SkyFive Properties Blog

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Building a driveway that adds value to your property could be a great decision if you want a more functional home. A great-looking, well-designed driveway could add anything from 5-10% value to your home. Parking roadside can be bad for your car, and can even mean having to pay higher insurance premiums. A driveway keeps your car safe and home looking great!

Here are a few things you can do to ensure your new driveway adds value to your property and looks great to boot.

Try Gravel On For Size

Concrete and tarmac driveways are affordable, durable, and low maintenance – however, they are rarely exciting. Gravel can be a good option if you want a little more ‘oomph’ and something a bit different. Gravel driveways do take time to maintain, so bear this in mind. A weed barrier can stop them from poking through and reduce the amount of maintenance you need to do.

Consider Concrete Block Paving

A concrete block paved driveway is usually made from concrete or clay and is easy to maintain providing it has been laid correctly. Many colors are available, so you will be able to find something that suits your home perfectly. Just be wary that the dye used may fade over time. You can use a service such as sealcoating to keep it looking fresh and new for longer.

Try Resin-bound Paving

If you’d prefer a smooth and durable surface, try resin-bound paving. For this, stone and resin is used and mixed up thoroughly. There’s no loose stone because the stone is completely mixed in with resin. This type of paving tends to be cheaper as it’s quicker to lay and uses less material.

Will You Need To Get Planning Permission?

If your new driveway is made of permeable material then you won’t need to worry about planning permission. Your chosen material should allow water to drain through. If not, then you’ll need to get planning permission – as is the case with resin-bound paving. You may also need to apply for planning permission if you live in a listed building, as you’ll need listed building consent. Conservation areas will also need planning permission, as you can’t make changes to those areas without prior approval.

Deciding Who You Should Work With

Once you know what you want and have planning permission in place (if you need it), you can figure out who you want to work with. You should avoid companies that don’t have multiple contact pathways – you may not be able to trust them. Communication is key and you should be able to get in touch with them when you need to. You may even have questions once the work is complete, so being able to contact them if you need support is important, too. Look at reviews to get an idea of the support and service provided, even once the work is complete. Take a step back if you feel under pressure to make a quick decision, as this is something that should be considered carefully.

Moving house is a huge decision and not one that you should ever take lightly. When it comes to finding the right home for you, there’s a lot that you should be keeping in mind. Whether you’re thinking about personal comfort, potential, functionality, or your future, they’re all important! With all of that in mind, it can be hard to find the perfect house for you, but being hasty with your decision won’t help!

Location

The location of your future home is important for many reasons unless you’re not planning to stay for long. First of all, you need to make sure that all of your necessities are within reach of you. If you can’t access the stores around you due to them being too far away, that’s already negative. You should also be considering your cost of living currently, and how much your new location will change it. Will it be more expensive to power the house, to keep it warm? It might not affect you during the summer, but in the winter it will become very apparent.

Plan for the future

People don’t tend to move around often, it can be expensive and a lot of work to do it. You should be planning your house with your future in mind, not just for the moment. Where do you aim to take your life? What are you going to need later on? It’s great to make life more convenient for you now, but will that have a negative impact later? It’s important that you keep in mind how long you’re going to be living there, and how that will affect you later on.

Planning your location for the future is one thing, but are you wanting to consider the value over time, too? For some people, it’s important to them that they’re going to make it back on the property when they move. Houses appreciate and depreciate all of the time, and it depends on the area around them. If you’re planning to stay for a few years and then move, you might consider how the property value will be affected while you’re living there.

Personalized housing

If there’s one way to get the perfect house for you, it’s investing in personalized housing. The idea of having as much of the house be tailored to you might sound like a dream, but it’s real. Now, having a house built exactly as you want it is going to cost a fortune, but you don’t need all of that. Some businesses offer custom home floor plans, meaning you can map out your house how you want it. It might be more expensive than other options, but consider how much you would end up spending on renovations.

