connectnow can help you decipher the techie-jargon and reveal the pros and cons for each product so you can make an informed decision, quickly!

Which technology should I choose?
In the early days of the web, the option for most people was dial-up. Remember that horrible sound of the phone dialling followed by all that white noise? Thankfully we have progressed and we now have a range of much faster, more reliable options to choose from. Below is a quick overview of the various possibilities:

ADSL/ADSL2+

Cable

Naked ADSL/DSL

Wireless Mobile Internet

Satellite Internet

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what internet types are available. The location of your new home may restrict what types of internet you can access, however there will definitely be options for you to choose from. Our team of moving home specialists will be able to advise you of the likely internet services available in your new area and will also be able to answer any further questions you may have regarding the internet connection for your new home.

Urban hot spots

Are you looking for a lively urban hub? Then look no further than Fortitude Valley, which is the heart of Brisbane’s party scene and includes hoards of cafes, shops and bars. Another option is West End, which is the place-to-be for the cool, arty, left-leaning types – similar to a Fitzroy in Melbourne or a Newtown in Sydney. Paddington, known by many as one of Brisbane’s best suburbs, is also a great choice if you want something slightly more upmarket with scenic views.

Close to it all but minus the racket

Do you prefer things a little less rowdy? Then New Farm, with its fantastic farmers market, could be a better alternative. A little further out is Bulimba which is a pleasant suburb with lots of character, cafes, clothing stores, a cinema and a ferry stop.

High-rise haven

If you are more a fan of apartment living and want the convenience of being located right near the city then Auchenflower or South Bank could be your cup of tea!

Inner city on a budget

St Lucia could be a goer for those on a tighter budget but not wanting to move too far out. This university area is complemented by leafy streets which border the Brisbane River.

Shop till you drop

If you are a fan of shopping then Chermside could be just the fit. This neighbourhood is a shopping mecca which includes Brisbane’s largest shopping mall along with decent transport and a great range of cafes and restaurants to choose from.

Great places… if you’re loaded

Ascot and Hamilton are great suburbs if you are well-heeled. Within 10km’s east of the city centre, you’ll find large homes with great city views, private schools and decent transport. On the west side you’ll find Barden which is great if you want to live close to the city but still want a bit of peace and quiet. This area is close to beautiful bush walks and also the cafes and shops of Paddington.

In the family way

If you have a brood and are in need of an affordable, family-friendly area then Kedron or Mt Gravatt could be just what you’re looking for. Both suburbs are in quiet spots that are close to amenities and parklands.

A quick guide

While not definitive, the list below gives you a quick glance of some of the suburbs mentioned above.

The suburbs mentioned above are merely a snapshot of some of the great places to live in Brisbane. It would be great to hear what suburbs you think are a good option for a newly adopted Brisbanite.

What is solar power and how does it work?

Solar power is a form of renewable energy that uses light and heat produced by the sun. The most common form of harnessing and utilising solar energy is through photovoltaic (PV) panels that are connected to wires which create electrical currents. PV panels are the only form of solar power you will find used in homes.

The other form of solar power which is currently still in development utilises the sun’s thermal energy to heat other substances such as water which then generates steam that drives turbines.

How can I sell my electricity back to my energy company?

There are a variety of solar power packages that you can have installed at your home, from a single panel to a mini solar farm in your backyard, if you have one. Generating excess electricity that can be sold back to your energy company depends on several factors including the size of the solar package you have installed, the amount of panels you have and the amount of electricity you use.

If you have one or two panels you are likely to reduce your electricity bill but you will not have any excess electricity to sell back. How much electricity you use and when you use it also plays a part in whether you will have any excess electricity. Keep in mind solar energy is only available during the daylight hours. Though even if you are not home during the day you might still be generating electricity to power your fridge or any appliances on stand by, therefore swallowing up any excess electricity you might have had. Then when you are in your home at night, when you cannot harness solar power, you need to buy electricity to power your house.

To maximise your chances of generating excess electricity you can also look at some other factors including your appliances energy efficiency ratings, whether or not you have insulation, the kinds of windows you have and even the kind of material your house is made from.

