Although recognized as one of the oldest suburbs in Melbourne, Collingwood acclimates well with the times. Sure, there are still traces of history, but the whole vibe of the suburb has shifted to accommodate bars, pubs, clubs, and live music.

What sets apart Collingwood from other suburbs is their strong community spirit. The suburb is inclusive, accepting, and warm towards anyone regardless of gender, age or race. In fact, it is the homebase of Melbourne’s second largest LGBTQ community.

Collingwood is Melbourne’s local haven for hipsters. Currently, The suburb thrives with its creative studios, bars, galleries, and restaurants – the go-to places of artists and art enthusiasts alike. Apart from art-loving individuals, singles and couples without children also call Collingwood their home.

But, make no mistake about Collingwood. It isn’t only great because of its aesthetic. It’s a convenient address that enables its residents to get anywhere easily via public transport, a bike ride or a few minutes of walking. It has all the necessary local amenities that one can think of. Residents are proud to say that they are finding the right work-life balance in this suburb.

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Kew East is a lovely suburb 8kms from Melbourne CBD. Locals of Kew East are confident that they are living their best lives in the suburb. With plenty of choices for schools, parks to explore and walk in, convenient public transport, what else can they ask for?

Kew East is great for families with children. Apart from the abundance of parks in the suburb, most school grounds are also open on weekends for kids to socialise and play. This suburb is a great community if you are raising children in their formative years. On weekends, kids are also strolling the vicinity of the suburb on their bikes, scooters or skateboards.

Retirees love Kew East for its vibe and serenity. It is a peaceful suburb with no nightlife – and the residents are here for it. On a typical day, you can spot the young children chatting and walking their way to school, while the elderly are tending to their gardens and exchanging pleasantries with mums and other residents. Every day in Kew East is a picture-perfect depiction of how community-minded and friendly the suburb is.

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When you bring up Fitzroy in conversation, Melburnians get excited. They have quite a lot of good words to say about it as Fitzroy is known to be the mecca of all things cool. In fact, it is named as one of the coolest neighbouhoods in Australia. Fitzroy is an artist’s haven with its many interesting establishments that you won’t see anywhere else in the country. Gertrude Street alone holds a great selection of traditional pubs, restaurants, boutiques and galleries. When you stroll further, you would come across interesting galleries, art studios and even street art murals painted on the buildings.

In Fitzroy, the spirit of inclusivity is alive. You will always feel welcome and people will greet you with huge grins on their faces. And it’s apparent why people are happy here – it’s impossible to get bored in Fitzroy. It is encouraged that you explore the suburb by foot, this will enable you to get a true feel for the suburb and experience the sights and sounds on every corner. Besides, everything is within walking distance. 

Even the architectural mix of houses in this suburb is eclectic. You can spot apartments and residential houses that were once factories and warehouses scattered along with the Victorian and Edwardian residences. The old houses in Fitzroy can be traced back to its history as one of Melbourne’s first suburbs in 1839. 

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Preston is a multicultural suburb that is home to wonderful cafes. In this blog, we will share with you the top 5 cafes that you must visit when in Preston!

Hangout on Preston

First on our list is Hangout on Preston. This hidden gem is famous for their breakfast menu with big portion sizes. You can never go wrong with their lamb, poached eggs, chicken breast and paella. This cosy restaurant takes pride in their consistently great food and wonderful amenities. Hangout on Preston is a clean and tidy cafe that’s open for all – go here with your friends or family, even with your kids as they have high chairs available for your young ones.

Pomona Cafe

At Pomona Cafe, there is a space for everyone for a sit-down brunch as they serve their all-day breakfast menu. Their crowd-favorite dishes are: gnocchi, bacon, reuben sandwich, and haloumi. Other than their savory meals, they also offer sweets and pastries from their gluten-free menu. Their servers are well-educated about common allergies and are always mindful of them. To top it all off, there is always something to look forward to at Pomona Cafe as they keep on refreshing their menu with seasonal special items.

