Aussie Painting Contractor April 2015

Bullying at Work – Defined!

Nastiness On the internet

Colour Awards Highlight designer artistry

Mosaic Medley Solar goes to Sea Selling your home?

Top tips for great presentation

www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

From the Editor Hey everyone, School holidays are upon us again. I hope everyone is getting a break with the family and friends. It’s already been an eventful year and we’re definitely looking forward to taking a breather.

There is so much happening in the industry at the moment, with the review of Victorian Licensing, the changes to those in NSW, and those taking on the good fight to keep the industry safe, and maintain the highest level of professionalism. Have you any thoughts on the subject? Let us know. We are seeing some fairly disastrous outcomes already that could have been prevented by the proper training, like fatal falls from heights, and ignorance of the dangers of lead paint.

These are issues affecting us all. Decisions made now will have an impact for decades ahead.

This month, Justin features with some observations of on the job training and a new column Tricks of the Trade. These columns hope to provide the professionals of our industry with hints and practices they may not have thought of, offered from the experts in our field.

Keep an eye on this bit of the mag, as the ideas might save you loads of time and money, and who couldn’t use more of both of those!?

Have you ever come across bad behaviour in business? On the net?

In your workplace? Inside, you’ll find some great info on bullying at work – Fair Trade Australia has provided solid definitions of actions that can land a worker in hot water. You might be surprised at the range of behaviours that are covered by the bullying banner.

If you witness any of these at work, make sure you tackle it head on.

Similarly, we have an article on Nastiness on the Net, and why the medium seems to consistently bring out the Trolls. If you’re on the web long enough, you’ll invariably come across this other bad human trait. Be aware of it, and how to discourage and prevent it.

We’d like to make a quick mention of our sponsors and advertisers this month too. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, so Thank you!

EDITOR Nigel Gorman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Caroline Miall CONTRIBUTORS • Anne-Maree Russell • Caroline Miall • Jennie Gorman • Jim Baker • Justin Barlow • Leo Babauta • Monroe Porter • Nigel Gorman • Robert Bauman • Scott Robertson • Simon Clayer

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nigel Gorman

nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

07 3555 8010

J. Anne Delgado

Contents Page 06

Workplace Bullying Behaviour

Page 09

First Floating Solar Plant to be Powering by April

Page 10

Nastiness on the Net

Page 12

Eating Better Onsite

Page 16

Getting Started with the Discipline Habit

Page 20

Trace My Business

Page 22

How to Stay One Step Ahead of the Pack

Page 27

A Medley of Mosaics

Page 30

Tricks of the Trade

Page 33

Making the Most of “FREE” Insurance

Page 34

20 Simple Strategies for Getting Healthy

Page 38

Colour Awards Showcase Artistry of Designs

Page 41

Where are you in your life now?

Page 42

A Day with Justin

Page 44

Long Term Employment Approach

Page 46

My Top 8 Tips for Presenting Your Home For Sale

Page 50

Industry Idiots

Page 51

Important Contacts

Opinions and viewpoints expressed in the Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher or any Aussie Painters Network’s staff or related parties. The publisher, Aussie Painters Network and Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine personnel are not liable for any mistake, misprint or omission. Information contained in the Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine is intended to inform and illustrate and should not be taken as financial, legal or accounting advice. You should seek professional advice before making business related decisions. We are not liable for any losses you may incur directly or indirectly as a result of reading Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine. Reproduction of any material or contents of the magazine without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Just-In Hi Good people, Happy Easter to all of our readers. It’s that time of year when everyone tries to take advantage of the four day break to recharge the batteries after getting all the kids back to school and extra curricular activities. We hope you’ll get a rest in to prepare for the rest of this busy year.

In these early months of 2015, online and onsite training has been quickly adopted by industry. Nationally there are now over 100 apprentices and employers that have taken the opportunity to use this flexible training model.

An unexpected outcome of my regular onsite training visits, is how many former students I am crossing paths with. After being involved in training hundreds of painters over the years, it’s great to see some of my students now as successful tradespeople, supervisors and business owners. Josh Braam was one these students, and now owns the company Brushmates.

An onsite training visit to apprentices employed by Brushmates has proven to be of great benefit for the painting company. After training for CPCCCM1013A Plan and Organise Work, Josh went and purchased nail bags, dust brushes, putty knives, and other basic hand tools to value of $500 for all his apprentices, so they could be more productive in their daily work. After putting the tool sets into action, Josh noticed an immediate difference in his team’s efficiency. He believes that the small investment was back in his pocket within a couple of short weeks, through better job planning and minimising apprentices’ down time.

We can assist with individual training needs or can provide a Training Needs Analysis for whole businesses and their employees. Please call me if you have any questions about training I can help with.

Finally, my thoughts will be with all men and women who have served or are currently serving for the armed forces of Australia on what will be a very solemn Anzac day marking the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.

Until next month, happy painting

Justin Barlow

07 3555 8010 / 0433 724 794 justin@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

The list included the following: o intimidation; o coercion; o threats; o humiliation; o shouting; o sarcasm; o victimisation; o terrorising; o singling-out; o malicious pranks; o physical and/or verbal abuse;

New list to describe

Workplace Bullying Behaviour

o emotional abuse; o belittling; o bad faith; o harassment; o conspiracy to harm; o ganging-up; o isolation; o freezing-out; o ostracism;

Although workplace bullying has received a lot of coverage in the media over the past year, do we really know what type of behaviour is considered to be bullying?

This includes behaviour (whether in- o innuendo; tentional or unintentional) that may be considered as victimising, humili- o rumour-mongering; ating, intimidating or threatening. o disrespect;

What is workplace bullying?

Definition updated To provide a more comprehensive understanding of what behaviour constitutes workplace bullying, VP Hatcher in the matter of Amie Mac v Bank of Queensland Limited and Ors [2015] FWC 774, provided a list of the features which one might expect to find in behaviour that constitutes bullying at work.

o mobbing; It can also include abusive, insulting Thanks to a recent decision by Vice or offensive language or comments, o mocking; President Hatcher at the Fair Work excluding someone withholding in- o victim-blaming and; Commission we now have a compre- formation needed for effective work hensive list of features that consti- performance, or setting unreason- o discrimination tute bullying at work. able tasks or deadlines.

Previously, workplace bulling has been defined as the repeated and unreasonable behaviour that creates a risk to health and safety and is directed towards a worker or a group of workers.

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Further information If you need advice on workplace bullying, contact Simon Clayer on (07) 3221 0013 or email him at sclayer@dundaslawyers.com.au for an obligation free and confidential discussion.

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4 /1311 Ipswich Rd, Rocklea, Queensland, Australia 4106 1800 355 344 info@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

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First Floating Solar Plant TO BE POWERING BY APRIL

• Australia will get their very first floating solar panel plant.

• Construction is due to begin soon and the plant should be operational by April Australia is due to get their first floating solar power plant and it’s expected to be working by early April, with construction ready to start.

The power plant will be floating on a wastewater treatment facility that is located in Jamestown in mid-north.

