Top 3 Criteria when building your own home...

Hello blog world!  Please welcome a guest post today all the way from Down Under!  Sarah Q. Grey handles all the digital marketing for Today's Homes in Canberra, Australia, a  custom home builder, that also takes into account sustainable options for creating the home of your dreams.  Their beautiful website is worth a visit and when it comes to building your own home, there is no substitute for speaking with the experts.  Here are three (3) excellent tips to consider when you decide to build:

3 Things To Consider When Engaging With A Home Building Company.

If you’re looking for a home building company to build the home of your dreams, then there are a few things you should consider. Finding the right builder is not as easy as you might assume. There are countless options out on the market and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. To help you choose the best home building company for you and your family, here are 3 suggestions to help ensure you find the best company for the job.

1. Previous Examples

When looking for a high-quality builder it’s essential to begin by asking about previous projects. Most experienced home building companies are able to provide a portfolio of completed projects to demonstrate their competence and quality in building homes. And it’s important that you check these past projects out as a way of gauging whether a particular home building company is right for you. As we all know, building a home is a huge decision, and can be taxing both emotionally and financially. That’s why one needs to put in substantial time with their research in order to find the right builder. Canberra home building experts Today’s Homes always provide clients with past work examples, and it’s important that whoever you choose to build your home does the same. When looking at previous examples, it’s vital that you inspect these properties in-person (if possible) as this is the only way of making sure the portfolio being presented is not falsified to woo the client in.

2. Communication

Meeting and talking with a prospective home building company is doubly important. When it comes to such a substantial investment, it’s important that both parties can communicate effectively. This is to ensure that both client and contractor are on the same page in regards to the planning and implementation of the home building project. Make sure you speak with prospective builders face-to-face, and not just over the phone. Sure, you can’t expect to meet with them all the time (after all, builders are generally pretty busy people!), but you need to have had at least one face-to-face meeting to ensure that both parties are a good fit for each other.

3. Pricing terms

Building a home is a huge investment, and sometimes we can go over budget in the pursuit of our very own dream home. That’s why it’s important that you talk with any prospective building company and ensure that you agree on a final, fixed price for the project. Sure, things change during the construction phase, and you’ll have to foot the bill for any changes you make to the original plan. But it’s essential that both parties are clear on just what is included in the final price. Unfortunately there have been many cases in the past where a client was left in legal trouble when a builder decided to up the rates during construction. Get everything in writing, and make sure all important documents are signed. That’s the best way to ensure that the job is done properly and within budget.

Finding the best home building company to build your home can take some time. But stick with it. In the end, having a home you can be proud of is worth it. Consider the above tips and suggestions when hunting for a builder, and no doubt you’ll soon be on your own way to owning a home you can be proud of.

((images courtesy of todayshomes.com.au)

Are you ready to move forward with your dream home?

If you live in the Canberra area, contact Today's Homes

for expert tips, experience, design and build.

Thank you to Sarah Q. Grey and Today's Homes for this 

informative information!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Please contact me for an online design collaboration

at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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5 MORE TIPS for downsizing...

WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE IT OUT -

Michael Taylor, the iconic interior designer credited with originating the 'California' look - light, bright and breezy in the '70's. He lived by this and its an adage we should all consider doing on a daily basis. 


Here are another 5 tips for your notebook:

1. Take all your old towels (you know you have them) and sheets to an animal shelter or hospital or find a drop-off for animal shelters that are always looking for old towels, comforters, blankets and sheets for their sick pets. This goes for pet food and toys too.

Lucy says 'donate now!!' and thank you...

Scooter says 'do the right thing and give us your old linens!'

...and thank you...

2. Got old 8 tracks?? Some of the younger bloggers won't know what the heck those are, but, they HAVE to go!!  Tapes? forget it...old movies on VHS? fuggedaboutit! (as they say in Jersey) -these
are great donations to a library, hospital or school...(in some cases, just chuck 'em out please)...

3. CLOTHES, uh-oh, this is a biggie and almost warrants its own column...If you haven't worn something for 3 months to a year, its time to go. It may look pretty on the hanger, but, really, its just decoration at this point. This goes for handbags, shoes and winter boots as well as winter coats or any kind of coats. Dress for Success (helping women look great for job interviews) Drama clubs, Goodwill, Salvation Army and various other charities are always looking for clothing. If you have a lot, fill out a tax form and collect at the end of the year.

