SkyFive Properties Blog

In recent months, the travel industry underwent a revival. More and more people have a renewed and stronger desire to unwind and travel around the world. These include early retirees, who want to reap their hard work and families, who want to go on the biggest adventure of their lives and take their children on memorable and tangible learning experiences. With a residential ship, you can take your family as you travel around the world without leaving your home.

What is a residential cruise ship?

A residential cruise ship condominium is a collection of home units that are built on a residential cruise ship. There, you can have a place to call home while traveling the world.

The difference between a traditional cruise ship and a residential ship is that a residential cruise ship allows you a longer period of time on board and the future of living aboard for a long time. A residential cruise ship also has public spaces that are more akin to a luxury resort such as wine and juice bars, yoga studios, pop-up restaurants, cooking facilities, a library, and a theater. A residential cruise ship has resident lounges onboard the ship. These are private spaces where residents can relax and work. These spaces feature a hot tub, bar service, and even cabanas.

Why Should You Invest in a Residential Cruise Ship Condo:

1. You’ll have access to several amenities onboard

Not unlike residential condominiums located on land, residential cruise ship condos have several wonderful amenities. There are pools and a wide range of restaurants and cafes that are available onboard. Some luxury residential cruise ship condominiums include a theater and a vast library. With plenty of great amenities, you won’t easily get bored onboard.

2. It’s a major investment

Investing in a residential cruise ship condo will be worth it because of its payoffs. With your residential cruise ship condo, you will have access to great amenities such as theaters, pools, restaurants, cafes and in addition, you’ll be traveling around the world in style and comfort.

3. You can travel the world without really leaving the comfort of your home

With your residential cruise ship condo, you have a new home that is constant and on the move. You’ll explore new places and learn about new cultures on every port from where your cruise lands. You won’t suffer homesickness, because your home is your constant.

4. Traveling the world can give you (and your family) a more practical educational experience

Parents nowadays desire their children to have more interactive and tangible learning experiences that take place outside their rooms. Other families have turned to world schooling so that they can balance their love of travel and need for tangible learning experiences.  Learning in-person is beneficial for children as it leads to better skill training and the ability to discuss, practice, and collaborate “live” with other people.

World schooling is an educational movement based on the belief that the best education a child can have is through interacting and experiencing with the world around them. Families who take part in world schooling usually have a desire for travel and wish to introduce children to the wider world around them.

Lastly, travel abroad gives people a better understanding of other cultures and this leads to a stronger sense of empathy.

5. Meet people who are like you

Condominiums on land have clubs and associations to form a community. It also applies to residential cruise condominiums. Abroad your cruise condominium, you will meet a community of diverse people who are bonded by their love of travel. Meeting like-minded people is a surefire way to make a friend and become part of a warm community!

6. You can work flexibly even while you travel the world!

Working conditions have greatly changed and evolved over the recent years. People can now work flexible hours online, as long as they have access to a good internet connection. Luxury residential cruise ships are also equipped with reliable internet connections so in case you need to work, it won’t be a problem at all!

7. You can rent out your residential cruise condo unit – when it’s not in use

The practice of renting out condominium units has become a business and a way for unit owners to earn money. If you’re busy and prefer using another apartment for your home, you can opt to rent your residential cruise condo unit as a way to earn money. In recent year, demand for unique accommodation on Airbnb and similar sites rose. With a floating home, your residential cruise condo unit is as unique as it can get due to its mobility, access to amenities, and reliable internet connection!

With changing times and along with it, attitudes towards traveling and working, investing in a residential cruise condo has become very viable. For cruise condo owners who are not able to use their units, it can be an additional source of income.

Owning a cruise ship condo while experiencing travel around the world is a truly priceless experience. There, you can make more memories with your family, learn new things, improve your mental health, and overall, become a better person.
Live happily and in luxury with Storylines! Start your journey now!

The old adage that ‘not every house is a home’ rings true even more in the modern world as we need our homes to be a place of contentment and relaxation far away from the stresses of daily life. When thinking about the décor of your home, you need to look into incorporating elements that will give a comforting and relaxing vibe to anyone who walks in the door. Here are a few ways to make your home seem welcoming, full of life, and an oasis of peaceful vibes.

1. Perfect The Opening Act

The entrance of your house, apartment, or living unit needs to be as inviting and beautiful as possible because first impressions are very important. You don’t have to spend a fortune but making sure your entryway is clean and has a few well-placed items can make all the difference. Your entryway should be well-lit, have a welcome mat, and if possible use flower pots or even artificial foliage to give a refreshing aura.

