When reviewing your outdoor space, try to identify those areas that you’re not very happy with.  What do you want to change about them?  Do you need some additional flowers or other plants?  Perhaps the space doesn’t feel balanced?  Climbing plants may be just the answer you are looking for to solve a variety of common problems in outdoor areas.

Many plants, both annual and perennial, fall into the category of climbing plants.  The more common climbers are clematis, morning glory, ivy, and honeysuckle.  However, many plants that spread along the ground like creeping phlox and periwinkle can provide coverage for unsightly spaces in your outdoor area, as well.

Climbing plants can be used to solve a myriad of problems in your outdoor spaces.  For example, do you have something unsightly that you need to cover, such as a garage wall, tree stump, or electrical meter?  Use climbing plants to cover it up!  They not only change the view you are seeing, but they can also provide color and fragrance to an area.  Consider putting up a trellis on the side of your shed to soften it up with a burst of color and fragrance.  Climbers can also provide coverage of retaining walls and fences with little effort.

While climbing plants can be trained to climb a trellis or wall, they can also be planted in a pot and allowed to cascade downward, or used as a groundcover.  If you have some areas of the garden where bare soil is showing, consider using a vine or other groundcover plant to hide those bare spots.

Lack of privacy is another major issue that homeowners commonly cite when asked why they dislike their yards or gardens.  Perhaps you have neighbors that are a little too close?  A trellis, arbor, or pergolas is a great solution to this problem.  Climbing plants will easily climb and cover these structures, providing privacy and beauty to your yard.  Pergolas and arbors can also be used over pathways or gates, or to mark a transition from front yard or side yard into a backyard.  In all of these places, consider planting a climbing vine at the base of the structure.  Within a few months, you’ll have a stunning focal point for your yard.

Climbing plants are usually pretty self-sufficient and require little care to grow.  Of course, there are the basic needs like sun and water.  You might also want to be aware of the soil type or soil pH level that the plant requires, though with climbers this is usually a less important consideration.  Obviously, the most important thing to consider when planting a climber is providing some support structure upon which it can grow.  When allowing climbers to grow near buildings, it’s important to keep a close eye on the plant so it doesn’t get out of control.  Some very vigorous climbers can damage homes, garages, or barns when allowed to grow unchecked.

Some climbing plants merely provide greenery, while others boast showy flowers in addition to their leaves.  Flowering vines will oftentimes attract butterflies, birds, and wildlife.  This should be taken into consideration when using climbing plants.  For example, if you’re using climbers near an outdoor eating area, you probably won’t want to contend with bees that may be attracted to the flowers.  On the other hand, a trellis with flowers outside your kitchen window can be a welcome sight, and an enjoyable place to watch the insects and wildlife that are attracted to it.

So the next time you’re doing some gardening or landscaping, and thinking about ways you can improve the aesthetics of your yard, consider adding some climbing vines as a solution.  There are many climbers to choose from that will add elegance and beauty to your outdoor living area.  With a little time and effort, your garden can be every bit as beautiful as one of those you see in a magazine.

A landscape painting should make you feel like you are in a deep
space. When viewing it you should feel as though you were right
inside the painting. It should be both spellbinding and
beautiful. To attain this, there are some tricks to it. The
first trick is to use clarity. An example of this is to show a
thick fog over some hills in the distance, and have the fog fade
as you get to the hills towards the front. A second trick is to
use a winding path, such as a trail, a creek, or a river. This
makes people feel as though they are deep within the painting. A
third trick is to use size to your advantage. A tree up close
should be large, while a tree far away should be small. This
enhances the viewer’s feel of the distance and expanse of the
landscape.

One thing you have to remember about a landscape painting is
that it doesn’t have to show exactly everything you see. If you
don’t want to paint every tree you see, then don’t. If you want
to put a bird in the sky, then put a bird in the sky. If you
don’t like the color of some flowers, then feel free to change
the color to one you approve of. If you don’t like to include
the people you see in the landscape, then take them out. If you
want to change the color of the sky from a grey evening to a
dark evening, then change away. Use your imagination and do as
you will. It is all up to you. Your goal with the landscape
painting is to dramatically capture the feel of the landscape,
not to show everything in it. If a landscape painting was
supposed to be an exact duplicate it would be called a
photograph, not a painting.