Finding the perfect house for you is a challenge, and people are rarely able to. Even if you can’t find the perfect house, finding something that’s as close as possible is achievable! The main thing is knowing what to look for when you’re on the market.

There’s no denying that commercial property offers investors a fantastic opportunity to grow their money. And when financial resources get pooled with other investors, it can provide almost limitless investment potential.

The trouble is, many commercial property investors make common mistakes – many of which result in them losing substantial sums of money. If you’re going to invest in commercial properties like offices, make sure you avoid making the following mistakes:

1. Inadequate Preparation

Investing in a commercial property isn’t a decision you should take lightly. That’s why it makes sense to do plenty of research and preparation before making any offers and concluding purchases.

But, what type of preparation work should you be conducting? Firstly, it makes sense to research land value, average rental yields, and demand for commercial property in your chosen area. It’s something you must do whether your investments are short or long-term.

2. Poor Budget Management

It doesn’t matter whether you use your money or capital provided by lenders or other investors. You must be strict about your budget and do everything necessary to avoid going over it.

For example, you should have a ceiling limit of how much you’re happy to spend on acquiring a commercial property. You must also have a fixed limit of what you can spend on any necessary renovations.

3. Failing to Scrutinize Service Providers

Whenever you purchase commercial property, you must conduct due diligence on any service providers you use. Anyone from a real estate developer to an electrician should provide you with peace of mind and guaranteed assurances about their work.

You don’t want to use fraudulent service providers, ones that have a bad reputation, or charge higher than reasonable prices.

4. Investing in the Wrong Property

Let’s face it: there’s always an element of risk when you’re investing in commercial property. The trick to mitigating risks is by conducting thorough market and property research. Doing so, for instance, means you can avoid buying a building that isn’t fit for purpose.

You should also have a firm idea in mind of the types of commercial property investments you want.

5. Forgetting About the Neighbors

You may have some ideas in mind of what you’d like to do with a commercial property. For example, you may wish to convert a building into a series of boutique retail units. Getting the right government approval is one thing, but are you considering the views of your neighbors?

Irrespective of how ambitious your plans are, you should always consider your neighbors’ views. Doing so will save you from a lot of headaches in the advanced stages of your development plans.

6. Inaccurate Repair Assessments

Virtually any commercial property you buy will need some repairs or upgrade work. It’s crucial you thoroughly assess what work needs to get carried out. When you do so, you’ll avoid going over your repair budget and potentially making a huge loss on your investment.

Ensure you get ‘second opinions’ on any repair assessments so you can make informed decisions about all repairs.

Smart home systems have grown in popularity because they are an embodiment of comfort and high-quality life. Therefore, it’s safe to say that a smart home system is a significant focal point of your home.

If you acquire a smart home system, you can make use of wireless communication techniques. Thus, you can control this system using your smartphone and microcontroller.

Today, you don’t have to be in the same bracket as Bill Gates to afford a smart home system. In any event, this technology is not a preserve for the rich. With the right amount of money, you can purchase a remote-controlled smart home system.

This system often allows you to control functions at the click of a button. When you have this device, you can control lighting, temperature, home theater, and access to the home remotely.

The lighting control function will enable you to cut down on energy-related costs because it will reduce electricity use. In other instances, the home system will alert you if it detects any motion when you’re away.

For this, it’s worth implementing a smart home system. Below are some of the ways you can add vigor to your smart home technology.

A Sound System

Manufacturers of smart home systems are primarily concerned with quality. However, to get the best out of smart home technology, you can complement it with a sound system.

It’s often likely that when watching your favorite shows or movies, you’ll crave theatre quality sound. As such, you can go for an affordable soundbar that you can easily connect with your smart home system.

For sound insulation, you can install metal composite panels. The MCPs will help to reduce the perceived sound across the walls of your house.

In essence, a sound system will complement your smart home system with surround sound capabilities.

The Wall Installation System

If you purchase smart home technology that features hardwired systems, you can align it with a wall installation system. Your smart home system should not be tangled with a mess of wires running from one device to the other.

