PROPERTY MAINTENANCE & GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS →

You might be getting a property ready for sale or a new tenancy, or just working through a list of jobs that keep getting put off. Either way, the approach is the same as a kitchen renovation. Ivan Bodnar looks at what is already there, checks what each repair or finish will sit on, and explains the practical options. You get a written quotation after the on-site assessment.

SCOPE ON THIS NOTICE

IN GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS

IN PREPARING FOR SALE OR RENTAL

IN DECKING, PERGOLAS, FENCING

VIA LICENSED PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL

OUT 24/7 EMERGENCY CALL-OUTS

Reference photo: hand tools for general repair and improvement work.

NOTICE 13 — PART A

THREE REASONS THE LIST GETS WRITTEN

BEFORE A SALE

Worn surfaces, tired paint and small damage stand out at an inspection. Ivan helps you decide which repairs are worth doing and which items can stay as they are. If the kitchen is the weak point, see Updating a Kitchen Before Sale or Rental.

BETWEEN TENANCIES

The gap between tenants is often the only time a property is empty. Repairs to walls, finishes and fittings can be scoped together, so the work is planned around access rather than done piece by piece.

GENERAL UPKEEP

This is the ongoing list of small jobs around the home. Related work includes plastering, painting, flooring and tiling, and each is assessed before a finish is recommended.

NOTICE 13 — PART B

NOT A 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE

This is planned maintenance and improvement work, not an after-hours call-out service. If you have a burst pipe, a gas smell or an electrical fault, contact a licensed plumber, a licensed electrician or the relevant emergency service directly.

Once the urgent problem has been dealt with, the repairs that follow can be assessed in the usual way. Ivan takes calls from 9:00 to 18:00, Monday to Sunday.

Measuring and marking timber before cutting (illustrative image).

NOTICE 13 — PART C

OUTSIDE: DECKING, PERGOLAS, FENCING

Outdoor improvements can also go on the list. Ivan assesses the existing decking, pergolas, fencing or other outdoor structures, and the condition of what they’re fixed to, before recommending suitable materials.

Outdoor work can raise questions that internal repairs don’t. Boundaries, heights and attached structures may involve permits or other approvals, depending on the site. Those requirements vary, so they’re checked for each project rather than assumed either way. Structural engineering and asbestos removal are not offered. Where they’re needed, an appropriate practitioner is involved.

NOTICE 13 — PART D

BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT: A USEFUL LIST ↓

01 Write each job as a separate line, and note which room it’s in.

02 Mark anything with signs of moisture, cracking or movement. These need checking before any finish goes on.

03 Flag any job that involves taps, pipes, power points or lighting. These need licensed trades, which Ivan coordinates. He doesn’t carry out that work himself.

04 If the property is in a flat, note any owners corporation rules about access, noise or work hours.

05 Note any deadline, such as a settlement or a tenancy start date. That way the scope can be discussed realistically.

An inspection can’t reveal every concealed issue, so the scope can change once work begins. Ivan is an independent sole trader and does not claim builder registration or trade licences. Regulated plumbing and electrical work is done by appropriately authorised specialists. When your list is ready, request a quote through the contact page, or read how the written quotation works.