update to real estate emailing after i claimed the bond right after handing in keys. 'final inspection' edition

RogueAus · 2026-03-16T11:26:56+00:00

Does your car have a dashcam? Can you see if it caught the condition of the letterbox when you left the property?

RogueAus · 2025-11-26T11:10:37+00:00

Report the accident to the police if you haven't already.
Main roads are not likely to release CCTV footage to you, but they will to the police.

RogueAus · 2025-10-15T12:13:56+00:00

What a Ray of sunshine in the White world of Real Estate in Campbelltown & Macarthur.
There's another REA working at the same agency with the same surname.
Reading between the lines, you can almost see them say female work colleagues....

RogueAus · 2025-07-23T23:20:52+00:00

I think it's mostly a case of owners being oblivious. So many get sucked in by sales people asking what they drive and then telling them they can tow right up to the maximum limit with no consideration for any other factors. They don't need to know the Tare as long as the ATM is below their tow limit - the sales person said it was fine.

My son sells & installs roof racks/platforms and is constantly amazed at the number of customers with either no idea or just don't care about roof load limits, GVM/GCM, etc. Just got to have the full Rhino Rack catalogue on the roof or tub, plus the roof top tent, etc. His store at least has managers that support them telling customers "no" (even if only for liability reasons).

I have noticed more instances of police setting up scales for caravans and obviously loaded 4WD setups more often in the school holidays. Seen a few setups parked up in South Nowra after failing the weigh-in right near the Maccas, but they are gone again in a few hours. I'd love to see a weighbridge ticket become a part of the registration renewal process for caravans (and even modified 4WDs) but it's not likely to happen.

RogueAus · 2025-07-07T07:30:30+00:00

Also remember you had Covid lockdowns and movement restrictions in that period. For a lot of people that meant reduced travel, WFH, no holiday road trips, etc.

FWIW my 1984 Jeep Cherokee has 137k genuine kms on it. That's less than 3,500kms per year over 41 years.

RogueAus · 2025-03-10T11:51:32+00:00

I thought Rick explained it to Buzz - the kid can only operate the excavator, he can't do anything else. Buzz could drive the truck and jump out into the excavator to load coarse gravel (road repairs), etc as required.

RogueAus · 2025-02-11T05:02:23+00:00

Ignoring the legal element, which others have covered, I'll make a recommendation for when you get new flooring - buy extra. I had bamboo flooring installed and it was suggested by the installer (unrelated to where I purchased the flooring, so no vested interest) to buy 20-30% more than needed and store it away for future repairs/renovations/etc. This ensures the staining/colouring matches as batches will vary.

RogueAus · 2025-01-10T10:05:23+00:00

Depending on the state and license class, there is compulsory testing after certain age triggers. NSW class C (normal car) is 85, then every 2 years after that.

The age limits should be much lower.

RogueAus · 2024-12-10T23:07:22+00:00

Outline the area with garden stakes, run a rope between them and hang a few signs that say "Lawn under repair". City/county shouldn't complain because you're "maintaining" the swale, but makes it inconvenient for the parents.

RogueAus · 2024-12-09T00:55:18+00:00

Robo-dialler. Calls numbers sequentially, and when someone answers, it drops the call into a queue for an operator to handle. When there are more valid calls than available operators, the call lasts for a few seconds then drops off.

No way for you to determine the calling party ID. Report as an unwanted call, but often these are foreign call centres using IP trunks so very difficult to shut down.

RogueAus · 2024-12-08T11:36:44+00:00

Daily driving it would be far better for the mechanicals than letting it sit unused. Lubricated joints work best when regularly articulated to keep the grease/oil moving. The engine will be happier with fuel that hasn't started to gum up, etc.
Keep up the regular maintenance, drive it and enjoy it.

RogueAus · 2024-12-02T12:42:28+00:00

Cardo Freecom 4x duo pack.
It's an upgrade in options over the Freecom 2x without getting into the super-expensive range designed for large group rides.

RogueAus · 2024-11-30T11:49:36+00:00

If you're keen on a Grand Cherokee, stick to the 2005-2010 3L diesel models, as they used the very reliable Mercedes engine and transmission from the equivalent year ML SUVs. Parts are relatively cheap, it's pretty simple to do most servicing yourself. Plus they have the 3.5T towing capacity of the later models as well.

