10 Quotes on a Twenty-Somethings’ Journey to Finding Home

Home can mean different things. It can be a Lerato for rent condo, a suite in Holiday Inn, or a villa in Quezon City.

Whatever it is, different things make us feel that we are home. Sometimes, we feel that home is where we spent our childhood. It can also be where we found our partner or where we forged friendships. But because of time and the winds of change, we are forced to leave the place we love and a new one.

If you’ve been away from home for some time and you don’t know where it is anymore, here are some quotes that describe how it feels to leave home in your twenties and come back again.

 

1. The moment you left your humble home for a rental.

   

“After you leave home, you may find yourself feeling homesick, even if you have a new home that has nicer wallpaper and a more efficient dishwasher than the home in which you grew up.” 

– Lemony Snicket

 

 

2. When you’re denying you aren’t lonely but deep down want to come back.

“Home is not where you live but where they understand you.” 

– Christian Morgenstern

 

3. The inner-battle of self-sacrifice and freedom.

   

“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was. Likewise, I never imagined that home might be something I would miss.”

― Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

 

4. When you decided to not return to the place where you don’t have to pay rent and mortgage because you found “home” in your significant other’s arms.

“Home wasn’t a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.”

― Sarah Dessen, What Happened to Goodbye

 

5. But your relationship didn’t last long, and going home feels like the only way to ease your heartache.

“The desire to go home is the desire to be whole, to know where you are, to be the point of intersection of all the lines drawn through all the stars, to be the constellation-maker and the center of the world, that center called love. To awaken from sleep, to rest from awakening, to tame the animal, to let the soul go wild, to shelter in darkness and blaze with light, to cease to speak and be perfectly understood.”

― Rebecca Solnit, Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics

 

6. Fortunately, it’s perfectly fine to come back.

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

― Maya Angelou, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes

 

7. Besides the hardships of being a twenty-something from career, dating to finances, don’t lose hope.

“Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.”

― Cecelia Ahern, Love, Rosie

 

8. You still have your parents, relatives and supportive friends. Chin up and live in the moment. You still have a lot of time ahead of you.

“Well, sometimes home is a person.”

― Beth Revis, A Million Suns

 

9. The right person will come to sweep you off your feet and accept you for who you are. This person will make a home out of nothing and will make it seem that every place, as long as you are together, is home.

“Home is the nicest word there is.”

― Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

10. He or she will tame your rebel heart and make you see you and your family’s worth in your life. It will make you understand what home really is.

    

“I don’t care if we have our house, or a cliff ledge, or a cardboard box. Home is wherever we all are, together,”

― James Patterson

Beautiful Homes: Four Benefits of Having a Cluttered Home

“Eliminate the clutter and all the things that are going on outside and focus on the things that you can control how you go about and take care of your business. That is something that is ongoing, and it can never change.”-Nick Saban

Without a doubt, clutter is an inevitable consequence in the ownership of a home and the possession of personal belongings. We are expected to accumulate a variety of household items and belongings over time insomuch that we can likely expect our homes filled with them. After all, as homeowners, we have this innate longing to make our homes as beautiful as possible. Consequently, homeowners must look for ways to pepper their homes with décor items that would enhance its natural aesthetic. As a result, some homeowners have taken their affinity for stuff to the extreme insomuch that their homes and space seem to be a natural habitat for mess and disorganization. In this regard, their home’s perpetual state of disarray would not even recognize as a problem but rather a common occurrence. Despite the exciting trend of having incredibly organized spaces and hyper-clean homes, these homeowners love their stuff so much that clutter thrives in their home.

Indeed, while Marie Kondo might have her version of how a house is maintained, there is a slew of homeowners who think that this level of orderliness can be a tad bit exhausting. Admittedly, there is more to living at home than just constantly tidying up right? More importantly, having a slightly cluttered house does not immediately make you a morally bankrupt homeowner–neither does it make you any less competent and able than a homeowner with an orderly home. It does not matter whether you are living in Celadon residences, Marquee Residences or elsewhere, it has been shown that a little clutter can make life just a bit better and bearable.

Here are some of the reasons why:

A Messy Environment is a More Creative One

Science has proven that an environment that is too clean can stifle your imagination. In this regard, a bit of clutter and disorganization about your homes is actually encouraged. It is because it challenges the homeowner to break the norms and rules of conventions and elicits creative thoughts. However, this is not to say that rooms with piles upon piles of boxes and closets crammed with way too many clothes are right either. What we are getting at is just the right amount of disorder you are comfortable with. Clutter, albeit only a healthy amount of it, actually speaks of the kind of homeowner you are and just a little mess does not always have a negative connotation. (Read: What clutter says about you)

A Perfectly Tidy Home Does Not Always Mean a Happy Home

Orderliness is one thing but dedicating your life to maintaining a perpetually clean home is another. Regardless of how much time you allocate for cleaning your houses, it will never be a hundred percent clean and organized if you lived in it at the same time. In this regard, anything that is out of place or merely a bit messy would already stress you out. Your focus should be to live in your homes. More importantly, you should be maintaining a level of functionality that makes living in it enjoyable as well. While a semblance of order is essential, there is no reason for you to go hard every single day. Remember, the key is to make homes functional and livable—not perfect.

