Real Estate Properties: Four Overt Signs It is Time to Sell Your Home
“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth—both financial affluence and emotional security”-Suze Orman
Much like anything in life, our homes go through the normal phases of wear and tear. While we can do our best to maintain its upkeep and ensure that it remains as functional as it was before, there is no guarantee that it can serve us optimally. In this regard, we would then begin our search for our new place to call our own. With this in mind, we would then be prompted to sell our existing homes.
Selling your home is a significant step and a big deal even insomuch that it requires contemplation and forethought before pushing through. It does not matter whether this home selling endeavor is your first attempt or if you had sold homes countless times in the past before you can even ask yourself how you can sell your home, you need to reexamine your reasons for doing so and if you are ready to do so. Sure, that newly marked down condominium for sale in Quezon City might be enough reason for you to wish to sell your homes as soon as you possibly can but know that selling your home is not a decision you can make arbitrarily. It is not something you decide to do within waking up without assessing whether you need to or not. Furthermore, the state of your finances would significantly contribute as to whether or not you can afford to move on from your current place. In any case, if you have given selling your home and moving neighborhood much thought, it might be wise to go over the six ways in which you would find out whether you can already commence the process of selling your house.
When you have a plan
Having a plan is the most pivotal aspect to think about when you are thinking of selling your homes. There is always a myriad of what-ifs and you cannot always bank on the success of a sale. Remember, there is always a possibility that your homes would sit for ages before getting sold in the market. What would you do by then? In this regard, it is best to make room for contingencies, expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. Be prepared for the multitudes of outcomes so that you would not be rendered surprised if a certain eventuality is not in your favor.
It no longer suits your needs
Our homes are primarily erected to suit our needs in such a way that it would only work for you if it is tailored according to your lifestyle. At one point, a two-bedroom flat might have been a decent place to live in, but with your family growing, you might be cramped for space. Consider what your needs are now and if your current home would still be able to meet them. Pause and reevaluate where you are in life in relation to work, family and activities right now. Does your current home adequately meet all of these head on? Or is your home where most of your frustrations and disappointments stem from? Furthermore, you should ask yourself whether or not your home is still currently making you happy. If it is not, then it might be time to put it in the real estate market.
The neighborhood does not fit
Being in a neighborhood that does not meet your needs is just as bad as having a home that is not tailored according to your lifestyle. Once you deem a neighborhood unfit to suit your lifestyle and needs, it would negatively impact how you see your home and may even affect your daily life. Take this as a sign that it might be time to sell. This scenario likely happens to people who are living in far-flung areas and would wish to live closer to the city where establishments and other commercial areas are in proximity or walking distance. Similarly, this could be the case for families with children reaching a school age and would wish to enroll their kids in a nearby school. Remember that neighborhoods play a pivotal role in how our daily routines flesh out insomuch that where we live can make our lives more convenient or aggravating. Know that each neighborhood has something different to offer. Know what you and your family need and select the best one for you.
The renovations will not provide ROI
It is inevitable that we develop an affinity for the home we are living in. We love it so much that we would consider doing renovation work to give it a better look and to help it serve our evolving lifestyles better. However, most homeowners do renovation works with the hopes of not only improving their living space but their property values as well when they would be ready to sell. Unfortunately, renovations do not always pay off. If you feel like any renovation would be fruitless in your neighborhood, you might want to think twice in pushing through your attempt. You might want to just sell your home instead.
New Beginnings: Five Ways to Tell Kids about a Move So That They Do Not Feel Left Out
“Change can be scary, but you know what is scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving and progressing” –Mandy Hale
It is no question that one of the most stressful events you will ever go through.
Unfortunately, moving is not one task you can opt to sit one out because at some point in your life, moving homes is going to be inevitable. Indeed, while the prospect alone would already seem intimidating to adults, what more on your little tots? Yes, moving would be difficult but if you have young children in tow, expect it to be even harder on them. Little children have an affinity for permanence insomuch that the idea of any kind of change would be scary to them. The moment you tell them that you are moving, it would feel as if their world is collapsing around them. Children can often feel uncertain about a move and would resultantly resist it in a myriad of ways.
When told about the move, they can often throw tantrums and would whine. They would often feel like they are oppressed by the prospect of moving and this is very much understandable. After all, to a kid, the home is their world—one that they associate with love, safety and family insomuch that the thought of leaving it behind can be terrifying. For older children, the prospect of leaving their school, friends, and teachers can be jarring to a routine they are used to. In this regard, it is best to tell them the news about your in an opportune moment. However, do not wait too long as they would also need the time to adjust to the news and make the resultant move go so much smoother.