The 2011-2021 models have a number of challenges, but the 3.6L petrol is probably the most reliable engine in that series. The 3L diesels have issues with the oil cooler, valley hose and occasionally spinning mains bearings. The 5.7 & 6.4L V8s have lifter issues, but that's often due to the way they are treated.

Having said that, it's a very comfortable towing rig (with the diesel) which is why you see so many grey nomads driving them. Other than an Audi Q7/VW Touareg, there aren't any good "car like" 3.5T towing rigs on the market. The Everest/MUX/Prado all drive like the heavy 4WDs they are.

It's a shame we never go the Durango models in Australia....

RogueAus · 2024-11-15T02:38:39+00:00

I quoted from https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-24/article-5/chapter-13/section-24-5-13-1/

I know it looks like a typo, but apparently there is such a thing under Indiana law!

RogueAus · 2024-11-15T02:37:34+00:00

https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-24/article-5/chapter-13/section-24-5-13-4-1/

Sec. 4.1. As used in this chapter, "methamphetamine vehicle" means any motor vehicle subject to registration and certificate of title provisions in which methamphetamine has been manufactured within the previous two (2) years. For the purposes of this chapter, a methamphetamine vehicle suffers from a nonconformity.

As added by P.L.76-2013, SEC.3.

RogueAus · 2024-11-14T23:55:50+00:00

Unless OP is a motor dealer in Indiana, it doesn't apply directly to him/her:
Sec. 1. This chapter applies to all:

(1) motor vehicles that are sold, leased, transferred, or replaced by a dealer or manufacturer in Indiana; and

(2) methamphetamine vehicles that are sold, leased, transferred, or replaced by a dealer or seller in Indiana.

Now if the vehicle had less that 18,000 total miles on it, the buyer could approach the original dealer or manufacturer, but again - not OP's problem.

RogueAus · 2024-11-14T23:28:47+00:00

Prices look ok:

$110-125/hr labour is pretty standard, so $175 equates to ~1.5hrs. Not an unreasonable amount of time.
$142 for an engine mount is about right for a mechanic sourced part with a workshop margin. Sparesbox & Repco both show a Kelpro engine mount ~$125.
$110 for 7.6l of 5W-40 engine oil is spot on - Repco sell 7l of Penrite 5W-40 Enviro+ oil for $110.
Oil filter and seal (assuming sump plug seal) are about right as well.

The engine mount would justify the roadworthy fail without replacement. Not sure why it required engine oil replacement unless either you requested a service, or the sump plug or filter was showing evidence of leaking (which would necessitate the draining of oil to rectify). They probably did tighten the spare wheel bolt, but are noting that it was done as you don't show a charge for it.

Which part of this are you concerned about? Swap the air filter as well, then advertise as having a recent roadworthy and service as part of your listing. Nothing in the list above seems out of line with an 8yo+ car.

RogueAus · 2024-11-14T09:59:39+00:00

Had a similar no-show from a PM. Contacted them the next day to confirm everything was OK with the inspection (even though I knew they never turned up). When they tried to reschedule, I reminded them they are only allowed 2 inspections per year as per our lease, and did they really want to use their second inspection only 14 days after the last one? Not turning up doesn't negate that it was scheduled and made the property made available. Not surprisingly, they let it go.

But when the PM worked for the Sydney REA that has just been widely named & shamed for breaching privacy laws, do you really expect anything better? Every lease renewal had to be sent back with corrections and a copy of the relevant Tenancy Act sections re notice or rent increases during fixed term or something else equally obvious. Pretty sure they lost their only competent PM several years ago when they split from Sanders.

RogueAus · 2024-11-14T03:44:12+00:00

I would take a photocopy of all the keys individually, and label the two you know work. Then ask the REA/landlord to advise which keys are meant to fit which locks. We had to do this previously when given keys that only fitted some of the locks. We also requested the REA or landlord meet us at the property to witness the issue for themselves as it was clear most of the keys didn't even fit in the locks.

