Archicentre
2010 News Release Archive
Archicentre
2010 Newsbreak Archive
Archicentre
State Managers
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31
August 2010
Affordability
the Key in Housing Design
Competition to help design the ultimate Queenslander
With
housing affordability nearing a record low due to higher
interest rates and rising home values, affordability is
one of the major criteria for an innovative community
survey on home design being conducted in Queensland in
the next month.
30 August 2010
Give
Dad the Gift of Safety on Father's Day
Australian
sons and daughters have been urged to use Father's Day
on Sunday 5 September 2010 to do a safety audit of the
home for elderly parents, especially those living alone.
18
August 2010
Frankston
Debacle Over Units Shows Value of Pre-Purchase Property
Inspections
The plight of several residents forced to leave their
homes over dangerous conditions in a housing development
in Frankston has dramatically shown the importance of
home buyers and investors having pre-purchase property
inspections and construction advice reports.
18
August 2010
Home
Buyers and Property Investors Burning Money
Property
investors and home buyers have been warned not to overlook
the poor environmental efficiency in any home or apartment
they are purchasing which could cost them thousands of
dollars and literally see them burning money.
6
August 2010
Renovators
and Buyers of Old Homes Warned
ASBESTOS NOT JUST IN THE WALLS
Archicentre
today issued a warning to renovators and home owners that
asbestos was not just to be found in the walls of the
building but could also be present in a range of other
products including linoleum.
6 August 2010
Green
Star Ratings Must Have Credibility
Community
and industry confidence in the compulsory use of software
to obtain a building permit will be vital in any climate
change policy or program, Archicentre said today.
4
August 2010
Renovators
can now test Viability of their Ideas
Queensland Renovators and Owner Builders can now test
the viability and practicality of their ideas before they
commence an expensive project through a new 'consultation'
service launched by Archicentre.
29
July 2010
Architects
Warn of Non-Compliant Insulation
Home
renovators and owner builders have been urged to check
any building insulation products which may be offered
to them, or are being used in new homes, that they comply
with the labelling, testing and quality requirements contained
in the Building Code of Australia regulations / Australian
Standards.
22
July 2010
Water,
Energy Prices and Regulations make Architectural Designed
Homes Money Savers
The
sky rocketing costs of water and energy, which could triple
in the next ten years, has turned clever sustainable architectural
home designs into money savers for their owners, Archicentre
said today.
15 July 2010
Removal
of Eaves A Major Environmental Mistake
The
removal of the overhanging eave from Australian homes
has proved to be a major national environmental mistake
Archicentre said today.
14
July 2010
Cradle
to Grave Housing Guidelines Increase Safety
The
new voluntary code of Cradle to Grave Housing Guidelines
which will see new homes include wider doorways, ground
level bathrooms and entry level access to comply with
new voluntary building guidelines to improve living standards
for people of all ages and the disabled, should also apply
to renovations.
28
June 2010
Archicentre
Launches DECK SAFE
Archicentre, Australia's largest supplier of housing pre-purchase
inspections and design concepts has targeted balcony and
deck safety with the release of a new service specifically
aimed at balcony and deck safety checks.
15
June 2010
Home
Buyers should ask for Balcony Building Permits and Current
Safety Check
Vendors and real estate agents should avoid the risk of
unwittingly selling or renting a home with an unsafe balcony
which could collapse, killing or injuring people, by having
scheduled maintenance checks.
14
June 2010
Red
Alert Follows New South Wales Balcony Collapse
12 hurt in Lane Cove
Following
another balcony accident in New South Wales last night
where twelve teenagers were injured when a balcony collapsed
during a party on Sydney's north shore, Archicentre has
issued a national red alert on balcony maintenance and
overloading balconies with party groups.
11
June 2010
Free
Inspection Service Protects Elderly Victorians from Costly
Winter Slip and Trip Hazards
Archicentre
today said thousands of elderly people were living with
dangerous slip and trip hazards, which could be fatal
or result in serious injury such as fractured hips or
broken arms.
