Haveyoureallythought aboutairconditioning? Abenefitofairconditionersisthattheycirculateandfilter air,removingpollutantsandmoldfromtheair.
Thisisespeciallyimportant forpeoplewhosufferfrom allergiesandasthmabecause itminimizestheirritantsthatcan triggeranattack.However,youdo needtomakesureyoursystemis keptclean,andfiltersareregularly changed.
Havingahomethatisset-upwith efficientclimatecontrolthroughout allseasonsoftheyearisessential foreveryone’swell-being,sodoyour homeworkfirst,asyouneedtofind whatisgoingtobestsuityourhome andlifestyle.
Thereisavastrangeofheating andcoolingappliancesavailableto suiteverytypeofhome,nomatter whatclimateyoulivein.
Alotofyourdecisionswillbe madearoundthesizeofyourhome andtheareathatyouwanttohave cooledorheated.
Thenthereistheenergyrating, splitsystems,multisystemsand colours,therearealotofthings tobeconsidered.Themarketfor airconditionersiseverevolving
andtheselectionisvast,agood placetostartistoorganiseahome assessment.Havingachatto someonewhocanputeverything intoeasy-to-understandlanguage willmakeitsomucheasierfor decisionstobemade.
Isairconditioninghealthy?
Whileeveryonehastheirown thoughtsonairconditioning, therearealwaystwosidesto thediscussion.
Ifyouliveinanareathat experiences45degreesdayafter day,anairconditionerbecomes anecessitymorethanaluxury, butremember,stayinginanairconditionedenvironment,dayafter daycandryoutyourskin,dryyour eyesanddehydrateyou.
Theonethingthatismost importantisthatyoumustalways haveyourunitcleanedandserviced regularlybyaprofessional.Unless systemsarecleanedregularly,air conditionerscanbeasourceof healthissues.
Choosingtheright professionalforthejob Whetheritispainting,building,wallpapering,plumbing, concreting,grouting,curtainmaking,orevensomeoneto sharpenyourgardeningtools,findingtherightprofessional forthejobwillsaveyoualotofheartacheandexpense.
Sohowdoyouchoosethe rightprofessionalforthejob? Youreallyneedtodoyour homework.
Peopleoftenrelyonword-ofmouth,butit’salsoimportant tomakesureyouconsiderthe tradespersonstraining,skills,and experience.Ifyouarenewtoan area,askfriendsandneighbours forrecommendationsandalso checkoutsomeoftheworkthey haveundertaken.CitizensAdvice Bureauisalsoagoodplacefor advice.
Ifthere’satradebodysuch asMasterPaintersorMaster
Joiners,lookattheirwebsitesfor members.Checkreferences,as wellasanyguaranteesonoffer,the terms,andifthereisanyadditional costinvolved.
Beveryclearaboutwhatyou wantandseektheadviceand guidanceofsomeonewhoyou feelconfidentwithandwho oftencansuggestalternatives. Beveryspecificaboutyour requirementsandminimisethe chanceformisunderstandings. Communicationisavital ingredientinfindingtheperson whoisgoingtobesuitableforthe jobyouarewantingdone.
ThinkingaboutRenovatingorBuildingin2025? Here’showtoAvoidExpensiveMistakesBeforeyouevenStart Whetheryou’redreamingofasleeknewhomeor breathinglifeintoyourcurrentspacewithawellplannedrenovation,2025isabigyearforhomeowners acrosstheGreaterWellingtonRegion.Butwhilethe rewardsofbuildingorrenovatingarehuge,sotooare therisks–andthoserisksaregrowing.
That’sbecausetoday’sresidentialconstruction landscapeismorecomplexthaneverbefore.With buildingcodechanges,strictercouncilcompliance requirements,increasingmaterialandlabourcosts, andsiteaccesschallengesfromourfamouslytricky terrain,it’seasyforcoststoblowoutortimelinesto fallapart.Andwhenthathappens,whatwasoncea dreamprojectcanquicklybecomeafinancialand emotionalnightmare.
Thegoodnews?Youcandramaticallyreduceyour riskbygettinginformedearly–beforeyoucommitto designs,contractors,oreventheland.