Felicia Whiting from Infratech Industries stated that the plant is designed so the majority of the construction can be done offsite and then put together at the facility.

“We should see some plant on the site within about two weeks,” MS Whiting said.

Ms. Whiting also said that while the solar panels were floating they will be kept cool by the water, and this makes them around 57% more efficient than land solar panels.

“It prevents water evaporation up to 90 per cent of the surface area covered, and for dry states and dry climates that’s a big water saving measure,” MS Whiting said.

“It prevents the outbreak of blue-green algae by keeping the surface water cool, which is for treated wastewater an issue in water quality.

“By preventing photosynthesis, the energy from the sun goes into the panel rather than into the water.”

The treatment facility located in Jamestown will be a more enhanced version of the similar solar panel projects that have been constructed by Infratech overseas. The treatment facilities in South Korea and France were not at the same level that the new one in Jamestown will be.

“Quite sustainably, with no additional use of land, we can use the water surface to power the water treatment facility,” Ms. Whiting said.

ABIS

Phone: 1300 887 959

www.aubis.com.au http://aubis.com.au/news/building-construction/first-floatingsolar-plant-powering-april/

2015 April Issue | 9

Nastiness on the Net Why are people so unkind? … Said the iconic Kamahl more than once in the seventies. I was wondering this, recently, after reading a few facebook groups and web forums where people were just relentlessly laying into each other for no good reason.

Sometimes the difference of opinion would be about the actual topic of the forum, but often about completely irrelevant things, triggered by random actions that weren’t even designed to provoke, but then everyone throws in their two cents on top. Posts can so quickly degenerate into a nasty exchange requiring mediators to intervene.

offline whose buttons are pushed instantly morphing them from normal web user, into an accidental internet troll or one’s victim. So, I’m left wondering why people are so antagonised and antagonistic in this environment. Why is it that the internet elicits this sort of conduct from people?

It would seem that the anonymity and remoteness of digital communications proves irresistible for some, enabling a variety of antisocial and some criminal behaviours, often unique to the web. A Blogger I know was cyberstalked and hounded on email, and bagged across other web communities by one of her followers.

She really made her life hell.

are also many who are not as resilient as some, with the robust sort of exchanges found online. They tend to vehemently and emotionally respond, which just incites further anguish. The immediateness of digital communications, and the fact that once it’s out there, it’s there for good, makes for a potentially explosive environment… a tinderbox of wills, opinions and emotion.

And of course there are the trolls.

Those who surf the net just looking for opportunities to wreak havoc and wretchedness upon others. Just bullies with Wi-Fi really. We’ve seen their behaviours lead to suicides.

Cyberbullying has become endemic.

It would appear frequently that Don’t feed the trolls. Block unconsome people are just out to stir ditionally. And Parents, please be others up with their ‘flaming’ and spread their mischievous misery. It honestly feels like some of the aware of what your children and But then there are those who would people who rapid fire inflammatory teens are doing online. It’s a harsh ordinarily never engage in such ag- remarks are tired, frustrated indi- world in there. gressive and confronting behaviour viduals who just need a hug! There

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On the web, people seem to be unable to ignore something they find a bit disagreeable. Common decency often doesn’t apply. Sometimes there is no ‘live and let live’, no respect for an individual’s right to express opinions and things seem to regress pretty fast. Ignorant, aggressive behaviour puts me off engaging and sharing, which is genuinely sad. When I see things like this on the web, written by a social justice blogger in the US I remember why I don’t make it too personal or controversial out there in cyberspace.

Apparently I missed some consensus-building meeting The Internet had about me, so I just want to clear this all up once and for all: My writing articles on the internet is not my giving you consent to send me death threats. My writing articles on the internet is not my inviting you to send me horrifying messages and images, describe to me the ways you’d like to see me kill myself, the hells you’re excited for me to walk.

And it goes on.

We accept this as an immutable part of the culture of internet, something we were (or should have been) aware of when we created our first WordPress username and password. When we hit record on webcam. When we put our name after an @ symbol on Twitter.

(Sam Killerman. www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com)

What a shame it has come to this. What a very different world it would be without the World Wide Web, but the sad fact it comes with such vitriol and the worst of human traits, is really a great disgrace. I suppose while the world is the way it is, this sort of behaviour and tone will creep into any part of our society, so it shouldn’t really surprise.

by : Caroline Miall caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

Online, just as offline in the real world, respect your fellow web user, it’s as simple as it always has been with the whole ‘do unto others’ spiel. If you find yourself in the midst of a whirlwind of abuse online, remember not to fuel it. It isn’t a conversation that needs debating down to the last word. This isn’t a relationship, between us and our unwelcome trespassers. It’s an assault.

2015 April Issue | 11

Eating Better Onsite It’s not surprising that a lot of tradies find it difficult for to eat well on the job. Getting up at the crack of dawn, having no facilities to store or prepare food, and no healthy options nearby means the local pie van, a maccas run, or a stop at the nearest bakery start to looks unbearably tempting. The health in countries like ours is seriously deteriorating due to our poor food choices and great excesses. It’s time to make the small regular changes that will have the biggest impact. With a little forethought, it can be simple enough to have healthy filling options available on the go, when and where you need them.

If better health won’t get you on board, how often do you add up what you spend on food on a daily basis? If you’re a serial snack bar luncher, do you ever think about how you could spend the money instead? Changing your lunch habits at work could save you a small fortune.

Tradies are generally exerting a lot of energy, in comparison to your average office worker or dozens of other occupations. You are doing physically demanding, hungry work, in a hot country. You need protein and sustaining carbohydrates, and a lot of water. Not processed flour, oil and salt. The days are all but gone when one had a wifey who got up at the crack of dawn to prepare an esky full of healthy food to get you through long days. So, another approach is required.

Planning what you can easily take with you to work, that you genuinely like to eat is the key. And changing it up every so often. Do you like a particular healthy snack? Keep a stock in your vehicle. Consider easy to keep foods like - Nuts. Purchase a bulk bag of your favourite and keep it on hand. Don’t scoff them fast, as nuts are high in calories (though incredibly good for you). Keep it to a handful per snack.

Shakes. A good effective diet option if you’re trying to shed some weight, some of the commercially made diet shakes make a filling and really convenient meal replacement. Or easily make yourself a smoothie by adding yoghurt/fruit, almond meal and honey to milk.

If you’re really keen grab a $15 smoothie maker from the shop and keep it onsite.

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Love popcorn? Keep an air popper in the office or onsite. It’s a great sustaining snack. Try seasoning with different spices and toppings. Make a big bag at home if you don’t want to pop onsite.

Yoghurt. Freeze your favourite yoghurt in small pots, and they’ll be perfect by lunch time.

Dried fruit. Easier to transport than fresh, and dense in energy to help get through the day.

So get it together to eat clean and make the foods you like easily available. To better your chances of succeeding, prepare things the night before and get yourself organised with containers that will make it easy. If you want to take heated left overs, a good thermos isn’t costly and will keep your food hot from the microwave until lunch. A good cooler lunch box with a couple of ice bricks will keep sandwiches or salads and fruits fresh.