A great landscape painting will enhance your artist
capabilities. It can also help you make some extra pocket change
being how popular these paintings are. Anyone would want a
beautiful landscape painting to compliment there home or office.
With all of these tips and tricks in mind, you should be on your
way to creating a masterful landscape painting. Perhaps one day
you can be a world renowned landscape artist

First you’ll want to choose the herbs that you’ll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. But the best way to choose is to do what I did; just look at what you have in your kitchen. By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with include rosemary, sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others.

When choosing an area to put your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant. One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all the soil. This will allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants.

When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets. Some herbs grow at a dangerously fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space then it will take over your entire garden in a matter of days. The best way to prevent this problem is to plant the more aggressive plants in pots (with holes in the bottom to allow drainage, of course).

When it comes time to harvest the herbs you have labored so hard over, it can be fatal to your plant to take off too much. If your plant isn’t well established, it isn’t healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks like its not using them. You should wait until your plant has been well established for at least several months before taking off any leaves. This wait will definitely be worth it, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for years to come.

Once you’ve harvested your delicious home grown herbs, you’ll want to use them in cooking. Why else would you have grown them? Well first the process begins with drying them out. This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hours. After they’re sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you can consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavor a dish.

If you want to store your herbs for later usage, you should keep them in a plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard will not work, because it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the first few days of storage, you should regularly check the container and see if any moisture has accumulated. If it has, you must remove all the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left from the first drying process, it will encourage mildew while you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew.

So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, it’s just a matter of harvesting and drying all your favorite herbs.

Balance:

You can get balance in your landscaping by different methods. Grouping flower pots in a symmetrical arrangement will create the balance very easily. You can do this by using one large pot and surround it with smaller pots. You will also want to proportion your fountain, birdbaths, and sculptures well. A small fountain on a large wall will look un proportioned and will not suit this area. In this case, you would want a larger wall fountain. This is also true on the ground. If the cultivated area is noticeably un proportioned to the birdbath that accents it the balance will, in turn, be un proportioned also. Remember that you can always use plants to increase the size of your garden accents.

Balance is defined as “a relationship between an item and the space it consumes”

Unity:

To create unity within your landscape you will want to look at colors and textures within the landscape. Matching these colors and textures throughout different areas of the landscape is unifying it. Add a terra cotta pot the same tone as your deck on the opposite of the landscape (known as echoing) stagger your pots as a centerpiece (known as sequencing). These are just a few ideas on how to add unity to your landscaping.

Softness:

It is important to have a good balance of hardness and softness within your landscape. Adding river rock, pea gravel, or washed gravel to a bed will add that hardness. At the same time, too much gravel in multiple beds will overcome the design and disturb the balance of texture. This is also true with plants. You want a variety of “free-forming” plants to accompany the symmetrical plantings and trees. This will allow for the natural flow of the landscape.

Accents:

Accents are used in places where the landscape needs that extra “ummff”. Keep in mind that eye-level is not the “best” place for an accent, but rather, one place. Accents should be used at different heights to produce balance. Also keep in mind that accenting is all about positioning the item correctly. The contrast of color or texture will provide the accent to its surroundings.

By: Andrew Stephens

Team Green L&L Landscaping

www.TeamGreenLL.com

www.CincinnatiLandscapes.com

With the high costs today it’s a necessity for many families to have two incomes. If you’re in such a situation, you might want to consider the possibility of being a work at home parent. The decision to work from home may come swiftly for you once you see how much it costs you to hold your present job.

So you have a $25,000 to $50,000 a year salary; but, after expenses, how much do you have left in spendable income? Sit down and figure out how much it costs you for gasoline, car repairs, added car insurance, work clothes and accessories, child care, fast food dinners, and any other work related expense. Now if you were to work at home and make the same yearly salary, the amount you just added up as expenses in your present job, could be added as spendable income for your family.