Most solar packages will include a Grid Connected Solar Power Inverter. Even if you have one of these inverters installed you actually need to have a special kind of electricity meter installed by your energy company that allows you to feed electricity back into the energy grid. Having an inverter but not having a feed-in electricity meter would be like having a telephone handset but no phone lines from the street to the house.

How much will I receive if I do sell my electricity back?

If you are in a position to sell electricity back to your energy company the rates associated with this are referred to as the Solar Feed-In Tariffs.  The state governments in each state set the minimum price that energy companies pay customers for solar feed-in. The links below outline if there are tariffs and the details for each state or territory:

ACT – Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water

NSW – Department of Trade & Investment

NT – Power and Water Corporation

QLD – Office of Clean Energy

SA – Department of Water, Energy and Environment

TAS – Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources

VIC – Department of Primary Industries

WA – Office of Energy

There have recently been a number of changes to the buy back tariff government programs in each state or territory. It is also best to check with you energy company as to how much they would pay you.

The Clean Energy Council who are advocates for renewable energy in Australia have some great resources on solar power on their website including guides for finding accredited installers and relevant organisations in each state.

Research

A good start is to do some research online to get an idea of what is available in your price range and the area you wish to rent. Sites like www.realestate.com.au, www.domain.com.au and www.thehomepage.com.au are good places to start. Be flexible, you may find that going one suburb further out or across will get you more results or even a nicer house with cheaper rent.  When searching online, tick the “include surrounding suburbs” box. You could be pleasantly surprised.

Ring Around

Although the internet is a great place to start, do not rely solely on this. Ring agents in your area to see what they have available or pop in and see them in the office. You may find they have just got a new vacancy which they have not had a chance to advertise online yet. This means you could be able to get in early and avoid an open inspection where 10 or 20 other people could be applying at the same time.

Be Prepared

Pick up an application form before going to the property inspection. You can get these from the agent themselves or alternatively check their website as they may have one you can download. That way, if you like the property at the inspection, you can hand the agent your completed application form then and there.  It is wise to fill in an application form for each person that will be residing in the property. Also, ensure you have copies of your 100 points of ID for yourself and anyone else who will be on the application. Property managers will only shortlist applications that have been fully completed.

Stand Out

In many cases, there will be several applications that meet the criteria for a suitable tenant. Providing extra information can put you ahead of the pack and make you stand out. Provide a cover letter expressing your intention to care for the property as if it was your own. Being able to show that you pay your rent on time also puts you in an excellent position to secure the property. You can easily obtain your rental payment history from your current agent if you have one. If you are boarding, you can supply a written reference which can show that you are reliable in paying your board. A written reference from your current employer can also be useful, highlighting your reliability as an employee.

Money, money, money

Be prepared to pay the rent and bond quickly. Approval is often conditional on paying the bond and first month’s rent within a set timeframe. Depending on which state you are in, these amounts can differ. Check the application form, as this should advise what you will need to pay once you are accepted. Otherwise check with the agent so that you are not caught out should you be accepted.

Happy hunting and good luck

Don’t forget once you have successfully found your property connectnow can help you with your move. We can arrange a range of services including electricity, gas, internet, telephone, pay TV, removalists and more. Plus our service is free to use and with connectnow you can organise everything all in the one spot – saving you a heap of time!

Electricity

• First things first – track down your switchboard. Your switchboard will consist of a series of switches including a main switch. These are either inside the house or outside with meter depending on if you live in a house, unit or apartment.
• Make sure all the switches are on including the main switch. Not all switches necessarily work in the same direction.
• The safety switch can often be tripped when switching the main switch back on. Make sure the safety switch is on and then turn on all other switches.
• Always try more than one light switch as a bulb may have blown.
• Some meters have a second main switch so double check if this is the case and turn it on if it isn’t already.
• Check to see if there would have been clear access to the electricity meter. If not, the technician may not have been able to complete the job.
• If a technician has been to the property and wasn’t able to connect the service they usually leave a note in the letterbox or under the door.

Gas

• Do you have gas? Not all properties have gas. The easiest thing to check is the stove top. If you do have a gas stove top then turn it on and see if the burner ignites or if you can smell gas.
• Check to make sure that the valve at the gas meter is on. This is turned on when the valve is vertical with the pipe. The valve is usually a red or yellow handle or tap. After this, wait about 30 minutes to 1 hour and try one of the gas appliances.
• If your gas meter was off and you have gas appliances you will need to check the pilot lights on the appliances as they will have gone out with gas turned off.

