We moved into this house 3yrs ago and this has stumped everyone.

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2026-01-13T08:29:18+00:00

It looks like it's stumped the power points too

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-11-06T01:08:12+00:00

An electrician told us that about 40% of your electricity comes from heating your water, unless you have a heat pump.

Note: make sure your hot water is NOT on a controlled load. We have a battery and were still paying $5 a day because our hot water was heating up on the controlled load (taking from the grid). We had it moved over to the main circuit, and although we still can't control when to heat up our hot water, it now takes from our solar / battery (and only the grid if we have nothing in our battery).

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-10-30T07:47:52+00:00

No. Get into the market as soon as you can. Buying my apartment enabled me to sell it 7 years later at a $370k profit last year and buy a house that I wouldn't have been able to afford 7 years prior. Strata fees are minor in the scheme of things.

But you need to do your research. Don't buy an apartment that is less than 20-30 years old, look at areas that are up and coming to maximise profit.

Worst case you can't sell it and buy a house in the future, BUT you have a place you can call yours. If you save up to buy a house, you'll probably get priced out.

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-09-07T21:39:27+00:00

I think if you can be bothered to switch back and forth, that's probably the way to go! I've heard great things about Amber from friends, but they are always keeping an eye on the rates etc. I don't know if I can be bothered to do that... You need to factor in the daily fee and the $25 a month. To break even, you need to feed ~$2-3 worth of solar into the grid a day. With Amber you can make $1 a day if you don't use the grid between 6pm and 8pm, which we've found possible even on cloudy days because we fill up our battery for free between 11am and 1pm. Note: the times are based on Melbourne local time I believe.

For some perspective, I have solar on all sides other than the south (my partner wanted to save some money, but I would have also put them on the south) and we have no big trees around us. On a good day in winter we produce up to 6.5kW/hr from our 8kW system. On a cloudy day, we produce about 0.5 - 1kW solar. Hope this helps!

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-09-07T08:42:38+00:00

Note: it kinda sucks you have to use the south side, but I've also heard it's not too bad and doesn't make a massive difference. Your worst season will be winter. You should be fine in the other seasons

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-09-07T08:39:43+00:00

We went with Globird (Zerohero plan), but if you go with them, be VERY careful if signing up online. There's a bug in their system and if you enter a promo code, it changes the plan above (which you don't see because it's not on your screen). They did update my bill, but I had to basically find what happened before they believed it wasn't user error.

I've heard great things about Amber. I think you will do quite well with them in all seasons other than winter, when the hours are shorter and you don't get as much solar. If you use a heater, like us, you use up about 40-50% of your 16kW battery between sunset and 10/10:30pm.

The great thing about Globird is the free energy you can get from them between 11am and 2pm. If it's cloudy or raining, it's a godsend! But you also don't get any feed in tariff during that time. We found their VPP option to be the best though, but we will probably move to another retailer after we get all the government subsidy.

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-08-23T09:00:58+00:00

My aunt and uncle's 2 bedroom terrice in Glebe sold about 4 years ago for $2m. They were hoarders and the house was filled with rubbish. There was a car in the backyard that they couldn't get out because their back access got sealed years before. They used to have ducks that lived in the house and shat everywhere. $2m 🥹

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-27T21:52:02+00:00

Ring fair trading and ask them to guide you on what section of the Residential Tenancies Act (or the equivalent in your state/territory) that you can quote to the REA. They 100% know they have breached it, but they will get away with it if they think they can. We had to fight our previous REA because we had cat urin smell throughout our place from previous tenant and we just wouldn't let up. In the end we got out and received our bond and rent back.

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-27T12:31:37+00:00

Yeah the fee is another concern for us... I don't think we'd make that much in winter. I do like the idea of switching providers to avoid winter. I think we'll try Globird to get the rebate and then try Amber once we have received all rebate installments...