Using a welcome sign or banner and having a diffuser in the corner is just about as good as it gets when someone walks into the door. Furthermore, use some convenient items like a key rack, a coat rack, a shoe cabinet, or a small table with items like sanitizers on it just to make yourself and any visitors more comfortable.

2. Navigation Matters

Many homeowners or apartment owners make common décor mistakes such as making the main living area difficult to navigate. Guests will never be comfortable in a space if they are colliding with furniture or if items like couches or tables are placed in a manner that they get in the way of someone walking through the room. If you are working with a smaller space, use principles of minimalism and keep only items that you cannot do without.

Installing shelving and using vertical space can also be a great way to make the most of any room. When buying pillows, rugs, chairs, or small tables, never crowd them all together into a single room because it can cause tripping, accidents, and a feeling of claustrophobia. Strike the right balance between cozy and convenient.

3. Use Fabric 

Fabric-related décor like gorgeous plush pillows and couch blankets, rugs, and tapestries add that extra homely touch. It can also have the added effect of making any guest feel cozier and more at ease. One of the main differences between the sitting area of a home and a more formal space is really additions like blankets!

4. Customize It 

In your home, you need to selectively add décor items that showcase your passions and interests in life such as movies, sports, animals, books, and so on. There is such a thing as going overboard however so keep the customizations within reason to make your guests appreciate your interests while not being overpowered by them in your home. A great example is a custom home painting that captures the essence of home for you and is a brilliant conversation starter when guests come over.

5. Cut The Clutter

To add a comfort element to a home it cannot have an abundance of stressors such as paperwork or items strewn about. Invest in sensible organization and storage solutions depending on the layout and size of your space. This will eliminate clutter and make your space appear cleaner, larger, and less stressful. Organizers for desk items, clothes, etc are very helpful in letting you utilize spaces better and actually be more productive in your daily life. Storage solutions such as drawers under the bed are great for daily items that need to be put away and still remain accessible such as your beloved pet’s leather dog collar and leash set.

6. Aroma Creates The Mood 

Whether you admit it or not one of the first things anyone notices when entering a home or an apartment is how it smells. Odors are also a sign of neglect of deteriorating mental health or work-life balance. Keep your house smelling great using herbs, flowers, potpourri, essential oil burners and diffusers, and even an air filtration system if you want to invest in the quality of air available to you.

Research has shown that aroma affects both mood and mental health and even your ability to concentrate! If you work from home or simply need your space to help you unwind, choose scents and essential oils according to the effect they are believed to have. Citrus oils help rejuvenation and lavender for example can help with relaxation and detoxification.

One’s outdoor space is a glorious extension to your indoor living space and should be decorated as such. Achieving a well-designed balance between aesthetics and utility should be the aim when you are decorating and organizing your outdoor spaces whether large or small. Here are a few ways to make the most of your outdoor spaces.

1. Buy Practical Outdoor Furniture 

You may be keen on buying very beautiful lawn furniture that can weather poorly in a short time. If you plan on using your outdoor space, especially for gathering buy modern, contemporary, and practical furniture pieces. Never fill your outdoor area with furniture and come up with sensible options such as benches or convertible options to make sure there is adequate seating along with optimal utilization of the available space. Invest in some sturdy basics such as a few seating options and a good table and work your way up from there.

2. Continue The Style

Evaluate the style you have predominately opted for in your main house décor. Try to have your outdoor area be an extension of that style whether it’s farmhouse chic, contemporary modern, vintage or Scandinavian. This enhances the illusion that the indoor is flowing into the outdoor area and there isn’t a sharp contrast. In many houses sliding or French windows mean the space can open up and in essence be combined with the sitting area indoors.

3. Let Purpose Guide You

Your outdoor space should ideally be designed and organized according to zones. You can have an area with a grill and some furniture, a separate zone for the vegetable garden, a shed for gardening tools, or even a spot under some foliage for meditation. It all depends on your personal requirements but designing by zone and purpose is a great idea if you are confused about where to start. Having a shed as mentioned above for example may be helpful for keeping lawn mowing equipment such as a commercial robotic lawn mower safe from rain and other natural elements.

4. Make Allowance For Temperature Changes

You may have been recommended to sit outside in the sun or get some fresh air at least for 40 mins in a day, but what if the temperature is really hot or really cold? You need to make allowance for different temperature changes so make sure you have a canopy or lawn umbrella for the summers with furniture that doesn’t absorb heat and is light-colored. A small portable fan for example would be very welcome on a hot summer day. Many people also have a designated area with a mini-fridge for cool drinks!