You could actually improve your family lifestyle with a work at home career. Not only would have additional money to spend on what’s really important, your family; but, also have more time as you wouldn’t have that daily commute. There is a way to become independent and that is to earn money online.

 Visit now – Picmoney.com

There are millions of people doing just that each and every day. With the numerous affiliate programs offered, it’s never been easier for new entrepreneurs to take the plunge and start their own home business. With affiliate marketing you can be a part of a multimillion dollar company and advertise their product from the comfort of your own home.

There’s tons of information at your finger tips right now, that could enable you to work from home. If you start out small at a minimal cost and slowly build your business, you may find that special niche that will afford you to someday, quit your day job. I’m sure your family will thank you in the end.

work at home, at home work, work from home, work at home jobs, work at home business, work at home moms, free work at home, work at home data entry, looking for work at home based business, work at home make money, paid to work at home, real work at home, work at home income, work at home typing, jobs in usa, uk, canada, India, Australia, home based business, home based business opportunity, start home based business, home based business idea, top online legitimate most successful home based business, easy home biz, homebiz, home based business for woman opportunity, make money home based business, money, , free money, cnn money, money in the bank, make money at home, fast money, make money fast, earn money at home, make money on the internet, smart money making, making money online, money making ideas, free grant money, make money on ebay, ways to make money, earn money online, cash money millionaire, money making opportunity, make easy money, online jobs data entry, getting paid at home, online jobs without paying the money, free membership f

To Know More Visit Now

<b>Click here to Start Your Home Based Business</b>

 <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.workathomelover.com”><b>Paid Work at Home Opportunity</b> </a><br><br>

<b>Visit here to get answer about </b>

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.homebizlover.com”><b>Make Money at Home Based Business for Human opportunity in UK, USA, Canada</b></a><br><br>

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.workfromhomelover.com”><b>Work from Based Business</b></a>

ee registration

Easy gardening tips

Tip #1 – Gardens not only give a pictorial value to the property but also have other benefits like organic food growth if one loves a kitchen garden idea. For such multi-purpose gardens make sure that you do not have plants that attract too many pests and need pesticides which might have adverse effect on the kitchen garden.

Tip #2 -In a small garden or for house plants make sure they get regular attention to curb overgrowth and have regular pest and weed control.

Tip #3 -The water flow and air circulation in the garden should be adequate so that garden remains fresh.

Tip #4 -The garden grasses should be regularly mowed.

Tip #5 -The plants should be selected according to the climate of the place where the garden is situated.

Tip #6 -If the garden gives priority to the wildlife, attention should be given to their food and shelter.

Tip #7 -The vegetable garden needs proper fertilizers whereas the water garden needs proper water planning while a butterfly garden should have proper plants and climate.

Tip #8 -For the patios and the flooring one should also give proper attention to the quality of the bricks.

Tip #9 -The garden furniture for the garden should also be given a proper notice. Appropriate garden furniture gives an aesthetic value to the landscape.

Tip #10 -A garden is that part of a house full of children need to be safe and free from accident zones. Grasses hide uneven ground, and also give a cushion so that the children dont get hurt while playing. Paths and paved areas should also be smooth, level, and firm.

Even an experienced gardener needs to know the updated gardening tips and techniques in order to expand his knowledge. This knowledge combined with his experiences and observations on indoor or outdoor gardening strengthens the garden idea and maintenance plan. Plants are versatile creatures. They want to grow and will grow in simple soil, with very little sunlight, and little cultivation. All one really needs to do it is regularly water them and provide them with occasional shade and sun as required by their genetic design.

Gardening gifts are a great way to please those who spend a lot of time tending to their precious patches of vegetables or flowers. I love giving him gardening gifts from BIGshop.com.au.

It’s a great place to shop not only for gardening gifts but also lawn care equipment such as the Garden Sprinkler and the Embossed Watering Can which keep the flora in your garden fresh. Once your garden is thriving with plants, it’s time to make it even more beautiful. A garden can always be a reflection of your personality. Adorning it with beautiful pieces such as the Two Angels Statue or the stylish Decorative Wall Tiles speaks volumes about your taste.