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2015 April Issue | 13

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Eating Better Onsite On those days you find yourself at the local take away, be sure to give these a miss: • Deep-fried and battered foods like crumbed sausages, schnitzel, chips, fried chicken or fish, or dim-sim.

• Pastry products such as pies, pasties, sausage rolls and quiche • Large muffins and cookies

Instead, try these options:

• Sandwiches (or rolls with lean cold meat, cheese or egg and salad) try avoiding white bread • Salad dishes with meat, chicken or fish that haven’t been drowned in dressing • Chicken or meat skewers (try for a side of vegetables or salad if available • Sushi (without the crumbed or battered fillings) • Soup and bread/roll • Pasta, rice or noodle dishes with a tomato base sauce or stir-fry meat and vegetables • Reduced fat flavoured milk and a piece of fruit or tub of fruit in juice

In 2010, PriceWaterhouseCoopers undertook an analysis of Australian workforce using results from the 2007/2008 National Health Survey and combined this with industry data sourced from occupational health and safety bodies across Australia. This analysis revealed some alarming health issues evident in the construction industry.

Of those surveyed, 64% of construction workers were considered to be overweight or obese compared to the national average of 59%. In addition, 40% of those in the same industry consumed risky amounts of alcohol which is significantly higher than the national average of24%. Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake and lack of physical activity were also tagged as concerns. http://www.healthyworkers.gov.au/internet/hwi/publishing.nsf/ Content/industry-construction

2015 April Issue | 15

Getting Started with the

DISCIPLINE HABIT What do you do if your life is a mess, you have no discipline or routines, can’t stick to anything, procrastinate, and feel out of control?

How do you get started with the discipline habit when you have so much to change?

You start by washing your dishes.

It’s just one small step: when you eat your cereal, wash your bowl and spoon. When you finish drinking coffee or tea, wash your cup. Don’t leave dishes in the sink or counter or table.

Mindfully wash your dish, right away.

Form this habit one dish at a time, one day at a time. Once you do this for a few weeks, you can start making sure the sink is clean. Then the counter. Then put your clothes away when you take them off. Then start doing a few pushups. Eat a few vegetables.

One of these at a time, you’ll start to build discipline habit and trust yourself to stick to something.

But for now, just wash your dishes. Mindfully, with a smile.

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by Leo Babauta, a successful ‘simplicity’ blogger & author from California, is the creator of top 25 Blog, Zen Habits, chronicling his insights from acting significant changes in his personal and working life.

Contact Us Phone: 1300 494 188 Email: info@aussieappstore.com.au

www.aussieappstore.com.au

Find out how it can BENEFIT your business!

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2015 April Issue | 19

Trace My Business Who needs Marketing?

We all know marketing is a necessary evil, but the trick is to understand how your marketing dollars are performing in terms of returning value for money (or effort). Different businesses make different decisions about what marketing activities to engage in, and the investment that will be made in each of these activities. The most important part for any business though, is to measure and monitor the results of these marketing activities.

Trace My Business will keep a record of ALL your clients.

It collects the basic information like their contact details, job description and client notes but the beauty of this program is that it also tracks • Where the referral came from • The quote success and failure rates • Suburb comparisons • The different advertising campaigns (what works and what doesn’t) • First projects vs repeat business • New vs existing revenue and projects • Yearly and overall client revenue • Growth analysis • Projects, who referred them, and the referrals they subsequently provided Know which marketing method is working for you; not just the response rate but, more importantly, the quote success rate. For example: Have client referrals been better for your business than other forms of networking? Has paid advertising been worth more than unpaid? Have electronic forms (eg. Google, Yahoo, Bing) been more productive than more traditional methods (eg. Yellow Pages)?

Your past clients are also your future clients. This program allows you to filter a certain year/s so you can contact them to let them know you are still operating

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and if they require any more work. This is excellent PR work as a client may forget you after time and best of all, it does not cost anything in advertising.

Trace My Business used for the future sale of your business When a business is up for sale, it is mainly stock and plant that is being purchased. Having a recorded client base adds tremendous value to the business especially if you have been operating for many years. With Trace My Business, a new purchaser can contact all existing clients (I have 1500 in my database) and introduce themselves as the new owner and also be able to view the graphs of the referral and repeat work that has been performed. Depending on how successful your business has been, this may show the new purchaser that only a limited amount of advertising may be required because of the (guaranteed) expected future work. If I was to sell my business now, I can show a purchaser, through the ‘New vs Existing Revenue’ graph that from the years 2009 and 2014 that my repeat (accepted) business has averaged at more than $200,000.

With this information and all the client entries recorded in Trace My Business, you can now sell your business for much, much more than just the price of your vehicle and equipment.

Trace My Business comes with a very easy to understand, 74 page ‘User Manual’ but I am available for any questions or advice by email at info@mytools4business.com This is a brand new online product and like my other programmes, it is accessible on any computer or smart phone just by using your email address and password.

I am offering this to you on a 90 day ‘Trial Before You Commit’ price of $1.00. After the trial period and you like the product, the cost on a monthly subscription will only be $16.90.

So for the low cost of $16.90 a month, you will be able to access all your clients and where they found you, monitor what advertising campaigns are working and what are not, but best of all, have these records available to a new purchaser when you want to sell your business.

by : Jim Baker www.mytools4business.com

How to Stay ONE STEP AHEAD

of the Pack It’s April already which means we’re in the last quarter of the current tax year 2014/15. The last quarter is a good time to review your business activities and results. It’s the best time to further minimise your tax for this financial year, if you haven’t already got a solid tax plan in place.

You may have heard the saying before by Benjamin Franklin “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”.

Nothing is more true when it comes to running your business operations. Leaving everything to the last minute and just being reactive will never produce the outcomes a planned and well thought out approach can deliver.

So what can you do now? Being nine months into this financial year you already have nine months of good data to review and base your future planning on.

Whether you’re in the establishment phase, consolidation phase or expansion phase of your business, taking a good look now will be well worth it.

Are you on track?

There are clear indicators in numbers that can tell you whether you are on track with what you want to achieve in your business. I’m talking about examining your current data under the lens of the 5 critical numbers for business. They tell the real story of your business health and productivity. They can also tell you by way of a more in-depth analysis, how your business performance benchmarks against similar type businesses.

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The critical numbers you need to review are: 1. Gross Profit in $ / Gross Margin % - Have you made enough profit, and is your gross margin big enough?

2. Markup – What is your current markup? Is there scope to increase it and therefore increase your gross profit?

3. Net Profit $ / Net Margin % - Review your net profit and margin to find out, if your business is underperforming at the moment.

4. Budget – Did you track well on the budget you set last year? Look at your budget figures with net profit and net margin in mind and analyse, if there are items in expenditure or income that need to be addressed.

Then develop your budget plan for next year and include your marketing and operational plan.

5. Breakeven - Look at the breakeven point and put measures in place to create higher net profits.

How can you bring your tax bill down further?

