KEEPING FAMILY TOGETHER IN MOORA

THE COOGEE COMPACT LUXURY

SAVING MONEY THIS WINTER

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T our communityYOUR GUIDE TO BUILDING IN REGIONAL WA

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our community

Welcome to the ‘Winter’ edition of Our Community Magazine.

Your guide to building in regional W.A.

At the beginning of April I announced we were getting two new display homes at our Maddington Display Village. The makeover is now well underway with workers and earthmoving equipment removing the two existing display homes, the Echo Beach and Killara, in readiness for their new owners. Since we made the announcement, we have been inundated with queries from people wanting to know what the new homes will be and when they’ll be finished. Unfortunately I have to keep you all in suspense until the official launch, but what I will say is we are taking them to a new level, so stay tuned for details on their launch.

Our Maddington Display Village isn’t the only thing undergoing a makeover. We’re also in the process of building a new website, which will be compatible with mobile devices including phones and tablets. We’re very excited and look forward to it launching in July.

We’re in the thick of conducting a piece of research, facilitated by John Le Cras and Associates. Thank you in advance to those who participated. We will be sharing the results with you in coming months. When the economy was buoyant many new builders in the housing industry sprang into life with promises of quality, great customer service and cheaper builds, and with that brought the assumption of being around to service clients for years to come.

A number of these builders have now disappeared or emerged in financial trouble. This is terribly heartbreaking for those families who poured their life savings into a new home, only to be left waiting years for builds to be completed or losing money altogether.

I often come across builders offering deals that seem way too good to be true. Well they typically are too good to be true, otherwise why wouldn’t they offer them regularly? My advice is very simple and could save you a lot of money in the long run.

1. Do your research: Choose your builder based on its longevity and experience in the industry. TR Homes has been operating for more than 43 years and has endured many downturns in the economy and still managed to survive and grow.

2. Ask where materials come from: Many of the cheaper building companies use materials and supplies from overseas that might not be certified for Australian standards and they probably don’t tolerate our climate and environment. TR Homes use only premium brands like Colorbond and BlueScope Truecore® Steel.

3. Query their structural guarantee: This goes hand in hand with materials and supplies. All TR homes come with an industry best 10 year structural guarantee, while many other builders only offer six or seven. What is your intended builder offering?

4. Check their maintenance guidelines: Ask your builder about maintenance (so you know what’s considered maintenance and what’s not) and query how long it lasts. TR Homes offers a six month maintenance period, while many other builders only offer four months. We also give you a folder with checklists and guidelines to ease the process, and get you settled into your new home faster.

5. Ask as many questions as you can: Create a list of questions you want clarified. This will give you peace of mind that you have all bases covered when you are ready to pay a deposit and sign a contract. If you think a $30,000+ discount from another builder is too good to be true, it usually is. This cost is usually hidden or pops up later down the track during the build. Compare builders too, if one mentions something, query it with another. With TR Homes a contour survey and soil report is included in the price, while many other builders will charge for this after contracts are signed.

I hope these five tips help you choose your builder with ease and confidence.

Dale Putland TR Homes General Manager

NEW DISPLAY HOMES coming soon

YOUR GUIDE TO BUILDING IN REGIONAL WA

The light and bright Coogee is a contemporary twist on the classic granny flat. Boasting an extended living space, every detail of this sumptuous one-bedroom home has been carefully considered. From the built-in robe and linen cupboard in the spacious bedroom, to the ergonomically designed bathroom with a purpose-built space for a washing machine, the intelligently designed Coogee is as functional as it is inviting.

dream it. live it. love it.

The Coogee

x1 x1

Total 50sqm

Overall House Dimensions 12m long x 4.2m wide

THE COOGEESpecifications at a glance

Also includes: n Living room n Dining n Kitchen

TR 14/11/2012TR Homes, 105 Kelvin Road, Maddington, WA 6109 P 9493 2998 F 9493 1127 W trhomes.com.au

SKETCHCOOGEE

COPYRIGHT plans and specifications are and shall always remain the sole property of TR Homes and must not be given, lent, resold, hired out, copied, or otherwise disposed of without the written permission of that company

BROCHURE PLAN1:100

BED 1

ROBE

BATH/LDRY

KITCHEN

DINING

LIVING

3.4 X 3.1

6.6 X 4.0

ROOF AREA.. ROOF

Area65.79

AREA CALCULATIONS.. HOUSE

Area50.4050.40 m²

Perimeter( 36.000m)IN

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our community

1. DRESS FOR THE SEASONOne of the easiest ways to save money in winter is to turn down the heater and put on some warmer clothes. This doesn’t mean dressing for the Antarctic—it means putting on a jumper or blanket before you crank up the temperature. Each additional degree adds between 5 and 10 per cent to your energy use compared to the savings from simply rugging up can equal big savings this winter.

