Battening Down The Hatches - Prepare Your Storm Plan

Australians are no stranger to rough weather. With recent disasters affecting many northern cities and townships it is a good idea to have an action plan in place should a storm or other potentially disastrous weather phenomenon approach your locality.

On the bright side, we usually get some warning that rough conditions are approaching and this means if you have a plan in place, you will likely have time to execute most of it and ensure everyone and everything is taken care of. Regardless of your plan, make sure you have your home and contents insured and check your policy carefully to ensure it covers any weather patterns that are prominent in your area -- or any that have hit nearby areas.

So where do you get started in your disaster plan?

1. The House

Your first priority is obviously your family, but once they are all safe and accounted for, making sure you all have a place to live is your next action. Research strategies to prepare your home for the type of weather or natural disaster that is coming your way. For example:

• Remove all leaves from gutters and flood the gutters with water if a fire is approaching.
• For severe storms, tend to all your windows.
• Reinforce them with cardboard to help keep them from breaking.

2. The backyard

Ensure your backyard is surrounded by strong and stable fencing, a fencing contractor will be able to advice what is best. If a storm is approaching, and you have time, remove anything unstable from the backyard and store in the garage, such as trampolines, and kid's plastic play equipment. Tie back all shrubs and plants to a stake or something stable so they aren't ripped out.

3. Pool

Your pool is going to be a mess if not properly prepared. The best thing you can do is head to your pool supplies store and buy yourself a cover to have at the ready. While the cover may be full of leaves and debris following a big storm, your water will remain clean, and maintenance is simply collecting the leaves in a bag and getting rid of them. This means you then don't need to worry about draining the water and starting again with fresh water and new chemicals.

4. Supplies

Ensure you always have some supplies on hand, should services be shut off, or you are segregated from points of supply. Clean water, candles and a first aid kit are a must. Also look at getting some basic food supplies that can last a few days.

Another must is reserves of prescription medication. Ensuring a supply of medications for illnesses such as diabetes and asthma is vital, as it could be these, rather than the weather, that result in a life or death situation.

5. Pets

Don't forget the pets! In really rough weather conditions consider bringing them inside and shutting them in the laundry. They should be safe there and can't do too much damage.

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Treasury from: jn3 Hand Crafted Woodworks
Anticipating Autumn
Handwoven Recycled T-Shirt Rug From: Five Forty $200.00	Old Barn From: Larry Nicosia Photopraphy $29.00	Autumn Feathers Desert Vase From: Bear Paws Pottery $50.00
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Autumn Leaves Pasta Bowl From: Bear Paws Pottery $55.00	Rustic Mail Box Wreath 109 From: Noelbelles $21.00	Forest Autumn Trees with Birds 100 inches - Vinyl Wall Decal From: Styleywalls $89.00
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Tips for Choosing the Right Builder For Your Home

When choosing a builder do your research beforehand, check their credentials, make sure you have a written contract and that they are reliable.

When choosing a builder for your home there are a number of things you should take into consideration. The same rules apply when building kit homes. You may choose to build your kit home yourself but you can have the entire project constructed for you by a professional builder. Many Kit homes in Victoria and in other places within Australia are being built with the help of fully qualified builders. It will cost you more to build your kit home if you hire a builder but if you are unsure of your abilities or don't have the time it can save you a lot of stress.

Do your research

Before you decide on a builder do a bit of research beforehand. You will be working closely with this person for a while and you are trusting them with your new home so you want to be happy that they are going to do a good job. Ask around friends and family as they may be able to recommend a good builder to you. If someone has had any building done by this particular builder ask if you can go and have a look at it. Find out whether they were easy to get along with, whether they were on time to work and if the cost of hiring them was reasonable.

Check their credentials

Before you hire the builder check their credentials. Make sure they are a fully qualified builder and that they are properly registered. Also make sure they are accredited with HIA (Housing Industry Association).

Contract

It is important to have a contract with your builder. This contract should include things like the start date and expected completion date of construction. It should have written in it exactly what their work includes and what their costs will be. Both parties should sign the contract and have a copy.

Price

Shop around to find the right builder that suits your price range, as well as finding someone whose work you like and who you can trust. Be upfront about what they charge as you don't want to get to the end of the job and find out that you can't afford to pay them. Be very clear about getting the costings at the beginning of the job and ask whether you need to be prepared for any unexpected costs, such as possible additions to the building or the builder finding that they need to use more materials than first anticipated.

Reliable

Make sure that your builder is reliable. You want your builder turning up when they say they will and turning up on time. If they wander in whenever they feel like it at any time of the day then the job is going to take a lot more time and cost you a lot more money. You also want someone who will contact you if they can't show because of illness or some other reason, just to let you know what is going on. You also want a builder that you can trust, so if you don't feel comfortable with them don't hire them.

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