This is a hat you may want to toss...a bit 

outdated don't you think??

(image)

4.  TOILETRIES - this is another big one. If you are like me, you collect hair and skin products just because you can and because you got a 'deal.' Well, truly how many mousses can one possibly use?? When not in use, these bottles are taking up precious real estate in the bathroom, linen closet or perhaps its spread to the bedroom. This is not good. The best place for these? How about a women's shelter? These products are great for women who have left abusive husbands or partners etc. who want to not only look good, but feel good.

(image)

5. PHOTOGRAPHS - this is another big one for us older bloggers. If you have hundreds, maybe thousands of photos like I did, I literally grabbed a glass of wine, plunked down on my living room floor and went through boxes of photos that took an entire afternoon. I threw out mostly scenic shots (you know 10 pictures of the Eiffel Tower or Leaning Tower of Pisa can only go so far, they're all the same!) and filled a Hefty garbage bag that was so heavy I could barely lift it.  I only kept those pictures that are meaningful and they are now downsized and organized accordingly in shoeboxes or similarly sized boxes. I felt great when I was done, because they were sitting in storage for the better part of 8 years. What good is that? 


BONUS FENG SHUI TIP: putting pictures of deceased relatives around the house or on your walls means that even in the spiritual world, they are actively looking out for you and protecting you. It can only be good. 

Should this stay or should it go?? Probably a keeper since its 

the Juliana and went down the Thames today carrying the Olympic torch!!

So, if you really can't part with certain things, put it all in a box, close it and check

back in a month or two...you won't even remember what's in there. So, like Michael

Taylor, when in doubt, take it out!!

(images by me unless noted)

Happy Olympics! Will you be watching the Opening Ceremony? I will so 

enjoy! 

LONDON 2012

Please contact me for interest in advertising or interior styling, cleaning out, organizing or choosing

paint color or art work for your home at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Top 5 tips for downsizing...

Hello all! I've got some great tips for you if you are thinking about downsizing OR just having a good clean out around your house. Lots of clutter around you is never a good thing, especially in Feng Shui.  So, here are my tips that I have recently applied and feel so much better for it.


1. Throw out all your old magazines and books - if you are like I was, I had piles and piles, over 100 magazines. Did I read them? No! Did I refer to them? No! Dump them!! Recycle or sell them at your yard sale for $1 each.  Same goes for books...if you have read them, dump them. Call a charity and they will come and pick up your boxes of books. Only certain design books you love should be kept as a small library for yourself. 

$12 bookcase for my design books...

2. Got extra furniture like small occasional tables or chairs? If they are collecting dust - sell them or give them to Goodwill. No need for these at all. Plus if you are downsizing from a large house to a small house like I did, they will take up way too much room.

I love my white chair, the orange has to go...I will keep it but

paint it white...see how much room these need? Note piles

of mags behind the chairs...most have been taken to be recycled.

3. Update your walls and get rid of old art work that you bought 10 years ago or longer. I got rid of some prints I've had since 1986 and frankly, they were terribly faded and didn't look good anymore. I had a couple of Andrew Wyeth prints that I used to love, but, let's face it, we move on from things we loved at one time. Also the style in your home might be different so get rid of it! I had some art deco prints that fit a certain design scheme. Sell them at your yard sale.

As you can see, I am definitely keeping my Anne Harwell 

print so KEEP ONLY WHAT YOU LOVE!!

4. Knick knacks? Collecting dust? Sitting on a table for no real reason other than its pretty?? Who cares! Be ruthless! There is no need for pictures on tables and knicky knacky things that just don't serve any purpose. Dust collectors!! Keep a couple of treasured items and sell the rest at your big yard sale. 

I spot a knick knack!! I'm totally guilty of this and

am trying to change my ways...mostly because I have

no room now...;-))

5.  Any item in the kitchen that has not been used in the last 1-3 years such as kitchen items...blenders, Cuisinarts, Foreman grills, electric griddles (I actually had one!), vases, plates, extra wine glasses etc. These are fabulous items for yard sales or charities. Need some new clean space? Clear out the old. And another good tip: if you buy a new item, an old item has to go!! Don't keep collecting! 


Those are my top 5 tips for clearing out your house - I hope it helps if its a project you are thinking about doing or currently working on.  Hope you have a great day!


PS: I am still working on my header links...


(images by me)


If you need to advertise your business here or need interior decorating assistance, please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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