With a wall installation system, you can conceal the wires in the walls, which will help protect your home from resembling a jungle.

If you opt to go for this complimentary option, you’ll save yourself the agony of seeing wires hanging from the ceiling.

Compatible Devices

While you can complement your smart home system with compatible devices, you need to inquire about accessories’ specifications. A little research will enable you to identify some of the devices you can pair with your smart home technology.

If need be, you can seek a professional’s input who will help you identify the best devices. It’s expected that their interconnectivity technology is compatible with that of the smart home system.

You can only get the best out of a smart home system if you invest in high-quality accessories. Investments of this kind will help you to complement your smart home technology with the latest inventions. With a smart home system, you should have the best perfect home experience.

When talking about wooden decks in the outdoor area, that wooden structure around the pool and balconies automatically comes to mind. A deck company can go further by making installation flexible in different corners, as long as it has a level, drained floor, and a smooth wall or facade as well.

When installing the wooden deck, it is important to stress that elegance, comfort, and leisure are essential solutions to enhance your home’s external and internal spaces. We will present the 5 things you need to keep in mind before installing your deck:

1 – What types of wood to use on the deck?

Understanding the best type of wood to use the deck is very important because, in the external environment, it is necessary to choose wooden strips of high resistance and resist the attacks of fungi and termites. Another reason for the choice of hardwood, which designates strength and quality, is the exposure to weather conditions.

2 – Planning of the environment and projects: do it yourself

For the wooden deck construction, it is essential to delimit the chosen area where the wooden floor will be installed. If there is any gap, labor will be important to maintain leveling and in other uses for covering, measuring, cutting, and shaping the wooden deck. Before installing a Deck, it is necessary to have a leveled and drained subfloor. For wood cladding (installation on the wall and façades), on the plastic base, there is a small screw fixing system. This system avoids the display of screws, giving more emphasis to wooden rulers.

3 – Installation and practicality

The installation of the wooden deck requires qualified labor to guarantee the surface level; It is common with the size of the area that it is difficult to find long and short wooden slabs for the roof, so planning and the correct measures are necessary to avoid setbacks. The modular wooden deck is more practical. Most decks have a fit system made of pure polypropylene (resistant material) that brings practicality to the environment and ease at installation.

4 – Wood quality

A lot of attention must be given when choosing wooden decks because the quality impacts the final result of the project. Check that the wood is processed and kiln-dried to reduce or avoid the warping of the planks, which is a natural phenomenon.

5 – Maintenance

The guarantee of the product’s durability depends on periodic cleaning and the proper application of wood protectors. As it is a natural product, the selected wood exposed to the climate (rain, sun, heat, humidity, dry, cold air) may show appearance changes, such as darkening and wear. For adequate protection, the material must receive a protective finish such as impregnants, varnishes, and enamels. Daily cleaning is also essential to remove dust and leaves, the ideal is to wipe with a dry cloth without adding products, or if there is an accumulation of dirt, a damp cloth with neutral detergent is a good choice.

Conclusion

The leisure space does not need a large area to add many recreational items, and it can be set up just like a small environment, looking for space optimization techniques. The idea is that there are several ways to compose a small leisure area so that the items fit harmonically; for example, you can opt for a game table, a small barbecue, and a Zen space. The small leisure area’s objective is that the installation and maintenance must be objective and fast, when you think about this aspect, for flooring and covering: keep in mind to hire a professional deck company.

The process of moving from one house to another can be a very daunting and stressful process. With that being said, we all must endure the process at some point in our lives; rather than dealing with it, we can make it work for us! From estate planning to the actual process of moving itself, there is a lot to deal with, so it is useful that you make excellent preparation just now before continuing. Whether you’re only thinking about moving, or you’re considering investing in property, you should be doing sufficient research. This article has compiled plenty of research for you into one so keep reading to find out some top tips to consider when moving home.