A little dirty is good for you.

People with immaculate homes have bleached and scrubbed all the germs and microbes out of their homes. However, a little of those germs and bacteria have been shown to be good for you. A little dirty here and there can strengthen one’s immune system which in effect would make you and your family less likely to develop allergies and fall ill. Children exposed to cleaning fumes emitted by the cleaning chemicals used are more likely to develop asthma and may even cause adults to develop the ailment as well. If you wish to clean, use natural cleaning products that are free of industrial chemicals. Alternatively, you can scale back on your obsessive cleaning routine as well.

Decluttering Might Cause You to Toss Something You Need

A mantra of obsessive cleaners and organizers is to free their surroundings of anything that they might not need. In essence, this means continuously purging their homes from personal belongings that no longer serve their purpose. Unfortunately, some homeowners tend to toss out stuff because they have not used it in the year only to regret throwing it out when they need it in the future. While the enthusiasm to rid a house of unnecessary clutter is admirable, homeowners need to be a little meticulous and thorough about what they throw out. Instead of immediately discarding items because they have not been used in a year, evaluate each item’s value and ability to be replaced. Sure, throw out those board games that you have not used in more than a decade but think twice about tossing your first edition novel copies.

Image source

Home Security 101: Seven Reasons Why Burglars Might Be Singling Your Property Out

“The ache for a home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned”-Maya Angelou

Home (noun): A place where one lives; an environment affording security and happiness; a valued place considered a refuge or place of origin.

For many individuals, the home is considered a refuge—a place of sanctuary wherein security is paramount and held in the highest priority. In so many ways, our homes are the sole places wherein we feel the safest and most secure. It is precisely for this reason that we regard any breach to our sanctuaries as possibly the most dangerous threat. In fact, even the slightest trespass into our abodes is often considered an affront to our domestic life and a valid cause for concern.

With this in mind, how do we ensure that we keep any potential threats to our domestic security at bay? How do we identify whether or not our homes are truly safe from being burglarized? More importantly, how can we guarantee our families’ and children’s safety at home? Well, as a smart homeowner your initial course of action is to safeguard your homes by ascertaining that the gates are closed, every door is locked and windows are bolted shut when you are at away. More importantly, you should also make sure that any dark places in your outdoor area would be lit as thieves love nothing more than lurking in the dark.

However, what if even then your property’s security would potentially fall short? And what if even then, your homes are still vulnerable to being burglarized? What more could you do? Unfortunately, in this day and time where thieves have grown bolder, bolting doors shut and keeping windows closed are not sufficient means for safety and security. As a concerned homeowner, how do you make sure that this does not happen to your Westborough property or elsewhere? Well, your first course of action is to identify the potential reasons why a burglar might target a home. Here is a compiled list of reasons of homes that are the usual favorite flavors of burglars:

You do not have an alarm system installed at home

If you have been looking for a legitimate reason to purchase a home security system, this would be it. After all, you can never truly put a price tag on your family’s safety and security. Sure, it might cost you a bit much but the knowledge of being safe in your home vastly outweighs the exorbitant price you pay for any domestic security system. Burglars are easily deterred by homes equipped by home security systems, so if you wish to sleep better at night then you best have one for your homes as well.

Your house is located in the corner

As it turns out, your property’s location plays a pivotal factor when it comes to deterring thieves and burglars. Some homeowners make the mistake of thinking that corner properties would offer them and advantage against burglary, but this turns out to be a misconception. In fact, research has shown that corner homes are targeted far more often as they are generally more accessible and have a few neighboring houses.

You live near an alley

Being in an alley might provide you convenient ease of access to streets but it can also potentially compromise your home’s safety. This is particularly true if the rear end of your home is situated on an alley. Homeowners living in alleys tend to have an increased chance of being victimized rather than those who live in gated neighborhoods. Alleys provide the perfect opportunity for thieves and burglars to get in and out of your home unnoticed.

You have a superfluity of locks

You might think that installing a variety of locks would be enough to deter burglars and thieves from targeting your homes. Unfortunately, these do not always work to your favor. Moreover, thieves are rather skilled in picking them. If you installed way too many locks than necessary, you are inadvertently signaling a burglar that you have something precious and worth stealing.

You drive a fancy car

A fancy car pretty much screams that you have even fancier things inside your homes. Your expensive set of wheels can be the reason why your home will be targeted—particularly for low-income and unsafe neighborhoods. For burglars, any outward sign of wealth would be a pivotal factor in determining whether a break-in can potentially occur.

You have hired help

Hired help can do wonders in helping us save time. More importantly, it affords us convenience. Unfortunately, it can come at a great cost. While these people are paid to render service to your homes, you are unsure as to whether you can trust their integrity. More importantly, it has been shown that most burglars get their inside information from hired help who are privy to all sorts of information—from the location of expensive items to your daily routine.

