Child Proof Your Home

Children are always at risk of injury, but never more so than in the family home. 

There are many simple measures that can be taken to prevent simple accidents, often with far-reaching and serious long-term effects, from occurring in the home.

“It’s a simple case of taking a critical view of objects around your home and understanding where the potentials for hazards are,” Metro First National Principal, Geoff Dowling, said.

“Take the time to get down and crawl around the home so that you can see for yourself where curious hands and adventurous spirits might roam.”

While childproofing the home is important for families, investors should also take the time to understand how child-friendly their investment property is, as it may represent a marketing point for their investment property.

Injuries are the leading cause of death in Australian children aged one to fourteen, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in this age group.  More children die from injury than of cancer, asthma and infectious diseases combined.

Unintentional injuries make up around 95% of all child injury deaths, with young children under the age of five years most at risk of unintentional injury.

“The most common place for young children to be injured is in their own home, so ensuring the safety of our homes should be paramount for parents to keep their children safe,” Mr Dowling said.

 “There are so many things that are precariously balanced, just waiting to be pulled down, knocked over, bumped into or climbed on.

“And as the child becomes more mobile and dexterous, they love to put things in their mouths and they don’t discriminate between toxics or poisons and lollies or biscuits.”

First National Metro has produced a Tip Sheet to assist parents, and investors, create a safe environment in the home for children to thrive and grow.  

This tip sheet can be found here.

Keep Your House Safe This Summer

Summer is all about having fun in the sun, but it is also about safety and making sure your home is protected from the damage that can be caused by sun, bushfires, storms and other natural disasters.

First National Real Estate has some great advice to help homeowners and residents prepare their homes for the risks posed by hot weather.

According to Stewart Bunn, National Communications Manager at First National Real Estate, all areas of a home should be considered, from the swimming pool, garden and the home itself.

“Whether you want to keep your home safe from the threat of a bushfire, storms, or even just to make sure the kids can swim in the pool safely, now is the time to get to work on making the home safe,” Mr Bunn said.

Tips include making sure swimming pools are properly maintained, gutters are cleared of debris, and areas around the home are well trimmed and cleared of garden mess like leaves, twigs and overgrown lawns.

“Scrub and undergrowth around the property are ideal fuel accelerants for a fire,” Mr Bunn  said.

“Garden hoses should be connected to taps and fire resistance mesh screens to doors and windows will help prevent embers from entering the home in the case of a bushfire.  Installing a sprinkler system around the home is a simple and easy preparation step to take that may mean the difference between losing your home and surviving a bushfire.”

Other tips for fire safety include ensuring all smoke alarms inside the home are in correct working order and any flammable items such as wood, boxes and other recycling materials such as newspapers, flammable liquids and gas bottles are stored well away from the house.

For swimming pools, it is essential that fences are checked for sagging or shifting, as they represent a safety issue as much as an aesthetic one.  Another important safety issue for swimmers is pool water quality.

“Pool owners should make sure they continuously test their pool water quality, vacuum it regularly and keep it clean from debris,”  Mr Bunn  said.

“When a storm, flood or bushfire hits a town, this importance increases tenfold when you consider the increased risks and health hazards posed by the natural disaster.

“Floodwaters may have brought sewage or muddy waters into your swimming pool, or fallen branches and chemical run-offs may have been introduced as a result of bushfire fighting activities or from roofs covered in bird droppings and other animal matter.

“Not to mention the health hazards that burning houses, sheds and other buildings or structures can leave in rubble and ash that may find their way into the swimming pool.”

Simple home maintenance will protect your house from the ravages caused by the sun.  Tips include:

• Wash the exterior of your house.  Use a professional house-washing service if possible as they will legally use high-pressure washes which use far less water than a regular hose.
• Check all window seals and door frames to keep out hot air.  Replace seals where necessary and keep draft stoppers handy for the base of back and front doors.
• Clean ceiling fans and air conditioner filters before use to ensure their efficient operation.
• Check exterior paintwork for signs of wear and tear and apply a fresh coat or touch-ups where necessary including exterior house walls, decking, verandahs and fences.
• Refill children’s sandpits with fresh sand and inspect play equipment to ensure the effects of winter have not eroded their safety ratings through rust or weakening.

Prepare Your Home For A Hot Sale This Summer

Spring and summer are the most popular months to sell a home and First National Real Estate has some advice on how to make your home the hot item this summer.

According to Ray Ellis, CEO of First National Real Estate, homebuyers’ thoughts will naturally turn to patios, outdoor entertaining areas, landscaping, air conditioning and pools during the warmer months.

“First impressions are critical and nothing is more off-putting to a buyer than entering a stuffy, hot house on a 30-degree day, which is why it’s important to make your home summer-friendly,” Mr Ellis said.

“With sunny days and gorgeous blue skies, everything is on display. Flowers will be in full bloom, trees will be fully leaved and yards should be kept as tidy as possible.”

Walking through the front door, homeowners should assess the first impressions created and position furniture so that rooms have an ‘open’ feel. Place fresh flowers in vases and pictures on the wall to give the property extra vibrancy. Remove any clutter, and while family photos are great, limit them to no more than three. Be sure to have the kitchen and bathroom spotless and any used towels replaced with clean ones.

Most importantly, ensure any items requiring maintenance have been taken care of such as door handles, torn fly screens, broken window latches, light switches, light shades, leaking taps, doors opening and closing properly and clean carpets.

“If you have air conditioning, make sure it is in good working order and put it on when you are expecting potential buyers to be coming through,” Mr Ellis said.

“If you don’t have air conditioning, make sure you open as many windows as you can to let in the fresh breeze and keep windows clean.”

According to Mr Ellis the key area of a property during summer is the back yard, where buyers will envisage an area for the kids and a space to entertain.

“Australian’s love their barbecues in summer and can’t go past a good functioning back yard,” Mr Ellis said.

“Make sure the barbecue is in clean and looks to be in good condition, ensure the lawn is always mowed and presentable, and the landscaping is tidy with beautiful healthy plants that have been well-watered in the days leading up to any inspections.

“On the day of the inspection, give plants a light spray of water for a clean crisp look if water restrictions are not in force in your area.”

Home owners should consider hiring or borrowing some plants, especially leading up to the front door. For those with a pool or spa, be sure to keep them sparkling clean and leaf-free from crystal clear water to clean tiles at the top and bottom of the pool. Make sure any pool equipment is neatly stored away.

“Don’t forget the fence, gate, paths and decks. These should be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and any cobwebs and free of peeling paint,” Mr Ellis said.

Other tips for selling a property in the summer are:

1. Schedule inspections for a time during the day when rooms are bright and have maximum sunlight shining in, but preferably not the hottest part of the day.
2. When having an open house, limit the number of people in the property at any one time. Too many people may make it appear smaller than it really is and reduce the viewer’s potential to see the possibilities of the property.
3. Keep pets out of the property during inspections and music at a minimum.
4. Get rid of unsightly garden rubbish which detracts from the appeal of your garden. This goes for the garage, old sheds and any outbuildings