Archicentre
2009 News Release Archive
2009
Archicentre Newsbreak Archive
Archicentre
State Managers
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1
July 2009
$50,000
Superannuation Cap to Boost Property Investment
A change in Australia's superannuation regulations which
becomes law today limiting superannuation contributions
to $50,000 could be a further catalyst for a return to
property investment and renovation.
30
June 2009
Archicentre
Push on Environment and Safety
Archicentre has launched a campaign to promote safety
and energy efficiency around the home to their customers.
27 June 2009
Managing
Director of Archicentre in New Role
Archicentre
has announced its Managing Director Robert Caulfield after
thirty one years will assume a new role within the company.
24 June 2009
Winter
Warning on Deadly Fires
Archicentre today warned that most fatal
fires occur in the home and winter is a high fire risk
time. A faulty electrical appliance or washing left too
close to a heater could have disastrous consequences by
exposing family members to death or injuries and causing
major structural damage to a property.
17
June 2009
Greenhouse
Gas Reduction - It is all in the Design
Greenhouse gas reduction is in the hands
of the community especially for those people building
new homes or renovating according to Archicentre.
11
June 2009
Red
Alert on Deadly Water Tanks
Poorly installed or unstable water tanks being filled
with the recent rains could become a death trap for home
owners or visitors, Archicentre warned today.
5
June 2009
Borers
may leave $2.4 Billion Dinner Bill to Western Australia
Home Owners
Borers may leave Western Australian Home Owners an estimated
$2.4 billion dinner bill if a government strategy to contain
European House Borers fails according to Archicentre
5 June 2009
1.9%
Drop in Construction Costs
Construction costs have dropped 1.9% in the first quarter
of 2009.
2
June 2009
Renovators
Warned On Cash Economy
Renovators who fall for the discount for cash line, which
can be used by handymen and tradespeople to obtain a job,
could find they have not only encouraged the law to be
broken by not paying taxes, but more importantly have
lost any legal right to consumer protection.
25
May 2009
Higher
Floor Levels For Homes In Flood Prone Areas
Housing
being built in flood prone areas in the future will be
designed with floor levels above the one hundred year
flood level to cope with the increasing intensity of floods
and storms attributed to climate change.
21
May 2009
Safety
First A Key To Floods And Leaky Roofs
Home
owners have been urged to put safety first when dealing
with flooded homes or leaky roofs and to prepare for floods
or storms in advance by Archicentre.
20
May 2009
Federal
Budget Cuts to Superannuation Contributions Cuts Open
Renovation for Retirement Door
One
million baby boomers set to retire in the next ten years
who have had their potential superannuation contributions
slashed by 50% from $100,000 to $50,000 in the Federal
Budget could turn to renovation to try and boost the value
of their main asset - the family home.
13
May 2009
Federal
Budget Reaction - Archicentre
The Great Australian Dream will Survive
Archicentre
today urged Australians to maintain their faith in the
Great Australian Dream of home ownership.
12
May 2009
Renovate
Out of Recession
Archicentre's Free Online Trade Dating Service
Renovators
or home owners throughout Australia can now take advantage
of a FREE online service which provides home owners with
a time saving way of engaging licensed, qualified tradespersons.
8
May 2009
Green
Home Loans to Create Green Jobs
Archicentre
will expand its training role to focus on creating 150
new Green Jobs by training household Sustainability Assessors.
6
May 2009
Give
Mum the Gift of Safety on Sunday
Australian
sons and daughters have been urged to use Mother's Day
to do a safety audit of the home for elderly parents,
especially those living alone.
1
May 2009
Government
Six Star Renovation Design the New Gold in Housing
New
housing and renovations designed to comply with the national
six star design sustainability codes to be compulsory
by 2011 will provide their owners with a long term re-sale
value as costs of energy and water are expected to rise.
