12 January 2018

5 Questions You Need To Ask Before You Decide To Buy A Plot And Create Your Own Perfect Home


Are you sure about closing the deal on that plot?

A lot of couples who want to start a family are. And because of the costs of buying a house, many are opting to just buy a plot and start from there.

This actually puts pressure on you. Even the land you plan to build your home on can determine the long-term success of your project.

So, don’t write that check just yet! Here are five questions you have to ask BEFORE buying a plot for your perfect home

1. Is it located in a disaster-prone area?

Imagine the process of intricate planning to hiring a firm to build your dream house. Now, imagine it all washed away by a nasty flash flood.

What a waste, right?

No matter how beautiful and how sturdy you make your home, you might still need to cough up cash every once in a while if you put it in a disaster-prone area.

That money could have gone on upgrades or getting your kids to better schools.

But aside from storm windows and other preventive tools you can install in your house, there’s even a bigger concern: your family’s safety.

Disasters put people in the face of danger. And keeping the people you love as far away from danger as possible should be always your number one concern.

2. How much is the plot’s current market price?

Although there are a lot of fair dealers out there, it’s not going to hurt to be careful. There still are a lot of people who prey on ignorance and will squeeze as much money out of you as possible.

Instead of rushing into buying a piece of land that you think is cheaper to you, you should still make sure that you’re getting at least a fair deal for it. Who knows? It might even be a lot cheaper than what is being offered to you.

If you don’t know where to start, you can consult a real estate expert to do the works for you. That way, you won’t end up spending a lot more than you should.

3. Can I afford it?

The last thing you want to do is start building your beautiful home but stop the operation in the middle of it all due to the lack of budget.

You may want a big plot in the city, but you shouldn’t get bankrupt doing so. But at the same time, you shouldn’t pass on a great deal just because you don’t have the full amount right now.

And to make sure you get the right balance between quality and cost, consult commercial and private property experts. They’d be able to give you professional advice and make the entire process easier for you.

4. Does it fit the architectural design?

Many people make the mistake of buying first a land in a relatively good location and then worry about how incompatible it is to what they want their house to look like.

That could easily be avoided.

The thing is, the land SHOULD come first before any other aspect of the planning stage. The blueprints made and the materials used are all based on the land.

But if you really have a particular design in mind, make sure it’d work perfectly for your plot. Else, you’d have to cut corners and possibly end up having to deal with home renovations later on.

5 How close to work is it?

Aside from safety, location is also important when we’re talking about work. As of 2016, workers are spending an average of two hours commuting each day.

That’s just the average. So depending on your area, the daily commute can take an even larger chunk of your day.

Even then, experts saw that it was definitely going to be a bigger problem in the future. So, also consider that before buying a plot.

What good is a beautiful home if you’re hardly going to be there, right?

All families want the perfect house to go home to at the end of the day. But before you buy a plot and make your dream home a reality, ask those five questions first. Choosing among endless land prospects isn’t a walk in the park. And by going through those questions, it can be.

04 January 2018

Plants to Consider for Your Home

Plants make homes look pretty. They’re like natural home furniture. Not only that, but some are great air filters and humidifiers, which makes them especially good for cold winters when windows and doors are closed shut.

Royalty Free Photo

If you’ve been thinking about getting some plants for your home in the New Year, or you want to get some new ones, consider the following beauties.

Spider Plant

The spider plant, also known as Chlorophytum Comosum, is pretty easy to maintain, doesn’t need much to take care of it, and can hold its own in various conditions. You can also place it anywhere in the kitchen - the windowsill, the kitchen worktop or wherever else. It requires very little pruning and watering so is a pretty independent little thing. The plant is also a dab hand at removing odors and pollutants.

African Spear

The African spear plant, also known as the cylindrical snake plant or Sansevieria Cylindrica, has long green cylinder-like leaves, and is called a snake plant because the patterns on the leaves are snake-like. It doesn’t take much to look after one as it’s a succulent plant (its thick parts/leaves store water like aloe plants). These plants are great for cleaning the air and removing toxins.

English Ivy

English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a fairly easy vine plant to look after and grow. Make sure the soil it’s planted in stays moist and that it’s kept where the sunlight isn’t too bright. It can also grow in the shade. It’s apparently also good for removing mold spores in the air of one’s home. If you have pets, it can also decrease fecal matter in the air. It’s said to be good at absorbing formaldehyde, which can be found in certain cleaning products, for instance.

If you have a fence, such as the ones sold by Northland Fence, English Ivy would serve as a good climbing plant to create extra privacy.

Be warned: if you do buy this plant, ensure it’s kept well away from children as their berries and leaves are poisonous when consumed (symptoms include stomachache, a fever, breathing problems and diarrhea). Also be careful if you have sensitive skin (because of the sap). Ivy plants are also toxic for our four-legged pets.

Peace Lily

The gorgeous Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is another plant that’s easy to maintain. Like the English Ivy, the Lily’s good for reducing mold spores in the home. It uses its leaves to absorb the spores, which its roots then use as a food source. The Peace Lily is also good for mildew prevention in the bathroom.

If you want it to bloom more of its beautiful white flowers over time, place it in the light more often.

These are just four house plants of the many to choose from. There are so many other plants you can grace your home with. And what’s great is some of them not only keep you and your home company, but they purify the air for you too, which can only be a good thing.