Ditch the clutter

When moving to a new house, your mind is going to be cluttered with endless to-do lists and tasks. The last thing you want is for your new home to be cluttered with junk. It can be all too common for us to take our clutter with us when we are in the process of moving, but this shouldn’t be the case! We’ve all fallen victim to keeping too much stuff in our houses for years, but this can change if you change your mindset. Interior and lifestyle experts recommend that you keep the items that spark joy in you and ditch the stuff that is no use to you. You certainly don’t need that box of junk lying at the back of your wardrobe.

Make Sure Your Assets Are In Order

When moving home, it is extremely important that you find the right legal advice on matters relating to real estate and estate planning. Your home can be a large portion of your wealth and you want to make sure that if anything happens it can be safely distributed to your loved ones. If you are moving between states, you need to make sure your wills, trusts, and retirement assets you’ve built can move with you. Moving can be stressful, but knowing your assets are safe can ease the burden.

Consider all of your options

A fantastic tip to help you de-stress when moving home is by taking a breath and considering all your options. There are times in life when we need to rush things and moving to a new house might be one of them, but we should do everything we can to make sure it’s not rushed. By considering your options, we mean to think about what you want to gain out of moving home. What are your wants and needs? Consider your travel times and how close you are to the necessary places. Making these decisions now and figuring out your priorities will help you in the future.

No one wants to be stressed, especially at such a crucial time in life. Save yourself the stress by following these three tips!

Hello, this is your house in 2035, and I’m calling to ask what you want for dinner.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our homes could do that kind of thing? The house of the future exists already. Properties are becoming smarter in many ways. They are actively reducing their carbon footprint while enhancing the lives of their occupants. So what are today’s homebuyers expecting from the housing market?

More green buildings

More and more homeowners are considering green buildings. Therefore, it isn’t uncommon for buyers to buy to build or to improve. The process gives them full control over the structure and the materials used inside the property. The rise in environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials is changing the Construction industry accordingly. Indeed, buyers research construction companies that are knowledgeable about sustainability. Constructors promoting the use of materials such as HempCrete – a concrete-like structure created from hemp fibers – are appealing.

This asks a new question: How far are homebuyers ready to go for a green home? The typical green structure will consider the following:

• Energy-efficient structure
• Sustainable materials
• Overall carbon footprint
• Renewable electricity application
• Etc.

Integration into the local environment

Being environmentally-friendly and environmentally-aware are two different things. The environmentally-friendly property reduces the negative impact on the environment. The environmentally-aware property, on the other hand, works hand-in-hand with its local surroundings. Homeowners, nowadays, are thinking twice about the protection they get from their homes. In regions where earthquakes are a risk, seismic joints can add extra protection. They allow multidirectional movements, making the structure more durable during seisms.

Working with your environment also guarantees smarter integration into the landscape. Viereck Architects in Austria, have designed mountain chalets that capture the panorama without blocking the view. The result is aesthetically pleasing and energy-smart, a full partnership between nature and building.

Smart and modulable homes

Smart technology has made its way into the home interior. Modern properties are therefore working to establish their structure around smart technology. Several real estate properties use temperature sensors to automatically adjust comfort settings. But architects are also creating homes that can adjust themselves. Modulable properties are equipped with the technology to rotate and orientate themselves. This can reduce energy consumption and adjust to weather challenges.

Tiny homes 

Tiny homes make sense from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. At an age where bigger is desired, tiny homes ask the right questions.

What if you could be cozy in a small space that values your budget and the environment? Downsizing is a financial choice for many homeowners. But it is also a liberating decision that cuts down the carbon footprint, stressful chores, and utility bills. Small living is the new green living. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that tiny homes are high in demand on the real estate market. They are low costs overall and encourage a green lifestyle.

With many options to choose from, it’s hard to know where homebuyers can start their dream home quest. Yet, in an evolving market, there is only one certainty. The house of the future is delivering new benefits, financial, environmental, and social. Tomorrow’s property will work hard to keep you safe and happy.