There are a number of ways you can minimise your tax, especially if you take action before 30 June. If you are travelling in the next three months, try to combine business (a meeting with a client or possible client, checking out some material or resources for your business, etc.) with your vacation travel. As long as your trip is documented in advance, showing an intent to build your business in some way, your travel expenses become business expense deductions.

You could also consider pre-paying some expenditure items that are actually only being delivered after 30 June. That way they will count as tax deductable expenditure in this financial year and bring your tax bill down. It’s a simple formula: less income equals less tax!

This is a tax strategy that you can implement immediately, but it is especially effective at the turn of the financial year, where the scope becomes much broader.

There will be more expenditure items you can pay for before 30 June and receive the goods or services in July or later.

Never underestimate how much you can save in tax by keeping good bookkeeping records. Expenses for phone, internet service and utility bills should all be in your expenditure budget records, and substantiated with documentation.

If you’ve got children and they’re old enough, put them on the payroll! Yes, I am serious. This is such a great way

to help your child learn how to handle and appreciate money, when they work for what they earn. And on top of that, you are reducing your taxable income for yourself and your business. You’ll be amazed how quickly this adds up, for both of you.

Please Note: Many of the comments in this article are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.

A D Hamilton & Associates www.adhamilton.com.au Copyright © 2015 Robert Bauman.

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A Medley of Mosaics It’s a craft that many people give a go at some time in their lives, perhaps because it is so durable and has so many broad applications. They look amazing and are incredible talking pieces in the garden, swimming pool, bathroom, kitchen, on a coffee table top.., anywhere you want to create a point of interest and express yourself in a different way. Maybe also popular because the overall effect of mosaics on a surface are often fabulous, regardless of how artistically inclined you are!

Mosaicing is also an ancient practice, spanning multiple cultures and going back thousands of years. Because of the structural durability of the art, many have survived antiquity to better illustrate man’s history.

It is an excellent way to incorporate design in a home, just for the sake of aesthetics. Which brings me to my vested interest in writing this article. I started making mosaics around 15 years ago. I’ve had a go at plates, pots, installations and tiny pieces in jewellery. Whilst family, renovations, and a myriad of other things get in the way, it had been a long time since undertaking any projects when I foolhardily began to mosaic my kitchen stove splashback. Our big open plan living space needed a feature so I remained in denial about doing this with stained glass shards a plenty, in the busiest part of the house, where our food is prepared! Not to mention the nightmare of working on a vertical surface and having next to no time to get ‘stuck in’. (I tried a number of indirect ways of putting together the cut glass design, but directly in the area was the only way it was going to get made).

Some of the most outstanding modern mosaics are the product of community collaboration. The pictures emerging from the small pieces telling a story not only of the images portrayed but also of the kinship among the people who created it together.

This one, called The Everybody Seat, is at my sons’ school, with contributions by the students and artists Sandy Robertson, Jeannette Evans. It celebrates a sense of belonging in the school.

Two plus years later, I am finally staring at the finished product. I thought I was going to have to chisel the damn thing off, give in and tile it. But eventually persistence paid off, and here it is:

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created by participating school students across 7 Schools in Ipswich. The public artwork won the 2009 Award of Excellence and Gold Award.

One of my favourites in Brisbane, this mosaic ‘sofa’ includes wonderful detail of a ‘throw rug’.

A hidden gem in San Fran Sisco… Tiled Steps Here’s a playful application of the mosaic concept using paint swatches! Just for fun.

These mosaics entitled The Numbelli Seat, appear at Queens Park, Ipswich Qld., celebrating the areas indigenous heritage, displaying dream time legends.

The Numbellie Seat. Two huge curved concrete seats decorated with mosaic application. The panels were

If it’s something you’d like to try, there are amazing resources online. For a good start, and to see if you enjoy it, try making a stepping stone for your garden. With as little as some broken tiles, or even pebbles, and some grout, you can be on your way.

Caroline Miall

caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

2015 April Issue | 29

Tricks of the Trade

This the first of what will be many articles for tricks of the trade, Ideas for tricks of the trade will consist of ideas related to higher productivity, ways of saving money and labour time, implementing sustainable and environmentally friendly trade practices, using effective systems of planning and organising tasks on-site, applying safe OHS practices, whilst continuing to produce high quality workmanship. In this first article we will talk about efficient spray application for doors.

Bayden O’Neill from Innovative Painting uses the following system to paint doors when working on-site. As seen in the pictures above he sets up his doors at 90 degrees from each other, leaving a sufficient gap to spray door edges without getting any overspray on adjacent doors.

The doors are able to free stand by themselves as a thin piece of architrave is tacked along the tops of the doors.

Plastic is placed on the floor to keep the floor clean.

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Bayden says “it only takes myself about 10 mins to set up 10 doors, and it only takes about, 5mins to spray 1 coat on all 10 doors”. The advantages of setting up doors in the middle of the room, include not getting any overspray on surrounding walls or other surfaces and they don’t have to handled or moved whilst the paint is drying.

Meanwhile Troy Ellison from Capitol Painting Industries in Brisbane sets up his doors using a cross over method.

The cross over method, allows you to set up 4 doors for spraying. Troy believes this freestanding set up allows for a quality painted finish.

Justin Barlow

07 3555 8010 / 0433 724 794

justin@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

from $45.00 2015 April Issue | 31

www.consolidatedi .com.au Phone: +61 7 3292 1100 | Fax: +61 7 3292 1110 Email: contactus@consolidatedi.com.au I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for referring me to Consolidated Insurance Pty Ltd. I spoke to Scott about our Business Insurance and with little time, Scott emailed me back a comprehensive package for our Business and we saved over $1,000.00. Thanks again Aussie Painters Network for the great referral and all your ongoing help.

Sonya Baker www.bakerbrosmasterpainters.com.au

Making the Most of

“FREE” Insurance

Everyone likes to receive something for free. Your Home & Contents insurance includes a number of free, additional benefits you may have never looked into including benefits for office equipment & tools at your home.

If your home insurance has been arranged through a Steadfast broker, you will generally have $5,000 $10,000 of cover for your business use tools while they are kept at the home. These broker policies generally also include significant cover for your home office furniture & furnishings. If your insurance was arranged direct with an insurer, then this cover may be included up to $2,000 or may come as an optional extra you need to pay for.

The only catch is that the Home & Contents insurance only insures the tools while they are at your home. To insure your tools while they are at the job site, in the car or anywhere else, you should ask your broker for ‘portable equipment’ insurance on your business policy.

Every insurance company has their own special terms & conditions and even within the same company they will generally offer different levels of cover. This can make it hard to talk about exactly what you are covered for, so make sure you check your Product Disclosure Statement (that booklet you received) to see what applies for you.

Scott Robertson Compliance / Account Executive Phone 07 3292 1100 Fax 07 3292 1110 Email scott.robertson@cib.com.au Find us on facebook Consolidated Insurances Pty Ltd PO Box 728, Hamilton Central QLD 4007

www.consolidatedi.com.au 2015 April Issue | 33

20 Simple Strategies for

GETTING HEALTHY

While most people want to lose weight, get fitter, get healthier … it can be tough forming the habits.