29
April 2009
Boundary
Disputes, Excavation, Cracking and Lawyers
Government planning policies to increase housing densities
combined with the trend to maximise land space during
renovations and new building has the potential to increase
boundary disputes with Australian home owners, renovators
and neighbours,
26
April 2009
Archicentre
Warns on Storm Damage and Leaky Roofs
Archicentre
has warned home owners to be alert for roof damage caused
by high winds expected in Victoria today, which could
lead to leaky roofs.
23
April 2009
Designing
for the future
Inspection data from Archicentre shows one in four Victorian
homes contain trip or slip hazards, a figure highlighting
the need for more accessible housing stock.
21
April 2009
First
Home Buyers Warned on Bitter Twist of Lemon
First
home buyers extending themselves to the limit to get into
a home could be could be severely financially stung if
they bought a LEMON, Archicentre said today.
7
April 2009
Home
Buyers Return with Caution as Inspection Services Jump
Archicentre, the largest supplier of pre-purchase home
inspections and renovation design concepts in Australia
has reported a major jump for the use of its inspection
services for prospective home buyers when compared with
March 2008.
7
April 2009
Queensland
Floods
With some areas in Queensland being reported as having
up to 200mm of rain in two-and-a-half hours, home owners
have been warned to look for leaks in their roofs and
involve professional tradespersons to undertake repairs
because of the danger of people being on roofs.
1
April 2009
Flooded
New South Wales Homes to take Months to Dry Out
... quick fixes can be costly
Flooded homes in New South Wales will take months to recover
and home owners have been advised to allow their homes
to completely dry out and delay renovation and redecoration
until the building is substantially dry before replacing
carpets and fittings to avoid future problems.
30
March 2009
Women
Top in Home Buying Influence By A Mile
Archicentre
said its poll in determining which sex has more influence
over home buying has revealed women win hands down.
25
March 2009
5%
to 15% Drop in Renovation Costs
Renovation
costs in Australia are expected to drop between 5% and
15% in the next six months, according to Archicentre.
20
March 2009
Rats
and Mice in 46% of Homes
A
survey of 500 homes in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland,
covering a range of pests including borers, termites,
rats, mice, cockroaches, ants, spiders and silverfish
and wood rot has revealed many people are living with
health hazards.
13
March 2009
First
Home Buyers Lemon Alert
First home buyers rushing to sign up to gain the Federal
and State Government Grants could face a triple financial
whammy if they buy a 'lemon'. These are over priced homes,
expensive repairs and rising interest rates in the longer
term.
3
March 2009
New
Planning Regulations in New South Wales Boost Jobs
.... People want to spend money and create urgently needed
jobs.
The
NSW Housing Code, which came into force last week, will
provide a major boost to jobs in the building and construction
industry according to Archicentre.
2
March 2009
Consumers
Should Request Testing and Compliance Standards for Fire
Bunkers
Archicentre
said that Australia will need to have an urgent review
of the design and building regulations of products being
sold as fire bunkers.
27
February 2009
Climate
Change Design and Behaviour the New Gold in Housing
New
housing and renovations designed to take into account
the impact of climate change will provide their owners
with a long term re-sale value as costs of energy and
water are expected to rise.
19
February 2009
Bushfires
Spark Interest In Home Safety Design
The
tragic bushfires in Victoria have dramatically increased
the number of people seeking information about bushfire
design for homes, Archicentre said today.
16
February 2009
Archicentre
Launches J For Jobs Tradesmen's Service
Taking the pain out of finding good tradespeople with
the click of a mouse
Archicentre has launched a new web based service for Australian
homes owners to find quality tradespeople as part of its
national J For Jobs program to encourage employment in
the building industry.
12
February 2009
Termite
Attacks Hot Up In Drought
High
temperatures and the continuing drought is increasing
the intensity of termite attacks on Australian homes which
is estimated to cost Australian home owners $910 million
annually.
5
February 2009
Archicentre
Backs Victorian Government on Fast Track Planning Reforms
Archicentre,
the building advisory service of the Australian Institute
of Architects today backed the Victorian Government's
plan to fast track planning of major projects to create
jobs and stimulate economic development and urged the
government to go further and for other States to follow.
