Make your house a star

You may not realise it, but the house you are living in could soon be making you money and you don't even need to leave your lounge room.

Production companies and photographers are constantly on the look out for the perfect house to film a new commercial, television series or magazine spread – and your house could be next.

It's the money making enterprise that could see you reaping big rewards.

Homeowners can earn up to tens of thousands of dollars for a long TV series, where crews need to return each week.
If you don't want to worry about crews in your house on a weekly basis, you can simply 'rent' out your house for a one day photo shoot which could earn you up to $2000.

What makes your home a potential star?

• The biggest thing to keep in mind is the size of the home - crews need enough room to work
• Easy access to the house is important for gear
• Plenty of parking for trucks and equipment in the neighbourhood is also important
• A quiet location when filming and recording sound

If you're interested in having your house involved, please visit the following websites.

MelbourneMichael Gaffney

Gaff1@optusnet.com.au

SydneyLimitless Locations

www.limitlesslocations.com.au

Ph: 02 9300 0153

AdelaideContact the South Australian Film Corporation and search for location managers. www.safilm.com.au

Western AustraliaContact Screenwest for contacts of location managers

www.screenwest.com.au

Brisbane

Contact your local film organisation

(Source: Ninemsn)

Domestic Building Contract (7) - SA

You must have a written contract if the value of the building work is $12,000 and over ($5,000 and over prior to 15 October 2001).

A building contract must :

• be in writing and legible
• set out all terms
• show the business name of the contractor and licence number and the names and licence numbers of business partners (if applicable)
• be signed by the contractor and owner (or their agents) and
• stipulate a fixed price (can include a “rise and fall clause”), and payment terms.

More information can be found at: http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/licensing/buildingworkers/obligations/domestic.html

(Source: Office of Consumer and Business Affairs SA)

How do I get an owner-builder permit? - NSW

To get an owner-builder permit, you must apply at a Fair Trading Centre and show that:

• you are over 18 years old
• you own the land or have a prescribed interest in the land (certificate of title or rate notice)
• you live or intend to live in the completed home or one dwelling of the dual occupancy as your principal residence.

You must also provide:

• a description and address of the proposed work with a copy of the plans and council development application number or complying development certificate number
• the owner-builder permit application fee
• evidence that you have completed an approved owner-builder course, where the value of the proposed work is over $12,000. A permit cannot be issued for work that has already commenced.

There are no exemptions from the need to complete a course unless you hold an approved equivalent qualification.
A spouse or relative will not be issued with an owner-builder permit for their partner’s or family’s land.
Also, there are specific rules for applicants where a company owns the land.

(Source: NSW Fair Trading)

Home Building Contract (6) - QLD

Building Services Authority (BSA) Contract Packs

Click here

(Source: bca.qld.gov.au)

Home Building Contract (5) - QLD

Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000

The Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000 (the DBC Act) was introduced to provide improved protection and information to Queensland home owners undertaking domestic building work valued at more than $3300 (including labour, materials and GST). It is important to understand the key provisions of the Act (detailed below), especially as some contractors may seek to use contract documentation which does not comply with this new legislation.

Written contracts

All domestic building work valued at $3,300 or more must be covered by a written contract which complies with the DBC Act. Home owners should carefully check their contract documentation and, if necessary, seek legal advice before signing to ensure it complies with the Act. BSA produces a range of contracts which comply with the Act and cover all types of domestic building work – the 'Major Works' Contract Pack recommended for domestic building projects with a contract price exceeding $40,000 to the construction of an entire house (i.e. Designated Stages Contract); 'Minor Works' Contract Pack recommended for domestic building projects from $3,301 to $40,000 (e.g. renovations), and the Contract for Small Building Projects for work less than $3300.

The 'Cooling-off' period

All contracts for domestic building work valued at over $3300 must advise home owners of their right to a 'cooling-off' period. Under the DBC Act home owners may withdraw from the contract during the cooling-off period, usually within 5 business days of receiving from the contractor a copy of both the signed contract and a BSA-approved Contract Information Statement. The home owner must give written notice of their intention to withdraw to the contractor and pay certain costs (usually $100 plus ‘out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the contractor before the building owner withdrew from the contract’).

