre workmanship.

There are countless builders that offer a range of such packages. It's worth noting that some builders are better than others based on their experience and reputation with their past customers. In addition, their portfolios differ with regard to the quality of the construction of their builds.

We'll provide several practical tips below that will help you to narrow down your options and find a house and land package that's perfect for you and your family.

House And Land Packages Defined

Typically, when you buy a new home design, you're buying the structure itself, not the lot underneath it. When you buy a home and land package, you're purchasing both.

Such packages come in two flavours. First, you can buy an existing structure along with its underlying lot. Doing so allows you and your family to move in as soon as you receive the keys. The second option is to purchase an "off the plan" package. Here you select the lot and work closely with the developer to build your dream.

Advantages Of Purchasing A Package

Buying as a package provides several benefits. First, when you purchase both of them together, you do so with the confidence of knowing that the build has already been approved for the lot. If you purchase them separately, the build will need to be approved by your local council.

Another advantage is that buying a house and land together is generally more affordable than purchasing them separately. The property developer will handle many of the tasks you would normally hire other professionals - plumbers, architects, geo-technical engineers, etc. - to handle.

Buying an off the plan package - that is, having a new house built on your lot - affords another advantage. You'll be able to work closely with the developer to customise your design according to your preferences.

With the above benefits in mind, use the following 5 tips to find an appealing package that you and your family will enjoy for years to come.

#1 - Determine Your Budget

To save yourself time, determine upfront how much you can afford to spend. Regardless of whether you're a first time buyer or searching for your second or third place, there are packages that will accommodate your budget. The key is knowing your budget before you start your search.

#2 - Review The Packages Available In Your Desired Location

You likely have a good idea regarding where you'd like to live. Start your search by looking at home and land packages in those communities.

Note the options that are available to you that match your budget. Pay particular attention to floor plans, the number of bedrooms, and select features, such as whether the property offers an attached garage.

#3 - Check The Builder's Track Record

Because not all builders are alike, it's a good idea to perform at least a modicum of due diligence on those you're considering working with. Check each builder's level of experience and reputation in the industry. Also, check to see whether the developer has received a large number of complaints from past customers.

#4 - Discuss Your Design With The Builder

Once you've settled on a reputable property developer, discuss the features you're looking for. The developer should be able to show you a number of builds that match your lifestyle. If you're buying an off the plan package, your developer will work closely with you to ensure your new design includes the features that are important to you.

#5 - Evaluate Your Finance Options
Your ability to afford a house and land package will depend largely on your finance options. You'll be required to put a certain percentage down on the home and the lot on which it sits. The percentage varies by builder, but generally ranges between 5% and 10% of the total cost.

If you've decided to have a new home built on the lot, the payments might only consist of the accrued interest on the loan. The balance of the loan, including payments toward the principal, would be deferred until the developer has completed the build.

A number of important factors should be taken into account before selecting a house and land package for your family. Use the tips above to help narrow and expedite your search. The time you invest now to ensure that your home includes your desired features will pay big dividends for years to come.

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Make Your Home More Livable With These Accessible Senior Home Renovations

There are many senior accessible home improvements that can be incorporated into your home when you remodel. There are five key senior home modifications that should be included that can help make your home more livable. Accessible home remodeling should include all areas in the home. The five main areas that should be considered for accessible home remodeling include the entryways, yard, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

Barrier-free living becomes essential as you get older, and one way to accommodate the elderly is to provide no-step thresholds in your home. When a threshold divides rooms, it poses a tripping hazard. No-step threshold eliminate hazards and make your home safer. You can also further incorporate this safety element by having no-step entries at the front and backdoor of your home.

There are a few ways to modify your backyard to make it more elderly accessible. You can make sure that there is a clear path that is free of tripping hazards, which is accessible to a person in a wheelchair. If you have a garden in your yard, you may consider raising the beds so a person does not hurt himself or herself by bending down so low. Raised beds reduce the stress that is placed on your back and makes it so you do not tire as easily.

There are numerous kitchen modifications that provide home mobility solutions. You can adjust the height of the countertops, increase the floor space, enhance the lighting, adjust the height of appliances, install single level facets and design rollout and sliding shelves. All of these options will dramatically improve your kitchen's functionality and maintain an efficient workspace.