The soothing sound of flowing water gives a great sense of serenity to your garden. Get the Cherub Tabletop Fountain and enjoy the sounds of nature within the surroundings of your home. On the utility front, we recommend the Curved Stainless Steel Solar Lights to light up your garden at night.

You can also attract birds to your garden with the pretty Bird Feeder made of metal. The bronze Bird House on Stake may also provide refuge to many a homeless bird!

You don’t have to give up love for gardening if you don’t have a patch of ground. If you want to enjoy fresh tomatoes all year long, get the Upside Down Tomato Planter. Another handy indoor gardening tool is the Culinary Indoor Herb Garden Kit that lets you grow herbs without any mess or hassle.

BIGshop.com.au is a superb place to begin shopping if you want any of these lawn care equipment, gardening gifts or indoor gardening tool. I for one always keep encouraging my grandfather’s passion for gardening by giving him these valuable gifts from time to time!

One would have to test the soil first so as to know the pH level about the soil and the kind of nutrients needed, if any. One must ensure to know if the soil is acid or alkaline. Some plants prefer soil which is somewhat acidic, but some others must have alkaline soil for the growth. You could alter the pH level of the soil, but it is much easier for planting according to the soil actually present.

When one is ready to plant or almost ready it is required to check if the planting would be done in singly or in groups? The garden may get a spotty look if “one of all” is adopted. Often, group plantings are more organized, harmonious and one could always vary the color according to one’s interest.

Before you plant out, keep the chosen plants in and around the bed of your garden in their pots to check how they would look. Keep re-arranging them till you are essentially satisfied. Grouping the plants in some sets of threes and fives often looks better than planting within groups of some even numbers. Ensure that you make an interesting combination of varied colors and similar textures of plants. The tall plants must go at the back or towards the centre when the garden is to be viewed equally from all the sides. Try keeping the plants away from the trees. Roots of trees are very fierce and would steal the nutrients with the moisture that is actually meant for the flowers.

Appropriate color scheme is another way for maintaining harmony within the garden. Imagine colors of flowers as they bloom. Few colors might clash with others; however, could still be planted besides each other when they have different blooming seasons. Foliage color is very important. Most flower plants have silverish, greyish or purplish foliage which is as attractive as flowers themselves. It means that the flowers are attractive past blooming seasons and have added value too.

Search For A Landscaper Near You

To find landscapers that specialize in desert landscaping, check the local yellow pages or do an internet search. Not many people have actually heard of desert landscaping so, chances are, if you know what it is and what it looks like, you probably know who to ask about it. Nearly anything can be found nowadays with a quick internet search using your favorite search engine so you should be able to find a desert landscaping expert near you.

When you have guests over and they see how your desert landscaping looks, they will undoubtedly ask about it. That’s because desert landscaping is so unique that it really does catch the eye. People who specialize in desert landscaping are true artists. Who would think that you could make a desert scene look so beautiful? Well, they do it, they do it well and they get paid a good amount of money to do so.

Check around for the best deals before you consider desert landscaping. If you plan to do the desert landscaping by yourself to save on labor, make sure you have a plan so that you don’t end up cluttering your land with a lot of objects that don’t flow. You’ll want to plan ahead so that you create the best landscaping scene you can.

If you live in a climate that doesn’t get a lot of rainfall and you want to landscape your land, consider landscaping. You’ll be amazed at the effect it has on your yard and your neighbors, friends and family will probably want to know exactly how you got it done because they’ll want to do it to their land, too. Who knows, if you get good at it, you might be able to start a landscaping business of your very own. You never know unless you try.

It’s a great idea, because you can get a lot closer to what you really want when you build rather than buy.

But there are some critical things to be aware of, in order to keep risks and surprises to a minimum, and end up getting the home you want.

We’ve compiled this helpful guide from a number of industry sources and our own experience.

We hope it gives you a good introduction.

…the team at DJ Builders & Son

1. How important is it to choose the right builder?  

Your new home is going to be one of the most important investments you will ever make both financially and emotionally. You want to get the design and construction right so that it suits both your present and future needs and lifestyle. There are a lot of builders out there prepared to build you a house but which one is the right one? Which one will turn your dream into reality? Follow the steps in this information pack and you will be several steps closer to fulfilling your dream.