2. SHUT THE DOOR ON WASTED ENERGY Trying to heat the whole house can waste a lot of money. Shut the door to areas you aren’t using (like bathrooms and the laundry) and only heat the main rooms you’re using.

3. TURN IT OFFTurn off your heaters before going to bed and when you’re leaving the house—it’s cheaper and it’s safer too. House fires are more common in winter than summer, so consider doing a quick online fire safety audit to reduce your risks. Visit www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au

4. LET THE SUN SHINE INSolar panels may not be suitable for every home and budget but you could still be using the free power from the sun. Open your curtains when the sun is shining on them and close the curtains when the sun moves away. Using the sun’s energy will help boost the temperature for free.

5. DON’T USE THE SHOWER TO WARM UPHot water accounts for a large chunk of your power bill—about one quarter of the average bill—so try to avoid the temptation of using the shower to get warm. Staying in the shower uses up to 20 times as much energy as getting out and standing under two heat lamps instead. Even a few extra minutes in the shower will add to your power bill.

6. UNPLUG AND RUG UPDid you know that home entertainment systems and electronic gadgets are quietly adding to your power bills? Up to 10 per cent of the electricity used in your home is used on gadgets that are on standby. TVs, DVD and video players, game consoles, mobile phone chargers, microwave ovens, music docks and stereos are some of the biggest culprits. Turn off these gadgets at the power point when not using them and consider technology free evenings, playing board games or reading a book.

7. BE ACTIVE AND BECOME A ‘SWAPPER’Swapping car trips for walking or cycling is a great way to save money and keep fit during the winter months. It can make good sense to walk instead of using your car for short journeys. Cars cost a lot of money to run, especially when you’re paying for petrol, maintenance and the upfront cost of buying a car (or a second car). People-powered transport is good for your wallet, good for your health and good for the environment too!

8. USE A SOLAR CLOTHES DRYER Clothes dryers are very convenient—but remember you’re paying for this convenience. Rather than automatically putting your clothes into the dryer, use free energy from the sun and the wind to dry your clothes whenever you can. You can put clothes racks out in the sun and fresh air on verandahs or dry clothes indoors on a rack when the heater is already on.

9. REPLACE ELECTRIC LIGHTS WITH CANDLESOpt for one to two nights of electric-free lighting by burning candles instead. It’s a great way to save energy, money and provide an instant atmosphere of either romance or spooky fun, depending upon who is around to enjoy it. Stock up on sturdy, slow-burning candles that will cast a fair amount of light for several hours. Be sure to store your candles and matches in a safe place, and always monitor them when lit.

10. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT Worldwide, 30 per cent of food goes to waste. As well as costing you money, this food ends up in our garbage bins and in our tips where it produces methane—a harmful greenhouse gas that’s 21 times stronger than the emissions from your car. Much of the food waste in our kitchens comes from poor planning or from buying too much food so use shopping lists and check your pantry and fridge regularly to ensure you use up what’s there.

things you can do to save energy (and money) this winter!

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This information is adapted

from the Australian Government

Your Energy Savings website:

www.yourenergysavings.gov.au

YOUR GUIDE TO BUILDING IN REGIONAL WA

When Luke McCarthy isn’t flying Airbus A380s to exotic destinations all over the world, he and his family make the trip back to Rudds Gully (just out of Geraldton) to soak up the West Aussie sun.

Luke, a pilot, his wife and two kids (son aged 5 and daughter aged 2) are based in the Middle East, but every now and then make the trip home to holiday in WA.

He and his wife grew up on farms and want their kids to have similar experiences as them, even while living overseas.

“We love going back to our land for holidays so the kids can experience life outside of Dubai,” said Luke.

Already having a piece of land, they needed to build a home they could stay in during visits.

The Cottesloe was a perfect solution for them.

“We bought the Cottesloe because it’s great value for money as a holiday home, having enough space for the four of us in a modern well-constructed home, that feels like a home rather than a ‘donga’ … it’s a little bit of luxury while still being affordable and not overcapitalising the land.”

They plan to use the two bedroom Cottesloe as a granny flat for friends and family when they eventually move back to Australia, and build a bigger home on their land.

So what ultimately made them chose TR?

“Great service and assistance, and the willing to still do business over a handshake,” Luke said.

Last year we captured the journey of Nat and Karl Browning building the Pilbara in Narembeen through AbodeTV’s new show, Before & After. The show takes an up close look at a house before, during and after a build or renovation to show what can be achieved with a bit of imagination and hard work.