Information statements

The DBC Act requires contractors to provide home owners with a signed copy of the contract, together with a BSA-approved Contract Information Statement, within 5 business days of entering into the contract. Contract Information Statements contain general information relating to the contract for the benefit of home owners. BSA has two versions of a Contract Information Statement (available from any BSA Office) known as the BSA Major Works Consumer Guide and BSA Minor Works Information Statement. Be sure to carefully read the Contract Information Statement you are given by the contractor before you sign the contract.

Variations

Failure to fully and accurately document changes to the original contract (commonly known as 'variations' ) is a frequent cause of building disputes. All variations requested by the contractor must be put in writing and copied to the home owner as soon as practicable. The only exception is if the work is required urgently and it is not reasonably practicable to produce a variation document before commencing work. If a variation requested by a contractor involves additional work, the home owner is only liable to pay for that extra work if the contractor could not reasonably have foreseen the extra work at the time of contracting. The contractor must not demand payment for variations before the work has commenced.

(Source: bsa.qld.gov.au)

Home Building Contract (4) - VIC

Builders and consumers are required to have a formal written contract for most work worth more than $5000. Builders must give the building owner a copy of the contract and all relevant documents such as plans and specifications.

To successfully manage your building contract, you must be actively involved in planning the content of the contract. You need to make sure that everything you want in the construction of the new home or renovation is included. If details are not included in the contract, the builder is not required to deliver them.

What must be included

Before signing your domestic building contract, check that it contains all details required by the Act. The contract must:

• be written clearly in English
• set out the full terms of the contract
• give detailed descriptions of the work to be carried out under the contract
• include plans and specifications containing enough information to obtain a building permit for the work
• state the names and addresses of the parties to the contract
• state the registration number as it appears on the builder's registration certificate
• state the date when the work is to start, or how that date is to be determined
• state the builder will do everything that is reasonably possible to start work as soon as possible, if the start date is not known
• state a finish date, or if the start date is not known, the number of days that will be required to finish the work once it has started
• state the contract price, or in the case of a cost plus contract, how the amount that the builder is to be paid is to be determined
• state the date the contract is made
• set out details of the insurance required under the Building Act 1993
• give clear advice about the five-day cooling-off period
• have a separate section including definitions of words used in the contract
• show which words used in the contract are included in the list of definitions
• set out warranties implied into the contract
• contain an approved checklist.

Types of Contracts

Contracts are prepared by a number of organisations and are available for a range of different types of domestic building work, including works under $5000.

(Source: consumer.vic.com.au)

Home Building Contract (3) - WA

What is a contract?

A contract is a formal agreement that sets out in writing the arrangement between the homeowner and the person undertaking the work. The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 requires that a contract must be in writing, however the form that a contract can take ranges from a detailed quotation for a small job, through to a number of documents bundled together (including drawings and specifications) as happens for a new home, major renovation or swimming pool installation.

What should be in a contract?

A contract must contain all the terms, conditions and provisions of the agreement, and must be dated and signed by both parties to make the contract legally binding. If these requirements aren’t met, the homeowner can terminate the contract at any time before the work is completed simply by notifying the builder in writing. In addition, by not abiding by the conditions of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 a builder can be fined up to $2,000.

Price Rises ‘Rise and fall’ clauses are prohibited under the Home Building Contracts Act 1991, meaning that the contract price must be "fixed". Any attempt to incorporate these into a contract can attract a $10,000 fine. Some price-rise clauses can be written into the contract to accommodate increases in actual costs after the contract has been signed, such as changes to State or Commonwealth laws, taxes or duty, or delays not caused by the builder. Special conditions also apply to ‘cost plus’ contracts.

Deposits

Deposits must not exceed 6.5% of the total cost of the work. If the builder takes a deposit more than this then the homeowner has the right to terminate the contract before the work is completed.

Progress Payments

Progress payments must be stipulated in the contract and must only be claimed for work actually completed or materials already supplied. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in a penalty up to $10,000.

Contract Variations

Variations to a contract must be signed and dated by both parties with a copy given to the homeowner before any variation work has commenced. Exceptions include changes resulting from directions given by the local government building surveyor or from an unforeseeable circumstances.

Workmanship Defects

Builders are liable to make good defects in home building work where notified in writing within 4 months of practical completion. This is to be at no extra cost to the homeowner. The Builders’ Registration Act 1939 also gives power to the Building Disputes Tribunal to issue an Order to Remedy on a builder where work is found to be faulty or unsatisfactory up to six years from completion.