Before I started looking into demolishing a house, I didn’t realize all the costs that were involved. The only information I could find online was this article in realestate.com.au that explains in general about house demolition.

It was quite a shock to find out about all of the things involved. I was expecting to pay for an excavator to do the demolishing and for a truck to remove the rubbish, but not all of the other stuff – permits, insurances, safety barriers, traffic control, etc. It gets more expensive if the house contains asbestos or if the foundations of the house are massive concrete slab. Apparently demolition requires an approval (which naturally comes with a fee) and a council permit (another fee).

Overall, you can expect to pay anything between 5,000 and 10,000$.

Investors or homebuyers, we all would love to see our property going up in price. So why leave that up to chance, if we can have a say in this? Choosing the right suburb can make all the difference, if done wisely.

According to the experts, there are several signs to help you find a suburb that is about to boom. Ideally, it should have shopping centers, restaurants, schools and libraries, sporting facilities, parks and hospitals. The public transport should be good and the suburb should be located near decent transport routs. Beachside suburbs (or those with access to the beach) usually grow better in price. The suburb should be able to offer different styles of housing. Another tip for a possible bargain suburb is that it is located next to suburbs that grew in price significantly over the recent period of time.

I know that all of those signs are no more than the common sense – but it helps to have a list of things to look for.

Many people have told me they find auctions stressing and intimidating. But let’s face it – more houses are sold now on auctions compared to private sales, so limiting yourself and passing on auctioned properties just because you are scared of the process is not a good idea.

What I have found is the more you go to auctions, the more you get used to them – the less they frighten you. Of course, it takes time but I think it’s time well spent. This is also a great way to get a “feel” what is the price range of your target suburb.