2. Your role in the process

Before beginning the design the following needs to be conveyed to the designer:

Your budget The size of the house to be designed – including room numbers, their locations and functions Facade type including exterior finishes for walls (e.g. rendered, face brick) and the roof type and finish (e.g. tiled, metal) Individual design features that you would like Specific details like ceiling heights, window sizes, and bathroom and kitchen fittings. The time frame. Note that plans have to be submitted to various authorities and this may take longer than expected. Build this into the construction time frame.

3. The designer’s role in the process

When using an architect, building designer or engineer the charge for designing the house will be in addition to the construction costs. When using a builder who provides a design service as part of the package the design is factored into the price. This will have some bearing on the amount of time that can be spent in working with you on the design. Consider this as well when selecting who designs your home.

Designers must be up to date with the following:

Latest legislation New building trends Environmental and energy considerations like insulation, water saving, building materials and energy saving systems like solar power and solar water heating

They should also be able to advise you on the most appropriate house orientation in relation to the sun and prevailing winds. They should also be able to advise you on how best to make use of a site’s topography.

For example it is often better to build a house on a sloping site that makes use of the shape of the site rather than bringing in a bulldozer to reshape the site. Earthworks can be expensive.

At your first meeting with a designer you need to assess whether they will be able to meet with your expectations in terms of being qualified to do the job. Attached is a checklist (see page of questions that you should consider asking the designer.

4. Builder’s reputations

Once you have a list of builders your next step is to find out about their reputations and the quality of their work. Probably the best way is to visit homes they have built and talk with the owners. A reputable builder with satisfied customers should have no problem in providing the names and addresses of recent customers that are willing to talk to you.

Some questions you can ask:

Are you happy with your home? Was the house built within the agreed time frame? What problems did you experience? Were they attended to promptly and to your satisfaction? Would you have this builder build another house for you?

Some observations you can make and note down:

Quality of the finishes including cabinetry, paint and trim Quality of the construction Style of design Construction type

Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Your new home is probably going to be the biggest investment you have made to date!

5. Advantages in working with a builder to design your home

There are some definite advantages in individual designs. These include:

Personalised and flexible design process Design suits your lifestyle and budget requirements Inclusions not limited Tailored to your particular site

Reputable builders that specialise in individual designs have examples of their work in display villages. This gives you the opportunity to see examples of their work without confining you to the plans you see displayed.

6. Project homes

Project home builders usually offer a range of standard plans in different price ranges including varying fittings and inclusions. They may specialise in single or double storey homes but are limited in inclusions and colour selection choices, design changes and site falls. 

7. Individually designed homes

Building designers, engineers, architects and licensed builders provide design services. Probably the most commonly used design service is that offered by builders who specialise in individual designs. They both design and build the homes and the service is included in the price whereas building designers, engineers and architects will charge for the service.

The majority of builders who build custom designs will have a portfolio of plans of homes they have built or standard plans, often based on their display homes. They will quite happily adapt these plans to suit your requirements or design a completely new plan. In addition they may specialise in a certain style of home like colonial or federation or in designing and building homes to suit difficult or sloping sites.

Regardless of whom you select to design your home you should feel comfortable with them. At the outset you should ensure that you both clearly understand each other’s roles and responsibilities. This will reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings and disputes.

8. Designing your home

Design services are provided by the following:

Licensed building designers Architects Licensed builders Engineers

Licences can be checked on the BSA website, www.bsa.qld.gov.au. or by phone. Note that architects and engineers do not require a licence but must be registered with their professional associations.

9. Design choices

There are effectively 3 design choices:

Make use of a standard design package supplied by a builder. They will usually have a range of designs from which you can make a choice. Often referred to as project homes. Review the builder’s standard plans and adapt them. Have a builder, designer, engineer or architect do a custom design.

10. Colour consultation

Uncertain about your homes finishes? Reputable builders have qualified colour consultants who can guide you through this important process.