So, make your move to Pioneer Woodlands or elsewhere go without a hitch by keeping these tips in mind when breaking the news to your children:
Tell them early
Once a decision has been reached, gather your family around and get them involved. The sooner you tell them, the better lest they think you are deliberately hiding something important from them. Remember, your older kids will want to know when you decided this the moment you tell them the news. To ensure that they would all equally feel in the loop, let them know that they are the first ones to know about your decision. By doing so, they would feel assured that they matter as well.
Hold a family meeting
After dinner, ask your family to stay behind before quickly going to their rooms or doing any chores. Similarly, you might wish to tell them the news in the family room, but make sure that there are no distractions such as the television or any other gadgets. Be careful not to break the news in public areas such as restaurants or parks as children need to express their feelings freely. Plus, you do not want to have to appease a crying child in the middle of a busy diner. Do it in an environment where everyone feels comfortable. Keep your kids at ease by not announcing the subject of your news until such time that you and your children already get to sit and talk together.
Remain open
Not every single one of your children is going to take your news easily. Understand that your kids might be upset and allow them to express their emotions—whether that may be anger to frustration. Allow them to ask you questions and answer them as honestly as you can. Give them time to process the news and accept that they might not be as receptive to the news as you expected them to be. More importantly, let them talk and listen to them. Let them know they are heard. Being able to talk and air out their frustrations and feelings about the matter would let them know that they matter as well.
Be firm about letting them know that the decision is final
Some children may wheedle out of their way about a possibility they do not like. However, let your kids know that the decision is final and be firm about it. If you wavered in your decision and should you express any doubts or worries, your children would feel uncertain and might even ask you to rethink the move. If you are having second thoughts, express these to your spouse when the two of you are alone or to a trusted confidante. Do not whisper at night or even talk about it when you are in your room. You will never know when little ears might be listening in.
Provide kids only with the information they need
In discussing the move, it is important to disclose everything your kids might want to know. However, you should be careful not to overwhelm them with information. Thing such as when the move would be, where, why and how are all pertinent things to answer when telling them the news. Should they want to know anything more, they would ask. Give them time to adjust to the news and do not bombard them with all the details all at once.
Aesthetic Homes: Four Common Kitchen Renovation Mistakes You Might be Making
“Kitchens should be designed around what is truly important—fun, food and life.”-Daniel Boulud
Kitchen (kich-uhn) – noun: a gathering place for friends and family and a place where memories are homemade and seasoned with love
The kitchen has always been thought to be the heart of the home. It is that one definitive place that brings families together in the form of sharing a meal.
In this regard, many might consider the kitchen as solely the most important place in the home. However, as the kitchen sees more activity than the rest of the areas in your home (and consequently more foot traffic as well), its wear and tear would be rapid. Similarly, it would also more susceptible to disrepair than any of the other parts of your home—especially if it sees regular heavy usage. In this regard, many homeowners would be constrained to renovating their kitchens for either of these reasons: To accommodate more appliances, have it function optimally through various kitchen repairs or to address a space and storage issue.
If you are anything like most homeowners, the prospect of a kitchen renovation would often bring a myriad of kitchen upgrade ideas and scenarios to your head. Unfortunately, while all of these are great, albeit a little farfetched at times, some of them can be impractical and can fall beyond your budget—particularly the ones that were inspired by Pinterest. In conceptualizing a kitchen renovation, know that a realistic approach works best for this endeavor. Not only would this mitigate the likelihood of frustrations stemmed from unmet expectations, but it would also reduce the possibility of you straying away from your projected budget. As a homeowner with dreams of a kitchen renovation in the horizon, whether that may be a unit condominium in Pasig or elsewhere, it is best to be aware of the common mistakes are in order to avoid them.
Below is a list of what these kitchen upgrade mistakes are to better aid you in your efforts of creating a better and more functional scullery:
1.) Designing without considering your work style
The only way you can optimally function in the kitchen is if it is designed around your work style. You can do as many upgrades and renovations as you wish and it would all be for naught if it takes too much effort to use or would not meet your functional needs. In this regard, your kitchen sections must be divided according to the way you use it. Keep in mind that the three areas that see the most work are the stove, fridge, and sink which means they should be near to each other without being too close that they would result in overcrowding when all three are being used.
