SkyFive Properties Blog

If you are like most people, then you probably spend quite a lot of time in your kitchen – preparing meals for your family, getting the snacks ready for a movie marathon, or just drinking some coffee with your neighbor. It’s basically the heart of the house.

However, it can be useless if not designed properly, or if the things you need the most, such as a sink or a fridge, are not working as they should.

As the experts from Perfect Home Services suggest, it’s important that the people you hire to take care of things such as plumbing do their job correctly – it will not only allow you to start using your kitchen faster after the renovation, but it will also save you from the additional costs you might face later on if something suddenly stops working just days after it was installed.

Since designing the perfect kitchen can be quite challenging, as there are several things that you need to remember about, we decided to help you and make the task at least slightly easier. So, below you will find a short list of the things you shouldn’t forget when taking care of the design of your kitchen.

Sink Styles

Contrary to what some people might think, there’s more decision when it comes to the sink than its size. While the size is important as it has to fit into your cabinet, there are other things to consider, such as the style or even the color.

Depending on what style you want your kitchen to be decorated in, a different type of sink will be the best choice. For instance, if you are going for a farmhouse style or modern farmhouse style, a good choice would be one of the farm sinks – they are not only a beautiful addition to your decor, but with the right maintenance, can last you several years.

The Layout

Planning the layout is crucial. If it isn’t done correctly, you might find yourself quite frustrated, as you will have to do multiple rounds around the kitchen just to reach what you need at that moment.

When designing the layout, think about how you and your family use the kitchen – what appliances do you use the most? Remember to provide wide walkways, as it will make the whole space feel more open and will make accessing things a lot easier. If you don’t, the kitchen might appear cramped, which can successfully discourage someone from spending time in it.

Another thing that you need to take into consideration when planning a layout is to leave enough space to comfortably open the doors of your cabinets or appliances. After all, you probably don’t want to be forced to close one cabinet or appliance before opening another, just because there is not enough space.

The Budget

You need to establish how much money you can spend on your new kitchen so that you won’t be faced with a situation where you find your perfect kitchen only to realize that you cannot afford it.

Another thing that you need to take into consideration is whether you want to design the kitchen completely on your own or if you’re going to use the services of a professional interior designer, as this will also determine how much you have to put aside to turn your plan into reality.

The Focal Point

If you sought inspiration on Pinterest and saved some of the photos, there was probably something in them that caught your attention – the focal point. Its purpose is to catch the viewer’s eye.

Anything can become the focal point of the room – it can be something as simple as a painting placed in a visible spot or glass doors in the cabinets that show what is inside of them. Focal points make the space more interesting, so when designing your kitchen, don’t forget to choose one as well.

The Bottom Line

Aside from the bathroom and the bedroom, the kitchen is probably the room in which people spend most of their time. This is why it is important to make it as practical and useful as possible. However, you also cannot forget about the aesthetic aspect – after all, you probably want your kitchen to represent you well.

A well-designed kitchen will not only make ordinary activities more bearable but will also serve as a great motivation for doing more cooking and baking. After all, is there a better place to do those things than a beautiful kitchen?

When designing the kitchen of your dreams, it’s easy to get carried away and forget about some things, which is why we hope our list will come in handy. Since you probably won’t be changing the design for the next couple of years, you should think every detail through. Good luck!

Investing in real estate can provide the keys to your financial future. Unfortunately, achieving the rewards of real estate investment is not always as simple as you may hope. There are potential issues around every corner and a number of pitfalls that you have to avoid in order to achieve success.

There are a number of ways to help ensure a successful investment, but one of the most useful is to ask the right questions. In this piece, we highlight three critical questions any first-time investor needs to ask before they commit to a purchase.

Question: How will this property pay for itself?

It is technically possible to buy a property and then do absolutely nothing with it, with it simply being an asset. However, this option isn’t really viable. With taxes and basic maintenance, your ‘investment’ will actually cost you money. Yes, you will still technically have an asset, but one that is either expensive to maintain or falls into disrepair. Naturally, neither of these is ideal.

