Setting Up a Home Office

Creating a home office can be an excellent way to save on set up costs whilst also preparing yourself for a profitable business venture. It’s vitally important, however, that you make the right decisions at this early stage because your home office needs to be as professional as any office for anyone who visits. Long hours, waiting for deliveries and having to fix everything yourself are two common complaints from people who work from home, but all of these problems can be easily tackled from the start.

The Workspace
The workspace is the first and most crucial element of a home business start-up. Ideally you need to start with an empty room with a private entrance to your office (meaning you do not have to walk through the home to get to the office, or vice versa). This room should then be cleaned, repainted and remodelled wherever needed.

Choosing the right Sydney office chairs is important. Whilst you may think it’s comfortable to lie on your sofa to work, this is very bad for your back and will lead to lazy work habits. Whether you believe it will or not, working from a sofa will make you more tired and more easily distracted. Kit your home office out like any corporate office and put on a suit before starting work every day. This will get you in work mode and make your body realise that it isn’t still the weekend.

Choosing a PC
Moving from the corporate world to a home office might lead you to automatically jump for a desktop computer. Consider the many quality portable options first because you may well find yourself travelling a lot and this will make the process far easier.

Computer Support
Computer support is necessary in any company and when working from home you have to rely on yourself. This does not have to be a complete headache because help is available. For a ‘no fix, no fee’ charge of around $150 it is possible to get any software problems fixed. This may seem like a lot, and in most cases it is, so you would be better off investing in a computer support course for yourself instead.

Importantly, you will be entirely responsible for backing everything up. Invest in an external hardrive for this purpose and utilise cloud storage for all but the most sensitive and confidential information.

Phones
It is tempting to save costs by just using your home phone for work. This will unfortunately provide a very unprofessional image to customers and should be avoided. Your phone systems will say a lot about your business so make sure you have a dedicated business line and a phone that calls can be redirected to when you are travelling between jobs.

Balance Books and Work Life
When you work for a company there will usually be someone working tirelessly to balance the accounts. This will need to be you in your own business and it’s crucial to stay on top of it all. Doing accounts once a week should ensure you are always aware and able to pay debts when needed.

Working at home poses a second more serious balancing issue, however. The working hours completed by a home worker are often longer and less ridged than they need to be. When working for yourself it is too easy to endlessly create work to fill time, even when you don’t want to and are trying not to. Draw a line at the end of each day and come back to complete it the next day, just as you would when working for another company. Lock the office and leave until the morning or you will end up staying all night.

As long as you can arrange and organise all of the above you should find setting up your own home office a fun and enjoyable experience. 

Related source: Home business ideas

Dry Leaves

Hanging Dry Leaves
Though your time has finished

the beauty is still in you

The Weekend in Black and White

Steps to Getting Into Your Dream Home in Victoria

Planning to buy your dream home can be a daunting task, especially if you are looking for that perfect home in which you will spend the rest of your days. If you are planning on moving to your dream location in Victoria, whether you are coming from outside or within the state, there is a lot to do to get the ball rolling. Remember that to avoid stress you must be patient and follow all the steps, and you will be relaxing in your dream home before you know it.

Step 1 – Look at Your FinancesThis is the boring and tedious part, but it is essential to do before you can even think about buying a new home. Talking to your financial advisor and your bank about what assets you have and what kind of mortgage you can get will help put into perspective what you can afford. This is the stressful part because if you simply don't have the funds to afford what you want, you may have to put things on hold. It is worthwhile to take this part seriously; you don't want to settle for second best and regret it later.

Step 2 – Find the Perfect Location
When the finances are in order, you can start looking around in your preferred location. If you are moving to Victoria from out of state, why not have your next holiday in the area? This way you will get a feel for the lifestyle and will be able to check out properties in the area. Get in touch with a local real estate agent and build a good relationship so that they can forward ideas to you when you aren't there.

Step 3 – Getting the Perfect Home
Once you have found the perfect property, consider what house you want to have on it before you go putting in offers. From here, you may want to reassess your finances given the new circumstances. If there is a home on the property already, decide if it suits your needs and how much it would cost you to either renovate or knock down and rebuild it. If you choose to start from scratch, then contact some builders and have them discuss with you some plans given the specifications you want in your home. They can provide a ball-pack figure and help you choose from and adjust a pre-existing plan or kit homes. Victoria has many skilled and reputable builders to choose from, so shop around and find one who will suit your needs best.