For winters you can have a space heater or any outdoor heater as well as a sitting area designed around a cooking pit or BBQ grill. Make sure there are plenty of cushions, rugs, and throw blankets to make your outdoor sitting area cozy and warm! Depending on your budget it might also be worthwhile to enclose a part of your lawn or garden just to prevent rain, snow, or hail from getting into it.

5. Don’t Forget The Lights 

Lighting is majorly instrumental for the ambiance so if you have beautiful light fixtures, string lights, and fairy lights with sublime warm bulbs, you will enjoy sitting outside with a cup of tea or reading a book. Not to mention gatherings, parties and BBQs will be a lot more fun. If you prefer nightclub lighting or neon signs you can also use them to create a certain mood. It is all about the ambiance that personally gives you joy.

Be sure to have spotlights on areas of your garden you wish to highlight to guests even in the evening such as a particular vegetable patch, the pool area, or a hammock. Light fixtures depending on their quality can come in either satin nickel or brushed nickel finishes and when doing a comparison between the two you will find out that nickel plating helps the steel in the fixture resist rust, corrosion, and discoloration. 

6. Décor Elements, Night Scented Flowers, Ornaments 

An outdoor space should have customized décor elements that strike your fancy such as framed wall art, hanging tapestries, painted flower pots, rugs, or even a water fountain! Plant night-scented flowers like Petunia or Star Jasmine to further enhance the ambiance for evening get-togethers at your place. Your outdoor space is just like any other area in your home, it deserves to have elements that display your interests and hobbies.

Our home radiators are essential for us to stay warm during cold winters. However, that doesn’t mean you should take them for granted. Radiators could be cared for and kept in the best conditions possible if you want them to last longer, run smoothly, and give you a good return on the investment you made on your heating system.

In this article, we will provide you with our top ten tips for getting the very best performance from your radiators.

Bleed your radiators

It is one of the simplest things you can do to improve your radiator performance. Bleeding a radiator gets rid of air that has collected at the top of the radiator, preventing your radiator from heating up properly.

If bleeding your radiators sounds like something you can’t do yourself, you can always call in a local heating engineer who will be able to help you.

Insulate the pipes

It is simple to do and will make a difference in how effectively the radiator is heating your room.

The pipe should be completely covered and insulated before you attach the radiator. The insulation should wrap around the lines, with no gaps where the heat could escape. Try to buy enough to go all around each pipe, and then you can cut it to size once you’ve wrapped it around the pipe.

Programmable Thermostats

A timer thermostat can be installed on most radiators and will control the heat output, making sure that they only heat when necessary. It’s important to remember that this is not the same as a room thermostat, which controls the central heating system rather than individual radiators.

Positioning a radiator strategically

Radiators are often positioned against the coldest wall, directly under a window or door. It is far from ideal as it can cause the heat to escape through the window and outside. Instead, position your radiator away from the wall to allow air to flow through easily and heat the room.

The best place for your radiator is on an external wall, allowing it to transfer heat more efficiently. If you have an internal wall, place the radiator as close as possible to the exterior wall.

Check and clean the radiators

Clean the radiator from time to time. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust and dirt that may have accumulated on its surface.

Check for signs of rust or corrosion on your pipes and valves. Use steel wool or wire brush to remove them if you see any. You can also use sandpaper to get rid of the rust stains and smooth out rough edges on metal surfaces.

Make sure there are no loose parts inside the machine that could cause problems later. For example, if you hear rattling sounds coming from inside your radiator when turning on your heater, something might be wrong with its fan belt. Try replacing this part before going through a significant repair job yourself!

Insulate Your Windows

Insulating your windows is a simple way to improve things by reducing the amount of heat loss through them. It is essential if you have old single-pane windows, though it’s still worth doing even if you have double-glazing (or even triple-glazing).

The easiest option for insulating your windows is window insulation film. This thin plastic film is held in place with double-sided tape that allows light through while blocking drafts and protecting against heat loss.

Maximize Sunlight Exposure

Maximize the energy of radiator energy-saving potential by ensuring they’re exposed to direct sunlight. During the winter, heat naturally rises to the home’s upper level, which means that the lower floors will be cooler than the top floor.

To help compensate for this temperature difference, open blinds or curtains on windows that receive direct sunlight during the day. It allows the sun’s rays to hit radiators and heat rooms more efficiently.