Tohelphomeownersdojustthat,localspecialists SmartwayBuildershaveproducedtwofree, independentguidesbasedondecadesofexperience buildingandrenovatinghomesacrossWellington,the HuttValley,andtheKāpitiCoast.Botharepractical, plain-EnglisheBooksdesignedtohelpyouavoidthe costlypitfallsthatfartoomanypeoplediscoveronly onceit’stoolate.
TheNewBuildGuide isacomprehensiveguidefor anyoneconsideringbuildingfromthegroundup.It coverseverythingfromchoosingtherightsection (hint:thecheapestlandisrarelythecheapestto buildon)tounderstandinghowdesignchoices, likecantilevereddecksoropen-spanlivingareas, canquietlyblowoutyourbudget.You’lllearnhow toprotectyourselfwithcontracts,whattoaskyour builderbeforeyoustart,andwhyafixed-pricebuild mightbethemostimportantdecisionyoumake.
Yourhomeshouldbeyourdream,not yourbiggestregret. Meanwhile, theRenovatingRightGuide isidealfor thoseupgradinganexistinghome.Renovationscarry uniquerisks–hiddenstructuralissues,unexpected compliancehurdles,poorplanning,ormisaligned expectationsbetweenbuilderandhomeowner.This guidehelpsyounavigatethecriticalearlystages,from decidingwhetheryourrenoisevenfeasible,throughto
costplanning,consenttraps,andhowtoavoid“scope creep”thatcatchesmanyrenovatorsoffguard.
Thesearen’tmarketingbrochures–they’reexpert guidespackedwithlessonsSmartwayBuildershave learnedfromreal-worldexperienceonWellington,Hutt andKapitibuildsites.They’redesignedtohelpyouask therightquestions,planwithconfidence,andsetyour projectupforsuccess.
Andbestofall,they’recompletelyfreetodownload. JustscantheQRcodebelowtograbtheguidethat matchesyourneeds–orgrabbothifyou’restill decidingwhichpathtotake.
Beforeyouliftahammer–liftyourknowledge SmartwayBuildersbelievethatwell-informed homeownersmakebetterdecisions,enjoysmoother projects,andultimatelygetbetterhomes.Theiraimis toseemoresuccessfulbuildsandrenovationsacross ourregion–andfewercostlyregrets.
So,whetheryou’rejuststartingtoexploreyour optionsorreadytotakethenextstep,don’tgoin blind.Armyourselfwithinsightsthatcouldsaveyou thousandsandspareyouthestress.Scanthecode, downloadyourguide,andmoveforwardwithclarity. Yourfuturehome–andyourfuturebudget–will thankyou
CONSTRUCTION Newhomes&renovations Oneofourbiggestinvestmentsinourlifetimeisourhome whetherbuildingorpurchasingahomealreadyonthemarket.
Overthelastfewyears purchasingorbuildingyour ownhomehasbecome harderandmorebuyersare lookingfordifferentoptionswhen itcomestochoosingwhereand howtheyaregoingtolive.
Havinganewhomebuiltto specificationisatremendous opportunitytobringyourvisionto realityandusinganarchitectcan addanotherdimensiontoyour
build,addingabespokeelement. Asexcitingasitis,itrequires plentyofplanningandpatience andareputablebuilder.Lookfor builderswhoaremembersofthe MasterBuildersAssociationso youcanenjoythebenefitsofthe MasterBuild10-yearGuarantee thatprovidesthosebuildinganew homeorundertakingasignificant renovation,withthebestpeaceof mindthatexistsinthemarket.
TheMasterBuild10-year Guaranteeprovidesthemost comprehensivecoverinthe market,includingcoverifyour buildergoesintoliquidation.The guaranteeprovidescoverforloss ofdeposit,non-completionandfor structuraldefects,workmanship, andmaterials.
Generally,butnotalways,you willbuythesectionandthen selectabuildertoworkwith.Take thetimetoexploreseveralbuilders asthisisahugeinvestmentand needstoberight.Thedesign processisn’teasy,soyouwillneed
expertswhocanhelpyounavigate theprocess.Inthisrespectit’s importantthatyouhaveopen communicationandestablisha goodrapportwithyourbuilder.
Thedesignprocesscan,and shouldbe,timeconsumingas it’sahugeundertakingYoucan expecttoseeyourhousedesign presentedin3Dconceptwhich makesitsomucheasierthan tryingtounderstandbuilder’s plans.