2.) Not considering appliance sizes first
Before you get carried away with your fantasies of having a granite countertop style, make sure that it would fit the kind of appliances you need first. Before you plan on a kitchen overhaul, it is best to start selecting the appropriate appliances that would fall within your budget first. From there, you can now incorporate your dream countertops and cupboards to accommodate them rather than doing it the other way around.
3.) Downsizing everything—including storage!
Sure, you might want a smaller and more efficient kitchen instead of having a spacious one that would require too much cleaning, but that does not mean that you should cut down on storage space as well! Remember, you can opt for a smaller kitchen but never make the oversight of cutting down on storage as well. You might overlook the extra space now and think that you do not need it, but eventually and inevitably you will. You are going to accumulate stuff, and you would definitely need the extra space these storage spaces would provide. Keep in mind that there are always clever solutions that would allow you to have a diminutive kitchen without compromising storage space. Be on the lookout for them instead of ruling out the need for storage space completely.
4.) Forgetting countertops
Some homeowners make the mistake of overlooking countertop space in favor of maximizing space. In this regard, they would fill it with all sorts of appliances and kitchen essentials possible. However, for optimal functioning, it is best to leave some surfaces idle. Sure, it might seem counterintuitive to you, but this is not the case in kitchens. In fact, your kitchen would need as many unused spaces as possible and believe us when we say that you will thank yourself for it later. Remember, cooking requires a lot of countertop space, and you are going to be grateful that you left some of yours open instead of having them all occupied.
Better Home Sales: Four Pitfalls that Cost You a Home Sale
“For the seller, they are giving up their home, where they have all these attachments. And for the buyer, it is about painting a picture of their new lives and then carrying them through the whole process to a positive result.” –Sarry Forster Jones
There is no doubt that one of the most difficult endeavors one can ever come across is to try and sell real estate.
Although real estate is one commodity that is certainly most in demand and remains to be so until today, it is not exactly easy to sell it—particularly since the market is constantly experiencing sporadic highs and lows. Resultantly, prices will fluctuate leaving buyers and sellers alike with unpredictable real estate market trends and variable housing prices. Much like any industry, there is, selling a home comes with its own fair share of challenges.
Just ask any real estate investor and they would tell you just how difficult it is to sell a home in this time and age. It could be that your prospective buyers already found a better deal elsewhere or were offered a competitive price that was just too hard to resist. Oftentimes, it could be that your competing property has a slightly better living quarters or maybe values have started to drop a bit. Or maybe, just maybe, the reason why the condominium for sale in Quezon City is not getting any offers or any leads might not be any of these things but is actually because of your own doing.
Sometimes, in our fervent desire to sell our properties quickly, we often tend to overlook the things we are doing wrong—which is a major oversight as it could potentially cost us a sale. In any case, some of the things you do or do not do would contribute to the success or failure of a prospective property sale. To be sure that you are always on the safe side, never do any of the things listed below:
Do not take your own photos
When it comes to real estate listings whether online or not, taking photos is paramount. More often than not, a buyer would not even give a property a second glass if the listing does not contain any photos of the property. Unfortunately, simply peppering your ad with photos just would not cut it with today’s very discriminating market. Today, poorly taken photos would not fare well and would not do your homes any justice at the same time. With this in mind, ensure that the photos you do use for your online ads are ones with aesthetic appeal insomuch that it beckons a prospective homebuyer to take a closer look. In this regard, it might be best if you availed of the services of a professional photographer.
Partner up with an agent or a realtor
Unless you already have prior experience to selling a home, you should never try to sell your home by yourself. Even then, you would still fare better if you availed of the professional services of a real estate agent. Not only would your home sell faster, but there is a likely chance you would be able to sell it at a competitive price. Remember, most homes sold with a realtor can get a higher sales price and would typically sell faster than those sold solely by their owners.
Do not argue with your agent about the price
Inevitably, you and your real estate agent will have a very different idea of how much your home should sell for. However, take into account that your agent can probably give you a better and more accurate pricing for your home as their evaluation would not be clouded or influenced by sentiment or anything else. They are unbiased in their findings and would give you a competitive price based on facts alone and not on sentiment or what you currently owe in home mortgage. After all, it is their job to research the area thoroughly and study the market. In this regard, they can come up with the best price possible and get your properties sold.