Step 4 – Sell Your Existing Home
Once you have put in an offer and had that offer accepted, only then is it a good time to sell your existing home. It may take a bit of organising to juggle the transition period so get your real estate agent to help organise the details while you work on the packing!

Step 5 – Move InYour dream home is no longer a dream – it's yours! After all the hard work you have put in up to this point, you are finally about to reap the rewards. All that is left to do is hire the interstate removalists to make sure your precious belongings make it safely from your old home to your new dream home.
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Securing your Brisbane Home’s Windows from Break-Ins

Windows provide character and light to rooms in your Brisbane house. A house without windows would not be a welcoming or pleasant place at all, but the downside is that these holes can easily become holes in our home security. Everyone knows someone who has had their house burgled and often times this takes place through an unlocked or unsecure window. Brisbane security doors are usually installed with no questions asked, but how often do you wonder how secure your windows are from burglars?
To secure your home from burglars it is imperative to either secure your existing windows or replace your existing windows.

Securing Windows
· Replace all latches and bolts with key locks. Key locks are more secure because they will remain closed even if the burglar is able to reach their hand to the latch. It is important to always keep these latches secured and locked. It is also vital to keep the keys out of the locks because otherwise the practice is pointless. Remember to tell people in the house where the keys are so that they can use the windows to escape in the event of a fire.
· Strengthen sliding windows by blocking the track. Sliding windows and doors can often times be forced out of their runners and this is a common method of entering a property. This works by ‘jiggling’ the door or window out of its housing so it is important to stop this movement. This can be stopped by using screws in the top and bottom of the window frame, which just allow the window to pass. Alternatively, a piece of wood or metal placed in the runner’s path will prevent the door from moving.
· Basement windows and windows out of sight of the road are often neglected. Remember that burglars will target the less conspicuous windows first and foremost so those should receive your most immediate attention.
· Brisbane blind installation will serve to create a level of privacy within your home. Having everything that you own on display from the window will only serve to tempt burglars into your home. The installation of blinds will help to discourage burglars because they will not be able to see if you are home or if there are goods worth stealing inside.

Replacing Windows
· Installing Crimsafe on your windows is one of the best ways to ensure continuous safety. Crimsafe is a mesh which covers the window from the outside, allowing you to leave your window open as much as you like. This is perfectly suited to the hot weather in Brisbane and will provide you with a constant piece of mind.
· Reinforced glass will help to protect your home from forced entry. Generally it is the locks that are broken rather than the glass, however. This makes it far more sensible to invest in completely new windows which have both reinforced glass and solid locks.
· Shutters are an excellent way to keep criminals out of your home. They both block the view into your property and create an almost impenetrable fence to keep burglars away. Shutters are one of the best deterrents for burglars because they completely lock down the property making it hard to escape as well as enter.

Kitchen Makeover Step by Step

If you’re a home-lover or an aspiring chef, the kitchen is probably one of your favourite spots in the whole house. Yet we can’t all have our ideal kitchen, with the latest LG fridges and state-of-the-art cookery facilities. Or can we?

If you’ve decided that it’s time to give your kitchen that much-needed makeover, but you don’t have the funds to renovate it fully, here are a few step-by-step upgrades that could help with your transformation.

Designs

When it comes to making over your kitchen, it’s important that you decide what type of look you want. Are you are a shiny, silver, modern type of person? Or do you prefer something more homely and country-style? Deciding on the style and design will determine many of your makeover choices.

Built-in Appliances

A good place to start is with your built-in appliances. If you have an older-style oven or stove that’s a little unreliable, could you invest in a newer model? This will make things easier for you in a practical sense and will also greatly enhance the look of your kitchen. Don’t forget you could upgrade your dishwasher too! Or install one if you haven’t got one. If you’re keen on creating a more modern look, go for stainless steel.

Built-in Accessories

If you’re set with appliances or if you don’t quite have the money yet, how about making over some of your built-in ‘accessories’, like range hoods, lights, taps and faucets? This is an inexpensive way of giving small ‘lifts’ to your kitchen. You can easily hire an electrician or handyman to help you.