As a result, most property investors seek revenue generation from investment properties. The most common way to generate income is renting properties out, either to long-term tenants or as a holiday let on sites like Airbnb. Whatever you choose, you need to have a fixed plan in mind for how the property will cover its running expenses. Better yet, how it will hopefully generate an additional income.

Question: Do I have the time to manage a real estate investment?

As highlighted above, real estate investment is far more “active” than it is often presumed to be. You have to be directly involved with the property. You will need to maintain indoor and outdoor spaces. You must ensure everything in the property – such as the electricity – is safe to use, and deal with building-related admin.

If renting the property out, you will also need to meet regulatory compliance. This is important, as governments can now easily use tools such as LODGINGRevs to monitor compliance. All of these activities, and the many more besides, take time. You, therefore, have to be 100% certain you have space in your schedule to meet all of the ongoing, constant needs of your new investment.

Question: Is now the right time to invest in real estate?

It is one thing to decide that real estate is the right investment choice for you personally. However, it may not be the right choice when considered on a national scale. For example, if the housing market is buoyant and prices are high, buying at that point could mean you get less for your money.

On the flip side, negative domestic economic forecasts could mean you struggle to achieve an ROI. In both of these cases and those like them, postponing the decision to buy can actually be the best choice. If you do decide to postpone, that’s not to say that you can’t invest in real estate at some point. You just need to ensure the timing is right when you do so.

In conclusion

When looking to invest in property, be certain you can answer the above three questions comfortably. Once you can do that, you should be able to look forward to a successful real estate investment.

When you find your dream home, you may be ready to pay any price for it. Now, the seller is counting on you falling in love and may not want to budge on the price knowing that.

This means that you have to really get your negotiating skills fine-tuned. Otherwise, you could be overpaying for your home, no matter how much you love it. And a first time home buyer may assume that the price is firm when the reality is it could be quite flexible.

The trick is to use some soft and hard skills to be able to knock some dollars off of the price. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to do just that.

Get the warranty paid

Something a first time home buyer may not be aware of is that there is a warranty for home repairs that will cover the first year of any faulty items. Further, the warranty is usually paid for by the seller.

If it isn’t brought up then the buyer should make sure that this is something the seller intends to cover. It’s only a matter of $600 to $800 but with the other items that we will go over, it can add up to significant savings.

Usually, when the home inspector does the once over, there will be things that come to the attention of the buyer that needs to be taken care of or are not at 100%. What’s included in a home inspection? It generally covers the roof and any structural damage that may be present. Plus, the plumbing and electrical fixtures, HVAC, and even the interior and exterior of the house.

If there are some things that don’t look like they need immediate repair then the home warranty may cover the repairs if they do end up failing during the first year after the purchase.

Lower the points

The bank may have an idea of what they think the house is worth, but they are obviously biased. Come armed with information and you can generally lower the points of your mortgage considerably. Look at what other similar houses in the area are selling for and what the condition of the house is.

You may be able to get the mortgage a point or lower than what the bank had offered. And this can reduce your interest payments considerably over the course of the mortgage.

Have your lease bought out

Another tactic to save money that not many people think about is to ask the seller to buy out the remainder of a lease that you may be paying to speed up the closing process. Many first time buyers are renting and are trying to time their closing date to coincide with the time they are moving out of the rental.

It’s in everybody’s interests for this process to go quickly. The seller may also be waiting for the money from the sale to buy themselves so they may be willing to pay off whatever remains on your lease.

Leaving your home and space you built for another space and settling there can be a tough task financially as well as mentally. One has to prepare a lot of things in mind and get the budget set before they even think of moving out to another city. Well, it can be very time consuming and exhausting but all you should know is that the first step to moving to a new city is planning! The right amount of planning will always give you good results. While you finish reading this blog, we assure you that you will be clear with a lot of things and how to plan yourself financially as well as mentally.