They usually have sample finishes available to view, either in-house or at their display homes. They ensure that you get the finish that suits you, right down to the smallest detail.

Working with the colour consultant to choose your finishes usually occurs after the deposit has been paid and the design agreed (note not all builders provide this service so take this into consideration when selecting your builder).

You will be provided with a pack of information on finishes and invited to meet with the builder’s colour consultant for a several hour appointment to review the various options. This is your opportunity to ensure that all the finer details are not missed or taken for granted.

11. Inclusions

As mentioned earlier, project builders often have houses on view in display villages. Be warned that these houses are quite likely to have inclusions that are not included in the base price.

The following items will probably not be included in the base price:

Inside: 

Floor coverings with the exception of wet areas like bathrooms, toilets and laundries. Blinds, curtains and light shades Items like wallpaper, fixed mirrors (outside of bathrooms) and picture rails Furniture that is loose Dishwashers and washing machines Security systems

Outside:

Garages and carports Paths and driveways Security and fly screens Tiled and concrete floors under verandas and entry porches Landscaping Garden sheds, outdoor furniture, pergolas and fences Clothes lines and letterboxes Spas and pools Connections to services

However some builders will offer several levels of fit out as different price packages. Take care to identify exactly what you are being offered and ensure that the builder has an in house colour and fittings consultant to guide you through the process.

12. Additional costs

Do you have a sloping, timbered or difficult site on which to build? Be aware that the type of site on which you want to build can add considerably to the overall cost of the project. Note that builders are required under the Domestic Building Act 2000 to provide customers with foundations data before finalising the contract. Most project homes are quoted for building on flat stable sites with little underground rock. A site that is steeply sloping, unstable or has rock beneath the surface can add considerably to the cost of building a home.

If you have a difficult building site then it may be worthwhile to consider approaching a builder who specialises in building on this type of site. They usually design a house to suit the site minimizing the amount of excavation and making best use of the inherent benefits of a sloping site.

Check whether the builder has included the cost of soil tests, contour surveys and building approval fees in the required deposit.

Note that despite a soil test being done it is usually only from two or three boreholes and may not accurately represent the entire site. The builder may have rock removal as a provisional item in the contract and it may become very expensive.

Ensure that your contract has a fixed price for the footing excavation and footings (excluding rock removal) and that you have copies of the survey reports on which this is based. Also ensure that the contract specifies who is responsible for removing excess earth left after excavations.

13. Designer Question Checklist

1. Licence

Does the designer, whether a builder, engineer, architect or building designer have the appropriate BSA licence or professional registration? This you can check prior to your meeting. Yes No

2. Does the designer provide the following services?

Site inspections to ensure the characteristics of the site are taken fully into consideration in the design process? Yes No

Elevation sketches of the house in 3 dimensions to show what the house will look like when built? Yes No

Preparation of documents and plans and lodgement with the authorities for their approval? Yes No

Check for easements and utility locations (e.g. sewerage pipes) that could affect the design and siting of the house? Yes No

Check with Local Government or private certifier to ensure that plans include any special requirements before lodging? Yes No

3. Contract

Does the designer provide a standard contract? Yes No

Have you obtained a copy and read it carefully? Yes No

Will it accurately cover any agreement you have reached with the designer in terms of costs and service? Yes No

4. Deposits and fees

Have you ascertained what deposit the designer requires up front? Yes No

Have you ascertained how the designer’s fee is calculated? (e.g. fixed sum or percentage) Yes No

Are there additional costs involved in varying the plans once they are complete? Yes No

5. Timeframe

Have you ascertained how long it will take the designer to draw up your plans? Yes No

Does this fit into your timeframe? Yes No

14. Building complaints

The Building Services Authority has a website that keeps a record of disciplinary proceedings against builders. The BSA site can be accessed at
www.bsa.qld.gov.au and you should check the record of each of the builders on your list against the information on this website. No guarantee that you will not experience problems with a builder but past history often determines future behaviour. You can then cull from your list any builders that you doubt.

15. Queensland Master Builders Association

The first step in process is to decide on the type of home you would like to build and to work out how much you can spend. You then need to make a list of local builders that can build your chosen home style within your budget.