Your home is located in a high-crime area

Although there are studies that show that burglars travel miles away from home to commit a crime, most break-ins are carried out by people who just live nearby to you. With that considered, location is a paramount factor to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a potential home to live in. Living in a high-crime neighborhood increases your chances of being burglarized and burglars who are more familiar with the area tend to rob and target their neighbors.

Image source

Housecleaning Endeavours: Three Common Mistakes in Getting Rid of Clutter

“Clutter is a weight that has built on top of you so gradually, you do not even realize anymore that it is holding you down” –Mary Johanson

Louise Smith has once said that you cannot reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.

From this sentiment alone, we are encouraged to organize every aspect of our lives regardless of whether it is our emotions, state of beings and more commonly, our households. It is a long held belief that a cluttered home is a home that invites all sorts of negative energy and is commonly associated with stress. On the other hand, a home devoid of clutter is where individuals are said to thrive and be relaxed in their surroundings. To others, it might seem farfetched but a cluttered and disorganized home is often a tacit reflection of how irresponsible we are as homeowners. In this regard, we ought to give our best when it comes to our endeavour in cleaning our homes. A half-hearted attempt at it just would not do. But what if even your best efforts in sprucing up and organizing your living spaces has failed you? What if clutter has found a way to permeate every nook and cranny of your space somehow?

Well, it might be that you are doing it wrong. Do not take it too personally though. It is not that you have absolutely no idea how to clean, it is just that despite your best attempts in getting rid of them, there is still the possibility that you are doing it wrong. Being aware of what these pitfalls are can be very helpful. Stopping them before they impede your organizing endeavour should be your first order of business. With this in mind, you ought to take note of all the things you might have been doing wrong and be sure to avoid them the next time you do some spring cleaning in your unit in Avida Towers Vita or elsewhere. In any case, here are some of the things that you might have missed that contributed greatly to the failure of your cleaning endeavour:

Not having a plan

Spontaneity is great but this is hardly the case when it comes to sprucing up your homes. You might think that something as straightforward and simple as cleaning up your homes would not really need a concrete plan but sometimes, putting a plan in motion and executing it can make the task significantly easier. It might be tempting to just go all in with bin bags filling them ASAP and finishing up the task but you are simply getting rid of the surface clutter. Remember, clutter is everywhere—including the not so obvious place in your home. Create a plan as to where things should go in your home as deciding what to do with those things would be a lot easier.

Moving from room to room

While moving from one room to another is fairly common when you are decluttering and organizing a space, you should do it only when you are done with one room. Unfortunately, many homeowners tend to move from one room to another not because they are done, but rather because they are side-tracked. It starts with cleaning up one particular area in a room and realizing that there is an item there that does not belong. You decide to return it immediately. Unfortunately, you realize that there are other things that are not in their proper places as well upon returning the errant item which can result in an endless cycle of circling around the house returning items where they need to be and not really accomplishing anything. After you realize that, you get frustrated and may even abandon your attempt at cleaning. To ensure that this does not occur, have a basket waiting by the door of whatever room you are currently cleaning. Whatever does not belong to the current room you are cleaning should be thrown inside the bin. Take these items to their appropriate storage areas once you are DONE with everything.

Buying organizing products first

So, you want to take on this organizing endeavour head on which means you have to invest on quality storage items, right?  Yes, but not right away. Your enthusiasm for cleaning up may be admirable but you also need to ensure that you are going about it the right way. In this regard, you should worry about where to put your clutter last and focus on clearing it out first. Remember, decluttering is more about purging your homes from unwanted items so much more than figuring out where they go. It means sifting through your stuff and deciding what is working out for you and what no longer does. Organizing is the next step which means that you should only buy the storage items ONLY AFTER you have successfully decluttered. Do not buy them before or you run the risk of adding to the existing clutter.   

Image source

Home Selling Success: Five Common Questions Asked by Homebuyers

“Real estate is an imperishable asset, ever increasing in value. It is the most solid security that human ingenuity has devised. It is the basis of all security and about the only indestructible security” –Russel Sage

As a real estate agent, you are probably well aware of the queries a prospective homebuyer might ask you. However, there are a few wildcards here and there—especially when it comes to clueless first-time homebuyers who are unaware of what goes into the home buying process. As a realtor, it is your responsibility to address all of their questions adequately as to a first-timer, the home buying process can be quite complicated and even a little daunting. As the steward as well as the median between buyer and project owner, it is your duty to allay your client’s qualms, ensure that they understand the terms of the deal well and give them the most appropriate property applicable to their needs.

Be sure to answer their queries sufficiently as possible. More importantly, you should ensure that your answers are informative—particularly to their most basic but crucial questions. Keep in mind that more often than not, the success of a transaction is hinged on how well you have communicated the deal to your client. After all, your clients would want to make a well-informed decision and purchase which they cannot do without you. So, whether you are pitching them a condominium for sale in Quezon City or elsewhere, it is imperative to provide satisfactory answers to pertinent questions.

To know what the most common questions homebuyers ask, take a gander below.

Should I buy or rent a home?