How to calculate the cost of relocating your home

The first thing you gotta do is differentiate the costs one by one and find out which one takes the maximum space in your budget. If you have the right budget in mind, it can be very easy to relocate yourself. You can divide your overall budget into two major categories:

1.  Cost of moving

When you need to go from point A to point B, you need to spend a certain amount depending on the distance. Once you made up your mind to move down to a different place, you need to take care of the costs which will apply to how to move your things and how to get them to the new place. These things might include:

• Boxes and material required to pack the things in your house
• A rental van or truck to move your things
• If you have a large place and have no time to pack your things, you can opt for professional movers who might help you pack your home.
• Utility deposits at your place
• Professional cleaning services which you will hire to clean your rented house and leave it like you first got it from your landlord
• Keeping the security deposit money aside if you are planning to rent a place

2. Cost of living

After these minor costing, comes the bigger and the most important costing which you need to think about before spending. This is exactly why you need to plan to get the best and the most cost-effective deal in your budget.

The cost of living will include:

• Rent payment of your home which you will select
• Monthly utility costs
• Daily transportation costs
• New furniture and the decoration material required for the new space
• Car insurance, renters insurance, and homeowners insurances
• Property tax if you are buying your property

So, out of all these budgetary pointers we stated above, the most expensive of all is renting a home for yourself in a new city. It is not an easy task as you are new to the city and are unaware of the ongoing trends and market prices. It is especially difficult if you are looking for a rental property in Petaling Jaya area where there are a lot of buildings in a similar location but different direction of traffic.

This is a well trusted and secured site saving you from all the fraud and mishappening that might take place with you in an unknown place you are trying to settle in.

How much rent can you afford?

Everyone has different types of living expenses and carving out a rental budget out of your salary can be a tough task. You might like a home which is taking 50% of your salary as rent so here you clearly can’t afford it right? If you end up renting a property like this, you will have to adjust your lifestyle accordingly and cut costs to live.

It is suggested that your rent should be no more than 30% of your monthly salary to live a balanced lifestyle throughout the year. If you are keen to settle in the US, then you can opt for a residential apartment at West Avenue Miami Beach with all the modern amenities.

You have to be sure that you have a look at the expenses of the city you are living in and adjust your budget accordingly because you know the best about your budget and how you will cut costs to rent a home you want to live in.

You will know that you can afford this apartment or property only when you will have all the expenses written in front of you and how much monthly you will have to spend if you keep your rental money aside.

How much do you need to live comfortably?

When we talk about living comfortably in a different city, everyone will have the budget set according to their needs. No one can exactly say how much is it going to take for you to settle and live your daily expenses in a new city. There is a rule followed by a lot of cities around the world which divide the entire salary of a person into a ratio of 50:30:20, where 50% of your income goes to the daily expenses, 30% of income is what you save and the last 20% can be used for all the fun you want to have! This way everything becomes balanced and you can live comfortably no matter which city you are in.

What can be the average rental when moving to a new city?

Rentals depend on the area, facilities, and surroundings where you are living in. The rent of a city which is always busy will be more than an area where you will find fewer jobs or universities to study. You can find some of the amazing rentals at Sky Five Properties, SPEEDHOME.com, etc. If you consider the right places then you will eventually get a place economical as well as beautiful to make a living into. So, start planning today!

When it comes to properties, it is best to have relevant features to boost its value. There are a lot of factors people consider before they fully invest in a property. It can be its location, house condition, size of the home, and even upgraded features.

One area of interest that stands out is the city of Manchester. Manchester is a gorgeous city rich in culture, history, tourist destinations, local and international shops, public facilities, and green spaces. With all of these, the housing demand in Manchester predictably increased as well. According to Zoopla, the average property cost in Manchester is approximately £230,000 and continues to rise.

