Inside a Mosque

Many praying places, whatever the religion is, have great building structures, such as this old mosque (Sunan Ampel Mosque, Surabaya, Indonesia). It's the part of original building that built in 1421.

The Weekend in Black and White

8 Reasons You Should Build a Kit Home

There are many reasons you should build a kit home. Kit homes are a fantastic option instead of building a conventional home. They have all the benefits of a normal home except you can save yourself a lot of money. There are many designs to choose from and styles to suit your exact location. You can also still include all the usual extras that you might have on any other house, such as patios, verandas, solar panels or rain water tanks. There are kit homes in Victoria being built all the time, including other states around Australia. Kit homes are being increasingly popular.

Cost

A kit home is a very cost effective way of building a home. The materials to build the home will be delivered to your property all at once, along with comprehensive instructions as to how to build it. The home will come complete so that you can build it to lock up stage. You will usually still then need to do the plastering, the electrical work, the plumbing, fit out the kitchen and bathroom, put in the flooring and paint. Despite this it is still a cheaper way to build a home. You can have a builder construct your home for you, but to save even more money you can build it yourself.

Quick to Build

Once the materials have been delivered to your property the home is relatively quick to build. If you worked on it every day you could build your new kit home in as little as eight weeks. It is likely the procedures would be slowed a little when it comes to waiting for different tradesmen to do things like the plumbing or electrical work. You also might lose time due to bad weather.

Flexibility

With many kit home companies you have the flexibility of altering the floor plans of different home designs to suit your lifestyle. Some companies will also include the kitchen and bathroom if you wish. You can sometimes have the choice of a home built with a timber framework or one constructed from steel. You can choose to either build it yourself or have a builder do it for you, or you might use a builder for some parts of the construction.

Owner builder

The fantastic thing about kit homes is that you can build them yourself, in the meantime saving yourself a lot of money. It could be a fantastic project for you and your partner to complete together.

Designs

There are many different kit home designs to choose from, different sizes and styles to suit many different locations.

Steel frame

Another advantage of building a kit home is having one with a steel framework. They are easy to put together and are very strong but light weight. They also have the benefit of being termite resistant and will survive a bush fire better than a timber framed house.

Choose your own kitchen and bathroom

If your kit home comes complete to lock up stage only you have the advantage of being able to design your own kitchen and bathroom completely from scratch.

Additions

With a kit home you can have all the usual additions that you might make to a conventional home, such as a veranda, a patio area for entertaining or you might install solar panels or rain water tanks to make your home more eco friendly.

Accidents You Should Insure Against Your Home

It is important if you own your own home that you take out home insurance. The unexpected does and can happen and even if you think it is unlikely there is still a possibility of things like fire, storm damage or even a flood occurring. When you take out home insurance you should also consider contents insurance as your home insurance will not cover your personal belongings like your furniture, your clothes, jewellery, electronic equipment, your Westinghouse fridge or other appliances.

House fire
House fires can start quickly and more easily than you would think. Common causes of house fires include faulty wiring, lit cigarettes being left and forgotten, candles being left alight and setting fire to curtains or furniture, or fires that start on the stove top. House fires can spread quickly and your whole house can be alight before you realise. Your insurance will cover you for any damage caused by a fire.

Flood
The unexpected floods in Queensland early this year are evidence that water can do an incredible amount of damage. Flash flooding is destructive and can leave people homeless. Creeks and rivers can rise quickly and as the population grows many houses are being built on land that was once swamps, therefore during periods of heavy rain they naturally start to return to that wet state, and people living in these areas find they are subject to floods. Protect yourself by insuring your home which will cover you against flood damage.

Storm damage
Storms can cause a lot of damage to a property. Wind and heavy rain as well as hail can break windows, cause trees and branches to fall across houses, lift up tiles and tin roofs and also cause localised flooding. The cost caused by a storm may be small or it may run into the thousands of dollars. Don't take the risk by not having home insurance. Your insurance company will cover any damage that an unexpected storm might cause.

Cyclones
Not everyone would be having to worry about cyclones. If you live in the northern half of Australia then cyclones may be an issue. Tropical Queensland, the coast of Northern Territory and in the north of Western Australia are all areas where cyclones occur. A large scale cyclone can completely flatten a house and the cost of replacing your home is likely to be something that would be impossible to do. If you live in an area prone to cyclone your insurance will cover you against property damage.

Earthquakes
Australia is fortunate enough not to be sitting on a fault line, but there are parts of Australia that have felt minor quakes such as Korumburra in South Gippsland, which experienced several minor quakes earlier this year. Any damage from these sorts of quakes is more than likely to be minor but it pays to be covered.