It took me many starts and frustrations before I learned how to live a healthier lifestyle. In 2005, I was 70 lbs. heavier, a smoker, addicted to junk food, sedentary, couldn’t exercise for more than a few days without quitting.

Today, I am much healthier, leaner, fitter. I eat healthily most of the time (with regular indulgences) and I’m able to stick to a meal plan if I want, and avoid junk food most of the time.

How did I change? I learned a few simple strategies.

These aren’t for everyone, so pick and choose the ones that might fit in your life, and give them a try!

1. Toss out the junk food. Having junk food in your house or workplace makes it too hard to stick to a healthy diet. If at all possible, toss everything out that’s sugary, fatty, greasy, salty. The best strategy is not having it around. Clean out your pantry and fridge!

2. Find some healthy recipes and buy the ingredients.

There are thousands online. Find one or two to start with, easy ones that don’t take an hour to prepare, and go buy the ingredients today.

3. Cook in bulk. I find it easiest to stick to a healthy meal plan if I prepare things in advance. So cook big batches of veggie chili or soup, or tofu veggie stir fry, and put the bulk of it in containers in the fridge or freezer. I like to divide things into meal-sized containers so I just heat things up when it’s mealtime.

4. Stock up on healthy snacks. When you’re hungry for a snack, what will you eat? Have healthy things to munch on at home, at work, and for the road. Fresh fruits, chopped veggies, raw nuts, dried fruits are some of my favorites.

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5. Socialise in healthier ways. Instead of going out to bars or unhealthy restaurants, can you get together for tea, or a game of basketball, or a walk in the park? Or find a healthy restaurant to eat at?

6. Find a workout partner. Get your spouse or good friend or co-worker to go on walks or runs with you, or meet you at the gym or a workout class. Having someone do it with you makes it fun and easier, and you’re more likely to show up if you have an appointment to meet someone.

7. Use social media for motivation. You can use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your favorite online forums for motivation and accountability. Publicly announce 2-week or month-long health challenges, and have people keep you accountable. Try Fitocracy — it’s a social fitness game that can make getting fit fun.

8. Play outside. It’s important to go outside every day and get some fresh air and sunshine. Move around, take the kids out and play, find a friend and take a walk or throw or kick a ball around.

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How much does your business need to earn to cover its expenses?

www.mytools4business.com/myhourlyratecalculator

2015 April Issue | 35

Looking for improvements in your business? “How To Become AReally Successful Painter� can really help you.

A copy of my book is available online jimbaker@notjustapainter.com.au

Watch Business Management for Painters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OczJfZH8M4I

www.mytools4business.com/howtobecome

36 | Aussie Painters Network

20 Simple Strategies for

GETTING HEALTHY 9. Find healthy options for eating out. Instead of eating at fast food or chain restaurants where everything is deep fried, can you find more local restaurants where there are some healthy options? Make a list, and go to those places when you go out.

10. Make water & tea your default drink. Many people drink soda or sugar coffee drinks all day. This is not necessary for a healthy or enjoyable life. Water can become your favorite drink, and (unsweetened) tea can be very healthy. I love a mindful green tea ritual once a day.

11. Schedule active breaks. If you’re on the computer all day, schedule short breaks every 30-60 minutes where you stretch, walk around, maybe do some squats or pushups, drink some water. Exercise doesn’t have to be just once a day.

12. Get your spouse on board. It’s hard to make changes if your significant other is resistant. So early on in the process (read: right now), share your thinking, share your reading materials, and ask them to help you get healthy. Don’t ever force them to change, but see if they can be on your team.

13. Start small — don’t overdo it.

Big changes tend to be hard to sustain. Make one small change on this list, and then try another, then another. Each step along the way, you’ll get used it and it will become your new normal. No step needs to be very difficult.

14. Have fun exercising. Create challenges for yourself, and your

friends. Find sports you like to play.

Use running as a form of meditation. Exercising doesn’t need to be boring or hard — it can be one of the best parts of your day.

15. Drink red wine. One or two glasses of red wine can be very healthy, and can add some pleasure to your new healthy lifestyle.

I’m a believer in making a healthy lifestyle one that you enjoy, so add healthy foods you love, activities you enjoy, a mindful tea ritual, and an end-of-the-day wine ritual.

16. Explore berries, kale, raw almonds and walnuts, avocado, flaxseeds, quinoa, tofu, tempeh.

These are foods that many people don’t eat on a regular basis, and some people have never tried some of these. One by one, explore these foods, as I find them to be very healthy. Some of them take some time to acquire the taste, and others (like tofu and tempeh) just need the right seasonings — they don’t have to be bland!

17. Add healthy ingredients to your meals. If you don’t want to change your entire diet, start adding some healthy stuff to your usual meals. For example, if you normally eat spaghetti, try ground turkey or meatless grounds instead of beef.

Add some finely-diced kale and carrots, and some flaxseeds. You can do this to many recipes.

18. Try new ethnic foods. Don’t look at changing your diet as a sacrifice.

Think of it as a joyous adventure.

Want to try going meatless a few days a week? Try some healthy dishes

from India, Japan, Thailand, the Mediterranean. It can be a lot of fun, even for the whole family.

19. Stop smoking. OK, this isn’t the easiest strategy, but it is one of the most important. I quit smoking on Nov. 18, 2005, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.

It takes about a month of focused effort.

20. Diet before exercise. One of the easiest ways to start getting healthier is to start improving your diet — it’s fairly easy to add some fruits and veggies, for example, and maybe cut back on some of the sweets. Starting exercise takes a bit more focus, and doesn’t always get results as quickly. On the flip side, if you start exercising, don’t let that be an excuse to eat whatever you want — it’s easy to negate the benefits of your morning run with a donut and sugary and fatty coffee drink.

2015 April Issue | 37

Colour Awards Showcase

ARTISTRY OF DESIGNS

Bold and inventive use of colour defines the winners of the 2015 Dulux Colour Awards, announced on Wednesday 25 March in Melbourne.

The theme of Revealing the Artist was poignant with entries throughout showcasing a change in paint usage with art references and unique graphics. This approach is not dissimilar to modernist art, highlighting a movement away from the minimalist method seen in previous years.

within. The subtle ombre in Dulux Leek and Coral Atoll was used to great effect, providing a dimensional impact which flat colour alone couldn’t achieve. The sage green gives the illusion of a floating sea with the floral ceiling display a beautiful upside down ‘Monet’s Garden’. Truly angelic, the space would be lovely to enjoy a champagne trackside.

This was shown in a ‘more is less’ approach which seemed to be embraced in an overwhelming use of colour throughout elements. However, it was the projects that juggled this colour explosion in a considered approach who shone in their respective categories.

Judges were unanimously impressed by the cross-sectional use of colour, overall creativity and calibre of professional and student entries.

