Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

[geoff]

Hi everyone. I'm Geoff and have been a dedicated Volunteer on the forums for 13 years. I am proud to have stopped some of the stigmas that are associated with mental health as well as doing my best to help others too

Before my health went south I was a builder in all aspects of home construction and renovation. If you don't have a handyman around I hope I can offer you some tips that may be of help. I have had many years of experience in home renovation and will do my best to help you out if you are stuck and need some advice

I hope my experience may be of help to the people on Beyond Blue and make their life a little bit better. Even if you need help with the most basic painting job or putting up a shelf I can help there too with some tips

I will do my best to get back to anyone that has a question when I can as this is social yet important thread

Geoff

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy and RX, the M split system brand I have in the lounge room/kitchen is 5kw and could heat/cool the whole unit, but I also have a M 2.5kw in my bedroom, cause summertime it gets so hot and it is fabulous.

Please keep us informed.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for that, very encouraging as they have agreed to install a 5kw one

I'm a bit unconfident that i'll be able to convice them to go with a D model and not the S one that they've suggested, but reports online suggest the S is much much worse (also wish i could say the brands, certainly this is not a paid promotion for anyone).

I'm not sure if I should ask the agent or the aircon taskperson re consideration of a diff model.
I may not stay in this apartment for ages so they might feel reluctant to invest on my behalf, but I think a D one is really needed.

It's a difficult room to heat - high ceilings, and one open doorway into the kitcehn etc, so it would be difficult.
I don't know how much to push.

There is also a window that doesn't properly close in the kitchen which is another issue that I need to raise....The place is not in good shape. That's why I'm shocked they're doing anything at all re the heating, seems they made a decision to improve it at least slightly.

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, I agree it's not as if we are recommending any particular brand, just saying which one is better than another one, although BB may feel as though the less brand may want to take legal action, but the facts are the facts, and we can't deny these.

The trouble is if they install the lesser brand, then they will regret it later on by having to repair it and actually cost them more, at least it's a 5kw a/c.

Once the split a/c is being installed then approach the real estate about the window, t may need to be planed down, if it's wooden, hopefully, something simple, maybe the tradesman can have a look for you and be able to fix it without much trouble, and as long as the a/c installed rather quickly, so keep on the real estate and keep asking them.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

hi geoff thanks for reassuring me about the window, hopefully they will be able to fix it easily

i am emailing them now every few days to check in the status of the air con and the agent is ignoring me

not sure if it's okay for me to call the tradesman directly who has been assigned to it - he'd probably know more as he has to send everything on for approval. I have just emailed them now a few times asking what the status is with the air con and where it stands, have the body corporate approved it etc....

They are not replying to me....

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, the real estate may not know the final decision, even though it's been OK, they may have to wait until there is a body corporate meeting, but there is no harm ringing the tradesman, that's what I would be doing.

The other option is the landlord may be away somewhere and can't be contacted.

Good luck.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff,
Thanks so much you were exactly right. The real estate agent was not responding because there was an issue over which she had little control.
She said they are struggling to find a place to put the condenser.
There is a laneway beside the apartments (not for cars... jut for ppl) which I saaw no issue there - but apparantly they cannot put there. Maybe the body corporate vetoed?

Now they are looking at the back of the apartment, which seems trickier, and they've asked me to photograph that area so they can try and get approval to put it there. Just wandering what your take is on this? Do u think the body corporate were annoyed at the first location (I see no obvious issue putting it there... no cars go there and only a few ppl on their way to the apartments).... The tradesman seemed to thnk it was fine to put it there.

Now that location is off the table for the condenser, the real estate agent seems to be scrambling to find another place to put it and I'm a little anxious that they won't find something suitable

Thanks so much

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, the laneway is probably not the best place to put the condenser, only because you aren't sure who going to be walking up and down the lane and possibly messing around with it.

I have an old friend I used to pick up three times a week and take him shopping, don't now because my son takes me shopping, however, this friend lives in a group of 40 housing units and there is a laneway where young kids use it, rather than having to go around the block, but at times they turn off all the gas metres and in winter it's inconvenient because all the heaters are gas.

Do you have a carport attached to the house, it could be put there or at the back, although it might be tricky, can you prune some trees/bushes, they'll grow back, it's just getting the unit a place to sit, or it can be attached to the wall off the ground.

It's not up to the real estate to decide where it should be, people working there come and go all the time and each person has a different idea than the previous person, so I wouldn't worry too much about what they think if it can be put in the back yard then nobody will know it's there.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff,

There is a private back area although it's quite narrow and small, they want to put it there.
They asked me to send pictures of the area there in the back, it was a little hard to capture but i sent a few photos, about a week ago. I've been emailing asking if they need more pictures or if that area looks suitable from the pictures, but I haven't heard back for about 1 week.
I'm not sure what's going on as it seems a bit delayed and no updates from anyone.
They've ignored all my emails so far regarding this... bit unsure if they will find a spot and install it in the end. I worry maybe their lack of response is because there isn't so much wall space there for the condenser

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff I was also curious to ask - I ordered a lamp in December (boxing day sale) and it was meant to come in May. They've now said it's coming in another month due to further delays.
They offered to pay me 15 dollars back from the price but i think this isn't so much.... could I ask the ombudsmen about this? Are they allowed to just delay things infinitely?

I've been waiting now 6 months for this lamp

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, it must be so annoying for you to not get any answer, but the condenser can stay on the ground and still be installed, where I am it's on brackets but only just off the ground because the driveway is on an angle.

I would be going to the real estate and ask them what's going on because the present heater isn't working and by law, you need a heater.

You can go to VCAT ( Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and every State would have the same tribunal if this keeps on dragging on.

In regards to the lamp, which they said would arrive in May, may have been a popular lamp so stock could have run out, so did you actually pay $15 yourself or is this a reduced price.

If it was me and I paid $15 I'd probably want a refund, annoying though and look for another one.

You don't know how long they will draw this out and this is probably the quickest way, there might be another one online you can buy.

I'm sorry that this has also happened but get an answer from the r/estate or if you know the landlord ask them.

Take care.

Geoff.