Youshouldalsoexpectyour buildertodealwithall“redtape” suchasconsentsandpermitsand whotakecareofthetotalbuilding process.Theywillusetrusted subbiesandtradespeopleand naturallywillsethighstandards.
Checkoutideasontheinternet, discussdesignoptionswithan architect,visithomeshowswhere youcancatchupwithnewdesign ideasonthemarketandalsovisit anynewshowhomesinyourarea whereyouwillgetachancetoview thequalityofthebuild.
Donotmess withelectricity Whenitcomestoelectricity,someofussquirmevenwhen havingtroubletryingtoputaplugintoasocket.
Lettingaqualifiedelectrician dealwithanythingelectrical inyourhomeisasafeand responsibleoption.Thelastthing youdon’twantistohavetodeal withanelectricalfirestartedby yourself.
Whiletheremaybesome electricalworkyoucandoin yourownhome,itiscrucialyou areappropriatelyskilledand understandexactlywhatthe workyouareconductingwill involve.WhileWorkSafedoesnot
recommendthatyoudoanyof yourownelectricalworkunless youhavethenecessaryskillsand knowledge,however,asamember ofthepublic,thelawallowsyou toconductsomeofyourown electricalwork.
Beforeyoudoanywork,make surethatyouhavethenecessary knowledgeandskills,thepower isturnedoffandyouarenot workingwhereconductors orterminalsareliveorcould becomelive.Rememberwhat
couldstartasaDIYcouldeasily turnouttobeacostlyexercise. Tobeabletodoelectricalwork yourself,youmustownandlivein thepropertytodothefollowing workonlowvoltageelectrical installationswhenthereisno paymentorreward: •Removeandreplaceany ofthefollowingkindsof fittings,wheretheworkdoes notinvolveworkonany switchboard: •switches,socketoutlets, permanentconnectionunits, lightfittings,battenholders, cordgriplampholders, ceilingroses,flexiblecords connectedtoanypermanent connectionunit,ceilingrose, orcordgriplampholder, waterheaterswitches, thermostats,elements.
•removeandreplacefuse links.
•connectanddisconnect fixedwiredappliances.
•relocateexistingswitches, socketoutlets,andlighting outletsthataresupplied withelectricitybytough plastic-sheathedcables.
•Install,extend,andaltersubcircuits(includingsub-mains), providedthatyou:
•mustnotenter(whether personally,byholdingany materialorequipment,or otherwise)anyenclosure whereliveactiveconductors arelikelytobepresent.
•cannotconnectyourwork totheelectricitysupply yourself.
•mustgetthefinishedwork testedandconnectedbya licensedelectricalinspector whowillverifythesafetyof thecompletedworkbefore connectingit.Itisadvisable tohaveconsultedthe inspectorpriortostarting anyinstallation,extension,or alterations.
Makesurethatallopenings toyourhome,suchascovers, dampers,andvents,arefunctional andclean.Theyshouldbesecurely attachedwithscreenswhere needed.Youshouldalsomakesure thattheydonothaveanybuildup, suchaslintonadryervent.
Check
Makesureyoucheckforany leakingoutsidetaps,brokengate latchesandgiveyourboundary fenceagoodcheckover.Whileyou areatitandinyourworkclothes, youmaywanttogiveyourBBQa goodscrubsothatisreadytogo
whenneeded.
Tidythetrees
Removeanyloworbroken branchesfromyourtreesand givethemagoodmulchtohelp retainmoistureoverthesummer months.Ifyouhavetreesneeding professionaltrimming,aqualified treesurgeoncanadviseonoptions available.
Don’tforgetthegarage
WiththeBBQoutofthegarage, deckchairsonthedeck,itmight beagoodchancetotacklethe oldthornintheside...cleaningthe garage!
INTERIORS considerablyoverthelastcouple ofyears.Woolenpillowandduvets arebecomingamorepopular choicewhenitcomestobedding.
Lighting,floor,andtablelamps arebeingusedmoreinthehome withsomeveryquirkytablelamps nowavailablesuchaslampswith rabbitearsorevendogswitha lightbulbinitsmouth,itisallout theretobefound.
Floorcushionsandrugsare seeingarevivaltooandwhata differencearugcanmaketoa hardfloor.
Bedroomsarereceivingmuch moreattentionthesedaysand there’splentytoenhancethe décorbeitmasculine,feminine orforthechildren.Bedding, duvetsandduvetcovers,pillows, andcushionscantransform afunctionalroomintoa comfortablehaven.