The judging panel in the 2015 Dulux Colour Awards included highly-regarded design industry leaders from a range of disciplines: • Andrea Wilson – Senior Associate at ARM Architecture • Hannah Tribe – Principal and Founding Director of Tribe Architects • David Bromley – contemporary artist • Sian MacPherson – interior designer and editor of EST magazine • Alice Lines – editor of homestyle from New Zealand.

The 2015 Dulux Colour Awards winners are: 1. Grand Prix Project Project: Lexus Design Pavilion, VIC Painter: Chris Watterston from Apache Painting Company name: Mim Design Judges comment: A clear standout, this incredibly sophisticated fitout was a unanimous category winner. Rebalancing the harsh metallic of a Lexus car, the gentle palette helps visitors understand the softness

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2. Installation & Events Project: Lexus Design Pavilion, VIC Company name: Mim Design Judges comment: As above 3. Multi Residential Project: Polychrome, NSW Company name: David Boyle Architect Judges comment: A clever project which managed to juggle various elements and still present a wonderfully cohesive visual. It is reminiscent of a modernist painting and an interesting example that more is less. With red brick remaining in the space, the chosen palette of bright hues including Dulux Lilac Fluff, Hot Lips, High Blue, Vintage Green and many more, is a clever and playful decoy. The judges unanimously awarded this project for the creation of a fun and energetic facade.

4. Commercial Exterior Project: Brompton Pavilion, VIC Painter: Andrew Burke Masterworx Painting & Decorating Architect: Craig Tan Architects Judges comment: The Brompton Pavilion created a dynamic display of colour within a sparse landscape. The 3D outer framing provided a sneak preview of vibrant colour. The structure balanced external, internal and in-between spaces through thoughtful use of colour.

The palette combines both muted and bright shades highlighting the unusual structural aspects, including bright oranges and reds in Dulux Circus and Red Clown.

5. Commercial Interior Workplace & Retail Project: Koko Black Indooroopilly, QLD Architect: Russell & George Judges comment: This fitout replaces the decadence associated with chocolate with clever colour combinations of Tuscan oranges, light blues and copper highlights in a fresh and contemporary palette, creating a welcoming and emotive space. It pushes the boundaries through its bold ceiling which features a sponged down effect on the walls creating an organic feel. Finished with a nice interplay between shadows and tone it was a well-deserved winner.

6. Commercial Interior Public Spaces & Hospitality Project: Phamily Kitchen, VIC Architect: Mathew van Kooy Judges comment: This project was awarded for its boldness and brilliance. A truly evocative fitout, the space transforms from a classic Victorian terrace to a vibrant Vietnam eatery achieved through colour and clever use of fluoro lights. Positioning the design artistically the architect was brave to commit to one colour, Dulux Santorini, at level and colour match all grounded elements creating a daring statement. The look was softened by the addition of Dulux Ice Vovo on the ceiling and Antique White on the upper walls.

7. Single Residential Exterior Project: Anglesea House 4, VIC Painter: Steve Jewson from Painting & Design Services Architect: Emma Mitchell Judges comment: With an empathy to traditional design and a known difficult structure to work with, Emma Mitchell has created an emboldened space. The design introduces contemporary links through daring colour.

Using bright Dulux tones – Succulent and Peppermint Bar – it is balanced by the dark grey Dulux Cave Man, producing a design that is playful but with great honesty and broad appeal.

2015 April Issue | 39

8. Single Residential Interior Project: The Courtyard House, NSW Painter: Stephen Corbally from Pacha Painting Architect: Aileen Sage Architects Judges comment: The Courtyard House is an innovative design. Rather than using colour to delineate between zones, it cleverly uses colour in a thought provoking manner, using different combinations to mark your journey through the house. The considered use of colours, not only in the bold and various pops used throughout but also in the neutrals, beautifully highlight and complete a bright and playful palette.

9. International Project: Otoparae, NZ Architect: SPACE Architecture Studio Judges comment: Elegantly executed, Otaparae is a fine example of a contemporary approach to domestic environments. As a comfortable and relaxed space, colour has been used to heighten the experience and initiate a more intimate setting for entertaining.

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10. Student Project: Concealing the Crisis, VIC Student: Amelyn Ng Judges comment: Concealing the crisis cleverly utilises a traditional colour palette to convey a contemporary vision. A difficult and polarising brief which is translated into an interesting and harmonious proposal. The colour palette of Dulux Rodham, Red Stop, Orangeade, Black and Golden Marguerite was considered.

The 2015 Dulux Colour Awards were proudly sponsored

by Katnook Founders Block, Regency Distribution, Walter Herman Interiors, Fiorina Jewellery, Bandhini Homewear Design and Voluspa.

View all 2015 Dulux Colour Award winners and other entries at www.dulux.com.au/colourawards

Where are you in your life now?

Our lives are like the seasons and/or lessons to learn. If you understand where you are at, you can be supported to move through the process more easily. For me personally, I have both my personal life and my business in the season similar to winter at the present time … this is when we need to stop, contemplate, ponder and wait quietly for spring to come. This is the time we are reaping what we sowed. We need to ask ourselves, what is the lesson or season and have we learnt it?

We are all on a journey and if you are a business owner it is not easy to have yourself and your business in winter at the same time. If you find yourself, as I am experiencing now, know that it will change and you will come to the spring when the time is right.

There is no particular time length for any season, and we can move through them fast or slow, dependant on what is happening around us. The only thing we DO know for certain is that all the seasons will come around in not only our business but also in our life. We need to be prepared and ready to handle them when it changes, especially if you are experiencing one of them in all areas at one time.

Jim Rohn, in his innate wisdom, was the first to speak about the ‘Seasons of Life’ giving business owners the insight to understand how they could support themselves, during these times. For me MasterMinding and my personal friendships have been the catalyst to support me to move through more easily my ‘winter’. How long I am there will depend on how I handle it.

Understand that we start out in ‘spring’, and hopefully we learn to take advantage of the opportunities that come with it. Just as the animals come out of hibernation ready to start again, you have this chance too. This is your time to plant the seeds that will move you forward so you can become who you want to become. Life starts again, and by having watched nature in the past, you can recognise this as you will be energised. Take full advantages of the opportunities that come your

way for your higher good. You are given the chance to springboard into something new and exciting. Learning how to bring the people around you to support yourself create your future is done at this time. Join a mastermind group to help you do this by setting in place the people and tools you need for your future.

Once ‘spring’ has gone and you move into ‘summer’ you need to become protective of the seeds you have sown. This is when you reap the benefits of what you created in the ‘spring’. If you do not protect what you created it can be easily destroyed or ruined. This is the fun time of your life as you start to relax from the work done in your ‘spring’. Is not this the time we take holidays, have fun and take time out?

Eventually though we will move into ‘autumn’ when things start to slow down and we start to gear up for another ‘winter’. During ‘autumn’ though it is necessary that you take responsibility for what you have created in the last season. Whether these things have been good or bad is irrelevant. Just learn the lessons from the experiences. Keep building on the seeds you sowed in ‘spring’ as these will be what will help you through your ‘winter’ when it comes. This is the time when you make sure you have everything cemented into place.