One of the initial questions a homebuyer would ask you is whether they should buy or rent a home. They consider you as someone with general expertise as regards their needs especially if you have been in the industry for quite some time. In this regard, they would then ask you what befits them better: renting a home or buying it outright? Generally, renting a home is a lot cheaper and less labor-intensive. However, it is only through a home purchase where one is afforded with more long-term benefits. To ensure that your client’s query is adequately addressed, lay out all the advantages and disadvantages of both buying and renting. Helping them see the difference between the two will allow them to gauge where they are and what they are ready for. In this regard, they would then be able to formulate a well-informed decision.

What kind of home can I afford?

More often than not, a prospective homebuyer would come to you with an estimated budget in mind. From there, the next step would be then to figure out a price range based on their budget estimate. If they do not have an idea of what their budget estimate might be then come up with a figure based on their income and financial stability.

When should I apply for a mortgage pre-approval?

One of the rookie mistakes most first-time homebuyers make is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval only after they have found the perfect home. Unfortunately, your endeavor in searching for the perfect home will be met with consequences if you did it without a mortgage pre-approval. Most home sellers would be unwilling to sell to you which might cost prospective homebuyers to lose out on the home of their dreams. To ensure that they understand what the pre-approval process is like, simplify it and break it down in parts for them to better comprehend. In this regard, it is best to advise your clients to have their mortgage pre-approved before they even begin their quest to finding the perfect home.

How do I look for a home?

A fairly easy but common question among first-time homebuyer involves the initial process of their endeavor in searching for a home. More often than not, these homebuyers have nil idea as to where to start looking for a home. In this regard, it is your duty as an agent to create ways for them to make their search easier and more effective. To start, you could ask your clients what they do look for in a home or what they want in a neighborhood and a property. That, in conjunction to their ideal location should be useful in helping you create a list of potential properties for them.

Can I still back out of a deal?

While it is unfortunate for a client to back out of a dal, they are within their rights to do so. In this regard, clients can legally back out of a deal regardless of having paid the downpayment. However, they would lost all of their money in the initial deposit as this is a precaution set up to avoid having disgruntled home sellers reserving their properties for nothing. To ensure that they are well-versed about what they can legally do and what they cannot, get your clients up to speed on the nitty-gritty aspects of the home buying process by conducting a meeting with them about it. Discuss what their rights as a buyer are and what they can do once they have decided to purchase a property.

Image source

Home Buying 101: Costly Financial Mistakes First Time Home Buyers Make

Image source

Saving money is not about being able to buy bigger and better things. It is about being prepared to take care of your family.” -Dave Ramsay

Purchasing your very first home is known to be one of life’s sweetest accomplishments. In fact, it is a success so sweet on its own that it is considered as a milestone in life by many for the simple reason that not all individuals would be able to afford a home in their adulthood–or even in their lifetime.

Unfortunately, buying your very first home is often met with complex challenges of which you have to overcome in order to be fully happy and satisfied with your purchase. Location and size aside, one of the most pivotal aspects to consider when buying a home is your budget. In other words: how much home can you truly afford?

Without a doubt, one of the most crucial considerations in buying a home is the pecuniary aspect–particularly if it is your first time. Unfortunately, when it comes to buying a home and determining the kind of budget you have, there is really no room for error–lest you actually have the finances to cover and afford it. While there are some lessons that are better learned through trial and error, buying your first home is not one of them. Home buying might be a different experience for everyone and while you might not be able to get everything right in your first buying endeavor, that does not mean that your errors should be costly. To address that, it is best if you read and explored what the most common mistakes homebuyers make when buying their first home. So, whether you are looking for an Ametta Place for sale or another place elsewhere, here are some of the buying mistakes you should be sure to avoid in order to avoid a potentially costly result:

1.)  Overshooting your original budget

Like most potential homebuyers, your first order of business in your home buying endeavor is to determine how much home you can afford. This is what experts would often refer to as an initial budget. However, while this might be the first budget you have drafted up, it should be the only budget you should to refer to in your search for a home. Unfortunately, some homeowners tend to make concessions when they come across pricey properties that they do like but fall outside their budget range. As a result, they would inflate their budgets in an effort to make the necessary concessions for a home they would not have otherwise been able to afford. In your home buying endeavor, it is critical that you remove any and all emotions from any discussions of money. This is to bar you from falling in love with homes that are beyond your budget and help you stay firm about your original one. Sure, you might think that you will be able to afford a few extra hundred grand more, but remember that life is uncertain. What happens if you lose your job? Your salary dips? Or worse, an unexpected illness grips one of your family members? How would you be able to get by then?

2.) Failing to take additional costs into account

First time homebuyers tend to be very myopic about their home buying endeavor insomuch that they do not really consider other expenses that might come into play after they have successfully bought a house. Apart from taking out a loan and paying mortgage, you need to consider the closing costs, property taxes, appraisal fees, homeowners insurance payments, escrow fees and moving costs. Beyond that, you have to account for your homeowners association fees which you would either pay monthly or yearly and of course, your home furnishings. After all, if you have just moved in, you would likely need to fill up your home with pieces of furniture as well. However, do not make the mistake of overdoing it. Remember, you do not necessarily need new everything. If you can still manage with your functional, albeit old, furniture then make do with them.