Caffe Rustico

Nothing beats a simple, straightforward cup of coffee that you can always avail at Caffe Rustico. To pair with your cup are their fresh and tasty sandwiches. People love their well-priced menu with healthy choices for breakfast and lunch. 

Jackson Dodds

When talking about generous portions that resemble fine dining food, Jackson Dodds fit the description. People go here for their pancakes, eggs, bacon and a whole lot more brunch options. Their on point decor definitely adds to their charm. This freshly renovated cafe is always booked with reservations by regulars but walk-ins are still definitely welcome. 

Boundary Espresso

If you’re looking for a more easy on the pocket dining option, Boundary Espresso is surely one of the local choices in Preston. It’s quite small compared to the other cafes in town but it’s fantastic coffee and tea are enough to make you try it. Their all-day breakfast offers the best bang for your buck. Try their burger and their gluten-free sweets one of these days.

Preston continues to surprise us with new cafes catering to their growing population. Surely, having enough food options is a good consideration when shortlisting suburbs to settle in. If you are considering buying a property in Preston, read up on this Preston suburb profile first to get a head start on your rese

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Investing in rental property presents great return on investment, however, it does come with great responsibilities as well. Addressing fair wear and tear is one of the costs of owning a rental property. 

What is fair wear and tear?

Although it may be mentioned a couple of times in lease agreements, wear and tear on rental properties is one topic that confuses both renters and rental providers. The definition of fair wear and tear depends on the length of tenancy. But in general it includes the following:

• Broken windows caused by natural forces
• Worn out flooring especially in high-traffic areas
• Discoloured curtains
• Faded, chipped and/or cracked layer of paint
• Light wall scratches and scuff marks 
• Worn-out counter and bench tops
• Loosed taps, faucets and toilet seats

All these are caused by the day-to-day activities of the tenants. It is expected that as the property gets older, it gets more prone to wear and tear. Hence, investors or landlords cannot expect that the property will still be in stark condition at the end of a tenancy.

What is classified as damage?

Now that we’ve identified the possible conditions of fair wear and tear, we need to draw the line between it and damage. The answer to this question will help you identify whether the condition is a product of wear and tear or damage: Is this something likely to happen over time?

Physical damage is easier to spot but it can also be characterised by loss of function. There are 3 identifiers to a damage, they are:

1. Accidental
2. Malicious
3. Intentional

Remember that damage can be caused even by “good” tenants as accidents can happen to anyone. It can also be deemed as damage when the tenant refused to report the issue.

How to approach wear and tear?

Scheduled regular inspections is one of the best practices of property management that serves the best interest of both landlords and tenants. By doing routine inspections, minimal problems could be addressed before they balloon into much bigger problems down the line. If you are a landlord, depending on your arrangement, you should get regular condition reports from your property managers. This report is signed by the tenant to ensure that what’s reported are correct. Oftentimes, this report is supplemented by photos and videos.

As a landlord, it is also your responsibility to acquire the appropriate insurance for your assets.

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Station Street is filled with foodie hidden gems to try so we deemed it necessary to do a part 2 of this blog!

Here are a few more restaurants to try when in Station Street, Fairfield:

Chapati Fairfield

People line up for the flavourful dishes of Chapati Fairfield. Their menu is limited on purpose because they take pride in specialising in all the dishes offered in their restaurants. For first timers, try their Indian curry, buttered chicken, garlic naan, and masala! This fairly new restaurant is attracting vegans and vegetarians with their great selection of meat-free dishes as well.

Okami Fairfield

If you’re in the mood for an all-you-can-eat treat, Okami Fairfield is one of the best places to try. This Japanese restaurant boasts of their authentic flavours made from high quality ingredients sourced locally. Their staff are accommodating and mindful of customers with allergies. Everyone’s welcome to try their food as they are kid-friendly and wheelchair-accessible.

Burger Road Fairfield

It’s impossible to say no to good greasy tasty burgers – especially if it’s paired with a good helping of milkshake. Burger Road Fairfield is famous for its generous serving of burgers. Everything in their menu is A+ so there is always something new to try and come back to. Aside from their burgers, their mac and cheese and shakes top our list so far. 