And as you will realise, ‘winter’ always comes, and if we can recognise it, we can deal with it. Just as we change our wardrobe to be comfortable in every season we need to be ready for ‘winter’ when it comes too. This can be easier if we prepared for it, just like the squirrels do. Be prepared to handle the ‘winter’ with all its challenges when it comes. Let your network support you until you move into ‘spring’ again.

If you need support to move through these seasons, contact me at jennie@jenniegorman.com.au

www.connexionsunlimited.com.au 2015 April Issue | 41

A DAY with JUSTIN Justin Barlow is an Aussie Painters apprenticeship trainer.

He completed his painting apprenticeship in Armidale NSW and ran his own business for three years. I first met him many years ago when he was a teacher at Skills Tech in Brisbane 2009. Just by talking to him back then, my first thought was that he was very passionate about the painting trade. I was also very impressed in the way he believed apprentices should be taught. He doesn’t want to just teach them how to paint but wants to train them in ‘people skills’ and how to become competent in a supervisory role as he feels there is a lack of tradespeople in this area.

Over the years, I haven’t seen any change in his way of thinking; he is whole-heartily there for the student.

I have also been impressed in the way he voluntarily gave up his valuable time in recent years to mentor apprentices in the World Skills competitions in different parts of the country. This has given me an even greater respect for him. He says, ‘As a trainer, I like to inspire the apprentices to aim above becoming just another tradesperson whilst undergoing their apprenticeship.

My aim is to not only teach the apprentices all the skills associated with the CPC30611 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, but also to equip them with the skills of a supervisor or leading hand. It is in the employers and apprentices’ best interest to learn how to plan and organise efficiently whilst maintaining best practise in our trade of painting and decorating. Quality apprentice training in the workplace equates to more productivity and strong business growth for employers.’

Now in his new job as an online and onsite trainer, I thought I would spend some time with him and observe for myself what goes into this type of training.

We met up with two new first year apprentices on a work site, Michael Conrad and Tom Costello. They are employed by Antony Kavanagh, Clayton Adams and Jeff Hunt from Storm Painting, Scaffolding and Rendering.

They run a successful business in South East Queensland and employ nine painters and eight renderers.

The business has been in partnership for over twelve months and they mainly do residential, commercial, government contracts and repaints, and are now looking to expand into other areas. I spoke to Tony and Jeff and they both agree that having the apprentices onsite

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and not losing them in block releases is extremely important to them. ‘It was very inconvenient when the apprentice had to go away for three weeks and we have to find a replacement’ they said. They also love the flexibility of the online training where the apprentices can do their ‘competencies’ if there is any down-time at work, for instance, it is raining on the job.

Michael is 20 years old and has been with Storm Painting for one month. He was working as a brush hand for three years but they wouldn’t sign him up as an apprentice.

His goal one day is to ‘go bush’ and start up his own business, maybe in Inverell where his father was a painter.

Tom is also 20 years old and has been employed by Storm Painting for six months. He was going to TAFE for his training but realised, like Tony and Jeff, he could learn more from this type of training as there are less distractions. He too would like to one day start up his own business.

In three and a half hours we were there, Justin explained to Michael and Tom how to access and use the online program. He also showed them; how to plan and organise; how to correctly set up a ‘paint-prep’ work area; the explanation of safety signs and their meaning; types of paint; the four ways how paint dries (which I could only remember one-evaporation); OH & S; correct preparation; hazard risk assessment; sustainability; site induction, and other topics. Once finished, this was all relayed back to Tony and Jeff what had been discussed.

by : Jim Baker www.mytools4business.com

2015 April Issue | 43

Taking a Long Term

Employment Approach Finding good employees is a nationwide epidemic and in the 37 years I have been a contracting consultant, I have never seen it worse. Contractors are notorious for poor hiring and employment practices. The vast majority of companies only look for people when there is a desperate need and are too quick to take the first warm body that comes along.

Having a quality workforce starts from the ground up.

We recommend you start with a sound evaluation of your existing workforces. Take a moment and fill out the chart below. List your best field employee first and your weakest last. Making this evaluation is easier when you ask yourself, who would be laid off first, second, etc. and do the list in reverse. Next, write down the hourly rate, length of service, can they drive a company vehicle, do they communicate well enough to be lead a crews. Then on the far right, grade who is promotable to foreman or lead person.

Evaluating Your Field Workforce Employee (best first)

Hourly Rate

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Length of Time Employed

Valid Driver’s License

Communicate Promotable Written English To Lead Person Skills

At a recent meeting a contractor listed 10 employees and only two had valid driver’s licenses, another two had the ability to lead a crew but guess what, they were not the same people who could drive. Only by improving the bottom of the organization can a contractor hope to improve the quality of his or her workforce.

Do your hourly pay rates match your value list? If not, you have a problem. Non-union contractors claim to pay merit pay but in reality most pay according to seniority. This can be a major issue if you have a bright up and coming trainee who is on the bottom end of the pay scale. Don’t lose your future to your competition. Many contractors will hire that trainee at junior craftsman pay as they are desperate to find someone.

Frankly, this person is the probably the best available in the market place.

Make sure you are paying enough to attract quality people who can grow within the organization. Ten to twelve bucks per hour does not get much and using the logic that is what everyone else pays won’t solve your personnel issues. You must pay whatever it takes to hire people with a valid driver’s license, communication skills and the ability to move up in the company.

Always recruit for helpers and potential workers. Be ruthless. If the people you have now can’t move up, replace them. Only by drafting the best available talent can you hope to build a winning team.

Recruit work ethic, teach skill. Find people who will show up and work and teach them the craft. You can teach a worker how to work but you can’t teach a bum how to work.

Establish an advertising budget. Look for employees the same way you look for jobs. Put info on your website and trucks. Every time you go into a fast food restaurant, see if there is a hard working person behind the counter you can steal. If need be, mail into blue collar neighborhoods seeking employees. Advertise in churches. Go to high school football coaches and ask for personal recommendations. Every coach has some good kids who are not going to go to college and they want to see them succeed. Recruit, recruit and then recruit some more. Quit complaining and do something about. You can moan and groan all you want, no one is coming to help you.

Would you work for you? Do you offer benefits of any kind? Is there opportunity for advancement? Are the field workers who work for you happy with the work environment? Every employer has an employment reputation in his or her local market. What’s yours?

Remember, no matter how hard you try, you cannot turn chicken manure into chicken salad. Start with poor employees at the bottom and you will never have a quality organization. Recruit constantly. Train and make your company a first class place to work.

Monroe Porter is president of PROOF Management a firm that teaches seminars and runs networking groups for painting contractors. Several Aussie painting contractors travel to the US each year to participate in his programs.

www.proofman.com 2015 April Issue | 45

My Top 8 Tips for Presenting

Your Home For Sale 1. Pack now … start the process as soon as you decide to sell!