Water

• It is very rare that water is disconnected but check the meter to ensure the main water tap is turned on. If you are in a house or unit then your water meter will usually be located outside the front of the property. In apartments these can often be in the one place for all the apartments and may even be on an external wall of the building.

Hot Water

• If you have electric hot water ensure that the hot water switch on the switchboard is turned on.
• If you have gas then you will need to ensure the pilot light is lit on the hot water unit. If you have a gas stove top or other gas appliances your hot water is usually gas.
• Once the hot water is on it may take a little while to heat all the water in the tank so allow an hour once the hot water has been turned on.

Heating

• If you have electric heating ensure that the heating switch on the switchboard is turned on.
• Ensure that the heater is plugged into the wall and turned on.
• If you have gas then you need to ensure the pilot light is lit on the heating unit. If you have a gas stove top or other gas appliances your heating is usually gas.

Telephone

• If you do not have a technician attending your property to connect your phone, then the phone line should usually be active by the end of the day, on the day of connection.
• Plug in a handset to the phone point and listen for a dial tone. If you have multiple points this can mean that you have multiple phone lines. Try them all as the dial tone may only be carried by one line.
• Some cordless handsets may not be able to pick up a dial tone, so plug in a corded phone if you don’t have any luck with a cordless phone.

 Internet

• For ADSL or ADSL2+ and wireless internet the delivery of the modem and/or self-install kit takes up to 10 business days from when your phone is connected.
• Check your letterbox to see if Australian Post has tried to deliver this to you. If there is a red card you will need to pick this up from the nominated post office.
• If you have arranged for a cable internet connection through connectnow you should have received a text message advising of your appointment.

If you require further assistance or guidance please call connectnow 1300 554 323

What is a bond exactly?

A rental bonds is like a security deposit that can be used if a tenant  leaves and they have either:

• damaged the property;
• failed to pay their rent; and/or
• failed to pay for services rendered.

How much should I be paying?

The laws governing  bonds fall under the Residential Tenancies Act for each state. Also in most states bonds are managed by a rental bond body. The bond amount depends, in most cases, on the rental amount and if the property is furnished.

What do I need to do to get my bond back?

1.Check your lease agreement

Your first point of reference should be your lease agreement. In many states, there may be a requirement in your lease agreement to have your carpets steam cleaned and also possibly pest control. In such instances you usually need to provide proof of the services performed before a final inspection can take place.

2. Hand all your keys in

Most real estate agents will not complete the final inspection until all keys are handed back in. Make sure you have all the keys together so you can return them all at the one time.

3. Make everything squeaky clean

When you’re doing the final check of your property it’s important that everything is spic and span. Here are a few places that should not be forgotten in the tidy up:

• Cupboards – check they are empty and clean.
• Oven – this is one of the most commonly missed places especially if you’re not a big fan of the culinary arts!
• Skirting boards – these need to be dusted and wiped down.
• Laundry and outdoor areas – don’t forget to give these areas some sprucing up.

4. Look over the original Condition Report

Remember to keep a copy of the Condition Report that was completed when you moved in because when you move out your agent will do a final inspection based on this report.

5. Check your paperwork

Keep a keen eye on the final paperwork, ensuring you’ve signed everything and you are not signing any blank forms. Also, in some states to guarantee that you get your bond back your agent may need to complete a claim form which will require your sign-off.

How much time do I have to sort this out?

Don’t leave getting your bond back until it’s too late. Be aware that in some states there is a limited amount of time from when your lease ends in which you can claim your bond back. For example, in NSW you have 14 days from the end of the lease to claim your bond.

Below you will find a quick overview of the bond rules in each state. You’ll also find information regarding maximum rent in advance amounts that a landlord can request from you and the minimum notice periods you and your landlord have to provide should either of you wish to leave the lease agreement earlier than agreed. Points of reference are also provided if you need any further information.

We want to share our extensive experience in the moving sector with you , from utility connections to relocation services.

We’re keen to share more of our insights with you and also provide you with more opportunities to tell us your thoughts and impart your own knowledge about moving.

On our blog you’ll find information and solutions to some of the common questions you have when moving home.

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Thanks

The Connectnow Team