The reasons for choosing to go tiny range from reducing debt, inability to afford a conventional home, the search for sustainability, a life crisis, or even preparing for an uncertain future in the face of climate change by going off-grid. Or perhaps a combination of these.

An important first step is to decide what type of tiny house you want.
To many, the phrase "tiny house" brings to mind an archetypal tiny house on wheels, a miniature cottage on a trailer, often made of wood, with a pitched roof and dormer windows.

Indeed, most tiny housers prefer some degree of mobility, whether a ready-made or DIY tiny house, converted caravan or bus/van.

....Continue Reading this ABC News Article....
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​I've written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.

​There’s no question that trees are beautiful and majestic, but they can be a pain to homeowners. When it comes to reinforcing the foundation of your home, trees play a more significant role than you may assume and it is our continued goal to ensure that your home is as safe and as comfortable as possible. Read on for more information:
Tree roots are strong. Super strong. And the reason that trees can be so beautiful is that those roots search out water and nutrients. When you plant trees too close to a home, they’re going to seek out water and nutrients directly under your home. Directly under your home is also (as one might assume), the best place to fortify your foundation, either through restumping, reblocking or underpinning. When these two priorities meet, they don’t work out so well.
Right off the bat, you should determine what kind of soil or land that your home is built on because tree roots will act differently.

• You may have the clay-dominant soil. This type of soil compacts a lot more easily, but the converse effect is that the soil will become more and more dense when tree roots arrive.
• The second type of soil that you may have on your property is made up more of loose dirt and rocks and will move on a more regular basis, so roots have a much easier path to push through and navigate.

Both of these can affect your foundation.
Tree roots aren’t the only culprit of damage that can happen to your foundation. Even though they’re one of many pieces in the equation that you should be aware of, they’re nonetheless a significant one. That’s because tree roots are a catalyst for concrete settling, and when concrete settling occurs, your home’s foundation can shift and even crack. 

Concrete settling isn’t the nicest thing to look at, but if gone undetected, it can also be dangerous for the inhabitants of the home. So, look for the warning signs. Keep an eye out for doors that don’t swing open or shut correctly, floors that tilt one way or the other and cracks in the walls or ceiling.
These symptoms can impact homes of any age, but they’ll be much more prevalent in older homes or those that haven’t seen maintenance in a while. The easiest way to avoid any of the above? Reach out to your local experts who can assess your property and correctly advise you if you need to take care of any trees that are too close to your property. A lot of neighbourhoods have guidelines on this, but the bottom line is if trees are very close, it’s a challenge that you can take care of easily.
We’re here to help, so if you have questions, comments or feedback, please reach out.

​Company Bio: Vic Underpinners are Melbourne’s underpinning specialists, having performed thousands of successful underpinning jobs for many happy customers for more two decades. Our work is guaranteed for 15-years, so that you can shift your focus to building memories inside your home.

It starts innocently enough — a hairline crack on the lounge room wall. But, before too long, that annoying little line creeps further down the wall and widens.

As a record-breaking drought continues to overwhelm large parts of Australia, more of these kinds of cracks are appearing in homes throughout the country.
"In extraordinary dry times like now, those cracks will widen," warned Professor Nasser Khalili, the head of geotechnical engineering at the University of New South Wales.
In the vast majority of cases, cracks in houses are caused when the soil underneath the house starts to dry and contract, causing the footing of the house to shift unevenly, which leads the walls to move and crack.
...Continue Reading...

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​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
​For under $20 you could save thousands of dollars and avoid time consuming and frustrating mistakes!

Before construction of your new house begins, or you start renovating your home, ask these important questions:

• Is there a signed contract between you and the contractor?
• Are adequate insurance policies in place? If the work entails renovating an existing building has your insurer been advised that construction will be occurring. The contractor should have suitable employees’ insurance in place to cover medical costs in case of accidents involving their workers.
• Have you received the contractor’s surety or insurance bond to cover for their non-performance? Have you checked that these are correct and offer you adequate protection?
• Have the necessary building and planning approvals, permits and permissions been received from the various authorities?
• Are all your finances in place to pay for the work?
• Do you own the land?
• Are the site boundaries clearly demarcated?
• Have you reviewed and approved the latest construction drawings?
• If you or your designers are providing construction drawings to the contractor have these been issued to the contractor?
• Is everything ready for the contractor? Will they have the required access to the work site?
• Have you removed, or arranged suitable protection for items that mustn’t be damaged during construction?
• Have you procured materials that you must supply and will they be delivered before the contractor requires them?
• Does everyone know where the existing utility lines (power, communication, water, gas) are and are these clearly marked? Cutting them could be expensive, even dangerous, and undoubtedly it will cause inconvenience and even delay the construction work.
• Will the required utility connections (water and power) be available for construction?
• Is everyone clear what their scope of works is?
• Have you recorded the status of existing structures, the sidewalk and the road, and other structures which could be damaged by the contractor? It's difficult to prove structures were damaged by the contractor if there's no record of their condition and what they looked like before construction started.

Failure to ask these questions could result in the contractor being delayed when permits or drawings aren't available. In this case the contractor will claim a delay and additional costs. 
Mistakes are often caused when property boundaries aren't marked or utility lines aren't protected.
Failure to put adequate insurance in place could be costly if things go wrong.
Never start a construction project unless there's a clear signed contract in place with the contractor. A contract is there to protect you and the contractor.
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​​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
​For under $20 you could save thousands of dollars and avoid time consuming and frustrating mistakes!
© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

Wishing all my readers happy holidays and may your home building and renovation dreams come true in 2020.

Thank you to the readers of my books and blogs for your support. A special thanks to readers who have posted book reviews, those who have commented on my articles and readers who have contacted me directly. I enjoyed helping everyone in 2019, and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with you in 2020.