Thank you to our suppliers BlueScope Steel, Stramit, James Hardie and Jonesways Transport for their involvement. A big thank you especially to Nat and Karl, and their sister Belinda, who is happily enjoying her new TR home.

Watch the episode on our Facebook page or Youtube channel or download the Pilbara brochure from our website:

facebook.com/trhomeswa

youtube.com/user/TRHomeBuilders/videos

trhomes.com.au/homes/pilbara

Doing business over a handshake

TR Homes on TV

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our community

Welcome to the eighth edition of “Our Community” – hasn’t time flown by?! To say we have had a frenetic start to the year would be an understatement!

Sales have been made in areas ranging from Kalbarri in the north, to Falcon in the west, to Scaddan (near Esperance) in the east to Redmond West (down Albany way) in the south, so quite spread out which is a great sign of things to come.

Wagin Woolorama has been and gone – we had a great couple of days which included having our Marketing Manager (Nicole) with us to meet people through our enquiries, get a feel for what they are looking for in a house and to observe how the event is conducted – she loved the experience and will be back!

We will be heading to the Dowerin Field Days again this year. We’re looking forward to attending as it’s not only a great event but has always been a fertile place for TR Homes with a range of positive enquiries and resultant sales. Dowerin Field Days Coordinator, Jenna, is the proud owner of our Outback design which sits neatly on a farming property outside of Dowerin – it’s coming up to two years old now. Having caught up with Jenna recently, she indicated that she and her partner are loving the house and slowly adding the patios and decks to finish it off. Great to catch up with another happy customer.

The Community Network Program sets TR Homes apart from the rest in that you will often see me out and about in communities in rural and regional Western Australia working with our community partners, liaising with local governments about their housing needs and talking to existing owners and potential clients about their land and design requirements.

If you ‘like’ TR Homes on Facebook or follow @CNPTRhomes on Twitter, you can follow my journeys. Apart from giving funding to not for profit organisations in communities where we build a home (as a result of a referral from one of our 40 partners), we also (wherever possible) look to engage local contractors to complete works required on site when the houses are delivered.

Be on the lookout for our new “House Packages” coming to a partner near you, which provide potential clients with a realistic price for a new home. All too often I hear the catchcry, “but what about the hidden costs?!” Rest assured, as we roll out our house packages, they will include the following: a carport (single or double), porch, alfresco, floor coverings and window treatments. We’ve also included an allocation for your site works (based on a flat and easy to access block so may vary depending on the nature of your land), plumbing and electrical connections.

To find out where your closest Community Network Program partner is located visit www.trhomes.com.au/community-partners and ask them if they have our latest house packages. Don’t panic if your desired house package is not available as I can get one to you in a flash. If you don’t have a partner in your town, feel free to contact me direct on 0418 294 708 or via email: smason@trhomes.com.au

Don’t forget to give the TR Territory a wave if you see it out in the bush.

STEVE MASON Community Network Manager

Steve’s Chatter

YOUR GUIDE TO BUILDING IN REGIONAL WA

Alana is the smiling face behind the desk greeting every visitor to TR Homes. She manages reception including the very busy switchboard (the TR hotline) and guests visiting the Display Village, and also helps the Administration Department with contracts, surveys and lots more!

Alana has been working in the construction industry for over five years, in similar roles including a management assistant for a ceiling company (one of TR’s suppliers). Prior to that she had many customer serviced-based roles that has given her the background knowledge and confidence to excel at what she does today.

Friendly Alana loves talking to people and is really passionate about ensuring clients get the best possible service when visiting TR. She strives to make sure everyone leaves TR smiling.

Always challenging herself, Alana learnt to surf when she was 15 but lost the skills over the years. She’s picked up surfing again and hits the waves whenever she can.

Recently booking a winter holiday to Canada in 2016, Alana loves hearing where people have travelled and visited, and their experiences along the way.

CNP Partner in the spotlight: Tara Pittard

Name: Tara Pittard

Community Network Program partner since: 2013

Partner agency: Albany Prestige Realty

Years with that agency: 4 Years

Agency address: My work office is Shop 19 North Road Shopping Centre in Albany, but I work from my home office which is in Bremer Bay

Born in: Kellerberrin (grew up in Shackleton)

Resides in: On a Farm in Bremer Bay

Why Bremer Bay? Why not Bremer Bay! It is the most awesome place on earth – brilliant sandy white beaches with good fishing, great weather (believe it or not ), plenty of opportunity and ultimately the best lifestyle possible. We are spoilt rotten and now could not live anywhere else!

