Everyone knows that brightening up the inside of your home with a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to breathe new life and energy into your living space - but when it comes to painting the outside of your house, the task can be a bit more challenging.

A great way to give your property a new look is to update the paint on your outdoor windowsills and shutters. The strong Australian sun means that this is a maintenance job that might be worth doing every couple of years, as paint can crack and peel after prolonged exposure to the elements over time.

But if you have a two-storey home - or own your own apartment in a high-rise building - reaching your highest windows will require the right kind of equipment. Most households don't have a scissor lift stashed in the garage, but these devices can easily be hired for the day so you can get access to your upstairs windows.

Hiring this type of equipment has a number of advantages - in addition to being able to access the areas where work needs to be carried out, you will also find it is a considerably cheaper alternative to purchasing equipment that will be only used on an infrequent basis.