KY Accountancy

17/07/2026

Top options for insulating your home

Insulation can potentially save you big money on energy bills, keep your home comfortable and reduce your carbon footprint. It slows down the transfer of energy to and from your house, so it keeps winter warmth in and summer heat out.

There are plenty of options for what to insulate, and what materials you can use. The ceiling is usually the first place to start, but it’s also worth thinking about wall cavities, doors, windows and airy gaps. Here we explore some of the easiest and best approaches to insulating your home so you can stay comfortable in any weather, and save money too. Keep in mind, however, that an expert must be consulted prior to any work being conducted.

There are three main areas to think about when insulating your property: the ceiling and roof; wall cavities; and windows and doors.

All insulation sold in Australia must meet an Australian standard. Insulation products are rated by R-values – the higher the R-value, the more insulation they provide. The minimum R-value for ceiling insulation in non-Alpine parts of Australia is 4.1, while the minimum wall value is 2.8.

Start with the ceiling

Between 25% and 35% of heat loss or gain is through a house’s roof, so ceiling insulation is very effective in keeping you comfortable.

The two main forms are bulk and reflective. Bulk insulation includes batts, blankets and loose-fill, while reflective insulation is mainly laminated foil sheets.

Batts and blankets made from fibreglass, rock-wool or polyester slow down heat transfer by trapping air in millions of tiny pockets in the material. Batts are easy to install in most houses, and also come in DIY packs, although you should only attempt to install them yourself if you’re confident about working in roof spaces. Keep in mind that there may be exposed electrical wiring, and make sure you wear protective clothing – the material used in batts can irritate the skin and respiratory tract.

Loose-fill is shredded or granulated material such as cellulose from waste paper. It’s suitable for houses with flat or shallow-pitched roofs. Loose-fill can be pumped into your ceiling, and is cheaper than batts. It can lose some of its insulating property as it settles, and must be spread evenly to provide proper insulation.

Reflective foil sheets can be installed under the roof, where they reflect heat away from the house. Double-sided foil also keeps heat in the ceiling space, preventing heat loss in winter.

Wall cavities: Fill or line?

Wall cavities can be insulated with reflective foil or batts when a house is being built. Insulation can also be retrofitted to cladding walls during renovations, for example, when weatherboard or interior plasterboard is being replaced.

If you’re not planning a major renovation but still want insulation, loose-fill can be pumped into existing cavity walls if they can be sealed at the bottom.

Protect and seal windows and doors

Windows account for 10% to 20% of heat loss in winter, and 25% to 35% of heat gain in summer.

Double-glazed windows provide effective insulation if you’re building a new home or replacing windows in a renovation. Curtains slow winter heat loss, while blinds – especially external blinds that keep the sun from directly hitting the glass – are a great way to block heat in summer.

And remember: up to 25% of winter heat loss can be caused by draughts, so seal around windows and doors, too! Adhesive weather strips are a cheap and easy way to eliminate the worst draughts, while in older houses you might also consider using an old-fashioned padded draught stopper.

Insulating ceilings, walls, windows and doors can help to keep your house comfortable, and when you use less heating and cooling you’ll have a lower energy spend all year round.

17/07/2026

Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence. - Colin Powell

17/07/2026

Locals fear AGL floating gas plant will turn bay into a chlorinated 'swimming pool' Top business news for you selected by KY

The floating gas plant will see up to 180 Olympic swimming pools worth of chlorinated water discharged every day into Western Port, with AGL admitting it will exceed safe levels for marine life.

16/07/2026

Millennials make up a big slice of the mortgage broker market

By Gerv Tacadena

When it comes to borrowing for their home purchases, nearly half of all Millennials went through a mortgage broker, making them the largest customer group currently in the market.

A new research by Roy Morgan showed that over the past twelve months to March 2018, millennials – defined as people born between 1976 and 1990 – comprised 48.6% of existing home borrowers who used a mortgage broker.

Members of Generation X, who were born between the years 1961 and 1975, accounted for 38.8% of those who consulted a mortgage broker for their home loans.

The research found that 42.5% of millennials with a five-year home loan used a mortgage broker. Roy Morgan industry communications director Norman Morris explained that this could be due to several factors.

"These include the fact that this generation has grown up at a time when mortgage brokers were always there and so that they are seen as a very familiar way of acquiring a home loan," Morris said.

Another potential reason for these millennials to seek the help of brokers is to get a better interest rate.

In contrast, older generations may be less likely to go through the process with a mortgage broker. Only 37% of Gen Xers and 27.6% of Baby Boomers did consult a broker while the rest went straight to the lending institution.

16/07/2026

Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don't give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm and genuine people. - Tena Desae

16/07/2026

Business pushing hard to open state borders, but leading economists urge caution Top business news for you selected by KY

Business groups pressuring politicians to reopen state borders quickly should not ignore the health and economic benefits of the coronavirus lockdowns, economists warn.