3.) Losing sight of your plans for the future

Take stock of where you are in life at the moment. Where are you in career and where do you want to be in a few years down the road? Where do you realistically see yourself ? These are just some of the imperative questions to ask yourself before you commit to a home purchase. Apart from that, you should also consider whether or not you would be moving in the near future. If you are, then a home purchase is probably not the best investment at the moment. Sure, paying rent may not exactly be fun but you should not constrain yourself into the responsibilities of home ownership as well. Similarly, you should consider how your family would look like in a few years. Do you see it growing? If you are planning to have kids, then that should be a pivotal factor in your choice of a home. Be realistic about the kind of home you are looking to buy. Apart from your budget and the size, you should take into account whether or not it would be realistic to designate bedroom spaces to adult kids who might be moving out of the family home soon.   

Cozy Homes: Five Home Staging Techniques to Make Large Spaces Feel Comfortable

“The greatest investment and the fairest deal and enterpriseis family, cozy homes. A cozy home is based on cozy people. Cozy people are notbrought and imported; they are made from the time of birth to the time ofinfinity.”-Harbhajan Singh Yogi

In general, large homes with open large spaces seem like the dream.

After all, your opportunities for design seem more expansive. Indeed, we find ourselves pining for larger homes and more open spaces when we live in rather diminutive homes but they are not without their own challenges. Sure, bigger spaces tend to give you a little more legroom and space to wiggle about but the problem lies in how you would make it feel more like a home rather than an empty storage space? Indeed, while large homes tend to be more impressive than their smaller counterparts, they come with the downside of appearing hollow and empty—especially if you have not gotten around to decorating your space yet. In this regard, it would seem like diminutive home spaces (such as condo units like a condominium in Pasig or elsewhere) that would capitalize on function rather than size would be better for home staging and design potential. However, this is not to say that homes with vast expanses for rooms are impossible to design.

Of course, creativity is key and you have to inject it in almost every aspect in your home decorating endeavor. In any case, it does not matter 
ether you live in a loft or have a room with high ceilings or simply have a lot of space to fill, here are some of the home design ideas to make your rooms feel more balanced, homey and comfortable:

 Paint two-toned walls

If you have high ceilings and would want he opposite effect of drawing the eye up and downplaying the effect instead of accentuating the high ceilings, we should paint our walls only halfway up as this  creates a cozier and more comfortable feeling. More importantly, it tricks the eye into thinking that the ceilings are much lower than they really are. To create the effect, use wainscoting as a natural guide and just tape off line and start painting everything below it.

Be strategic about where you place your potted plants

If you wish to draw attention to the high ceilings, draw the eyes up by filling the vertical height of tall ceilings with potted plants such in empty corners. However, before you start peppering any area with plants, make sure that where you strategically place your plant gets enough light to support your plant’s needs. More importantly, check and research what kind of nutrition your plant would need and where it should ideally be placed.

Swap out big seating plans with X benches

Homes with big spaces tend to drown out any significant furniture in it—especially when furniture is in small quantities.In this regard, fill empty spaces with versatile little seats such as X benches that can also function as footstools or side tables. Additionally, try to integrate this design strategy when planning out a significantly big seating plan. 

Define zones with a console table

Large rooms with a lot of furniture tend to have so much going on that the overall design can be a bit overwhelming and stressful to the eye. To define zones, section your large spaces by parts by utilizing a console table. Apart from serving as a divider between two distinct zones in one room, it can also function as a buffer for your couch or sofa at is seemingly floating in the middle of the room. Plus, it can carry objects on it as well.

Alternatively, use a day bed

If you do not wish to use console tables as a room divider, opt for a day bed instead. In large living areas, you might want to have two full seating areas—after all, with so much space in your homes, you might as well have two. However, in lieu of an incredibly large seating area,go for two instead and mark the separation without breaking the flow between the two zones. Utilize furniture that allows you to easily see over such as a chaise, bench or a daybed which are all equally good options to serve as room dividers.

Image source

According to Feng Shui, These are The Signs Its Time To Find a New Home This 2019

Photo by Terje Sollie

Feng Shui is your guide to wellness and peaceful home living

Your home must be your source of comfort since you spend most of your time in it. It must help you restore your energy and help you feel rejuvenated. Though most homes give a sense of peace, some structures can make you feel stressed. It is especially true with old and aged houses. Even if your home stands in one of the most progressive and vibrant cities in the country, an undermaintained and poor construction can harbor negative energy. You don’t need that this 2019.

With that, here are the signs you should move into a new place. Relocating in Sta. Mesa or anywhere in Manila is a huge decision, but it’s often the only solution left to improve your family’s fluctuating energy levels.