Twitter gives voice to many, and Miami mayor Francis Suarez’s simple “How can I help?” has spawned a massive flood of interest in the idea of techies moving to sunny South Florida. With all the talk, we wondered what are the actual numbers of people making the move versus those who are just toying with the idea via twitterpated flirting.

That’s where moveBuddha has come to the rescue with the latest data. With moving stats at their fingertips and more in-depth analysis into what’s happening on Twitter, they’ve brought to light some impressive numbers that can help us shed light on the Miami migration.

Here we’ve highlighted the top 3 stats that caught our eye. If interested in the deep dive, check out moveBuddha’s full trend report: Is Miami the Next Silicon Valley? New Study Reveals Surprising Trends. 

42,666 Tweets Analyzed: 129% Increase in Miami Mentions

We know that what gets said on Twitter doesn’t necessarily predict the future or even mean it’s true. However, the influence of Twitter is powerful.

That being said, the conversation around those leaving the “Bay Area” or San Francisco or Silicon Valley and suggesting moving South has become increasingly popular in the last year.

So, when mayor Francis Suarez entered the Twitter conversation in December 2020, the increase in interest around specifically moving to Miami erupted.

Scraping 42,666 Tweets from December 2019 until January 2021, moveBuddha found that the phrases “move to miami”, “moved to miami”, and “moving to miami” increased 129% in December 2020 and January 2021.

While Tweets alone are not enough evidence to declare that a full-blown Silicon Valley to Miami migration is in the future, often social signs and indicators can influence moving decisions.

If the tech community is actively communicating the opportunity available in Miami and spreading the message across social platforms, that idea becomes rooted in the psyche. For those interested in moving or considering a move, now the idea of going to Miami is more of an option.

Miami Inbound vs. Outbound Moves: 40% Increase

What we do know about actual moves is that there has been a significant uptick in the number of moves to Miami in 2020.

MoveBuddha helped with 40% more moves into Miami than out of the city this past year (2020).

What’s even more interesting, there was a significant spike at year-end in inbound moves following the growing popularity of the topic of moving to Miami.

Who is Actually Moving to Miami?

Okay, so there has definitely been an increased interest in moving TO Miami vs. moving OUT of Miami.

However, where are the new city residents coming from?

Are they actually coming from Silicon Valley?

While New York City is the clear #1 source of new Miami residents, San Francisco and Los Angeles come in next.

Nearly 11% of all Miami-bound moves relocated from San Francisco.

Is Miami the Next Silicon Valley?

Some say no, we don’t need a new Silicon Valley. Other’s posit the data doesn’t support the conversation. Other’s suggest Miami will be its own shining beacon of tech-dom.

Miami is in a state that has dramatically different taxes and living costs, so there is an absolute benefit to relocating from expensive cities to the coastal paradise.

Plus, Miami has a relationship with Latin America that attracts a different global economy and shared time zones with many South American countries.

Considering the data from moveBuddha, it’s clear people are moving to Miami. And it’s clear that a number of them are from the Bay Area.

In reality, we are just at the beginning of this story. And it doesn’t look like the conversation is slowing down.

Looking Forward to Miami in 2021

With the current pandemic and the influence it has had on the nation as a whole, we have seen an upward trend in moves to Miami and other Southern states.

For Miami specifically, we can’t be sure whether it’s the affordability, the long summers, or the increasing interest in Miami’s startup and tech scene. It isn’t yet clear.

What we can do for now is observe what happens in real estate, look at who is buying houses, and continue to monitor the migration into the Magic City.

If you’re looking to purchase a home then you’ll know that the average cost of a house in Australia is close to a million dollars. It’s not surprising that first-time buyers are getting older, in most cases, people are in their thirties before they can get on the bottom rung of the ladder.

However, there is another option that many people don’t consider. It’s custom-built homes and they are gaining in popularity. The question is whether this is the right step for you, or not.

