Are your home and finances due for an autumn audit?

The arrival of autumn is the perfect time to undertake an audit of your property and finances to ensure your biggest investment is safe and that you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

As the cooler days encroach, it’s well worth taking the time to ensure maintenance is up to date, appliances are safe and the proper protections are in place.

This advice goes to all property owners, but is particularly applicable for the owners of holiday homes and apartments who can make use of the window of opportunity outside the busier holiday periods.

A good place to start is with smoke alarms and air conditioners – two items which need special attention as the mercury starts to drop.

Henzells has made it mandatory for holiday accommodation owners to undertake annual servicing on air conditioning units to ensure they are operating safely.

Air conditioners need attention in autumn because of the potential build-up of dust, mould and bacteria due to their heavy use over summer.

These unhealthy particles can be quickly spread around the home once the reverse cycle is activated, so it is vital that the systems are serviced and cleaned.

As for smoke alarms, by now owner occupiers and landlords should be well aware of the new safety standards which need to be met under Queensland law.

Experts tell us that the proper installation and monitoring of smoke alarms triples the chances of survival in the event of a fire, so it is imperative that no shortcuts are taken with these devices.

The colder months can produce a higher-than-normal risk due to the use of indoor heating, making it essential that homes have an adequate number of suitable smoke alarms installed and that they are tested properly.

Another area where people want to keep risk to a minimum is with their finances. There has been a lot of talk lately about rising interest rates.

Many couples and families are understandably taking notice, and exploring their options. There are a number of measures that can be taken to manage mortgage debt such as making fortnightly repayments instead of monthly, using an offset account, committing to extra repayments if possible, paying principal and interest and talking to your bank about renegotiating your rate. 

If you are unhappy with what any of the big four banks are offering, then consulting a mortgage broker to explore your options might be a good move, in which case Henzells can certainly guide you in the right direction.

We’re always open for a friendly chat and to offer you the advice you need to make informed decisions.