Space is a problem

When it was you and your hubby, you didn’t have a problem finding a place for your shoes and baking pans. Now that your family is growing, space is becoming a problem. You have a teenager, a middle-schooler, and a toddler. Each one needs space for their stuff. You must make room for the crib, a study area, and carve a personal space for them. Each person must have enough space to allow energy to circulate. On top of that, your home must have a place for stagnant energy to flow out of the room. If not, your house gets stuck with the same energy making people feel tired and restless.
If several people occupy the same are, it results in a cramped room. Limited areas don’t allow the chi to settle and spread to the rest of the rooms in the house. Luck and auspicious energy don’t spread to the house and the people in it.

Decluttering is at the back of your mind

The flow and the quality of energy in your home is an essential aspect of feng shui. Besides having space for it, your home must always be open to fresh chi from the outdoors. It must also be able to release previous energy out in the open. A house with a lot of untouched stuff prevents this from happening. Clutter traps energy which you can only release by clearing the rooms and sort or throw the items. If left untouched, the stagnant chi can magnet the same quality of lifeforce which can negatively impact your life. Remember, the energy also contributes to the heavy feeling in your mind and body.

You need to look for a new home if clutter doesn’t seem to dissipate from your life. If your things always get in a tangle no matter how much you try to organize and sort through your things, then it might be due to lack of space. Like people, items at home must also have designated places. It contributes to a clean house and improved quality of energy.

The structure of your house makes you feel uneasy

Even if you cherish your current home, it has a flaw that bothers you. If your house is something you accepted because of its price or availability, then you are not giving yourself the best in life. You might settle because of fear or resource, but your decision comes with a price. For instance, there is a detail you singled out upon buying the property. It might not be a big deal before, but it is now. Feng shui great considers the structure of the house. These details support the chin in your home. Without the right construction, you can expect to have weak energy surrounding you and your family.

If you feel uneasy in your current home because of the material of the door, the placement of window and door frames, ceiling height, and flooring, then you should find ways to improve them as they affect energy flow. A quick fix is fine, but if your home must undergo major construction due to window alignment, for example, then you should consider finding a new place to live.

The house needs a lot of repairs

In feng shui, squeaky doors and cabinets are similar to crying sounds. Water symbolizes wealth, so a leaking faucet encourages spending and money outflow. The noises and disturbances at home, no matter how small, affect the household’s mood and well-being. Hence, you must attend to them immediately to avoid bad luck.

Different parts of your home mean something to feng shui. The doors are portals of energy. If there is a squeaking sound each time you open it, you drive chi away from your interior. Leaking faucet and broken, mismatched or outdated water fixtures create a passive lifeforce that hinders your progress in different aspects of your life. These leaks of energy can drain your financial resources and inner power. In the long run, the constant outflow of energy makes you feel lethargic and uninspired.

The neighbors are a source of a headache

Home living doesn’t stop within the boundaries of your home. A happy and healthy household includes surroundings that inspire growth. Your home must be in a community that strives for peace, camaraderie, and a high quality of life. If you continuously feel pressured and queasy whenever you are at home, then you should consider moving to a new location. Being surrounded by negative energy doesn’t attract positive chi. To get happiness and luck you deserve, you must also ensure you are in a place that cultivates that vibe.

Besides the attraction of energy to the place, take note that your body is also susceptible to the existing lifeforce in the area. Your subconscious can pick up the negativity around you and deplete your supply. Do not partake in spreading gossip and fake news even if it is tempting to do. These activities only add to the heavy feeling that affects your energy. Step away from quarrels and loud noises. Avoid them and try not to contribute more if they are rampant in your community. If you cannot avoid them, you should move to a neighborhood that fosters peace and friendship among homeowners.

Feng shui practices are fluid. At the same time, there are no definite rules in finding a suitable cure for your home. These only serve as a guideline in deciding if its time for you to look for a new place. The decision is still on you. It helps to stay attuned with the energy in your interiors as well as the feeling you have when in the neighborhood. These pointers can help you determine if your house is still the best place to live in this 2019.

Safe and Secure Homes: Ways to Keep Your New Homes Safe and Secure

“Why do people hanker for the home?–security, safety. But in the name of security and safety, they do not make homes, they make prisons–and they are the jailed and they are the jailers, but because they have the keys in their own hands, they think they are free.” -Rajneesh

There has never been any doubt that home security is paramount.

It is one of those essential aspects about a home that would determine whether it is truly livable or not and whether or not it is an ideal place to raise your family and children. Unfortunately, when it comes to moving to new homes, safety and security tend to get overlooked. After all, with all the preparation and excitement involved, it is inevitable for the new homeowners to think of the new home’s safety and security last. However, in new homes, prioritizing safety and security is even more imperative as you are in an unfamiliar environment which could leave you vulnerable to burglars and trespassers if you remain unwary and your homes unsecure. It does not matter how safe you think your neighborhood is or how secure it claims to be, crime is rampant everywhere to a degree which means that home security should be something you should never neglect.