Bush fire
If you live in a rural area, particularly in the bush, it is wise to have home insurance due to the possible threat of bush fires. As well as taking steps to protect your home from bush fire, such as clearing trees and foliage from around your home, you should also have insurance that will pay if your home is damaged or destroyed in a bush fire.
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5 Must Have for Moving Out of Home Students

You’re about to move out of home for the first time. There is so much change happening around you that you may not realise what you need to set yourself up in for the first time in your new home.

Moving out of home to study is often a rushed time. You’ve just found out that you’ve been accepted, and are expected to be ready to start just a few weeks later. Once you’ve tackled the rental market and found somewhere to live, you need to furnish your new place.

Whether you’re renting alone or sharing a house with friends or even strangers, you need the house essentials to set yourself up. Regardless of your style, budget or location, there are 5 basics that you need in order to set yourself up to study successfully:

1. Quality doona, sheets & mattress

When you’re finally ready to sleep after studying all night or working late at your part time job, you want to be comfortable. When you’ve found time to sleep, you need to make the most of it. This means that you need a good mattress, sheets, doona and pillow. You’re going to be busy balancing your new commitments, so when you’re resting, ensure that your body gets the best treatment.

2. Car

You’ve left home and no longer have access to your parent’s car. You also no longer have personal taxi drivers to ferry you around. But that hasn’t changed your need to get from A to B. In fact, your need to get around has probably increased.

You need a car to get you from study, to home, to your part time job, to your friends and of course back to your parent’s place. If you need a car loan, there are loaners out there who’ll support you.

3. Study desk and chair

You’ve committed to study. Now you need the equipment to enable you to succeed. You’ll need a good desk and chair that will help you study for hours on end. When looking for your chair, ensure that its height is adjustable so that it can match the desk height. This will help you to find the perfect height that will be comfortable but will also care for your body, specifically your posture, whilst studying.

4. Kitchen equipment

You’ve left home and that means that you are now responsible for yourself. You’re the one who needs to cook in order to eat. Try to avoid slipping into bad eating habits. Resist the urge to live off noodles or take away food by investing in some cooking essentials. Buy a frying pan, pots, kettle and toaster. With these tools at your fingertips, you’ll have no excuse to not treat your body well. Give it the sustenance it needs by using this cooking equipment.

5. Computer

When studying, you need to be up to date on the latest technology. Set yourself up for the best academic grades by having the best technology available to you. For example, you might want to consider investing in a laptop that you can take to university. This will allow you to take electronic notes during class and will also mean you won’t have to fight with other students for a computer during breaks between classes.

With these 5 studying must- haves, you’ll be set up for success! 

Preparing Your New Home for Young Children

Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! There is nothing more exciting than signing the papers and knowing that in a few short weeks you will get the keys to your new home and have the opportunity to start fresh with your young family. It is the security you need, to know you now have a stable place for your family to grow in, and somewhere to create memories.

But ensuring all the memories are good, means making sure you have prepared your home as much as possible, for the arrival of your young family. This means considering any areas that may pose potential risks to safety, and fixing them up before you move the kids in.

1. Safety for your babies and toddlers
Safety for very small children can be difficult, as at this age they are curious, and everything is a new and potential adventure for them. There are a range of safety devises you can get to help you out. These include child safety locks on things like your cupboards and fridges, so they can’t get into them and find hazardous toys and chemicals, as well as locks on draws so they can’t pull them open and hit themselves, and fridge door locks. In addition, you can purchase blocking devices for stairs and doorways, so you can restrict the children to a certain part of the house, for easier care.

2. Pool safety
If your new home has a pool, this will be a great opportunity in the future for your kids to learn to swim and become water comfortable in the meantime. It can also be dangerous if not looked after correctly. Ensure your pool has adequate – and legally required – fencing. This could save your children’s lives. Also head to a pool supplies outlet and purchase equipment to keep it clean so disease and bacteria don’t increase.

3. Outdoor safety
Again, your front and backyard are adventure playgrounds for kids. Preparing them, means fixing up all garden areas, so they are not over-grown and hidey holes for snakes and other dangerous creatures. Also check your fencing to make sure there are no sharp areas, or pieces missing that the kids or pets can escape through. Your front fence and gate are particularly important as it is what is between your children and the road. A fencing contractor will be able to help you put a new fence up and advise on your best options.

Check the backyard for any areas where leftovers from building or development may be stored – either fence them off or get rid of them. In the meantime, check for any wires, sharp things, unstable bricks or other building supplies that may fall, or be pushed over.

Check your garden shed. First to make sure the door is sound, and there is no way in except for the door – no little holes or breaks in the walls. Ensure all poisonous items are stored up high, and sharp items, such as the blades on your lawn mower are out of reach of children. A locked cabinet for anything very dangerous is a great idea as then you can be assured your kids can’t get into anything too nasty, if you aren’t around.

In general, think about everything as though it is to be explored and from a knee-high perspective!

Kids and Games

During holidays, their parents allow them –my niece and nephew- to play games every day. Look at them. They can be in the same position for hours!