Havingfavouritepiecesof furniture,suchasacouchor aspecialchair,re-upholstered ratherthanthrowingoutis anotheroption.
Italwayspaystocheckyour plumber,gasfitterordrainlayer islicensedtodothework Beforeyoubeginrenovatingordoingworkonyourhomeor business,there’salottodecidebeforeyougetstarted.
Allworkconductedatyour propertymustmeetthe requirementsoftheBuilding Code,regardlessofwhetherit requiresacodeofcompliance certificateornot.Youalmostmight needtonotifyyourinsurance companyofrenovationstokeep withinyourpolicy.
Foranyplumbing,gasfittingor drainlayingwork,makesurethe personundertakingtheworkis licensedtodoso.
ThePlumbers,Gasfittersand Drainlayer’sBoardrecommends beforeusingtheservicesofa licensedtradesperson:
1.Shoparoundandobtainarange ofwrittenquotesbeforeyou decide.
2.Asktoseeatradesperson’sNew ZealandPractisingLicenceand checktheexpirydatetosee thatitiscurrent.
3.Aplumber,gasfitterordrainlayer canproducetheirlicenceviaan appontheirphoneoraphysical licence.
4.Whencheckingatradesperson’s licence,alsoensurethatthey arelicensedtoconductthat particularwork.Forexample,if theyareconductingplumbing work,itisgoodtocheckthat
Propertyservices Areyoumovinghome, notwellenoughttotackle cleaningorhavesimplyhave abusylifestylewithlimited sparetime?
Thencheckouttheproperty servicebusinessesinyour area,theywilltakeawayall thestressofkeepingyourhome asshinyasanewpinleavingtime foryoutoenjoythethingsthatare importanttoyou.
Cleaningtheexteriorofyour homeisthejobwealldonotlike doing!Butifyouwanttoprolong thelifeofyourhome,paintwork, roofetc,thenyouneedtomake surethisisdoneannually.
Whenyoucleananinteriorroom, theruleistostartwiththetopand workyourwaydown.Thesamerule applieswhenworkingoutside.By startingwiththetopofyourhouse, anydebristhatfallsbelowcanbe cleanedupinthelaterstages.
Theroof
Algae,mould,andfungushave ahabitofbuildinguponand underneathyourroof. Overtime,theseunwanted visitorscanbreakdownthe strengthofyourtilesandiron. Ifyoukeepupwiththisregular maintenance,itdoesnotbecome suchadauntingjob.
Theguttering
Aprofessionalwillsafelyclean yourgutteringforyou.Thisis certainlynotajobfortheelderlyor ifunstableonyourlegs.Itcanbe quiteaphysicaljobclearingoutall thatdebris.
Exteriorcladding Professionalshaveallthe equipmentneededtogivethe
exteriorofyourhomeathoroughclean addingyearstothepaintworkofyourhome.
Windows
Noonelikestocleanwindowsandifyoulive downadustyroad,yousometimeswonder whetheritisevenworthit.
Makehavingyourwindowscleana birthdayorMother’sDaygifttoyourself.It willbethebestpresentyoucanget!
Lawnsandgardens Keepingyourlawnsandgardenswell maintainedcertainlyaddsvaluetoyour homeandhavingaregularlawnmowing persontakesawaythehassleofhavinga mower,storingpetrol,andhavingtohaveit serviced.
Donotforgettheoutsidelivingareas Whileyouarehavingtheexteriorofyour housecleaned,rememberyouroutside furniture,paths,driveway,anddecking.
Andfinallyaddthebarbecue...themost useditemoutsideandoftenthemost neglected!
Cominghometoafreshlycleanedinterior andexteriorwillfeellikeyouhavejustbeen onholiday.
Weofferprofessionalcarpetandhousecleaningservices acrosstheKapitiCoast,includingregularcleaningfor homes,retirementvillages,andcommercialproperties.Our deepcleanstargethiddenareaslikebehindappliancesand underfurniture,ensuringafresh,hygienicspaceeverytime.
support@eco-smartcleaning.co.nz 021480-489www.eco-smartcleaning.co.nz 24Google5-starratings*****(seegooglereviewsonwebsite)
Roofing,fencing andthegarden shed Aroofprotectsyourhomeagainsttheweatherbeitrain,sun, orsnowandisavitalpartofthestructureofyourhouse,and onethatcansometimesbetakenforgranteduntilthere’sa problemlikealeakandthenitbecomesanemergency.