Do not shadow your prospective buyers when they are checking out your property
Buyers do not like home sellers who hover over them. They are best left to their own devices and should not be bothered. They want to be free to make their own judgments and findings without your watchful eye on them at all times. Shadowing them while they are touring their home would make them feel ill at ease, uncomfortable and would hardly translate into a sale. Just keep still, and wait for them to approach you if they have questions instead of the other way around.
10 Signs It’s The Right Condo For You
It’s not always about the price. A condo unit that is right for you and your family depends on other factors as well. For one, you might find a condo that you can afford. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the style you are want to have. You might find a stylish unit but it can’t fit all of your furniture and home decorations.
However, these are merely physical aspects of a property. You need a condo that offers security and opportunity to grow your family. A property at Avida Towers Sola can give you that. But if you don’t feel at home with the property, then it isn’t the right one for you.
Signs can help you determine if you’ve found a property you should keep. Below are ten signs you’ve found the right condo to grow your roots.
1. You want to go inside
Condo units often look the same. For some reason, you found one that excites you. You can’t wait to find out what is inside it. If it’s a fully furnished condo, then you can pin it down to the interior design. Still, the place looks appealing and makes you feel giddy.
2. You feel warm
You feel warm not because of the temperature outside. You can sense the area is comforting and welcoming. There is an aura that is inviting you the explore the whole unit. Even if the condo unit is bare, it almost feels like home.
3. You are happy with the bathroom
A lot of homebuyers are picky when it comes to bathrooms. They are looking for a certain style or an extra sink. Others are uncomfortable with visiting other’s bathroom. They won’t walk into the room barefoot. They would rather stand outside and only poke their heads to get a view of the room.
If you can walk into the bathroom and feel like checking out everything in the room, then you’ve found your home. You are compelled to open the shower, open cabinets, and try the flush. Not to mention, you are excited about the gleaming fixtures.
4. You think of the house as yours
Love at first sight rings true especially when your looking at your future home. Whenever the agent point out a flaw in the unit, you feel as if you need to defend it. You choose to defend every flaw your partner or your parents mention because you are falling in love with the place.
5. You set up decorations in your mind
Upon walking into the living room, your mind begins to wander. It starts envisioning what type of sofa goes with your marble coffee table. Your ecstatic just thinking about the time you need to research on prints and textures you can incorporate in the room. You already have the perfect spot for your Christmas tree.
6. You think of your favorite color on the wall
You’re starting to think of the perfect palette for the master bedroom. You’re deciding whether pastel or greige encourages the natural light in the room. You already have a paint color set for each room of the condo. That’s how thrilled you are to move into a place in Quezon City.
7. The unit covers your basic needs
It might not have a swimming pool, a concierge or a laundromat but it provides the basic requirements of a home. You have all the rooms you need. There’s a gym on the ground floor and an open space where you can spend your afternoons in peace. It also has a playpen for your pets. What more could you ask?
8. You brag about the property to your friends
You look forward to posting the photos you captured to your social media accounts. You take several photos as you explore the other areas of your condo unit. Then, you capture more as you tour around the complex. There’s so much to show and tell your friends.
9. You begin to settle
You decide to stop your house hunting. The other places you looked into are no longer appealing. The list you created seems to fade away. At the same time, the properties you gave a thumbs up are no longer on top of your list. It seems like you’re betraying your new found love if you would continue your house hunting.
10. Your thoughts drift back to the house
Most of the time your thoughts go back to the house. It keeps on insisting it’s the perfect house for you. You can’t think of anything else other than owning the house.
If these actions and thoughts are manifesting in your daily life, then you definitely have to buy the property. Still, be logical and consider your needs and resources. Your feelings and instinct might get you in trouble in the future.
The Joys of Being Alone: Becoming Financially Stable
Financially stability is probably every Millenial’s dream. Born in a world of economic meltdowns, fiscal and monetary policy, these individuals often look forward to easing their worries regarding finances.
They start early – they look for jobs and side hustles, build empires and turn their passion into business ventures. Of course, the path to these isn’t easy. It can be a breeze when you know where to start.
To help you get started, here are some hacks to financial stability.
1. Build your emergency fund.
There’s no other solution during difficult times than to establish a sizeable amount of emergency funding. Each day unexpected events happen to each one. What’s worse, the outcomes are unpredictable. Some events result in greatness while others result in depression (not the illness).