Specifically, condominiums in Manchester are sought after due to being in the heart of the city. With its strategic location, you’ll know that these residential buildings are near public transportations, business districts, and top-quality schools. However, other than these factors, you can make your property in Manchester more valuable by putting tweaks to your home!

Do you want to increase the value of your property? You can do so by upgrading your home entertainment system instead of renovating your entire home! Not only is this effective, but it is also an easier way to improve and make your home more marketable.

In this article, we will give Top Entertainment Systems That Will Help Increase Your Property Value.

For Sounds

LG LHB645N 5.1 3D Multi-Room Cinema System

This home entertainment system is known for its high-quality sound, multi-room connectivity, and its sleek appearance. The design of LG LHB645N 5.1 3D Multi-Room Cinema System perfectly fits home interiors with modern and minimal features due to its two tallboy and satellite speakers. It is also compatible with 3D TV and offers 1000 watts of audio power, so if you wish to experience live viewing, this home entertainment system will give you a high-definition viewing experience. This home entertainment system comes with multiple speakers and offers a private sound mode that you can connect to your smartphone via Wi-Fi.

Sony BDV E4100 5.1 Surround Smart 3D

Sony BDV E4100 5.1 Surround Smart 3D is a stylish and contemporary home entertainment system that is easy to use and to set up! The entire set comes with seven components including an antenna and two large speakers. It is also compatible with Bluetooth, 3D TV, and Smart Technology. You can also make your smartphone as a remote control by downloading the TV Sideview app. Moreover, the Sony BDV E4100 5.1 Surround Smart 3D is a dynamic entertainment system that offers full HD pictures.

If you wish to stream online, it also has a built-in Wi-Fi so you can smoothly connect to your home internet network—no need for you to deal with the clutter of cable wires, due to its wireless connectivity.

For Visuals

Aerial Installation in Manchester

If you want to get optimal reception for your entertainment system, you need to invest on a good aerial installation service in Manchester. It wouldn’t make sense to have a movie theater of a TV but all you get is static. As long as your aerial is installed in a place where there are no obstructions, you’ll surely be able to receive optimal signal all day long.

Optoma UHD300X 4K UHD 2200 Lumens Projector

If you want to enjoy a theatre-like experience, the Optoma UHD300X 4K UHD 2200 Lumens Projector is the best choice! It provides an excellent 4K picture quality and can be used for streaming movies and tv shows, and even for gaming. Because it is HDR compatible, you can perceive a more solid texture and vivid depth.

Meanwhile, you can get the best viewing experience all day long with its ISF mode that saves your preferred day and night mode setting, and with its color management system that accurately presents authentic and lively colors. Moreover, unlike other projectors, the Optoma UHD300X 4K UHD 2200 Lumens Projector has an integrated speaker so even if you don’t have external speakers, you can still enjoy excellent audio quality.

Samsung Q950TS QLED TV

The Samsung Q950TS QLED TV is a chic and sharp smart TV that has an active voice amplifier and a picture quality of 8K resolution. You can also watch two shows at once because of its multi-view trait, and still get HD resolution. The quality of its sound is superb as it includes Dolby digital plus, Q-Symphony, woofer, dialogue enhancement, and Dolby 5.1 Decoder. Furthermore, the audio of this smart TV consists of an object tracking sound (OTS+) that follows the movement of every scene to heighten the sound quality that will make you feel like you’re at the center of the performance.

Besides, with its edge-to-edge viewing and ultra viewing angle, you can get stunning pictures no matter where you sit! If you wish to use this for gaming, it offers a feature of a real game enhancer that will reduce halo and blur for fast-moving scenes to get clear vision even at dark pictures. With the Samsung Q950TS QLED TV, you’ll get to access the maximum enjoyment you deserve.