Where did you live prior to coming to Bremer Bay and what line of work were you involved in? Pingaring for a couple of years and Beacon for eight years before that, Perth and Albany before that! Mostly Farm work, Real Estate, Beauty Therapy and pub work too.

Do you use social media to promote your business: Not a lot, probably should do more, but still like living in the dark ages to an extent.

Wrap up of 2014: It was a nice improvement in the real estate market around Bremer Bay and properties that had been sitting for sale for a long time started selling again, great for everyone! A positive outlook for 2015!

Highlights of 2014: Lots of good things happened around Bremer Bay – a new Town Centre with commercial land becoming available and our Rural Enterprise (Rural Industry and Lifestyle blocks) came on the market! Dave Riggs put Bremer on the map with the orca tours out to the Bremer Canyon. Wayne and I went – I highly recommend everyone do it, it is amazing!!

Your motto in business: Always happy to help any way I can!!

What are you passionate about? Bremer Bay and my family and friends!

What keeps you awake at night? Nothing! I work hard enough to make me sleep

The future of Bremer Bay? Really, really positive, plenty of business, property and lifestyle opportunities but SHHHH don’t tell everyone it is the best kept secret in the world!!

Prospects for 2015? Our Rural Enterprise development’s roads and power going in later in the year YAY! (So last chance to secure a block at special pre-release prices) so purchasers will be able to start building on them Jan/Feb 2016.

Favourite food? Steak with red wine jus, salad and chips that Owen cooks (Chef at Bremer Bay Resort) MMMM!

Favourite movie? Anything with Bruce Willis

Favourite music? Anything that is not doof doof music, rap or opera!

Favourite building company? TR of course

Two minutes with TR team member: Alana Thompson

head office 105 Kelvin Road, Maddington, WA 6109 Phone (08) 9493 2998 Fax (08) 9493 1127 Email info@trhomes.com.au trhomes.com.au

YOUR GUIDE TO BUILDING IN REGIONAL WA

#BG-5245TRH

When Oscar Almeyda Jnr and his family migrated from the busy streets of Manila in the Philippines to the relaxed lifestyle of Moora seven years ago, it was a big change for them, but exactly what they wanted.

“Moora is a very quiet place with very lovely people. We had enough of the city life back home and preferred to start a new life here [in Moora] than another city … it is a perfect place to live.”

Oscar, a first home buyer, purchased the Pilbara home where he and his six other family members now live together.

“I must say it has been a great experience for me to be part of and also my family too who helped me. Choosing the perfect home is very difficult. I did a lot of research before I decided to go ahead.”

As well as giving Oscar information the first time he visited TR Homes, sales consultant Mitch offered him advice.

“When I first visited the show room Mitch was the consultant on duty that day. I asked a few questions and he gave me a few ideas, designs, prices etc. My first impression was he’s quite friendly but it didn’t stop there. He gave me advice on what would best suit me and my family in the long run and it turned out really well in the end.”

For a household of seven, the Pilbara was an ideal option for Oscar and his family as it has all the space, privacy and functionality you want in a family home including four generous bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious kitchen, living and dining area.

“I guess what made me choose the Pilbara was the space – the open plan kitchen and living room idea. Back in old days or tradition way, it is always separated for those two. Like having your kitchen and dining in one room and your living room in another. The Pilbara is flexible you can make your kitchen a bit bigger or ceiling higher without affecting the whole plan and it still works.”

Oscar has seen Moora develop since he first arrived. He works as the assistant manager at Farmer Jacks Foodworks, “the new shop in town, as they all say.”

“I remember when we first came here nearly seven years ago there’s hardly anyone you will see around town during the day. But now things have been growing so well, the Shire of Moora is now developing itself. For example, there are two grocery stores in town which then help attract more people from other places like Dalwallinu, Coorow, Miling and further up north and inland. The Shire of Moora has five major banks in town which adds to the interest of outside people doing their business close to the Shire.”

Oscar and his family have been in their new TR home for over a month now.

“It’s been great to see the outcome that I was expecting from the house. Big space, more natural lights, now we’re heading to winter and I can feel that the house insulation really does work on the cold nights.”

“My experience with TR Homes has been amazing and wonderful from the start until the end. I hope their company will be successful in this business of changing how we build a house in this generation.”

Keeping family together in Moora

Photographs & illustrations used in this advert have been used for illustration purposes only and may depict fixtures, finishes and features not supplier by the builder. All furniture, furnishings, wallpaper and landscaping are not included. For full details on home pricing and terms and conditions, please visit www.trhomes.com.au/disclaimer or speak to a TR Homes Sales Consultant. T&R Homes WA Pty Ltd acting under Murray River North Pty Ltd Builders Registration number 8476.

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