Wednesday, December 23, 2015

5 Home Inspection Mistakes You Need to Avoid

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Do you know that one of the many reasons as to why your home is not going to last for many years is because, it was not inspected properly? Yes, inspecting your home before moving in plays a big role in having a durable and long lasting home. It doesn't matter if you live in  Bonifacio Global City condo or any other real estate property; a home inspection is still a must for you to do.

Sad to say, not all homeowners don't pay any attention to what they home need. Perhaps, they only think that for as long as they can live in a safe and comfortable place, then it is fine. But, how sure are you that your home is going to be safe without any inspections at all. If you are one of those people who value safety, then you definitely will not miss having a home inspection.

Well, to give you some ideas on the common mistakes most homeowners usually failed to notice, below are the mistakes you need to avoid.

Mistake No. 1: Not having new construction inspected

If you think that your home is newly constructed and is durable enough for you to stay, then you better think again. Even if it is still new, there are still some errors in the construction that you need to be addressed. You don't know; there are still cracks that contractors missed noticing, which can be one of the many factors why your home is not durable enough. Well, making sure is not a bad thing at all. For as long as you are in the right place to make sure, then it is also your rights since we are talking about the safety of your home here.

Mistake No. 2: Choosing an inspector for the wrong reasons

If you plan on hiring an inspector for the sake of merely inspecting, then you also better think again. Yes, there are a lot of inspectors that don't ask for an expensive fee. But how sure are you that your home is properly inspected? You don't know; the inspector just roams around your house without even inspecting every corner of it if there are still damages that are not visible. With that, this might be one of the reasons why you don't have a durable home.

Mistake No. 3: Not going along on the inspection

Again, making sure that your home is properly inspected is not a bad thing at all. Of course, it is also your responsibility to make sure that the home inspector that you hire will inspect every single corner of your home to make sure that there are no cracks, holes and other things that keep the house from being safe. Moreover, it is also a must for you that you will go along with the inspector around the house, for you to know what are the things that need to be repaired. It is also for you to make sure that they are doing their work properly.

Mistakes No. 4: Not following up on the inspector's recommendations

It is one of your downfalls if you will not going to follow your inspector's recommendations. Of course, doing some inspection in your home is going to be a waste if you don't do or follow what your home inspector told you to do. Well, if you are one of those people who don't want any hassles at all, you have to make sure that you do what they want you to do, for you to avoid costly mistakes and repairs.

Mistakes No.5: Expecting your home inspector to be psychic

You have to put in mind that no matter how good your home inspector is, they definitely can't predict the future of your home. Of course, the duration of your home will always be up to your care. If you are not careful enough of your home, then it will mostly likely not to last long. It will always be on your responsibility on how you are going to make your home last. Of course, if your home needs some renovations, then you have to do it as well to look good.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Moving to the Capital: The Cost of Living in a City

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Whether you agree with me on this or not, a lot of us here dream of living in the city. Perhaps, you can find various opportunities such as jobs and businesses in the city. Who would not want that, right? Moreover, it doesn't matter if you live in Marquee Residences or any other properties you want to live; there will always be opportunities that await you. Of course, that if you are motivated enough to grab these kinds of opportunities.

Yes, there may be a lot of opportunities for you, but you also have to remember that the cost of living may differ from the provinces and other places you have been. Moreover, if you are not used to living in a city, then you might want to adapt the kind of environment the city have.
Well, if you are one of those people who are planning to move and live in the city, below are some things you should consider and know before moving to the capital. Of course, this is also for you to be aware of the things you should and should not do when you already move.

Food

If you are used to having an affordable food, then you better think twice if you plan on eating your meal outside your house. Whether you like it or not, living in the city is costly, especially when it comes to the food. Classy restaurants may also cost you a lot. If you are not careful in choosing what restaurant you want to try, then you might be in trouble. That is why, it is also a must for you to bring extra money for any cases of financial emergencies.

Well, fret not! To those people who still want to eat outside yet don't want to spend too much for their food, there are also actually a lot of good restaurants with good food. Of course, you will also enjoy the quality of food that they have. Not just with the tasty food, you will also enjoy the place. Well, just make sure you know where and what kind of restaurants that offers that kind of affordability.

Transportation and services

A lot of us here might expect that cities have the most efficient public transportation system than the other places. Well, you better think again. However, even if the public transportation may not be efficient enough, you don't have to worry since the affordability of the fare compensates. Well, if you plan on having a taxi, you also don't have to worry since the taxi's flag down rate is only Php 40 plus Php 3.50 for every three meters. Well, it is not that expensive for a working person.

And if you are one of those people who prefer the economic one, you might want to try riding jeepneys. With that, you will only need to pay Php 8 minimum fare. Well, that is an economical thing to have.

Housing

When it comes to the housing, it will always depend on where and what place you want to stay. If you are planning to live in a property such as Marquee Residences, you might want to inquire the right amount of budget for you to know if it fits your monthly budget. And as a home investor, you have to make sure that the property that you choose suits your taste and lifestyle for you not to regret your decisions later on.

Moreover, if you are new to home investments, you better hire a real estate professional for you to achieve your desired home without any delays and problems in the process of investments. Well, investing in a property is also one of the things you should be proud. Of course, you are also investing for your future.