In your bedroom, there are several accessible home improvements that can be incorporated to make it more senior friendly. You can add an in-law suite to your home, or make a first floor master bedroom. You may want to increase the floor space for wheelchair accessibility and ensure that the light switches can be reached from a wheelchair. Rocker light switches are easier to turn on than standard switches, so you may consider installing them.

Accessible bathroom modifications can include barrier-free showers and bathtubs. You can install a roll-in shower or a walk-in bathtub. There are numerous style and models that can be customized for your unique style. You may also want to add grab bars in both the shower area and near the facilities. You can also adjust the height of the toilet and adjust the height of the bathroom sink. Bathrooms generally can pose the most safety hazards, since there is a lot of moisture in it. Therefore, you should consider adding in slip-resistant flooring to eliminate the risk of falling.

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Advice For Choosing The Proper Glass For Your Windows

When working on your home, it is great to get the opportunity to customize things to be just the way that you want them. After all, this is your home, and it should be constructed to maximize your quality of life. Believe it or not, things as simple as windows can have a positive or negative effect on your daily life depending on how they are constructed. Some may allow excess heat into the home while others may be more energy efficient. It all depends on the type of glass that is used. Depending on your preferences and needs, you may want to use a variety of types throughout your house.

Are you looking for safety and durability? If so, one of the stronger types of glass out there is tempered. The unique characteristic of this glass is that it is designed to crumble if it is broken. This is a safety feature that prevents glass fragments from scattering throughout your home or your front yard. Tempered glass is heat treated to achieve its outstanding strength and safety. You will usually find it used in storm windows and doors, and it is generally an excellent product to use for energy efficiency.

Sheet glass is a very common material for home use. Windows and doors in older homes were routinely filled with this type of glass. While common, this material does have issues with strength and efficiency. It can easily be broken by a rock, and it will not help you reduce your heating and cooling bills. The great thing about it, however, is that it is very easy to cut and shape. If you are a beginner do-it-yourselfer, then, it might be a good product to work with.

Another popular glass for home use is low emissivity, or low-e glass. The thing that differentiates this material is a special coating on one side of the glass that allows light to pass through while reflecting heat. This glass is used very often by energy conscious individuals, as it can decrease heating and cooling bills by 15-20%.

Far and away, the best glass type to use for safety is wired glass. Windows with this material will maintain their shape even if the glass in them is broken due to steel wire meshes that are incorporated into the glass during production. Not only does the steel wire help keep the pane intact, but it also is a fire-rated material. If your home happened to catch on fire this specialty glass will prevent the spread of fire and smoke, possibly saving your home from destruction. The downsides to this product are cost and aesthetics. Because of the meticulous work needed to install the wire, this type of glass tends to be very pricey. It also looks rather odd with the steel strewn throughout the material.

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Common Garage Door Problems

Garage doors play a vital role of increasing the appeal of a home; however, they tend to have several problems. Here are some of the common garage door problems:

Faulty door opener

This problem is common in automatic doors with electric openers. Here the door may develop issues resulting to failure of opening or closing. The main cause of the problem is the failure of the drive motor or the electrical circuit to control the remote control or the safety sensors.

When this problem develops, you only need to hire the services of a specialist with plenty of experience in rectifying the problem.

Bent doors

It's common to have garage doors bent. The cause for this is cars rolling into the doors. The doors also tend to bend when you try closing them with something in the way. Steel and aluminum doors are the most vulnerable in bending.

To correct the problem you only need to straighten it. If you can't do it on your own, you should seek the services of a professional. In some cases you may find that your door is excessively bent. In such a case, you may be required to replace the panels and slats and the door will look as good as new.

Sticking on tracks

Many garage doors have rollers that run on tracks thus guiding the door as it opens and closes. Due to one reason or another, the roller may get jammed thus preventing the door from moving easily.
The solution to this problem is lubrication of the rollers. In some cases the rollers may have worn off. Here you need to replace the rollers and you will have a perfectly working door.

Failed mechanism

Garage doors are usually balanced by springs or weights. As time moves on, springs tend to break thus resulting to lose of tension. Here you need to hire the services of a professional to replace the springs and restore the lost tension.

In some cases, you may find that your door is counterbalanced by a system of cables and weights. Here you need to hire a professional with ample experience in repairing the cables.

Jammed locks

Locks are vital parts of garage doors and they tend to jam from time to time. The good side is that there are many spares available for almost all types of locks; therefore, all you need to do when your lock gets jammed is to replace the lock. You can also take the lock to a professional who will repair the faulty part.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8335653