Final thoughts

Getting a full home entertainment system for your luxury condominium is one way to boost the sales of your property. Now, to maximize its use, you can get a multiroom installation that lets you enjoy digital TV anywhere in your home. What’s great about having access to digital TV services is that it offers you a flexible set up, and allows you to choose which TV platform to avail! Furthermore, with the help of your trusted service provider, you can discuss whether to get a full installation of a digital multiroom system or just an extra TV spot.

Now that you are investing in an entertainment system in your home, there are also other factors that you should understand and consider. To know more about what can help you with property investment, click here!

Working with asphalt can be a dangerous job. Even experienced individuals can have accidents or be killed while working with asphalt. But if you’re committed to doing your own asphalt work, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of injury. Here are some of our top safety awareness tips for asphalt paving:

1.     Use the Correct Equipment

In order to stay safe when laying asphalt paving, you need to make sure you use the correct equipment. However, the equipment you use doesn’t have to be brand new; you can use used pavement equipment. But it does need to be in good working order. This used pavement equipment from RoadTec is fully functional and safe. They have plenty of used asphalt pavers for sale as well as used reclaimers, stabilizers, and cold planers. Having the correct equipment could save your life.

2.     Take Care When Getting on or Off Equipment

One of the most common causes of injury to equipment operators is getting on or off the machine. When it comes to getting on a moving piece of equipment (like an asphalt paver), making sure you’re climbing onto and exiting the machine in the correct way is important for your safety.

Before getting onto the equipment, it’s a good idea to make sure your gloves and boots are clean and free of mud. You should also consider purchasing some “high grip” gloves. These will help you to grip better than normal gloves. If you can, you should install hand and foot holds onto the asphalt paving machine. If this is not possible, then consider using a step ladder for access instead.

When climbing on and off the equipment, make sure you use a three point stance. This will help you to stay upright and avoid falling and injuring yourself. You should also remember to avoid carrying objects when climbing.

3.     Be Aware of Obstructions

Trees and overhead power lines, as well as buried utilities, can be dangerous. It’s important to make sure you know exactly what obstructions may be in your way and use physical barriers or barrier tape to mark out their location. This will help you to avoid injury.

4.     Stop People Crowding Your Machine

People love watching asphalt work being completed. But the more people watching and crowding the machine, the higher the chance of someone getting hurt. It’s a good idea to ask people to stand back when you’re using the equipment. You should also make sure you check that the area is clear before starting work.

5.     Create a Secure Paving Area

In order to reduce the chances of an accident occurring, it’s a good idea to secure the work area from passersby. This is simple to do if you are paving a private driveway, but not quite as easy if you are paving a road or parking lot. Use barricades and signs to warn others of the obstruction and make sure that people working alongside you are wearing the correct safety gear.

Working with asphalt is often dangerous, so it’s a good idea to hire a professional to complete the work for you. If you’re working with asphalt, then make sure you follow some of our top tips above to reduce your chances of serious injury or death.

Moving homes is always exciting.

In most cases, it feels like you’re starting the next chapter in your life. It’s invigorating. But it’s also hard work. Moving homes is no easy feat. You have to plan the relocation of almost everything you own (except the things that you’re planning to sell, but you still have to deal with those).

And while you can always hire a company like Move Coordinators Inc to help you organize and deal with your move, you still have a lot of work in front of you.

So, we decided to sit down and share our experience with moving home with you. From what you need to pack quickly, to going over other super essential steps during the packing and moving process.

Preparing the budget is one of the most important steps of the whole home move.

Figuring out the budget before you actually start the home move is one of the most important things that you have to figure out before you start.

Depending on how far away you move, you should budget roughly between $2,000 and $10,000. And by roughly, we mean those are just median costs of a home move.

But of course, it all depends on things like are you moving all your furniture, do you have to transport cars, and are you moving to the other side of the country.

The only way to get a super accurate cost estimation on your move is to actually call a local moving company and request a quote.

Start listing your home for sale only after you’ve found your next place to live.