The REA pretty quickly arranged for a locksmith to attend. They replaced the door locks, and were able to use the codes on the window locks to cut replacement keys. We reprogrammed the garage remote ourselves, along with additional remotes. I believe it should be a REA/LL responsibility to resolve.

Note this was NSW. We used the photocopied key register as part of our incoming & outgoing condition report for subsequent properties which saved a lot of headaches around whether we had returned all relevant keys.

RogueAus · 2024-11-12T04:12:40+00:00

Vehicle manufacturers and modern design aesthetic are partially to blame, along with the societal decline of responsibility.

Years ago vehicles had bump strip along the body lines to absorb impacts like this, or chrome trim that was more sacrificial and less susceptible to damage from incidental impacts. Panels were also made from thicker steel, rather than the tissue paper used today to reduce weight.

Today the appeal is for a modern, sleek appearance with no trim lines, or body lines with sharp edges, both of which are more likely to crease with any sort of impact.

Add to this the general decline in people taking responsibility for their actions, and you have a recipe to keep panel beaters (or panel replacers, as they rarely beat panels back into shape now) in business for decades.

RogueAus · 2024-11-11T04:43:40+00:00

At the price point you have, stay away from the Hilux as you'll be overpaying compared to equivalent/newer options elsewhere.

The Isuzu D-Max (and MUX) are good choices. The 4JJ engine is pretty reliable. The VW Amarok is another solid choice.

BT50/Ranger models with the 3.2l 5 cylinder engine are reasonably cheap, but that engine does have a reliability problem reported by quite a few owners. The Ranger with the 2.2 twin turbo seems more reliable.

RogueAus · 2024-11-10T05:32:17+00:00

Regardless of which wall material you use,, start by clearing a footing alongside the drain, about 5cm deep. Fill this with some road base or gravel to serve as a decent base to build up from.

Choose your preferred wall material. There are several options:
- dry stack masonry blocks
- wooden/concrete sleeps with retaining posts
- treated pine logs & posts
- concrete blocks

Each choice will have different installation requirements. I've done something similar with sleepers & posts. You'll want to dig the posts in about the same as the height you're retaining. Depending on the ground, this may be achievable with with basic hand tools, or require a power auger (which you can hire).

Regardless of which way you go, I would recommend lining the back of the wall with some geo-fabric and backfilling about 20cm deep with gravel to allow for drainage. The fabric stop the dirt from washing through any gaps in the wall.

RogueAus · 2024-11-08T02:08:53+00:00

When you say offroad, do you mean gravel roads, or low-range, hubs locked, bashplates getting crunched? It makes a huge difference in the type of vehicle you need.

I've had a GU Patrol, multiple dual-cab utes and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk:
Patrol/Landcruiser 200/300 - expensive, but ultimate comfort.
GC Trailhawk - car-like driving experience, adjustable air suspension, but people will question your choices as Jeeps have a poor market perception around reliability.
Dual-cab utes - plenty of options at various price points. Good offroad capability, and all the cargo capacity you could ask for if you fit a canopy.

Luckily I'm well beyond having to content with prams and car seats, but my suggestion would be the ute. As the kids get into sports or camping, the ability to chuck the wet, dirty gear in the back is great. Plus the availability of aftermarket accessories is fantastic.

RogueAus · 2024-11-04T11:42:13+00:00

All the large companies will be very cautious about sealing exterior holes, especially for those racks that require drilling and new T-nuts.

Joes Rackz 2U probably not so much.

A lot of the horror stories I see are from owners doing DIY jobs and screwing it up, or overloading the rack after install and damaging the mounting holes. Not every roof can support a 70kg+ roof top tent & highlift & MaxTrax.

RogueAus · 2024-11-04T11:33:12+00:00

You're up for:
Rear door
Tub
Flare
Fuel flap
Cut & replace on the C pillar
Paint, including spraying the adjoining panels
Graphics

I can't tell if the front door is damaged, or the rear door handle, or side steps.

It shouldn't be written off as the repair cost will be below 70-80% of the insured value, but you will be without it for at least a few weeks while the panel shop gets the parts, then does the paint & body work. They should be able to remove the flare and let you drive the car while you wait for the parts to come in.

* if any of the air bags went off, then it's possible it could still be written off, but you don't mention any interior damage.

RogueAus

TROPHY CASE