Tips for building a new home

Laundry design problems

Monday, October 13, 2014
  I have been looking at so many designs lately and noticing that the laundries are so small. How anybody is going to be able to comfortably do any work in them is beyond me.  Most of our designs and in particular all the custom designs we do have a good size working laundry. We find that most of our clients complain about current designs on the market and they have issues with the workability of the area. A good size bench area is a
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Invest in property

Saturday, October 04, 2014
When looking for a new home as an investment property the key train of thought should on facilities. What is located close to the new home or what will be coming to the area in close proximity to that new home?
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Home finance

Wednesday, September 17, 2014
What a broad item to discuss, many younger clients come to us with ideas of buying properties well beyond their means and this can lead to many problems. Most want their big dream home first off without really being able to afford it so the finance is tailored to suit their payment capabilities at the moment.  All people know that circumstances can change so quickly from there being a duel income to a single income overnight. I suggest to my
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Interest rates

Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Interest rates are at all-time lows and now are the time to take advantage and lock in a good rate. Buying an investment property is a great way to grow personal wealth and save on your tax.  Buying a new home is also a great way to save on stamp duty because when building a new home you only pay stamp duty on the land.
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Fall protection on site

Tuesday, September 02, 2014
   Do you need to have any fall protection if you work on a roof? All of our sites have fall protection to protect roofing contractors and all other trades from falling off the roof.  See photos for the fall protection now used and should be used on all sites to protect workers from falls. When I did my building apprenticeship in the 70's, we had no fall protection and many building contractors had falls from roofs.  Lucky that nowadays
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Wall framing temporary bracing

Wednesday, August 27, 2014
A client asked me a question last weekend how do you stop the wall frames from falling over? Temporary bracing is the answer and these braces take the up any movement in the structure until the permanent bracing can be secured.  See photo of the temporary bracing and you will see the bracing is at 90 degrees to the wall framing creating the support. The weight of the wall is transferred to the foundation with the frame sitting on the
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Buying a knock down rebuild site

Thursday, July 24, 2014
What to look for when buying a knock down rebuild site costs: The construction of two double storey homes around 25 square each. The cost of the two homes would be around $650 to $700k including subdivision, surveying, design, demolition, planning, engineering, soil testing and all fees from start to finish. Some areas you should be looking at are Doncaster, Blackburn, Vermont, Donvale, Ringwood, Reservoir is also worth a look.  Size of land would need to be minimum 750m/2 plus.
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Land buying tips

Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Always consult with your builder before you buy land. They have the experience and knowledge to help you determine if the land is suitable for your requirements.  Most builders would offer this service for free or just a small fee to cover their time. At Berstan Homes we don't charge any fees and work together with you for the best outcome for you not the land agent. Many clients have come to me over the years and have already bought
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New home builds should have fly screens

Thursday, July 10, 2014
New homes should come standard with fly screens with the increase of insect activity and the ease of infection spread by airborne insects.  The cost is minimal and approximately $300 for an 18 square home. Some of the diseases that can be spread by insects in Victoria are Ross river virus, Dengue fever, Barmah forest virus and Australian Arboencephalitis are the main diseases. It's just not worth taking the risk with your family, insist your new home has fly screens
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Energy savings with heating and cooling in new home builds

Wednesday, July 09, 2014
We are currently using a Brivis gas add on system that works both heating and cooling. The system uses the same ductwork and only uses electricity for the fans and the cost savings are significant. The system offers refrigerated air conditioning and is very efficient. 
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