These events not only happen to us. They also occur to people close to us – parents, siblings, and children. When these occur, you must be ready to buffer against the hardship. A sudden layoff, sickness, and death entail costs that can eat up your operating expenses. An emergency fund will help you sail through them.
If you’re a regular employee with a monthly salary, it helps to save six months’ worth of expenses. Entrepreneurs, people on commission and those without a fixed income must save a year’s worth for their expenditures.
2. Expand your income base.
It will take you awhile before you reach the ideal amount for an emergency fund if you have a meager paycheck. A minimum wage will only get you so far – utilities, food, other necessities, and the remaining for savings. You won’t have enough for investment which is crucial to make your money grow over time.
Thus, you must get creative and bust some move to gain some moolah. Some people get a side hustle on top of their 9-to-5 job. Others explore their passion until they start making something out of it. There are guides and tutorials on the Internet that can guide you and become your inspiration to grow your money.
3. Explore community services.
Privatization and exclusivity may be convenient and fancy, but it’s highly expensive. An Uber ride to work is double the amount of your daily train fare. Therefore, commuting is highly sustainable compared to other modes of transportation. Exploring the travel route from Trinoma to Vertis North saves you a couple of bills while doing good to the Earth.
The same goes for biking and walking. It doesn’t only decrease your expenses. It also minimizes your carbon footprint. Besides commuting, common areas like public parks, museums, and libraries are sources of culture and entertainment. Most of these establishments offer a small fee (often the entrance fee) to maintain their operation.
TL, DR: You can be part of something without spending a ton of money just because of exclusivity.
4. Set a partition on your utilities.
Scheduling bill payment twice a month between both paychecks is a life hack. It spreads out your money and extends your budget. To do this, include electricity and water bills in the first half of the month. The other half covers the remaining expenses such as cable, Internet and other payables.
You can throw in other expenses such as groceries and household expenses in the mix. You can do grocery shopping twice per cutoff. That way, you can easily track where the bulk of your money goes.
5. Use budgeting apps.
There’s an app for everything. There’s an application for budgeting for sure. Hence, use the power of technology to cultivate lasting financial habits. If budgeting and monay management isn’t your cup of tea, you can rely on apps to balance accounts and compute your expenses for you. All you have to do in input the complete details to arrive at an accurate computation of your payments and net income.
Maintaining a savings account and paying off a loan is easy when you don’t have obligations. Family members can add to the bulk of expenses without contributing to income. Thus, use these tips and hacks to maximize your earnings. Once you have enough, start growing your passive income. Being financially stable is based on a having a fixed passive income.
Photo from Unsplash
Easy and Effective Ways to Save For Your Downpayment
Purchasing a property is one of the largest single purchases one will make in life. And when it comes to real estate investment, saving for your first down payment and building home equity can be a way to build wealth for your future. That only means, saving money for a down payment should not be taken lightly. However, If you think saving is as easy as you think it is, wait until you get started.
It’s not to scare you, but to give you a heads up on what’s typically going to happen especially when saving for a down payment. Regardless of the property, you want to invest; be it Solstice or any real estate property, there are certain things to consider when saving.
Find affordable alternatives
The moment you decide to invest in a real estate, compromising is one common thing you need to consider. For instance, you can drop your gym membership for exercising at home. Or perhaps, lose the cable subscription and sign up for Netflix. Having these as your alternative, you can save as much as you can. One thing is for sure; you can still continue to live your life without spending too much on the things you do not need. Moreover, think twice before you buy something – you may not need that particular thing.
Reward yourself
Yes, saving may be hard, but that does not mean you should hate it. That means you can break you savings goal down into manageable chunks, and think of a low-cost reward for yourself. After saving a lot of money in week or month, you can treat yourself to a dinner, or something that you want to have. However, you should also be mindful of the price. Just because it is your reward, you should also spend a lot of money on it. Of course, that should also not be the case. Since you are still saving for the down payment, you should also be mindful of the things you are want to buy.
Turn your savings into more savings
Did you know that it is possible for you to turn your savings into more savings? Perhaps, you can consider high-yield saving accounts, certificates of deposit, peer-to-peer lending and mutual funds. Moreover, you have to make sure to get solid advice about whether your timeline is appropriate for various investment options. But if you are not sure about these alternatives, you can go for high-yield accounts. This is one of the most conservative choices you can make since they are insured by the federal government.
