Urban Design Solutions

Paul Holland gives his tips on using video to market your business:

Online video provides one of the greatest opportunities to market yourself and your business. It’s easier than ever before to create a connection with your potential clients. Video marketing helps build trust between you and your prospects, it also allows you to showcase products and services or to let your prospects know that you deliver on your promises by showing video testimonials
of happy clients.

YouTube now gets the 2nd highest volume of search traffic on the web. Therefore, if people aren’t searching for your product on Google, they’ll likely be looking for it on YouTube.

To create your own cost effective videos, simply purchase a compact HD camera for around $150 and get started. If you don’t want to be in front of the camera yourself, there are still plenty of great ways you can use video to get your message across.

Remember that you are making videos for your prospects, so be sure to address what is important to them. Let them know how you can solve their problems or help them get the result they are after.

Video Marketing is exploding right now, if you haven’t started yet, make a plan to get your first videos made and online.

Paul Holland is a Video Marketing Coach and Video Producer.

For more information, go to paulhollandmedia.com

Is your home aesthetically appealing to those walking or driving by? Would those people be commenting in a positive or negative light about your home, or perhaps not at all? Perhaps it simply blends in to the streetscape and isn’t actually noticed by passers by.

Other than the keeping up with the Jones’ philosophy, which you may or may not be interested in, creating street appeal is very important in getting the best possible price for your home when it comes time to sell, It may also prove beneficial if you are looking to refinance or access equity in your home to invest or do further work to your home.

There are many aspects to creating street appeal, which actually starts from outside the front boundary of your home. Trees on the footpath can be used to enhance and frame your home. Speaking of trees, a well designed and maintained front garden will do wonders for your street appeal, as will an appropriate front fence. Placing a gate across your driveway can take the focus off the ugly garage door.

Creating depth and perspective by using light and shade creates visual interest to the front of your home, as does using contrasting colours or materials as a feature. Don’t overdo it though, the “kiss” principle is often the best (keep it simple stupid).

Urban Design Solutions is now offering Landscape Design, we are very excited to announce that we have formed an association with Wirin Landscapes, a new & exciting company who are right now preparing for their official launch. This is great news for UDS clients, as Wirin will be working closely with our existing team, providing specialised landscape concept, documentation & construction services, to compliment the building design services we already offer. For more information please contact us.

Urban Design Solutions thoughts are with all those affected by the recent floods, it is so wonderful to see the best come out of so many people in these times of need.  To witness the volunteers swing into action is truly inspiring!

UDS is offering discounts to Brisbane flood victims who require design & drafting assistance to rebuild their lives.

Urban design Solutions wishes all it’s clients, consultants and tradies, along with everyone else out there, a very Merry Christmas.  May 2011 bring you all you could wish for & more.  We will be closed from the 24th of December to Tuesday the 4th of January, we look forward to assisting you with all of your design & drafting needs in the new year.

There are a great many things you can do to increase the value of your home, from small, inexpensive things like a coat of paint or garden makeover, to larger items like adding an extra bedroom or living space. The key is knowing where to stop so as not to over capitalize. That is why it is important to get the right advice. Some subtle changes to your home can have a dramatic effect, making it a much more pleasant environment, which in turn will have an effect on your property value.

I’m sure you realize that just like the share market, the real estate market goes up and down in cycles, the timing of obtaining a valuation is equally as important as anything you may do to improve your property. Following the cycles in your area to get your valuation done at the best possible time, will most likely give you results to propel you towards achieving your goals and dreams.

See our investment property page to download a detailed document of tips on increasing your property value.

Are you aware that UDS offers an investment property service? If you currently own investment properties or are interested in starting to build a property portfolio, UDS can help with design services for your new property, or to increase the value of your existing property. Along with trusted consultants, UDS can also show you strategies to easily grow your portfolio, without straining your wallet. Please visit the Investment Property page on our website for a free download of “Tips for Increasing Property Value”.

There are many simple, cost effective ways to increase the thermal performance of your home and reduce your electricity consumption at the same time:

• At the design stage, ensure your designer has an understanding of solar orientation & designs your building accordingly.
• Provide adequate protection to your windows & doors, particularly those facing west.  An eave overhang or awning 450mm wide is a minimum.
• Insulate your ceiling space (and walls if lightweight construction), we recommend wool blend insulation as it is very effective and doesn’t have the harsh chemicals of some others.
• Does your home have good natural ventilation? Providing cross ventilation, particularly to the prevailing breezes helps in cooling your home. Don’t be afraid to open your windows and let the fresh air in.
• As we are all aware, hot air rises, roof ventilation ensures any hot air that makes its way to the roof space can escape, this can usually be shut off during Winter.
• Double-glazed windows & doors are very effective in reducing heat transfer and improving the thermal performance of a home, definitely worth considering for any new home.
• For high set houses, ensure you have adequate sub floor insulation to prevent hot or cold air entering your home from this area.