Da Pasquale

Da Pasquale is already an institution at Station Street. If you are from Fairfield, it’s likely that you’ve already tried all their pizza flavors. This establishment has been around for decades already but still doesn’t disappoint. The business is thriving and is updated with efficient ways to serve. Their web ordering system is easy and their customer service is excellent. This way, there is no excuse for people to not try their woodfire pizza.

Tasty Banh Mi

As the name suggests, Tasty Banh Mi is known for their banh mi dishes. This may be an open secret to some but their beverages are also a gem. Pair your banh mi with their iced viet coffee, iced tea, and bubble tea. Tasty Banh Mi is also generous to their customers with their complimentary offers. 

Station Street is a home to many local businesses in Fairfield. The cafes and restaurants in the street played a major role in sustaining the local business industry of the suburb when the lockdowns happened. Businesses thrive in an area for many reasons – one of them is having the support of the local community.

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Walking with your dog doesn’t only improve their mental stimulation and their behavioral training. Walking your dog is also a good way to get yourself moving. Finding a place where you can let your dog walk off freely is quite difficult so we’ve rounded up a list of off-leash parks in Alphington you can visit.

Darebin Parklands Dog Off Leash Area

2 Smith St, Alphington VIC, Australia

Darebin Parklands is a favorite among cycler fur parents as this spot is great for cycling as it offers bike tracks as well as off-road terrain if you’re up for a muddy ride. Dogs are also allowed to wander off-leash at this park. The creek flowing around the border is always open for a shallow swim too. Bring a towel with you as your furry friends might want to go for a quick dip too.

Pitcher Park Dog Off Leash Area

3 Separation Street,  Alphington, VIC 3078

Pitcher Park has improved over the years. On one side, there are lovely playgrounds in the area where kids can play toy trucks in the sand, on the other side is the grassy area where dogs can stroll and play around.

When moving to a suburb, one of the biggest considerations of a fur-parent is the environment for their pets too. Alphington having several off-leash parks might be a good option for you.

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If there’s one important thing we’ve learned from recent months, that’s how important fitness is. Having a sound mind and healthy body play important roles in leading a happy life. This is also why it is important for a neighbourhood to have businesses that enable this lifestyle.

Alphington is advantageous when it comes to having this neighbourhood amenity. In this blog, we will feature the top high-rated gyms in the suburb.

Anytime Fitness

738 Heidelberg Road, Alphington VIC 3078

The Anytime Fitness brand is known around the world. This is actually their value proposition. The service is literal in every sense of the words: you can workout at the gym at any time convenient to you. This fitness centre is perfect for anyone who’s having a hard time keeping a consistent workout schedule. Gym-goers of Anytime Fitness are usually self-directed ones. But still, all members are encouraged to join their class workouts.

InTune Fitness Studio

14/20 Abbott St, Alphington VIC 3078

As of writing, there are only 5 star reviews on Google for this fitness studio. Patrick, their in-house trainer, is a superstar according to their clients. The last thing you want to feel in a gym is demotivation because of being overworked with the routines. InTune Fitness Studio strikes the right balance between motivating their clients and pushing them to reach their goal. The gym itself is sparkling clean and bright with natural lighting. There is nothing but good words for this gym from their previous and current members, and even previous members of the team!

Phase 1 Performance

728 Heidelberg Rd, Alphington VIC 3078

Phase 1 Performance members have been with the fitness studio for a long time now. This is not a surprise because they’re always provided with exceptional service. Phase 1 Performance have hosted a number of online classes during the lockdown which piqued the interest of people outside Alphington. At present, Phase 1 Performance caters to both local and interstate clients.

Compounding habits such as finding the time to break a sweat creates a big impact in the long run. Working out alone is fun but doing it with the presence of others creates a different experience. Surrounding yourself with people looking at the same goal definitely sparks inspiration and motivation.

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