Turn your hobbies into side gigs
Whether you realize it or not, you can turn your hobbies into money. How? There are people out there who can appreciate an individual skill where they are willing to pay for your ability. Let’s take painting, for example; some people would buy your artworks. Or perhaps, if you are good at playing piano, guitar, drums or any instruments, you can offer some lessons. With this, you are not enjoying doing your hobbies, but you also earn extra income out from it.
Although saving money can be challenging and daunting, that should not be that hard as you think it is. You can make it fun while you are saving money for the down payment. Moreover, this is one way you can achieve your dream home.
“It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.” – Robert Kiyosaki
Home Improvements: 5 Essential Decorator’s Toolkit
You cannot decorate your home when you do not have the basic tools to use on the necessary improvements. Home decoration often need tools for you to get started. And for one to achieve the desired outcome, a homeowner should have a good toolkit – but of course, you do not need to buy a kit all at once lavishly. However, if you want to have a better result, it is best for you to invest in well-made items that will last a lifetime.
Yes, it may be understandable that most homeowners cannot have the right tools since they also have so many things to think of. But if you do not have the right tools, you may not achieve the result you have to have. Whether you live in Amaia Home or any other real estate in the Philippines, there is no reason for you not to have the right tools. And if you are planning to do some renovations or decorations, homeowners need these things below:
Measuring tape
One reason why the decorations are not properly installed is that it is not properly measured on where and what spot should you put the things you want to display. Perhaps, for some, “eyeballing” may be useful. However, that may not always be the case. You need to have a measuring tape for you to make sure to have the right measurement for each corner or space for you to have a better result.
Hammer
Hammer is one of the most important tools you need to have at home. Of course, you do not want to make the work difficult for you, right? That is why you need to have a hammer included in your toolkit to make sure that you can use it anytime whenever you want to do some renovations at home. And if you are still planning to buy a hammer, you have to make sure that the handle of the hammer is comfy enough for you to use.
Drill or screwdriver
Drill or screwdriver is necessary tools especially when you want to hang something on your wall. Of course, this would help you hold whatever things you want to display. Moreover, screws are great when you need to tighten up some things to make it more durable enough on the wall or any corner of your home.
Ladders
If you think ladders are not necessary when it comes to home renovations, then you better think again. Of course, there will be times that you need the ladder especially when you need to reach for your ceiling. Ladders are also important when cleaning your ceiling. There are just cobwebs that are stubborn enough for you to get. That is why you need to have ladders to make sure that everything will be included in the cleaning.
Pliers
Aside from the fact that pliers are one of the most essential tools you need to have at home, pliers are also good for cables and other things that you need to do. There are different kinds of pliers, for crosscutting electrical wire, you need to have the side-cutting electrician pliers. For reaching into electrical boxes to trim away the cable’s sheath and paper, you need to have the diagonal pliers. And for cutting old rusty nails, screws, staples and clips, you need the ironworker’s pliers for it. This only means you need to make sure that you know which pliers are best for you to make sure that you will have a better outcome of the decorations at home.
One way or another, you need to have your decorations kit ready all the time. Of course, this is to ensure that you will have something to use whenever you decide to fix or decorate something. In this way, it will be much easier and faster for you to make things done at home.
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Home Renovations: How to Budget Remodeling Costs
One of the many things that matter when it comes to remodeling your home is the budget. Of course, who would not think about it when your budget is important? Right? Obviously, you also have to save for it. However, home renovations don’t mean you need to spend more and more money for it. You can definitely do the renovations even if you are saving money. Well, that is if you know what and what not to do when it comes to renovating your home.
Although some of you here are living in Manila properties, renovating your kitchen and bathroom in an affordable way as possible is already within your reach. Of course, homeowners who are living in any other real estate property in the Philippines, you can also reach a desirable outcome if you know what to do.
Well, if you are one of those homeowners who want to renovate their kitchen and bathroom yet don’t have enough budget for it, then you can consider doing these below. Of course, below are just simple and affordable tips for you to do.
Hire a home inspector
I know. A lot of you here might wonder and ask, “We are saving yet we should hire an inspector?” Yes, you heard it right. You need to hire an inspector when renovating your home for you to know which part of your home needs to renovate or not. Moreover, this is also one of the many ways you will learn what things to do to prevent you from doing costly mistakes. Of course, inspectors are professionals. And if you don’t know anything about home renovations, you better hire one for you not to regret your decisions later on.