The biggest challenge I come across, when being invited into people’s homes, week in week out, is the amount of ‘stuff’ we choose to live with. Clutter, treasures, keepsakes, necessities. Stuff. It hides, and takes the focus off, all the beautiful features of your home.

lived in your home. Take down all personal effects and remove all trinkets. Ask yourself, ‘what would a display home have on show? Would I see this collection of bits and pieces in a display home?’

If you are serious about selling, then you are going to be packing up your home anyway. You may as well pack it up now. An early pack up could be worth thousands to you. It really could. The less ‘stuff’ stuffed in your cupboards (that buyers do look in … guaranteed), the less stuff on your kitchen benches, the less toys on your shelves, the more money you could make. True. Leave only what you need for the short time your home is going to be on the market, hire a small storage facility and hide your stuff! It is so worth it.

Traditional Home

Fresh Home 2. Think ‘Display Home’.

I am not ashamed to say I use the words ‘Display Home’ a lot. There is a reason people are inspired by ‘Display Homes’ and ‘Idea Homes’ and ‘Hamptons Designer Showhomes’! There is a reason that Pinterest is full of pictures of them. They sell a dream. You are selling the dream of how your buyers are going to be living in your home. They really do not want to see or know how you

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3. Throw out all preconceived ideas about how your home should look.

You are too close to it. You loved it and decorated it with all your treasures. Don’t listen to your family, friends and neighbours. Your home does not have to look ‘lived in’, like it’s a home. And don’t take styling advice personally. It’s not that your precious things are not beautiful. It’s like a maths formula. Follow the formula and you will achieve the correct answer, the correct sale price. See point 2. Display home, display home. I, myself, do like to soften the ‘display home’ look a bit. I do throw cushions around with wild abandon and do probably vignette up a sideboard with a few more pretties than a display home. The greatest compliment I can receive from a buyer is the question, ‘has this home been professionally styled or is there someone still living here?’. Bingo. It looks too good for someone to be living here? Mission accomplished.

5. New carpets are the bomb!

I watch buyers on new carpets. They wiggle their toes.

You are selling the dream with new carpets. New carpet does not need to be expensive … but it’s part of the ‘dream’ formula. There are some beautiful carpets out there for great prices. I tend to recommend darker colours, a medium to dark grey works well with most colour schemes and looks lush. With all the windows open, letting in lots of light, a darker new floor looks luxurious.

Crisp white bed linen pops against it, so do bright accessories … and the wiggling buyer’s toes do not lie.

One of my very favourites – via Home Bunch 4. Focus on first impressions.

You need your buyers to park their car outside and really want to come in. Street appeal is everything. Clear the undergrowth, trim your foliage, tidy your gardens, mow the lawns, hide the bins. Stand out on the street, look back at your home, and critique it. If you were the buyer, what would you want to see? Pay attention to your front entrance. De-clutter the porch, removed tired plants, purchase a fabulous doormat and a couple of stunning potted plants for either side of the door.

People respond to symmetry! They do!

Via Pinterest

Houzz 6. Paint.

Aussie Painters Network readers know better than anyone – there’s a fresh new home in every can! As per point 5. New paint is the bomb! Paint is an affordable way to totally transform a room. Make your colour consistent throughout. I am not ashamed to say that I once embraced ‘Spiced Apple’ in my hall and a ‘Midnight Blue feature wall in my kitchen … but that was yesterday, well … late 90’s to be precise. You want to maximise the appeal of your home to your maximum market. Yes, your ‘Forest Green’ wall in the study did remind you of your home in old England and it is lovely … and it does go well with those gilded frames …. But, you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible. Best to paint over it!

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2015 April Issue | 47

Cape Cod Residential Styling Warehouse 8. Find an agent who embraces you, your home and these concepts and you are putting yourself in the best position to sell your home faster … and for more!

Cape Cod Residential Image Courtesy www.realestatepics.com.au 7. Stage. Style. Sell.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of professionally styling a home for sale. It can add thousands to your sale price, significantly more than what it costs to have your home professionally styled (in my agency … it costs you nothing!). I have so many examples of ‘local agent’ price appraisals of homes I have sold for tens of thousands more after I have gotten my hands on them (the homes, not the local agents!). Presentation is EVERYTHING. A beautifully presented home creates buyer emotion, buyer numbers and buyer competition. The golden rule of all successful real estate price premiums. Competition and ‘the fear of loss’ is what gets you your price … oh and a gun agent who WORKS for you, who calls every one of your buyers after open homes to garner interest, buyer feedback, to ask for the business, to work towards offers. It’s a simple formula and it works. Big statement but true.

48 | Aussie Painters Network

Anne-Maree Rusell is the Principal/Owner of Cape Cod Residential – a bespoke approach to the presentation & marketing of premium properties throughout Brisbane.

• • • • • • • for more details, visit our website!

www.paintershrpolicies.com

‘My Costing Guide’ is a fully automated program where all you have to do is add or change the variables and the total price will appear in an instant. It is simple to use and can be personalised to your own business.

2015 April Issue | 49

The Industry

Idiots

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Important Contacts Aussie Painters Network www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au Ph. 0430 399 800 National Institute for Painting and Decorating www.painters.edu.au Ph. 1300 319 790 Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au Ph. 13 72 26 / Ph. 13 28 65 Award Rates www.fairwork.gov.au Ph. 13 13 94 Fair Work Building & Construction www.fwbc.gov.au Ph. 1800 003 338 Mates In Construction www.matesinconstruction.com.au

Ph. 1300 642 111

Workplace Health and Safety Contacts Comcare WorkSafe ACT Workplace Health and Safety QLD Victorian WorkCover Authority WorkCover NSW SafeWork SA WorkSafe WA NT WorkSafe WorkSafe Tasmania

www.comcare.gov.au www.worksafe.act.gov.au www.worksafe.qld.gov.au www.vwa.vic.gov.au www.workcover.nsw.gov.au www.safework.sa.gov.au www.commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/ www.worksafe.nt.gov.au www.worksafe.tas.gov.au

1300 366 979 02 6207 3000 1300 362 128 1800 136 089 13 10 50 1300 365 255 1300 307 877 1800 019 115 1300 366 322

www.actcancer.org www.cancercouncil.com.au www.cancercouncilnt.com.au www.cancerqld.org.au www.cancersa.org.au www.cancervic.org.au www.cancerwa.asn.au

(02) 6257 9999 (02) 9334 1900 (08) 8927 4888 (07) 3634 5100 (08) 8291 4111 (03) 9635 5000 (08) 9212 4333

Cancer Council Australia ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA

2015 April Issue | 51

OUR MEMBERSHIP Standard Membership • Five postcode listings in our online directory • Work, Health and Safety Plan • Risk Assessment and Safe Work Method Statements • Incident Investigation Forms and Incident Investigation Form Register • Instant access to our pricing and estimating guides • Quotation guide to assist you when quoting • Personal service and phone advice • Web Listing for prospective customers to find you easily • Free targeted online marketing & advertising • Back-links to assist you in SEO rankings • Assistance with Debt Collection and Discounted Terms of Trade • Discounts on Courses • Painter Help section if you are looking for work or looking for painters to help