Most people need to realize that selling a house might happen super quickly, but in most cases, your house is listed for months before you sell the property.

But, it’s better to move to another home and list your house for sale only after you have found and purchased your next home. That way you can be sure you won’t be rushed to purchase your next home only because you’re pressed to make the purchase.

Packing may seem like a straightforward process, but in fact, it has a system to it.

And make sure you’re ready to do the heavy lifting because packing is no easy thing. You will have to make a system that suits you and your family.

You will also have to make sure that you get as many quality cardboard boxes to pack everything you need to move with you.

Also, make sure you keep everything organized. Label boxes, when possible place things in smaller boxes. That way, once you start unpacking, you won’t have to deal with the chaos that comes with moving homes.

Start planning at least two months before the actual move.

And finally, start planning your move at least two months before you actually move. Make sure you notify all institutions that may be interested like your local post office or your local government.

Contact different moving companies and compare quotes. That way you can be sure you’ll get the best price for your move.

When selling your old property to buy a new one, you are finalizing one of the most important decisions of your life. And as anybody who has gone through, it would know, there are many more steps to it than the three we are about to see. For this, speaking to a specialized broker who understands your specific needs is crucial. However, selling and buying a property can also be an extremely fast process if you know where to start. Here are only some phrases that you will go through, but they can make a substantial difference in the return on investment you will perceive.

Step 1: Identify the Property to Buy

First of all, it is worth starting to have a look at the market. Undoubtedly, the best property might enter the market a day before you commit to a purchase or even after you have done so. However, you can already sense whether it is possible to find the kind of house you are looking for in the area, and within your price bracket. This gives you an understanding of whether it is worth going ahead with the plan.

Understand if the Location Is Suitable

Some telltale signs tell you whether a property is well-located. It should not be far away from the main road and well connected through public transport. However, it should also not be too far from a high-quality school and hospitals.

Have an Idea of the Average House Price in the Area

If you have decided that you can buy in the area, you should start researching the average house price in the surroundings. This is crucial, so you know whether a property is correctly valued. However, you will also need this estimation to have a clear idea of how much you need to save to secure a deposit.

Identify the Costs of Repairs

On top of the house’s cost, you will need to add the cost of repair and maintenance that your new property might need. Whether you have found a precise property or not, understand how old the area’s houses are and how much common repairs will be. For example, structures issues related to pipes, plumbing, and waterworks can result in extremely expensive projects.

Step 2: Take Care of Your Old Property

Once you have an exact idea of how much you will need to afford your dreams’ property, you can start working on your current home or property. Depending on how much you wish to invest in your property, you will be able to see a greater return on investment that will allow you to have extra funds to pour into your new property. Here’s what to consider.

Increase Its Curb Appeal

The term Curb appeal is often used by realtors and estate agents. It refers to the attractiveness and look of the house. The curb appeal alone has been seen to be influencing the mind of potential buyers.

Increasing your home’s curb appeal is not a particularly challenging task, but it is crucial to get the rations right. Indeed, you are investing in a property that you will soon sell to make more money out of it. However, you would not want to pour large sums into it without knowing what will originate the effect you had wanted.

So, it is always recommendable to repaint your exterior walls and windows. These have been deemed extremely important features by a large number of buyers (almost 80%). Aside from being additions that the new owner won’t need to care about for years, they also say a lot about how the house is run.

Complete Any Necessary Repair

The curb appeal of a home does not stop at attractiveness. Indeed, if you decide to clean the gutters, repair any cracks and breakage in the home’s surroundings, and ensure that the windows still provide insulation, you can also increase your property’s asking price.

The roof is also an aspect towards which you should dedicate care and attention. However, if so, you might need to opt for contacting an expert in the sector who can carry out a professional audit.

Improve the Look of Your Garden

Your garden is one of the first aspects any guest and potential buyers will see when approaching the house. Make sure your garden is tidy, clean, and free of debris. Undoubtedly, if you are hosting the property viewings during the winter months, it will be hard for the garden to be at its best. However, you can already obtain great results just by getting rid of brushes and debris.

