Browsing CategoryResidential

Why do people choose to live in communities?

As the world’s population rises, cities become increasingly crowded, and house prices go up, more and more people are exploring alternative ways of living. In fact, across much of the world, communal living isn’t considered alternative at all, with most people living in extended family groups in villages where caring for one’s neighbors is considered a natural obligation. The Western focus on the nuclear family certainly has its benefits, but it’s not for everyone, and some people find that community living brings a range of benefits – practical, psychological, and spiritual – that make it well worth a try. Types…

Top 10 Home Renovation Don’ts

So, after finally making the big choice to renovate the home, there has to be a list of do’s and don’ts which will make the big change run all that much smoother. This shall result in getting a happy ending after all the work is completed. Here are 10 home renovation don’ts that one should heed in order to ensure that things work out as they should. 1 – Don’t forget to plan ahead. All major battles were won by planning ahead. After completion, smiles will only result by making all decisions before the work starts. A quality builder will…

The A-to-Z Guide to Buying a Home

Purchasing that first home is an exciting event in the lives of most people. After perhaps living in rented properties, the positive feeling which comes from owning a home can make anybody wonder why they never did it earlier! Having that pride of ownership is the major reason why most people long to own their home. It means simply being able to do all those things that can’t be done in other people’s rented places, such as paint the walls that perfect colour, turn up the volume on the TV or music player, attach all kinds of fixtures and decorate the…

Can Renovations Add Value To Your Home?

Remodelling or renovations are usually about aesthetics. You’re probably bored of seeing that wall between the kitchen and dining room, so you decide to tear it down and combine the two spaces together. A little bit of paint and some new furniture could make your home look brand new. But what if you could do more than simply make your house look better? Could you actually remodel to add value? Here are seven remodelling projects that can actually help you get a better price for your home: Kitchen remodelling Celebrity interior designer Shaynna Blaze recently talked about renovating kitchens and…

Choosing the Best Cladding to Install in your Home

Image by: Heleen van Vliet via flickr If you are looking for ideas to increase the curb appeal of your home, you can search for some tips online. You can check the Better Homes and Gardens website as it has lots of cool ideas. Of course, one of the easiest ways to make a drastic change to your home’s exterior is to add cladding to your home. However, there are lots of different types of cladding available, so it is important to make sure that you choose the best cladding to install for your home. Traditional Wood Cladding For hundreds…

Packing tips to make your next move a breeze

When you sign the lease on a new house or purchase one, you never think about how hard moving will be until you actually go through the process of packing up all your stuff. Even if you have done it before, it can be a cumbersome process. In this article, we will share some packing tips that will make your next move as easy as possible. 1) Recruit moving companies online Prior to the advent of the internet, recruiting moving companies was something of a crapshoot, as you relied on word-of-mouth that was often hit-or-miss. However, the information age has…

Decorate your house for less this winter

As the warm days of summer give way to the eventual onset of winter, the decorative touches that you have inside your house should shift along with the seasons. Together with survey firm My Voucher Codes, we have put together an article that will help you decorate your house for less this winter. Keep colors in mind When you are picking pillows, blankets, and throws for the upcoming winter, make sure the colors that you choose sync well with the mood of the season. While it is okay to use bright colors, be sure that they stand out by choosing…

Using your First Home Owners Grant Wisely

The Australian government has seen the need for some assistance for first time property buyers, and has recently increased the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) to $10,000. This is a considerable amount of money, especially at a time when the outlay is so high, and it comes as a welcome relief to many young couples. The list of things to buy seems endless, so here are some ideas on how best to utilise the grant money. Furnishing the home An important thing to consider as one must have certain essentials, such as bedding, tables and chairs, and carpets, and although…

Expert Repairs Keep Your Appliances Happy And Healthy

There’s only so much preventative maintenance can do for your appliances. Sometimes, what you really needed all along was a visit from one of Toronto’s expert repair technicians. When a professionally trained and insured specialist arrives at your door, backed by experience and high quality equipment, you don’t have to worry about Band-Aid fixes. These technicians will find the root cause of your faulty machine and make the appropriate repairs quickly, efficiently, and — most importantly — affordably. Before you call the first repair service you find, it’s important you do your homework. Not everyone with a decaled truck and…

A Real Estate Developer at Your Service

Looking for an advisor on Philadelphia’s real estate? Well, you are in luck because now you can actually direct your questions to real estate development veteran Blake Rubin on Quora. A Philly native, Blake Rubin has sold many properties all over the United States, and thus gained a deep understanding on what works and what does not when it comes to real estate development. Blake Rubin achieved this by traveling all over the United States to understand each city’s culture. Luckily, being a people-person, Blake Rubin enjoys traveling, experiencing different cultures and making new friends. He would utilize this to…