If you have just moved in, or when you do buy your next home, try to make decisions that make sense – and dollars too. Jerry Tyrrell sets out the top 10 mistakes he and his 18 colleagues are commonly seeing.

1. Rushing with changes as soon as you move in.

2. Failing to master plan – even broadly. Street presence first, front door entry/lighting/weather protection second, connection between inside and outdoor spaces third.

3. Overcapitalising on properties without view, location or price advantages – silly spend on items,such as replacing a 7-year-old kitchen when handle and tap upgrade will save you $35,000.

4. Failing to use the free, easy to enhance spaces, such as attic voids or basements which can be easily excavated.

5. Not using LED lamps for EVERY replacement globe/light.

6. Adding space the market will not pay for, eg 5th bedroom, 2nd ensuite.

7. Worrying excessively about termites or asbestos in fibro you will never remove.

8. Not removing hazards, such as plate glass in older doors, replacing battery smoke detectors, fitting handrails to stairs and edges where people can fall, trimming dead tree limbs etc.

9. Not getting colour advice and not integrating good external lighting prior repaint

10. Planting large trees close to your building or paving.

Not only will you make more money if you avoid mistakes, you will have a safer, better looking and more functional home.

For help with your renovations, please contact us.

The Work Health Safety legislation says the person responsible is the owner who must select a competent inspector to identify risk, eg asbestos.

Personal protective clothing is required for Building Consultants at risk in asbestos-affected buildings.

For Strata Schemes to comply the Owners Corporation must:

1. Survey the property
2. Prepare an Onsite Asbestos Register (OAR)
3. Prepare an onsite Asbestos Management Plan (AMP)

If Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are not found – the OAR must still be kept onsite.

The OAR must also:

• have a site plan identifying WHERE asbestos has been found;
• install a sign at each entry/exit identifying the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs).

AMPs must contain an incident management system – this should include a Safe Work Methods Statement (SWMS) for contractors to read and acknowledge BEFORE they commence any work onsite.

Tyrrells has been carrying out Asbestos Surveys for many years. Tyrrells consultants have completed the Asbestos Identification & Management TAFE course and are experienced building professionals able to help you eliminate risk in this important area.

We can provide the following to ensure you are compliant:

• Complete onsite survey and testing using accredited NATA laboratories
• Prepare any required OAR and AMP
• Install a document box with 003 keys
• Provide specific training and information; triplicate record book for contractors to sign when carrying out work.

For further information email sransley@tyrrells.com, or for bookings call us on 1300 131 270.

*NB. Previous Asbestos Registers are now out of date.

Any problems identified with a professional pre-purchase inspection will probably not deter you from buying the property, but at least when you buy it you have your eyes open.   Some problems can be straightforward and easy to fix but other issues can be major ones.  You can use the report to negotiate a better price.

“DIY Inspections: How to spot a lemon“ published in the Sydney Morning Herald says you should do two sorts of checks: the first is to do your own initial appraisal, and the second, if you are keen on the property,  is to bring in the experts such as Tyrrells.

The article quotes one property investor saying, “Although the [Tyrrells] report cost $1200, it was worth it. They gave us a written report and we also had access to the inspector before and after the inspection. He was really prompt in calling us … he gave us some positive buying points as to whether the property was sound and what maintenance was required.”

A Property and Timber Pest Report from Tyrrells is comprehensive (several pages), is available within  one day of the building inspection and draws your attention to any issues you need to know about before you sign a contract to purchase the property. A building inspection from Tyrrells can take any uncertainty and worry out of the buying process.

The reforms apply to all residential building work covered by home warranty insurance (but not to claims or legal proceedings  that are already in the pipeline or finalised).

The amendments reduce the period of time where owners and builders can claim for defects.  This period during which proceedings for a breach of a statutory warranty could be commenced was previously seven years but this period has been reduced to 2 years for non-structural defects (poor painting, incorrect wiring etc) and to six years for a structural defect (anything that results in, or is likely to result in, the building or any part of the building being closed or prohibited from being used, or could result in the destruction of the building or a threat for its imminent collapse).

One of the issues is that for non-structural defects the time period starts running from the date the building (or apartment) was completed, not when the owner moves in.  This does not allow much time for the new owner to identify defects, which sometimes do not become apparent until two to three years after the building work is done, defects in waterproofing is a good example.

Tyrrells provides a Progress and  Final Inspection as well as the Home Owner Warranty Report (only suitable if you are an owner builder).  Both Reports are inexpensive ways of getting incomplete or defective work properly fixed prior to the warranty expiring.

“The Property Maintenance Handbook… is an excellent guide for property owners and managers.”

We think that this publication is must for all property owners and can be purchased directly from Tyrrells, along with a number of other publications.

– Jerry Tyrrell

In mid-September 2010 Tim Tyrrell (Tyrrells co-founder) wrote by email to the Premier to ask her to review the  Department of Fair Trading’s decision to create a government monopoly on owner-builder courses.  That letter was published on the Tyrrells website.

The Premier’s office replied yesterday (more than 6 weeks after the original email).  This is a copy of the email.

Dear Mr Tyrrell

I write in response to your recent email to the Premier concerning Owner Builder courses.
As the matter you have raised concerns the administration of the Minister for Fair Trading and Minister for the Arts, the Hon DV Judge MP, your email has been forward to the Minister for attention.
You may be sure that your email will receive close consideration

Yours sincerely,
David Swain

Tyrrells awaits further correspondence with interest.
If you are an owner-builder who received certification from Tyrrells and can help us overturn the monopoly, please contact us.

An open letter:

Dear Premier

Tyrrells is NSW largest building consultancy. For almost 40 years its co-founder Jerry Tyrrell has been the driving force behind consumer protection and better education for all consumers involved in the building process.

It is therefore with disappointment we note that the NSW government has decided to create a monopoly on Owner Builder courses by banning any courses other that its own.

I quote from your Government website:

“From 30 August 2010, the Course in Owner Builder Compliance (Course No. 91509NSW), is being introduced as the only education course for an owner builder. From 1 October the Course in Owner Builder Compliance will be the only approved education course for prospective applicants who do not possess the equivalent qualifications and experience.”

I would ask that you urgently review this decision for reasons including:

1. There is no such monopoly in other states, i.e. private approved course are permitted.
2. Monopoly practises are prima facie bad for consumers because the lack of competition discourages price and service competition.
3. There are extremely capable private organisations who have successfully delivered thousands of owner builder courses already.

I am sure, given your interest in promoting free enterprise and efficient business operations in NSW, that you would not want such a monopoly to be allowed.

Your urgent attention would be appreciated.

Regards

Timothy Tyrrell
Legal | Tyrrells Property Inspections

This letter was sent to the Premier by email on 16 September 2010. If you have received owner-builder certification from Tyrrells and want to support us, please contact us or leave your comments below.

We can also give you a FREE digital copy of the ‘Owner Builder Handbook’, which is essential reading for anyone proposing to be an owner builder.

Please contact us to book the Tyrrells’ Owner Builder Course or to get a free copy of the Handbook.