Whether you live in a swanky neighborhood such as Avida Towers Centera or somewhere else less illustrious, it still pays to put home security and safety at the forefront of your priorities–especially when it comes to moving to new homes. In any case, here are some of the tips and techniques you should keep in mind should you ever move into your new homes and settle in a new and unfamiliar community and neighborhood:

1. Secure the doors

One of the biggest oversights most new homeowners make is failing to secure their doors. While this might be the first thing one should think of upon moving into a new home, the staggering number of homeowners who fail to do would surprise you. Do not help a burglar stroll into the front door and do not make it easy for them. Inspect all of your exterior doors and make sure that their locks are functioning appropriately. Check if the door frames are strong, the hinges protected and should your door have a mail slot, make sure that it is not reachable enough to unlock the door. In any case, it is best if you fortified your exterior door’s locks by installing a deadbolt and a smart lock and adding a strike plate.

2. Install and alarm

Having an alarm system installed in your homes is one of the excellent ways to deter thieves and burglars from breaking into your homes. More importantly, it keeps you and your families safe by alerting you in case of a break-in. Today, with home security becoming a paramount concern of many, you would not be hard-pressed to find the kind of home security and alarm installation that would suit your needs as well as your budget. If you wish to go the extra mile, hire the services of a professional to install the alarm for you. However, if you are a little tight on budget, you might want to opt for the DIY route and choose one you can set up yourself. Once your alarm is installed, up and running, be sure to put a security sign on your front door and security stickers on your windows. These stickers and signs may not mean much, but they would put off any potential burglars and thieves from targeting and casing your home.

3. Put lights and TVS on timers

It is a known fact that if there is one thing that deters thieves and burglars from entering a home, it is the possibility that someone might be inside. In this regard, leave your televisions and lights on. If you are a little conscious about racking up a big electric bill, at least have a timer set up for them daily. This is especially useful for someone who would be out during the holidays or is taking an extended leave for vacation. For lights, it is highly recommended that you set timers for the ones inside and those near windows. Televisions should be programmed manually to turn on and off regularly. However, if you wish to expedite the process of all these or wish to have access to all these features remotely, you might want to upgrade to a smart home which you can access through your smartphones.

4. Hide your mail when you are away

When you are on holiday, having your mail pile up by your front door leaves the glaring impression that no one is at home. As a result, your homes are pretty much vulnerable to thieves and burglars. After all, with piles upon piles of mail at your doorstep, you might as well post a big red sign by your front yard that indicates that no one is at home. With this in mind, take care of your mail ahead of time–especially if you intend to be away for several days. One excellent idea is to ask a friendly neighbor or friend to pick up your mail once a day. To show them your gratitude and appreciation, return the favor when they are away of gift them something valuable. Alternatively, you can ask the post office to hold your mail for the time being and collect them at your convenience.

Image source

Home Aesthetics: Fashion Principles to Bring to Improve Your Home’s Interiors

“A home is a place to share, create, and nourish the best in each of us as individuals and as a family. Design is one of the finest means to accomplish this.”-Eve Robinson

 

You might have thought of the elements in fashion and interior design as two separate and different concepts coming from different realms.

But from an interior decorator’s perspective, a home’s design can be largely inspired by principles and standards borrowed from fashion. Upon closer inspection, the design aspects and concepts of both fashion and interior design are not too far off and in this regard, fashion has played a clever muse to the interiors of many homes.

After all, there is so much to be gleaned from dressing well and stylishly insomuch that we can apply the same guidelines in decorating our homes. Like fashion and style, your home should reflect your individual perspective and should only be filled with the things you love and gravitate towards. Your home’s interiors should portray a very personal point of view to the extent that your personality is demonstrated by the culminating effect of each design aspects.In any case, if you wish to spark the dialogue of a space, it would be very much helpful to take a few fashion rules and principles in mind. You might be surprised at just how well it works. So, if you are planning on redesigning the interiors of your condominium for sale in Quezon City or elsewhere, here are a few fashion tips to keep in mind:

 

Layering

For a long time now, fashion experts have staunchly decreed that layering is a pivotal technique in fashion. The trick is to create visual interest, dimension and play up your silhouettes with the clever use of multiple sartorial items. In the same regard, this style technique can be applied on interior decorating as well. Keep in mind that when it comes to layering, color and pattern are key elements. Take a gander at your space and then establish the base. From there, you can add two pieces of solid or small-scale prints and a touch of one larger-scale traditional print. In doing so, you will allow the eye to keep moving in the room while keeping things fresh and riveting.

Texture is key

The texture is another aspect in fashion that can be well-applied in interior design. This tactile approach allows you to enhance your home’s overall visual appeal by playing on the varying weights and textures of various furnishings. Do this by layering in different fabrics that vary in weight and textures. Of course, go beyond that and bring the texture to the walls by using different materials such as a chubby woven basket or grasscloth. Your options are virtually limitless, what you do with it, however, is up to you.

Take it easy

Much like how fashion tells you not to overdo it, so should you in your endeavor of home decorating. Fashion tells us that if we wish to go bold in one area, we should choose to be subtle in the next lest we look like an over-adorned Christmas tree. In the same regard, you might want to leave it to the professionals and stylists to cover your room in endless bold statement patterns. Sure, they look great but just how well are they applied? Remember, interior design is not only about making a statement; it is making each design element work seamlessly and cohesively. Be a little meticulous with your design picks and know what works and what would clash.