Budget your remodeling costs
This time around, you already know what to do with your home since you already hire a professional to look at that matter. Now, this time, you need to know how to budget the things that are needed for the renovations. Of course, you are not going to buy materials that are not useful for the renovation of your home. You are not just wasting your money, you are collecting useless things at home. so, before deciding on what to buy, you have to determine first on which of the things that are needed.
Be upfront and honest about the total budget
This is one of the things you should not hesitate to do. When it comes to money matters, you need to be upfront and honest about it with the professionals. Of course, you should not force yourself to buy something that is too expensive for you to buy. It is also not wise if you are going to buy expensive things when there are alternatives or cheap materials you can buy. If you are not wise enough when it comes to the budget that is intended for the renovations, it will surely be a trouble on your part – financial trouble especially.
“Do I need a permit for my remodeling project?”
Asking these questions will definitely save you from spending too much money on the renovation. Of course, you have to know which part of your home is allowed to be renovated. Or even you should know if it is really ok for you to renovate your home. And yes, there are communities that are strict when it comes to that matter. You need to have a permit first before renovating your home.
Think beyond sticker price
Before we buy something, one of the things that we usually do is to look at the price tag. Right? Well, it is a good sign that you are a concern when it comes to saving money. However, even if the price is cheaper than the other, if you are not going to need it anyway, then you are also wasting money without being aware of it. Of course, why would you buy something that is not needed anyways. Right? That is why you have to think first before anything else.
Effective Tips: How to Keep Your Utility Bills Down
One of the main problems most homeowners face is their utility bills. Sometimes, it is too late for us to realize that almost half of our paycheck is going towards the utility bills. You can’t buy something good for yourself since you need to pay your bills first. If you don’t, then it is definitely going to be another problem to face. Who would not be frustrated with that? I bet, you can be one of them to facing such situations, especially when getting some disconnections.
For some homeowners, utility bills are not a problem at all. Perhaps, they have some devices that help lower down the electricity. However, paying the bills more than what you earn is going to be a pain on your wallets. And I’m sure you don’t want to experience such all over again and again. Right?
If you are one of those homeowners who are still struggling with it, you can definitely put a stop on it. Basically, it doesn’t matter if you live in Ayala Land Premier condominium BGC or any other real estate properties, you can keep your utility bills down by considering these tips below.
Get familiar with how to measure your home’s energy usage
Whether you realize it or not, each home has its different energy measurement. And if you are not familiar with yours, then you might not know if it eats a lot of energy in one usage. That is why, before moving in or buying a particular appliance, you better make sure that it can save more energy than any other appliances you have. Also, it is also a plus factor when you know how to read the fine print for you to have an idea of how much energy you used.
Compare what they are charging you with now with the bill from last year
The payment of your bills will change from time to time, depending on how you used your appliances or electricity. However, here are just times that you don’t know why or how you have high bills to pay. That means you have to be keen on the things you do. If you think there is something wrong with the meter, then you might as well ask some help to fix that problem. Perhaps, that particular problem is one of the reasons why you are paying too much for it.
Keep track of which season tends to be the most expensive for your household
This is one of the most common reasons why you usually pay high bills. Sometimes, we tend to use more electricity especially when we have visitors in our home. Of course, you don’t tell your visitors to not use that particular thing to save energy. Right? Generally, it is ok. However, it is your responsibility to keep track of those times for you to know why you have paid that particular amount on your bills.
Unplug all the appliances if not in use
If you think that it is ok not to unplug your appliances even you turn it off, then you better think again. And whether you realize it or not, that particular appliance is still working since it is still connected with the electricity. However, you can definitely save big time if you immediately that particular appliance every after you used it. Don’t forget to make it as your habit to avoid unnecessary add-ons to your utility bills.
Turn all the lights off always when not using them
Ok, let’s admit! There are just times that we tend to forget to turn off the lights every time. Perhaps, we are just so engrossed with the things we do or we just merely forget to turn it off. This is definitely one of the basic things you need to remember. Yes, even if turning your lights off is as simple as 123, but it gives a great impact to your bills. We recommend the use of LED lights. You can save more if you use LED lights in your home.
Don’t forget to save water
If you think that you should only consider your electricity, then you’re wrong. Of course, you should also have to pay your water bills. And if you are not that concern enough when it comes to its usage, then there might be problems later on. Moreover, when you save water, you are not just saving money; you are also saving our Mother Earth. So, be one of the concerned citizens for our nature.
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