8
June 2010
Cuts
to New South Wales Stamp Duty will Boost Housing Activity
Cuts
to stamp duty by the New South Wales Government for new
home buyers, investors and over 65 investors will boost
new housing and renovation activity, Archicentre said
today.
8
June 2010
Termite
Attacks Boosted By Damp Conditions
Australian
home owners have been warned that increased rainfall and
widespread floods, combined with poor drainage under homes,
is creating damp sub-floor conditions heightening the
potential for increased termite attacks, Archicentre said
today.
2
June 2010
Insulation
Plays Major Role in Winter
Archicentre Declares June Warm-up Month
Archicentre has declared June WARM UP MONTH by focusing
on the importance of insulation in the home.
26
May 2010
Make
Sure You Are Getting What You Pay For
Consumer
Quality Checks on new homes and renovations at the time
of construction can save consumers thousands of dollars
in building disputes and can ensure they are getting what
they are paying for, Archicentre said today.
21
May 2010
Protect
Your Home and Bank Balance with a Winter Tune Up
Victorian
homeowners have been warned not to ignore basic maintenance
issues on their homes which can develop into costly problems
affecting the value of their home and in some cases place
family members in danger.
13
May 2010
Trips
and Traps for Owner Builders as Interest Rates Rise
The
thought of making considerable savings on building a home
or renovation by being an owner builder has become increasingly
attractive to many new home buyers and renovators facing
more interest rate rises, however the gains can be quickly
lost once the project begins, Archicentre said today.
5
May 2010
Housing
Faults Add To Mortgage Stress
Home
buyers flying blind on housing faults could find the unexpected
and unbudgeted costs could ultimately become a mortgage
buster, Archicentre said today.
28 April 2010
No
Legal Requirement to Alert Home Buyers on Insulation Status
Archicentre
has renewed its call that home buyers should check the
insulation status of properties they are purchasing as
a safety issue to protect their families.
28
April 2010
Give
Mum the Gift of Safety on Mother's Day
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.
20
April 2010
Earthquake
Rattles Safety Issues on Building
The damaging of a dozen buildings and schools by an earthquake
in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, in Western Australia's
goldfields, is a timely warning of the need for ongoing
maintenance and surveillance of building faults, Archicentre
said today.
15
April 2010
Archicentre
Appoints Queensland Manager
Archicentre has appointed a marketing executive with over
15 years of international experience in business development,
marketing and customer service to head its Queensland
operation.
15
April 2010
Cracking
can become an Expensive Problem for WA Home Owners,
Buyers and Investors
The
Big Dry - Western Australia's hottest and driest summer
on record creates problems with foundations and footing
settlement and subsequent cracking throughout the home.
6
April 2010
Population
Debate, Interest Rate Rises, Affordability and Weather
To Drive Future Housing Designs
The
Great Australian Dream, which has been growing in size
for decades, will come under pressure from several areas
to become smaller, more sustainable and affordable, Archicentre
said today.
6
April 2010
Home
Buyers Should Check Insulation Status
Archicentre
today said that home buyers should check the insulation
status of properties they are purchasing as a safety issue
to protect their families.
30
March 2010
Glenn
Stevens backed on Property Risk but Money Not the Only
Issue
Archicentre
today backed the warning of the Reserve Bank Governor,
Glenn Stevens over excessive home loans, saying the hot
property market had seen many investors and home buyers
throw caution to the wind.
30
March 2010
Termites
and Wood Rot Follow Floods and Wet Weather
Archicentre
has warned that the recent unusually wet and warm weather
in the east coast of Australia and Perth is likely to
cause a significant increase in damage to houses by termites
and timber rot.
25
March 2010
Archicentre
Lists Top Building Rip Offs
Archicentre
today listed several of the top major rip off practices
in the home building and renovation industry and urged
home owners to use qualified and registered tradespersons,
especially when having repair works undertaken following
the recent storms and floods in Western Australia.