The Advantages of Custom Built Homes

Building your own home means you can choose the location, providing land is available, and you can design the layout. This is surprisingly important as most homes don’t have the right layout for your needs. Designing your own, with a little help, makes sure that you’ll love the space when you move in and still love it in the future.

But, perhaps the biggest incentive to building your own home s that it will cost less. The average cost to build your own home is around $300,000, that’s a significant saving on a ready-built home. Of course, it will depend on your position in the market.

In addition, building your own home means no real estate fees and no competition when purchasing. That removes much of the stress, especially as mist menders will release funds in stages in line with the progress of the build.

Don’t forget that building your own home will also allow you to incorporate many modern energy-saving devices such as solar panels, allowing you to reduce your running costs.

Of course, there is also that feeling which you only get when you buy something brand new.

Disadvantages of Building Your Own Home

Buying a ready-built house can take several months as all the paperwork is dealt with. However, the process is relatively hassle-free and quick.

In contrast, building your own home will take considerably longer than this. It can take three months or more to get the planning sorted! You’ll then have a build process that can take 6 months or more.

Alongside this the builders will need to be monitored to ensure they’re not cutting corners and that everything is proceeding both to plan and to schedule.

But, perhaps the biggest stress of all is finding everything and piecing it all together. You need to find your perfect location and deal with purchasing the land while making sure you’ll be able to construct on it.

It’s likely there will be other building work nearby which means, even if your home is completed, you may be living in a building site for some time. While it will eventually get better you need to consider how good you are at tolerating these types of disturbances.

Of course, there can also be hidden costs, that’s things that can’t be foreseen at the time of the build.

Final Thoughts

The decision is yours but, building your own home is generally cheaper and you’re more likely to get the home of your dreams. That makes the short-term hassle worthwhile. It also decreases the likelihood of your moving again, and all the hassle and expense that goes with moving.

You turn on your faucet and water comes out. You turn it off and it stops. It’s something that most people take for granted, despite the fact that nearly one billion people don’t have access to safe water. It’s not just in third-world countries, in parts of rural Australia people struggle to get water.

Of course, once the faucet starts to drip you’ll become more aware of your water supply. A dripping faucet can be annoying and costly. It’s a good idea to have the number of a reputable emergency plumber Sydney on hand.

You should also be aware of the most common reasons why your faucet is dripping.

The O-ring

Every faucet has an o-ring inside it. It’s a type of washer that sits between the valve on the faucet and the water supply. In effect, when you close the faucet the valve pushes against the o-ring, ensuring no water can get past. Over tighten the tap too many times and it won’t seal correctly. This allows a drop of water to come through and out your faucet. It can also happen with normal wear and tear.

The good news is that it’s easy to repair.

You should note that the o-ring is usually sitting with a washer. The washer creates the seal between the base of the faucet handle and the water supply, the o-ring does the sides to prevent any water from getting past. It’s usually a very reliable and robust solution.

Valve Seat Damaged

If your o-ring is okay then the valve seat may have become damaged. Again, this is a result of wear and tear. In short, it will happen to every faucet if you leave it in place for long enough.

The valve seat is the area where the o-ring sits, allowing a connection between the faucet control mechanism and the water flow. When this becomes damaged the o-ring can’t sit in the seat properly and it’s impossible to get a tight seal.

In other words, you’ll have a leaking faucet. The best way of sorting a damaged valve is to replace the faucet. In rare cases, it is possible to replace the valve but it is not usually an economically viable solution.

Bad Repair

Any faucet can lea if it’s not repaired properly. When you replace the o-ring or even the washer that sits with the o-ring, they need to be the right size and positioned properly. If they are not then they will not do the job properly.

The good news is that a bad repair job will be obvious. The leak won’t stop and it will change in nature. In many cases, the faucet will drip faster.

If you’ve tried to replace the o-ring and washer yourself and it’s now leaking more then you need to get the professionals in. A leak is annoying and can be surprisingly costly while the professional repair is considerably less than you may think. It will save you from needing to replace the tap in the near future.