15/07/2026

Mortgage offset accounts: Making your loan work for you

Savvy borrowers have an endgame in sight before they even apply for a home loan, and with the right mortgage offset account, they could win that game even more quickly.

Home buyers usually focus on the here and now, not the distant future. Rather than the size of their loan balance in 10 or 20 years, they are more likely to think about how much they can borrow and the kind of house they can afford.

But smart borrowers know the future matters. The years roll around and it’s always better to pay off a mortgage before its term and pay less interest to the bank.

The good news is that if a mortgage offset account is right for a borrower, it can help them do just that. An offset account can make them a match for their mortgage.

What is a mortgage offset account?

A mortgage account with 100 per cent offset is a fully featured transaction account that sits alongside a home loan. In many ways it acts just like a regular bank account.

However, along with the usual facilities, like ATM access and direct debit, there’s another significant advantage: Any money sitting in the offset account reduces the amount that the bank calculates interest payments against.

That’s right. The loan principal is reduced for the purposes of interest calculation by the amount of money in the offset account, without increasing the repayment amount.

How does an offset account work?

An example may make it easier to understand how an offset account works. If a home buyer has a principal of $350,000 outstanding on their mortgage and also has $10,000 in a linked 100 per cent offset account, the bank will only charge them interest on $340,000.

The money they save in interest goes straight into paying down their loan principal, which has the effect of reducing the interest paid over the life of the loan, as well as the overall loan term. Less money paid off faster.

When borrowers realise that banks calculate interest on mortgages daily, offset accounts can be used proactively. For example, getting salary paid into an offset account means the loan principal is in effect reduced by that amount as soon as it is paid.

Savvy borrowers may even choose to use interest-free days on their credit cards to pay for goods and services, so they can keep cash in their offset accounts working for them.

How can my mortgage broker help?

Mortgage brokers help borrowers apply for and secure appropriate home loans every day, and many will have an accompanying offset account. They will usually compare a range of competitive products, and look at loan features like offset accounts so borrowers can make informed decisions.

Anyone with a mortgage can choose to have a linked offset account, although it will depend on the loan type and institution. It’s always best to check the offset is 100 per cent.

It’s important to know that offset accounts are usually included as part of fully featured home loans, which might mean you pay more in fees or a higher interest rate. So discussing your financial circumstances with a broker could be a smart first step.

Game, offset, match

Borrowers who are serious about winning the mortgage game need to be aware that having a mortgage offset account could offer them an edge in the long term.

In any sport, a match isn’t won instantly. Points are accumulated over time. With the points scored daily by an offset account, it can be game, offset and match.

For more information contact your broker today.

- YOUR LOAN HUB

15/07/2026

it's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family. - Philip Green

15/07/2026

China's wine dumping allegations leave the industry gobsmacked, both here and in China Top business news for you selected by KY

Australian winemakers, as well as wine afficionados in China and at home, have been left scratching their heads at allegations they are dumping wine below cost.

14/07/2026

More than meets the eye – white-label loans are more than a good price

For those unfamiliar, a white-label loan is essentially a home-branded loan. Just like your favourite home-branded products you see in supermarket aisles there is more than meets the eye – the white-label loan is more than its competitive price tag. White-label products are high quality and are developed by leading lenders – they are just packaged differently and therefore available at a sharper rate.

White-label loans are exclusively available through mortgage brokers and have rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years. So much so that over 85% of brokers now have a white-label offering for their clients. And, as brokers and customers both demand more from white-label, the products have evolved to be about much more than price, to also focus on flexibility, service and quality.

Flexibility

There is a range of choice in white-label – you can get variable, fixed or combo rate loans. They are particularly suitable for home-buyers looking for a simple, straightforward product as through white-label you can have access to the loan features you need (like redraw, debit card access and a customer care facility) and you don’t have to pay for bells and whistles you won’t use.

Service

In addition, service is increasingly becoming a differentiator for white-label. Sourcing a home-loan can be the biggest financial decision a person ever makes and understandably then, customers demand support from their brokers and rely on them as trusted advisers to guide them through the process.

A common misconception is that because the loan’s rate is more competitive, it does not come with the same level of support. Through a white-label loan, brokers can still access dedicated support teams – and ultimately give their customers quick responses to their queries and every chance of first touch unconditional approval.

Quality

Essentially, white-label delivers many of the same great features as bank-branded home loans, but for a lower cost to the customer. The quality remains the same, and the growing popularity of white-label is evidence that consumers are tapping into the opportunity and high-value of this product.

If you’re not sure if white-label is right for you, your mortgage broker can help you with this important decision. Because brokers have access to a myriad of loans from a range of different lenders – you can receive independent, unbiased advice based on their expertise and experience in the industry.