These three basic things mentioned above may be common to all of us, but these are the most important things for you to know and consider when it comes to your plan and decision in moving in the city. Well, adapting the city's environment may not be hard as you think it is. Just make sure that you also know who to cope up with the things and situations around you.

Friday, December 11, 2015

For OFWs: What to Know About Buying Quality Homes in the Philippines

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Investing in a quality home is more challenging for OFWs, agree? Especially when it's their first time to buy a home in the Philippines, there will be a lot of situations that might hinder or delay the investment process. Of course, even if you chose a property in Bonifacio Global City or any other places where you want to invest, it would a difficult process especially if you don't have any idea about real estates at all.

Whether you realize it or not, the rapid growth of OFW homebuyers is increasing. Of course, investing in their home is one of the things they want to do to make sure that they have a secure and nice future. Sad to say, not all OFW knows about home buying process in the Philippines. As a result, they regret investing in a real estate.

Well, if you are one of those OFWs who wish to have their home, then you should know at the least the basics of real estate. You should know what to do to make sure that you will get the right home for you. And to avoid such unfortunate scenarios, below are some of the things you should know to achieve the desired outcome of your home buying process.

Find a reliable and reputable developer

There are a lot of real estate developers in the Philippines; you might not recognize some of them. Making sure of your investments also means making sure who you trust. Placing your trust in a developer who you don't know anything at all, and then this might jeopardise your real estate investments. When you choose a developer who is well-known with a good reputation, then you will have a brighter side of your future.

Research, research, research

Do not ever decide to choose and buy a particular property if you don't know anything about it at all. Of course, before you can choose one, you should also know what kind of property that you are going to invest. If you think that you are still not satisfied with the quality of property that you have found online, then you should do your research more. With that, you will eventually find a good and suitable place for you. You just have to be patient in searching.

Return home or work with a trusted representative

There are a lot of OFWs who invest in a home even if they are not around in the country. With that, there might be unwanted situations that may arise. For you to avoid such thing, there is a need for you to return home or work with a trusted representative. Of course, you have to since it will be difficult to transact real estate investments when you are out of the country. However, if you think that you still can't go back home, then the best way to ensure that the investment is in good hands is to work or hire a broker. With that, it will be easier for you to achieve your desired home.

 Value for money

As an OFW, even if you have the budget intended for your home, you should also consider other expenses. That means you need to choose a property that you can afford to have. Moreover, even if you can afford such property, there might be another add-on that you don't know. That is why, you also have to make sure that you know every single detail of the transaction process. That is also for you to know what is already going on with your investments.

If you are one of those OFWs, when you know the basic of real estate process, you will eventually realize that investing such is not as hard as you think it is. Of course, making sure that everything is going smooth is a must for you to do.

Friday, December 4, 2015

5 Best Pet-friendly Ways to Decorate Your Home

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One of the many things most homeowners hate the most, especially when they have pets is when they usually get messy all around their house. Well, when you have pets at home, it doesn't matter where you live, be it in Makati condo or any other real estate properties, a messy pet is inevitable. Of course, there are just times that you cannot control their behavior, especially pets that are not well trained.

Well, if you are one of those homeowners who have a hard time decorating their home because of their pets, then below are some best pet-friendly ways to decorate your home. And mind you, not just you who will be satisfied with the outcome but also your pets.

Fur-disguising carpet tiles


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Some of you here have pet dogs, right? If not dogs, at least they have some furs. However, even if we like to have such pets, we just can't deny that sometimes it irritates us whenever they have some stray hairs that fall on our floor. Well, for you not to be pissed on their falling hair, then you might as well have a fur-disguising carpet tiles. With that, the stray hairs of your pets will just camouflage with the carpet tile that you have. Moreover, you don't have to worry about having it stained since you can easily replace the carpet tile into a new one.

Fossilized Bamboo flooring


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There will always be times that your pet loves to stay in a warm place. Of course, as a pet owner, it is also your responsibility that you give your pet a priority, especially when it comes to their health. And staying warm inside your home is one of the things you can do for them. Moreover, to make it warmer, you can also use fossilized bamboo flooring where it is a treatment that increases the density of the material, making it harder to scratch or dent. It is also a way to keep your pets safe from a slippery floor.

Fabric you can bleach

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When you have pets at home, you have to expect that there will be times that your home will be a little bit of a messy. Of course, you also have to expect that there will also be stains caused by a playful pet. Well, we just can't control their movements. However, when you have the fabric where you can easily bleach away the stains, then it will be easier and convenient for you to have with no stress at all. Moreover, this is one of the many ways you can have some time to play with your pets without worrying about the stained furniture that you have at home.

Pet-friendly upholstery

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Whether you realize it or not, there is a particular upholstery that is not that friendly to your pets. Of course, when you know that you have a playful pet at home, you should also try to match the upholstery to your pet's fur if you can, even if your pets are not allowed on the couch. Well with that, you don't have to worry that much when you notice some stray hair from your pets since it will be less noticeable. And of course, if you are one of those people who are into pets, you also have to be careful in choosing the right upholstery for your home to avoid any regrets later on.

Slipcovers


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If you are a kind of pet owner who allow his/her pet to stay on the couch, you have to make sure that you cover your couch with Slipcover. Well, you don't have to worry that much whenever your pet gets on your couch with a muddy paw since you can just remove and wash it with bleach. And for you to be less worry, then you can also have some slipcover for your bed with cotton bedding that can take frequent washes with warm water.