Other Appliances

If you’ve got the funds, could you transform you kitchen with a new fridge or microwave? Or how about simply a toaster and kettle? Upgrading these smaller appliances can make your kitchen feel much newer. If you don’t see the need to change these, you can also add to your kitchen collection; invest in a juicer, Breville-maker, coffee machine, blender or vegetable chopper to give some more ‘oomph’ to your appliances.

Furniture

Is your furniture detracting from your entire kitchen? If so, it might be time for a change. Could you purchase newer furniture that’s within your budget? Or, if you’re going for a rustic look, could you purchase second-hand furniture and scrub it up with a bit of paint or polish? A brand-new wooden table can make a big difference to a kitchen. If your budget is really tight, how about simple changes, like a new tablecloth and some cushions? Or if you’ve got the space and the funds, could you consider getting a kitchen island and some bar stools?

Cupboards & Shelving

There’s nothing more annoying than a lack of cupboard and shelving space in a kitchen. If installing extra cupboards or shelving is not an option, could you divide cupboards horizontally to create extra shelves? How about installing some floating shelves on your walls, where you’ve got extra space?

If your cupboards are already big – do they need a makeover? Perhaps a paint job and some new handles? This can greatly change the design of your kitchen space and gives you the chance to design a whole new look and feel.

Painting & Flooring

Painting and re-flooring your kitchen are two of the biggest jobs when making it over, but they can make the most difference. Painting is easy and can allow you to create a lighter, brighter space or add some colour to your room.

If you’re keen to re-floor, options like polished concrete, hardwood or epoxy can help create a very modern look. Alternatively, bamboo, laminate, tiles or carpet could create a more ‘homely’ or country-style look.

Techno Gadgets

If your home is particularly modern (or even if it isn’t!) techno gadgets can make all the difference to your kitchen experience. Could you install a TV on the wall for when you’re watching cooking shows? Or even mount an iPad on the wall so you can look up recipes? How about a voice-timer instead of using the microwave? Depending on how tech-savvy you are, the possibilities are endless!
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How to Beat the Aussie Sun at Home

If you’ve ever lived on the Australian coast or anywhere close, you’ll know the story- fabulous place, but the climate has its own ideas. Fierce sun, wind and sudden changes, usually when you least expect them. Australians love the coastal zone, but it’s always been a battle. The new approach is based on new technology like retractable awnings, sunscreen blinds, external blinds and other smart, tough ways of dealing with the coastal weather.

The secrets of the new screens and awnings are simple, but very effective. They’re a new type of blinds, made to deal with very tough conditions. They’ve become essentials for managing home environments, because they’re so reliable. They’ve made major inroads on the extremely fussy upmarket housing market, providing solutions to real problems very simply and very efficiently.

The truth is that the new blinds and screens are very different from their predecessors. If you remember the horrible, expensive and largely useless “blinds” of the past, you’ll also remember why people preferred the old Venetians. The old blinds were just plain old canvas. They didn’t manage light much at all. They also had very short product lives, and they didn’t last too long in the tough coastal environment. They were more like tents than anything else, and they did nothing or less to manage temperature.

The new blinds are designed to stop light and block heat. That’s very important, because the heat transfer from the old blinds was their greatest weakness. Heat would still build up inside, and the blinds actually blocked the trapped heat getting out, like insulation. If you’re getting direct heat from an Australian summer sun at full blast, that’s not a great result.

If the heat doesn’t get in the first place, you don’t have that problem. The new blinds block the light as well, preventing bleaching by the sun, which can save you a lot in fabric covers and carpets over time. In the coastal zone, the weather impact can be severe.

Environmental management with screens, blinds and awnings

The salt air is another factor, and the old blinds really weren’t designed to manage that. They were basically “eaten” by the salt. The new blinds are all-terrain things, and they do the job simply, with no fuss. They’re also fully customizable, so whether you’ve got a beachfront mansion or a bungalow, you can get the right mix of blinds tailor-made.

That’s turned out to be a win-win for consumers. They can get the sort of specialist treatment they need for their homes and get full protection from the beautiful but unpredictable environment. For new homes, the external blinds have become an essential. They can cover the big window spaces effortlessly, and there’s a range of adjustable options for managing lighting and getting the optimal benefits of big windows while managing the climate issues.

If you’re looking for the right mix of environmental management, design and a simple way of managing your coastal home’s many moods, these blinds, screens and awnings are the quick way. Check out what you can do, and you’ll love them.