4
February 2009
Cracking
Becomes a Hot Topic for Home Owners, Buyers and Investors
Climate
change and the drought has made cracking, which can cost
tens of thousands dollars to manage, one of the hottest
housing topics for home owners, home buyers and investors
in 2009.
3 February 2009
J
FOR JOBS - Insulation Compulsory For House Sale
The
Federal and State Governments should consider a national
program of insulation by making it compulsory for every
home being sold to be insulated, Archicentre said today.
1
February 2009
J
FOR JOBS - Renovate out of Recession
The
$20 billion a year renovation industry in Australia could
be a major key in kick starting the economy, according
to Archicentre, which today launched its J For Jobs program
with a series of 100 Free seminars in 2009.
29
January 2009
Archicentre
Launches West Australian Consumer Awareness Program on
Building and Sustainability,
Home Buying and Renovation
Consumer awareness is the focus of a series of Free Seminars
in Perth on Building and Sustainability, Home Buying and
Renovation being run by Archicentre beginning in February.
28
January 2009
Heat
on Cracking Houses
34% of properties across Australia have been damaged by
drought
The
forecast heat wave in Victoria will place extreme pressure
on many homes that are already suffering cracking due
to the extended drought and water restrictions, Archicentre
said today.
28
January 2009
Archicentre
Launches South Australian Sustainability Seminar Series
Consumer awareness is the focus of a series of seminars
on Sustainability being run by Archicentre in South Australia
beginning in February.
28
January 2009
Archicentre
Launches Victorian Consumer Awareness Program on Building
and Sustainability,
Renovation and Home Buying
Consumer awareness is the focus of a series of Free Seminars
on Building and Sustainability, Renovation and Home Buying
being run by Archicentre beginning in February.
28
January 2009
Archicentre
Launches New South Wales Consumer Awareness Program on
Building and Sustainability,
Home Buying and Renovation
Consumer awareness is the focus of a series of Free Seminars
on Building and Sustainability, Home Buying and Renovation
being run in Sydney by Archicentre beginning in February.
28
January 2009
Archicentre
Launches Queensland Consumer Awareness Program on Building
and Sustainability,
Home Buying and Renovation
Consumer awareness is the focus of a series of Free Seminars
in Brisbane on Building and Sustainability, Home Buying
and Renovation being run by Archicentre beginning in February.
25
January 2009
Build
Fire Resistant Homes on Suburban Fringes
Current
bushfires occurring in fringe suburbs in Australia reinforces
the importance of building fire resistant homes
on the urban fringes of Australian capital cities, Archicentre
said today.
24
January 2009
Archicentre
Launches Poll on Home Buying Influence of Women and Men
Archicentre
has launched a poll in its latest Consumer Bulletin aimed
at determining which sex has more influence over home
buying.
19
January 2009
Beach
Shack Asbestos Warning
Owners
of tens of thousands of traditional beach shacks built
of fibro cement have been urged to take appropriate health
and safety precautions during any renovation, maintenance
or clearing up after storm damage by Archicentre.
17
January 2009
Hot
Weather Stress on Faulty Wiring
Top 5 Suburbs named
Electrical faults in homes can result in fires when home
owners flick the switch to cope with soaring temperatures,
overloading the electrical system with the heavy demand
of air conditioners, Archicentre warned today.
12
January 2009
ZONE
HOMES: Housing the Big Issue for 2009
ZONE HOMES with two independent living areas are set to
become a major trend as Australia faces major housing
challenges in the next decade.
9
January 2009
New
Housing Down - Renovation Up in 2009 - ABS Reaction
With
new home building approvals dropping 35% from a year ago
the $20 billion a year renovation industry in Australia
will become vital cog in maintaining employment in the
building industry, Archicentre said today.
7
January 2009
Renovators
Risk Resale Value with Poor Design
Archicentre today warned people renovating properties
for resale and investment purposes that they could devalue
their properties with poorly planned and constructed
renovations.