Likemostfeaturesofahome, theyalsoneedlookingafter andregularmaintenance,as wellasbeingkeptrodentproof. Birdsandratscanbethebiggest problemsiftheydecideyourroof isagreatplacetobuildtheirnest. Ratscaneatwiring,andbirdscan useductingasacosyplaceto raiseafamily!
Aroofshouldlookgoodand alsobefunctionalbutchecking overaroofisnotthesortofjob foramateurs.It’sdangerousand requiresprofessionalstodeal withissueswhethermaintenance, re-roofing,repairing,orpainting. Roofingcontractorswillalsodeal withcleaning,mendingbroken gutters,replacingeaves,gutters,
apoolfenceorsomethingsimpler likeadecorativefenceorpanel. Trelliswithstandsthetestoftime buttherearevariousoptions nowavailableworthconsidering. Anotherpopularfeaturefor gardensisdecorativescreens intimberorrustedsteelwith silhouettesofnaturalfeatureslike
birdsandplants. Whenitcomestogardenor hobbysheds,there’salsoagood supplyfromsimpleshedstostore afewgardenimplements,tolarger structures.They’reavailablein plentyofdesignsandmaterials suchasgalvanisedironand timber.
Havingsupportservicesfor yourcomputerishandyfor severalimportantreasons Wearenotalltechsavvy andthereisnothingis worsethanhavingabig assignmenttofinishontimeand youenduphavingacomputer glitch.Whenyouneeditrepaired andfast,itiscomfortingtoknow thatthereissupportservice available.
Whensomethinggoeswrong likeasoftwarecrash,virus infection,orhardwareglitch, supportservicescanhelpfixit quickly,minimizingdowntime.
Supportteamsaretrained professionalswhocanguideyou throughcomplextechnicalissues thatmightbedifficulttosolveon yourown.
Ifyourfilesareatriskfrom
malwareoraccidentaldeletion, supportservicescanhelpwith datarecoveryandbackup solutions.
Insteadofspendinghours troubleshootingaproblem,getting stressedandnotbeingableto solvetheproblem,youcanget helprightaway,savingyoutime andfrustration.
Supportservicesoftenhelp keepyoursystemupdated andsecure,whichimproves performanceandpreventsfuture issues.
Theycanhelptailoryoursystem toyourneeds,assomeofusonly needthebasicprogrammeswhile needsofothersmaybemore complex.
PowerAssociation WHOWEARE KāpitiCoastGreyPowerAssociationIncorporated isaffiliatedtoNewZealand’sGreyPowerFederation. Ourroleistoadvance,support,andprotectthewelfareandwellbeingof olderpeopleintheKāpitiCoastregion. Weareactivelobbyistsandadvocatesforissueswesupportthataffectthe interestsofourmembersandourregion. Weprovidearangeofservicesanddiscountarrangementsofbenefittoour members.Joinustoday!
GETINVOLVED KāpitiCoastGreyPowerisledandsupportedbyateamofenthusiastic, dedicatedvolunteerswitharangeofskillsandexperiences. Ifyouarekeentobepartofourteam,we’dlovetowelcomeyouaboard. TOGETHERWEARESTRONG!
Doyouenjoyorganisingevents?Managinganoffice?Delivering newslettersandothermaterialaroundKapitiCoast?Likedoingoddjobs? Pleasecallusandletusknowyoucanhelp!
orlearnmoreaboutus here:
kapitigreypower@outlook.com|www.kapitigreypower.co.nz
tlook.com|www.kapitigreypower.co.nz s ledandsupported by a team of enthusiastic, arangeofskillsand experiences. ofourteam, we’d lovetowelcome you aboard RONG! vents? Managinganoffice?Delivering terialaroundKapitiCoast?Likedoingodd jobs? nowyou canhelp!
Ourteamcreateshigh-qualityroofs toensuremaximumperformance andstrengthfortheWellington, KapitiandHorowhenuaregions’ harshweatherconditionsand durabilityrequirements. Ifyouintendtoreroofrealestate, wewilldiscussyourrequirements andprovideasolutiontailoredto yourneeds.