Let's make every home building project a success. With good planning and experience there's no reason why you can't have the home you dreamed of. I can help you to ensure your new home doesn't turn into a construction nightmare.

Your home building and home renovation project can be a success. You can have your dream home in 2020.

​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
​For under $20 you could save thousands of dollars and avoid time consuming and frustrating mistakes!

​Before beginning a major home remodeling project, there are many things every homeowner must consider: the budget, a realistic timeline, conflicting design aesthetics, your ability to do the work yourself vs. hiring professionals, the mess and dust in your home, packing away items for months, planning for water and electric shutoffs, protecting kids and pets, and the disruption to your family routine.

​The one item most people do not consider — and the one that has the potential to do the most damage — is the impact that home renovation can have on a couple’s relationship.
 
While it looks easy on television, home renovation is among the most stressful projects a couple can undertake. Over time, the project can expose or even cause serious relationship issues. You should be aware that most couples who renovate a home together do not agree on every last detail. Whether their relationship survives or falls victim to the wrecking ball has far more to do with the way they communicate than the colours they choose for their new space. 

Communication is the key to working together. Below are 10 tips to help couples navigate a home renovation project or new home build. Based on the principles of successful communication, these suggestions are intended to help couples get through the work with their relationship intact. These tips should be read, before, during and even after the project is completed. Don’t let your desire to build the perfect home demolish your relationship!
 
Will a home renovation project leave your marriage in need of repair? Read the following tips before you start — and review them often as you proceed!

• Understand the task. Prepare a plan that includes estimated costs, labor and time required. Accept that renovation is stressful.
• Establish and stick to the budget. Exceeding the budget is a major source of tension. Never go over the budget unilaterally.
• Dial down the pressure. Every detail does not have to be flawless. Don’t build the perfect home only to lose your relationship.
• Prepare to compromise. Getting along is more important than getting your way. Make a serious effort to see your partner’s side.
• Compliment your partner. Find something good to say about your spouse’s work, design aesthetic or organizational abilities.  
• Don’t take it personally. Don’t overreact to comments made under duress; they may not reflect what the other person really believes.
• Control your emotions. Try to keep negative feelings, especially anger, in check. Walk away from the situation until you calm down. 
• Stand up for your partner. Never, ever criticize your spouse in front of a third party (the contractor, designer or architect).
• Don’t neglect your family life. Be sure to stop working and take time for family, meals, chores and even quiet time.
• ​Call in the professionals. If all else fails and your relationship starts to suffer, let the experts finish your project.  

​46% of couples building a new living space say the overall experience is frustrating. According to a Houzz survey, 12% of these couples consider separation or divorce mid-project. 

It's important to know when you need help, whether it's help with your building project, or help with your relationship. Remember, good communication and honesty leads to the best results with any project. Don't let your home building project destroy the relationship with your partner and your family.

​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.

Thinking smaller and being innovative and doing some work yourself may just put a new home within reach. Read this article for more ideas.

​There are many ways homeowners can make small changes to save money. They might install energy-efficient appliances, use programmable thermostats or add weather-stripping under doors to reduce their energy bills. Yet utilities aren’t the only expenses that could break the bank when it comes to owning a home.
 
Maintenance and repair costs can seriously eat into your savings, especially if you have an older house. As your property and appliances get older, they’re more likely to need service. A lot of people believe that these types of repairs are covered under their homeowners' insurance, but this usually isn’t true.
 
This is why many of those who buy a residential property choose to purchase a home warranty plan in addition to their insurance policies. If you’re in the market for a new house, you may be asking yourself, “Do home warranties save money?”
 
Here are some of the best reasons why a home warranty not only can save you money in the long run but also possibly become an investment in and of itself. 

​Homeowners insurance often pays for damages that occur due to some type of catastrophe. These could include weather damage or a break-in. What it usually won’t cover, however, is the typical wear and tear you will experience over the natural course of time. An additional warranty plan, on the other hand, will provide service to keep your property and appliances in good working order. It can give you repair and/or maintenance for your furnace, water heater, air conditioning, electric or water lines, or your major household appliances.
 
These warranties are offered with a number of options. You can add coverage to almost any feature you have. This includes outdoor swimming pools, septic systems and ceiling fans. Many times, the previous owner will offer a warranty plan for a year or two after the sale to cover any necessary work that the property may need. 

​The benefits of a home warranty plan are numerous. These plans can take the worry out of maintaining a house for many reasons. This makes them a good supplement to insurance because they provide homeowners with much more coverage than they would otherwise receive.
 
Here are key ways a home warranty plan can help someone who owns a residential property or is buying one:

• You’ll be covered. With one of these plans, you’ll save money in the long run for repairs and maintenance. Whenever anything fails or goes on the fritz, you won’t have to worry about dipping into your savings account. You’ll also be able to rest easy knowing that you won’t have to sacrifice your weekends at the local big-box megastore.
• You’ll receive expert service. Your provider should have an extensive network of local, reliable contractors. These experts will be dispatched immediately to your property to handle the work. This means you won’t have to go through the process of finding a qualified plumber, electrician or any other type of technician. You’ll also know that whoever does the repair work will be fully licensed and insured.
• You’ll get help 24/7. Perhaps one of the strongest advantages of having one of these warranties is that you’ll be able to get help practically any time, day or night. If your refrigerator dies on a Sunday morning or if your dishwasher starts leaking at midnight, a customer service representative likely will be able to start helping you as soon as possible.

 
Purchasing a home warranty does more than make it easier to take care of problems that crop up around the house. It also helps keep everything in its best condition, thanks to prompt, expert care. This can do a lot to protect and preserve the value of your investment for the future. 

​​I've written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.