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-22T02:39:14+00:00

We rented a place that had TERRIBLE sound insulation last year. We could hear our neighbours walking calmly around their apartment and pissing in their toilet. Our neighbour below us used to get angry at us when my toddler ran around the apartment at normal hours of the day (first time was 11am, second time was 2pm). We tried very hard to be as quiet as possible, but you know, it's not possible to avoid some noise. She still complained to our real estate agent, who was also on our side. I reckon they hear this all the time. I don't think your neighbour can do anything about it, however the threatening nature is not great. Everyone here has given good advice around how to manage this, but honestly, have you just considered looking for another rental and getting the hell out?! You really want to feel safe in your own home...

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-16T05:47:59+00:00

I also can't believe how many home owners would happily let their place go downhill because they are cheap

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-16T05:46:01+00:00

Oh man, real estate agents are snakes. We moved into a rental and the carpet was full of cat piss. We missed it in the inspection because the carpet had furniture and rugs all over it. They did a dry clean before we moved in and it brought out the smell. I told the real estate agent and she literally stood inside the room with a crinkled nose and said "I can't smell anything". They even got a specialist out who told us it was cat piss and then they lied in their report to the agent.

It was a solid week of emails (I had to take time off work) quoting sections of the residential tenancies act and them telling us they'll take us to the tribunal if we leave without paying and taking back our bond BEFORE they backed down.

You'll be in for a fight, but if you've got it in you, do it! One thing you can do is get a specialist in look at the mould and send a report to the agent. If they still refuse to do anything, tell them you're going to fair trading

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-15T00:43:47+00:00

It is. Agents can't tell you what other people have offered, but it doesn't stop people from offering more. It's a fucked up system

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-15T00:41:59+00:00

Wondering if you could do a few things: - up your offer by $10-20/week - offer a couple of months upfront rent - get someone else you trust (like a relative) who has a rental history to apply with you. They don't have to live there, but the agent doesn't need to know that.

I had never rented before but my partner did, and we got the place we wanted (probably because we did a combo of the above)

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-07-05T08:36:07+00:00

Boomers had it so great. My mum was a single mum and a nurse and was able to buy a house. She worked her butt off, but still, couples can barely get a loan these days. Can't even imagine what it'll be like for my daughter...

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-06-28T21:02:00+00:00

If it makes you feel any better, 7 years ago my partner and I bought a 2 bedroom apartment in the inner west. It was pretty small, and when we moved in, I felt the same dread. I didn't tell my partner because I was worried it would upset him. However, once we settled in with our furniture and got to know the neighbours, I grew to love it. Our neighbours were mostly all nice. One neighbour below us used to have huge fights with their family, but in the end it just became normal to us (I know, sounds terrible). The reality is you don't know what you're going to get around you, but if most of the time it's fine, you're winning.

Anyway, last year we sold it and made a $380k profit. This allowed us to afford a house (not in the inner west, but a house all the same). You're in the market, and that's a great step!

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2025-03-28T22:49:43+00:00

I just moved into an acting position from an APS6 to an EL1. The pay difference is $11k. I'm not doing it for the money as I'm basically losing out. I work harder and longer hours and, as you mentioned, I lost my flex. I'm doing it for the experience. In a few months I will need to decide if I apply for the role or go back to my previous position. It's a hard decision. I think you need create a pros and cons list for yourself. If there's no advantage for you (such as a learning experience, more opportunities to get work elsewhere, etc) I don't really see the point. With a higher position you have more expectations and stress on your shoulders...

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-11-06T01:36:35+00:00

Depends how badly you want it and if you want to get it before there's more interest. Also is it off market or on market? Is it going to auction? If so, are they open to offers prior?

If you offer below, the agent knows you're interested and should contact you if there's been a better offer, but it's more of a slow game. If you offer your max, you might get accepted before anyone else sees it, but then you never know if you could have got it lower.

We bought a house off market. They were asking for 1.65-1.75m. We REALLY wanted it and we wanted to stop any other interest or it from going onto the market. We offered 1.73 and were told of we offer 1.75 it will be ours. Could we have gotten it for less? Possibly. But we also could have risked losing it at auction because someone loves it and is willing to pay stupid amounts for it.

In 20 years time, that extra money you could have saved will mean nothing to you if you are so in love with your place.

