Green Real Estate Appraiser

How to live green in a small space

Posted on June 13, 2016 | Leave a comment

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Advice on home sustainability is often based on unlimited space and a mortgage, with chicken coops, vegetable patches and solar systems among those frequently listed options.

A host of innovative startups are now working to change the industry, inventing new products to suit renters and apartment dwellers.

Glowpear – Australian company Glowpear specialises in gardening solutions for small spaces, giving renters and apartment dwellers the ability to create their own mini gardens.

Greenwall -Soil-less vertical gardens known as “greenwalls” are an attractive, low-maintenance way to improve air quality and reduce noise.

Because of greenwall plants’ adaptive survival abilities, these can be installed on a building facade or wall where soil isn’t a possibility.

The Green Wall Company is an Australian-owned business that has installed more than 5000 square metres of greenwalls across Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.

Not only are the walls easy to maintain, the lush greenery is a beautiful way to soften a space and bring nature indoors.

Most greenwalls are watered with drip irrigation and use timed automatic irrigation to reduce waste, manual watering and time spent on maintenance.

10 things to consider before renovating a bathroom

Posted on June 12, 2016 | Leave a comment

bath 2

Whether you have a simple powder room or a master ensuite, functionality should be at the heart of your bathroom. Read on to learn tricks for gaining storage, improving lighting, drainage and more, to ensure that your revamped bathroom stands the test of time.

Will a remodeled bathroom add value to your home? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

1. Plumbing
Residential plumbing typically uses 40 millimetre pipes for drains. You’d be surprised how much gunk and hair goes down that drain. The larger the drain, the less likely it is to clog. The cost difference to upgrade to a 50 millimetre drain is practically negligible, and unless your framing doesn’t allow for it, you should consider increasing the drain in your shower to 50 millimetres.

Also, If you live in a region where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it’s important that your water supply lines don’t get routed through an exterior wall.

2. Lighting
Consider recessed light fixtures throughout your ceiling to brighten up the room. Include one (or two) in your shower with the proper shower trim. Install a dimmer switch so you can adjust the mood in your bathroom. You’ll want to consider how you’ll be using the mirror in your bathroom and whether you want aesthetic or functional lighting. Whether you’ll be applying make-up or shaving, bright light fixtures properly placed go a long way to help you see what you’re doing close up.

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12 ways to give your kitchen a new look without starting over

Posted on June 10, 2016 | Leave a comment

kitchen rug

A kitchen that is relatively lovely but a touch on the boring side can benefit from a quick-fix design idea that can instantly create a walk-in wow factor. Choose from 12 novel ideas below, some of which can be actioned in less than an hour. Others are small projects that may need a little preparation and application time, but the time and effort you invest can yield eye-popping results.

1. Add a rug
Immediately add pattern and texture to a minimalist-style kitchen by adding a floor rug with a geometric pattern or colourful design. Choose an outdoor mat made from recycled plastic to repel stains caused by cooking spills and spits, or source a flat-weave hardwearing natural fibre rug that can be washed. Minimise any risk of tripping over it by fixing a non-slip pad to the back of the rug.

2. Install a bookcase in the kitchen
It may not be entirely practical but it sure looks good to have some of your intellectual and cultural capital on display in the busiest room in the house. A ‘well-stocked’ bookcase can add miles of charm to a kitchen, especially to one that looks a little too clinical (i.e. all-white). Fill the bookcase with your favourite cookbooks or designer tomes, or stack it full of novels you’ve read (or plan to read). If the bookcase (a narrow, stackable type is pictured here) is close to a breakfast bar or table in the kitchen, you get the added advantage of being able to read a few pages between cooking procedures when preparing meals.

3. Put up a chalkboard
Chalkboards in kitchens are not just practical for busy families and members of a share house, but can also be a striking kitchen feature. A board painted with chalkboard paint can be affixed to a plain wall facing the kitchen space. You’ll need to prime the board first and then apply at least two coats of writeable and erasable latex chalkboard paint, which can be bought from a local hardware store. Alternatively, a removable chalkboard wall decal with a magnetic film can be bought and adhered to the wall.

How to live green in a small space

10 things to consider before renovating a bathroom

12 ways to give your kitchen a new look without starting over

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