Declutter

Decluttering your home and garden is crucial for successful viewings, but you should make sure to leave some characters in the house. Indeed, buyers will need to see themselves in the house, and a property that has been left bare is an attractive option for anybody. Strip the most personal details and keep the ones that create a comfortable, cozy alternative.

Step 3: Time It Right.

After finding your dream property and are ready to sell yours, you will need to time the transaction in the best way. Indeed, you will need to buy the new property before anybody else attempts to.

At the same time, if you obtain it too soon and your mortgage is not at its end yet, you might end up paying two mortgage rates, one for each place. This can also go on until the landlord of your current home terminates the contract – something that can also take time.

Alternatively, if you have been wondering, “how can I sell my house fast” you should know that some specialized experts can buy your current property as it is, without the need for improvements or repairs.

This is an optimal choice if you are looking to complete the whole transaction in the fastest and most streamlined way.

Bottom Line

Selling your old family home for a bigger, better one can represent an extremely time-and effort-consuming process, especially if you don’t have the right guidance. However, a broker or a company that can help you sell your house fast might just be the help you need to reach your goals within short time frames.

Despite huge advances in modern technology and the comparative shrinking of the globe, there are still approximately 790 million people in the world without access to clean and safe water.

It’s something that many people take for granted. You turn on the tap and water comes out. You know it’s been treated at the water treatment center to eliminate bacteria, pathogens, and other contaminants. However, what you may not appreciate is that this water may not be as safe as you think it is.

Between the water treatment plant and your home, the water can pick up new bacteria and contaminants. This is why many homes fit water filters to protect themselves against these risks.

But, that’s not the only issue you face. It may surprise you but bad plumbing can be detrimental to your health.

The Meaning Of Bad Plumbing

Bad plumbing means it’s time to get your reputable Sydney plumber in and have the issue resolved. There are several things that classify as bad plumbing:

• Leaks

Leaks are potentially the worst as they can damage your home and allow bacteria into your water supply. Both can cause health issues.

• Pipe Material

Modern homes use plastic of copper piping. However, these are not the only options and not all are beneficial to your health.

Plumbing Related Sickness

A leak creates a way for water to get out of a pipe. But, it also allows bacteria to accumulate and go into the pipe. The bacteria can then be in your drinking or cooking water, allowing you to ingest it and potentially make you sick.

Surprisingly E.coli is one of the most common bacteria to be found in water. It causes vomiting, headaches, fever, diarrhea, fatigue, and in extreme cases death. This isn’t the only bacteria that can be in the water, there are any more that are just as dangerous.

Another issue is the pipe material. If you have an older plumbing system your water may be running through lead pipes. The lead in the pipes seeps into the water and then enters your body.

Lead doesn’t leave your body, it accumulates and eventually can cause brain damage and even death.

Mold is also a big issue when you have bad plumbing. Anytime you have a leak the water will sit near the site of the leak. It can start to rot wood and will cause stains to appear on walls and floors. But, this water is also stagnant, attracting pests and mold spores. They find this the perfect habitat and will thrive.

As the mold grows it will release spores into the atmosphere. These will then be breathed in by you. The spores lodge in your lungs, causing respiratory issues. It’s particularly dangerous for anyone with asthma or allergies.

The bottom line is that you need t have your plumbing system checked annually and to undertake regular inspections yourself. It’s the best way of detecting bad plumbing and fixing the issue.

Among retailers and investors, condominiums or condos have gained popularity. Many condos have a maintenance-free living, multiple facilities, and a great location. Many families have bought condos as their second home to spend vacations. When you buy a condo, then you have to buy the title of the individual unit. Typical areas of condo communities together divide the wall; the stairwells, outer walls, pools, etc. are shared with the community that has ownership.