23 March 2010
Safety
First Vital in the WA Storm Clean Up
...... get professionals to check roofs and avoid falls
Following the wild storms in Perth yesterday and with
more severe weather expected today, home owners have been
urged to put safety first when dealing with flooded, water
damaged homes or leaky roofs and to prepare for storms
in advance by Archicentre, the building advisory service
of the Australian Institute of Architects.
17
March 2010
Renovator's
Delight an Endangered Species
The 'renovator's delight,' a traditional stepping stone
into the Australian housing market is an endangered species
which is being rapidly priced out of the reach of first
home buyers.
9
March 2010
Safety
First Vital in the Storm Clean Up
... quick fixes can be costly
Following
the wild storms in Melbourne and country Victoria over
the weekend, home owners have been urged to put safety
first when dealing with flooded or water damaged homes
or leaky roofs and to prepare for storms in advance by
Archicentre.
9
March 2010
Climate
Change on a Shoe String
Australian
home owners have been urged to take grass roots action
in their homes through a 'Climate Change on a Shoe String'
program to complement current environmental programs aimed
improving sustainability in Australian homes.
9
March 2010
Safety
First Vital in the Flood Clean Up
... quick fixes can be costly
Following
the extensive flooding in south east Queensland over the
weekend, home owners have been urged to put safety first
when dealing with flooded or water damaged homes by Archicentre.
3
March 2010
Insulation
Program Highlights Importance of Safety Switches
Home
buyers have been urged to ensure that Residual Current
Devices (RCDs) electrical safety switches are installed
in any home they purchase.
16
February 2010
Archicentre
Issues Warning on Insulation
The
use of foil insulation over ceiling joists or beneath
rafters in homes can conceal structural faults and make
it almost impossible for inspectors to find potential
electrical, plumbing or termite problems, Archicentre
said today.
13
February 2010
Safety
First A Key to Floods and Leaky Roofs
... quick fixes can be costly
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,
the building advisory service of the Australian Institute
of Architects.
10
February 2010
Warning
for Architects following Deaths of Installers
Archicentre,
the building advisory service of the Australian Institute
of Architects has issued an urgent warning to its 1000
member architects who undertake pre-purchase housing inspections
across the country.
4
February 2010
100
Free Concept Designs Completed for Fire Survivors
Most people wanted a replacement house and few wanted
fire bunkers.
Archicentre today said it had completed over one hundred
new home concept designs for survivors of the Black Saturday
Victorian bushfires aimed at helping speed up the rebuilding
process saying that most people wanted a replacement house,
similar to the one they had lost, and few wanted fire
bunkers.
3
February 2010
South
Australian Land Tax Cut to Stimulate Residential Renovation
The slashing of $50 million of South Australian
land tax in the lead up to the next election will stimulate
the building and renovation industry, Archicentre said
today.
28
January 2010
Home
Buyers Warned on Million Dollar LEMONS
Only about one in ten people have a pre-purchase property
inspection.
Million
dollar homes, which have become more common in Australia
as property prices skyrocket, can also have faults, Archicentre
said today.
20
January 2010
Wall
Collapse on Toddler Prompts Warning for Home Owners
Archicentre today said the collapse of
a brick wall on a two year old toddler last night in Clayton
South, should be a warning for all home owners and those
with commercial premises to monitor the condition of their
homes and buildings, particularly any brick fences and
walls.
18
January 2010
Archicentre
Launches Apartment Inspection Service
Why you should inspect the whole building and know about
the Sinking Fund.
When
cracks started to appear in the ground floor apartment
residents on the second and third floor were not worried
until the letter from the Owner's Corporation arrived
saying every apartment owner would be levied $10,000 to
repair the structural damage.
13
January 2010
74%
of people set for renovation in Archicentre Online Poll
Over 74% of people taking part in the latest Archicentre
online consumer poll have said they intend to renovate
their existing homes within the next two years.
7
January 2010
No
Better Time to Renovate: Costs Up Just 1%
Renovations, extensions and new home costs have increased
only 1% in the last quarter according to Archicentre,
the building advisory service of the Australian Institute
of Architects, in its latest cost guide released today.