Mix and match

One of the excellent approaches in fashionably dressing up that does work is the art of mixing and matching pieces. In this regard, you need to have a good eye on which pieces would work and which would clash. In fashion, pretty much anything can be paired with a white pair of sneakers insomuch that it would make for a playful ensemble when donned with a flowy floral dress. With this in mind, think of how you can work casual pieces in formal spaces and vice versa. Incorporate an element that is totally unexpected to make the room a little more interesting and to give it life as well. It might be a little unconventional, but these unexpected additions would create an element of surprise and interest to what would have otherwise been bland spaces.

Never Ignore Comfort and Function

Sure, it might be easy to get caught up on a particular dress just because it looks nice on the rack. But does it really work well with your body type? Are you able to walk confidently in it? The same questions should be applied when shopping around for furniture pieces. The couch might look nice and would very much look great once placed in your living room, but is it comfortable to sit on? Is it functional enough to meet your needs? If the answer is in the negative, you might want to choose a more suitable couch.

 

 

Why Living In Apartment is Best For Busy People

A lot of people dream of owning a home. Nowadays, there are various ways of achieving this dream. Although a growing number of people are discovering the joys of living in condominiums, there is still a significant number who prefer to have a townhouse or have their property built on a lot. There’s a difference with owning a condominium from finding a low cost housing Philippines or committing to a home construction project.

If you wish for a house and lot, there are two different paths you can take to acquire a home – buying house and lot packages or purchasing land for sale in the Philippines and then designing and building a house. If you are considering the latter, then below are some of the advantages you experience when taking this path.

1. You get to design your living space

The greatest advantage of building your own home is that you get to design it. You do not have to choose from any house template. You can look for ideas from various resources and then come up with a house design of your own. You can focus on your needs and other home requirements without sacrificing any space. Whether it’s closet space, additional guest rooms, an extensive study or to dishwashers, you can add features to your heart’s content. You can achieve the perfect home even if you don’t know much about the technical stuff. As long as you work with an architect and a designer, they can help you come up with an efficient home interior that has all the details you require.

2. It can save you thousands of bucks

Building a house from scratch is one way of getting all the features you want in a home without bloating your expenses. As long as you stick to your budget, you can find a lot you can work with and start building the foundations of your home. A lot of full-constructed homes can be expensive because of the hidden charges and transactional costs. Also, you can rarely get discounts.

When you build your home, you can convince a few people to give you discounts. From cement, flooring materials, fixtures, and plywood, your home can benefit from price slashes when you buy in bulk. At the same time, you can free services of architects, engineers, and designers that you know. You can extend your perks if you know someone runs a construction company or even a hardware company. He or she could provide you with huge discounts on their products and services.

3. You can create your timeline

You won’t have to follow a strict schedule when building your home. Once you purchase land for sale, you can immediately begin setting up the foundations of your home. You can also delay the project if you don’t have the budget to resume construction or have some personal problems along the way. If you want to finish earlier than intended, you must adjust your resources. You should also inform your builder when you want construction to end. That way, they can find a way to work around your target completion date without sacrificing the quality of your home construction.

4. You have a lot of energy efficiency options

Constructing your home gives you the opportunity to select which appliances to use. It also gives you that chance to pick the furnace, water heater, and air conditioning systems. With these in mind, you can end up with an array of energy efficient features that save money on your utility bill. On top of that, you can pick what type of windows to install, garage doors, and frames. Also, you won’t have to worry about calling in the plumbers and repair service to fix your things. It might even take years before something gets broken.

5. You get to enjoy your privacy.

You can have an open backyard if you enjoy socializing with your neighbors. If not, you have the choice of building a fence or a high wall to prevent passers from taking a peek at your property. When you construct your home, you have the option of choosing how much privacy you want for your property.

6. You are free to specify and customize everything

You can specify even the tiniest detail to the overall concept. When you choose a developer-built house and lot or condo unit, you’ll find that most fixtures and finishing materials are set according to their design. With a home construction project, you can choose every single material that you want in your house.

7. You can secure your property

Besides privacy, you can have security. You can purchase a home warranty program or insurance in case you suffer a loss. A home warranty program protects your deposit, covers construction damages or neglect, and includes structural integrity. It also has first-year warranty protection to home buyers.

8. The property is yours.

Constructing your home means that is yours. You are the first person to live in it. Most of all, you were responsible for its birth. There wouldn’t be a house in that specific lot if it weren’t for you. Thus, your property has a value you can’t find in the housing market.

9. You can pick the community you want

You have the freedom to live in a gated community, modern development land or the suburbs that takes less than an hour to reach the city. You can select a lot near trails, parks, and pocket greens. You can also build our home near schools, recreational facilities, and shopping districts.

You can have all of these benefits once you decide to build your home instead of buying one. Experience the joys of being a full-pledged homeowner as you go over the details and plans for your house and lot.