When you buy a condominium, you have to finance the fees associated with any type of real estate purchase. You have to pay the down payment and closing cost of the loan, as well as other taxes and other fees that will need to be paid on a monthly or yearly basis to your condo association.

What Is a Condo Fee?

A condo or condominium is mainly a sellable property or premises, which is similar to an apartment or building. Homebuyers can choose a condo over getting a single family property for many reasons. A condo can allow you to enter the housing market at a low cost or it can be an opportunity for seniors as it is a low maintenance downsizing option.

Every condo owner covers extra maintenance costs and other expenses related to the property, such as water, heat, sewer, and garbage collection payments. These payments are paid monthly, and everything is decided by the board of directors created for condo owners.

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What are Condo Association Fees?

The Condo fees are known as shared fees, which are a must for every owner to pay. Usually, they have to pay for maintenance and repair of the usual areas. However, these fees can be different in every condo development. That is the reason why you must know the prices before making an offer on a unit. Many developers require high association fees.

All of the condominium associations have their schedules, depending on a wide variety of factors. These factors include calculations about all units, how many of them are occupied, and average operating expenses as building maintenance or repair.

Besides, the condo association needs you to have some specific requirements to be considered. The fees will vary by the areas in a country; it can cost you a few hundred dollars per month. But if the place is highly in demand, then the price will be even higher. It is normal to see your fees as 50% of all your mortgage costs. But beware that those fees can be wasted if you spend them on unnecessary improvements, and it will not add any value to your property.

How Do Condo Fees Work?

The condo or homeowner association (HOA) is a corporation that votes to determine the rules and regulations, and it also enforces them for the members who live in the community. This community also holds meetings to prioritize works and projects. Those who buy a condo become a member of the community and pay a separate fee periodically as per the instructions by the HOA.

Each homeowner association (HOA) has a statement of contracts, conditions, and restrictions that set rules for owners about how the property should be maintained.

Every homeowner needs to pay condo fees. Apart from this, they have to pay property taxes, mortgage, and homeowners’ insurance. The agreed amount is set by the homeowners’ association to solve all the problems and do the upkeep of the community.

As said earlier, all of these fees are utilized for repairs, utilities, landscaping, snow removal, general maintenance expenses of places, such as parking lots and garages, elevators, gyms, lobbies, patios, etc.

The fees for a condo can range from $50 to $1k on a monthly basis. These fees depend on many factors, such as-

• The property’s size
• If the building is a high-rise
• Quantity of buildings in a particular complex
• The facilities, such as parks, playgrounds, concierges, etc.

Private Mortgage Insurance

When you buy a condo with a 20 percent down payment, you will need to pay insurance called private mortgage insurance. Even so, some companies need more down payments. But private mortgage insurance can be complicated for some condominium buyers. It happens because the worth of a condo is much variable, depending on the worthiness of the building and any comparable sales.

Many insurance companies deny insuring condo mortgages. Without PMI, a mortgage is not a great option. If there is any possibility, then it will be costly.

Homeowner’s Insurance

If a condo has more than two shared walls, then it is considered shared property. It is possible to have residents in the condo above or below you. You are not the homeowner of the public spaces surrounding your condo. The apartment is considered to be less secure than townhomes. The homeowner’s insurance will increase depending on the safety rating of your condo. And if you get claims in any part of your building, your rating will go up as an outcome.

Special Assessments

Your monthly mortgage payment comes with HOA dues, owners of condos, property taxes, and insurance; these are known as special assessments. These special assessments are additional dues that the HOA needs to cover all unplanned expenses. Besides, the special assessments do not envelop maintenance; instead, they surround the unexpected costs.

It is essential to go through the history of a special assessment of the condominium. Before you purchase, investigate the duration of the last evaluation as well as its amount. It is also mandatory to inquire about the protocol for applying special assessments. As with homeowner association dues, these special assessments are not compulsory, and they are not needed to be paid by each property owner.