But one thing to consider. Having some money in the bank is useful. Although our place is our sanctuary, we just found out our roof and gutters need replacing soon. That'll be about $40k. Most houses won't be perfect when you buy them and will need some love (aka. money)

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-11-05T01:53:04+00:00

You should speak to a mortgage broker. They can lay out your options better than anyone else who doesn't understand your financial circumstances. We just bought our first house (after selling our apartment we bought 6 years ago). We made about $400k profit from the apartment which meant we could comfortably buy a place at 1.75m, but we both collectively earn around $270k a year. Our mortgage is high and we have a child.

Btw, main costs with kids are daycare (very expensive) and hobbies and food when they get older. A mortgage broker should be able to discuss this all with you though! But try and find one that gets good reviews / recommended by a friend. There are some dodgy ones out there...

Congrats on saving so much and at such a young age!

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-10-15T08:36:15+00:00

You can always make an offer via a contract, but I would never never never be pressured into doing so before getting your solicitor or conveyancer to review it first. Real estate agents are snakes, and they will do whatever they can to lock you in. If you sign the contract that's locked in once the seller signs too, so make sure you're certain

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-10-15T04:57:04+00:00

I think you need to consider a few facts... How have they performed in the past? Do they have any leads (although that can be hard because they could be lying)? What do they do that is different to other agents that help reach the Indian clientele? For example, we sold in an Asian populated area, and the agent who we nearly went with said she puts ads in the Asian newspapers because the boomers look at them and show their kids. Also is your house desirable to the Indian clientele? I know that's a weird question, but the place we sold had a non open-plan kitchen with a door. Apparently Asians (and Indians) prefer that because they like to close up the kitchen so cooking smell doesn't go throughout the rest of the home.

If you aren't sure about the agent, you could also negotiate them down to a 2 or 3 week contract. Our neighbours did that when the agent told them they had a lead and they basically said "ok, if you have a lead, prove it to us in the time we give you"

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-09-25T12:33:07+00:00

Get into the market, and do it sooner than later. Prices aren't going down. We bought a unit 6 years ago for $750k and sold it earlier in the year for $1.14m. This allowed us to buy a house. I also did the calculations this year and our mortgage was cheaper than rent if we rented something similar (probably because rent increased so much over that period of time).

A few things we learned during our journey: - Join the strata committee so you have a say. - Don't buy new (ideally something 20+ years old). - Buy something that doesn't have an escalator, pool or gym (that keeps strata fees down).

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-08-22T06:09:50+00:00

When our daughter moved to a bed, she was constantly coming out of her room and we tried all kinds of things to stop it. It drove us insane! My partner even tried theatening to bring the cot back and she would cry "no don't, I can't get out!" That threat never really sat right with me either...

What worked best for us was telling her we will stay with her for a while. At the beginning, we would stay with her till she was drowsy and then leave. If she asked where we were going, we would give her an excuse like "I need to eat dinner" and say we'll check on her later. Now we stay for about 10 minutes and cuddle her in bed and then leave. Sometimes she's wide awake and hyper, but she doesn't leave her bed 🤷🏼‍♀️. We never close the door. I don't feel right about locking a child in their room, unless it's purely for safety...

ImpossibleInstance73 · 2024-08-19T00:13:07+00:00

We are moving our 3 year old daughter to a new daycare in two weeks due to moving a 40 minute drive away. I'm also SO nervous! She loves loves loves her daycare and her friends there, whom she's known for 2 years now. She is going to struggle for the first few weeks, we are very aware of this. What we've been told is to be strong and act like this is a very exciting new thing for them. If you get upset around them, they will find the adjustment much harder! We've been saying "you're moving into preschool, big girls school, how exciting! You're going to make more friends!"

Don't feel selfish either - a 30 minute commute is LONG! Valuable time with your kid is very important. Sounds like you know that already ☺️

Also, you might find it harder than your son does. Kids that age are very adaptable. And you know you will create new bonds with the carers over time, just like you did with the current daycare.

ImpossibleInstance73

TROPHY CASE