One way is to go to the Queensland Master Builders Association’s website at www.masterbuilders.asn.au. They have a search function that will provide you with a list of local builders in your region. Contact details and links to websites are included but no detailed information. This means that a lot of searching is required to find key information so you may want to consider other sources.

16. Other sources

If you want another way then advertisements in property supplements, magazines like Homebuild, website searches and display homes will provide more information in easier to use formats. Identify those builders that specialise in the style of house in your price range.

Make a list of these builders. You might even want to create a file with information printed off their websites or sourced from property supplements and magazines.

17. DJ Builders

A great way to find out more about designing your own home is to contact DJ Builders and Son. We have been building homes in South East Queensland since 1973 and have thousands of examples for you to view.

We specialise in individual designs and have skilled designers who can assist you in designing your dream home. No architect or designer fees on top-they are included in the price.

We’ll give you the home you want, designed for you, built as promised.

And to make it even easier, turn the page to read out our 10 step guide to designing and building your home:

The 10 Steps to Designing and Building your Home

1. The land

Maximising the investment you have made in your land, not only as a financial investment but as an emotional investment is important. You’ll want to build a home that will make best use of your land and its aspect to enhance your lifestyle. Our design consultant will visit the site with you to ensure that the design incorporates what you want and makes best use of the attributes
of the site.

2. The plan

You have decided to build. You may know exactly what you want or you may just have some ideas. The first step is it to turn these ideas into a concept plan. Sit down with one of our design consultants and discuss these ideas.

Look at designs and photographs of homes we have built. These will help clarify what you like and what you want in your new home.

3. The investment

At this stage you’ll have a draft plan. Go through our inclusions brochure and decide what you’d like. Once you have done that our consultant will be able to give you an estimate of the investment you’ll be making in your new home.

4. Soil test and contour survey

The next step is obtaining an engineers survey of the site. This is a legal requirement and it is essential safeguard in ensuring that your home is built with proper foundations and on the correct position on the site. This is also the point where we require a deposit to cover these costs. Once the design consultant has this information he can finalise the design with you and provide a base price with standard inclusions.

5. The final price quotation

At this stage we can give you a quote which includes all the details. You’ll need to go through this thoroughly with the consultant to make sure that you are happy that it’s exactly what you want. With this signed off it’s time to turn your dream into a reality-and that begins with signing the contract and paying the balance of the deposit. With that paid can get on with preparing the building permit applications and all the paper work that’s involved to get the plans approved.

6. Colour and finish selection

Now it is time to meet with our colour consultant who will assist you in colour selection and those final touches which will your turn a house into a home. Our inclusions brochure is a great start here and it’s worth browsing through it before your free appointment with our colour consultant. And in the meeting you’ll see sample finishes too-so much easier when you can see the real thing.

7. Beginning the build

This is your dream home-it can’t be thrown up in a few weeks from mass produced elements knocked up offsite and still maintain the quality you want. So we’ll agree with you on a reasonable time to build your home without compromising quality. With all the paperwork done we’ll begin the preplanning and within a few short weeks construction will begin..

8. During the build

It’s hard to keep away from the building site while your home is being built! You are encouraged to visit the site on a regular basis however, it is standard practice to be accompanied by your site supervisor due to safety requirements. You’ll meet the building Supervisor at the beginning and he will keep you up to date on the progress and explain each stage.

9. Completion

When everything is complete and when we have thoroughly pre inspected the house it will be time to hand over the keys. But before we do that we’ll accompany you on your own inspection to make absolutely sure that the home we have designed for you has been built as promised.

10. Moving in

You’ve moved in but we still want to make sure that our promise to you to build the home you want is kept. The six month maintenance period is your opportunity to make sure that we have kept our promise and a further six year structural guarantee.

Beginning the process

Give us a ring on 1300 858 177 or visit one of our display homes at Brookwater and in the QMBA village at Daisy Hill.

You’ll get the opportunity to meet one our consultants and find out how easy it is to design your own home.

We hope this information has been of assistance and wish you well in building your new home!