Use radiator booster fans

The way that a radiator booster fan works is straightforward. It sits on top of your radiator and draws in cool air from the surrounding area, and it then pushes this air over the radiator element forcing the warm air out into the room faster than would otherwise happen.

As a result, you will feel more warmth from the radiator, and your room will become warmer much more quickly. It means that you will be able to turn off your central heating sooner, save money on your energy bills, and stay toastier on colder days!

Install radiator reflectors

Another simple way to improve the efficiency of your radiators is to install radiator reflector panels behind them. These panels help to reflect heat into the room instead of allowing it to escape through walls and windows, meaning that less energy is needed for heating your home.

It also means that you don’t need your heating system turned up so high to keep warm, which can help bring down your energy bills!

Paint your radiators

One way to improve the performance of your radiators is to paint them. Painting your radiators may seem like a strange thing to do, but it can make a significant difference in their efficiency.

Unpainted metal radiators are not very efficient. They lose about half of their heat through the metal and into the air around them. Painting them with special paint that reflects heat can improve the efficiency of your radiators by over 60%.

The paint you need for this job is called insulating pain, and it acts both as a heat reflector and an insulator to prevent heat loss through the metal surface of your radiators.

Spend some time looking at lists of real estate side hustles and you’ll see flipping houses turn up on a lot of them. If the term isn’t familiar, the idea is pretty straightforward.

You look for properties that are basically sound but need some renovations. You buy the property, fix it up, and sell as fast as possible or flip it. If all goes well, your fix and flip lets you pocket some profit.

Of course, those lists often gloss over the very important element of fix and flip financing. They almost never get into the kinds of rates you can expect.

If you’re considering fix and flip as your side hustle, keep reading and learn more about loan financing for those projects.

What Are Fix and Flip Loans?

The exact description that lenders apply to these types of loans varies, but they are typically hard money mortgages. Hang in there for a little bit because there is a lot to unpack around the term “hard money mortgage.”

These loans rarely come from a traditional bank or credit union. Those lenders see fix-and-flip as too high-risk to make for good investments. Instead, the money comes from private lenders.

The loans are always short-term. They range from as little as three months up to around 36 months. For comparison, your standard mortgage ranges from 15 years to 30 years.

The property itself serves as collateral, so failure to pay means you lose the property.

Benefits

Fix and flip loans may not sound great, but they do offer some important benefits. For buying fixer-uppers, these are often both the only and best loans you can get.

Regular banks generally won’t or can’t finance them. They must meet certain requirements in terms of the properties they let you buy with the money they lend you. Fixer-uppers often can’t meet those requirements because only the renovations you’ll do will get them up to the appropriate standard.

Securing a loan typically depends less on your credit score than a traditional loan.

Rates and Requirements

Traditional mortgages often call for a down payment. The average is around 7 percent, give or take. With fix and flip loans, the average down payment is usually around 20 percent.

You also see much higher interests rates. For standard mortgages, rates have ranged between approximately 3 percent to around 5 percent in recent years. Fix and flip interest rates typically start around 6 percent and can go over 15 percent.

The exact rate will depend on the lender and the specifics of the loan.

Fix and Flip Financing and You

If you’re looking at flipping as a side hustle or even a full-time job, you’ll likely need fix and flip financing at some point. It’s a different animal than traditional mortgages.

The length is shorter, the interest is higher, and you usually need a much bigger down payment. On the upside, the project typically matters more than your credit score in getting approval. It’s also a way to finance a purchase regular lenders won’t usually touch.

Looking for more real estate insights? Check out some of the other posts in our Blog section.

Did you know that the estimated monthly living costs of a family for four living in Hong Kong is 3 700 dollars without rent? While a single person will spend on average 1000 dollars each month without rent!

While these prices do seem like a lot, Hong Kong is still 20 percent less expensive to live in than cities like New York! Have you ever dreamed of moving abroad and living in Hong Kong? Read on below for the major benefits of making the move today!

Living In Hong Kong: Expat Community

As you would expect Hong Kong has a vibrant, thriving ex-pat community of people from all over the world. Making new friends will be easy and you are bound to see people from your home state or even city.

Making friends mean more connections, your move will be eased and you never know what can happen.

Public Transport System

Hong Kong is widely known as having one of the public transport systems in the world. Anywhere you need to go is available nearly 24 hours a day, is inexpensive, and you won’t have to wait long for a bus or the metro. You won’t even need to buy a car in Hong Kong and save on your monthly costs.

High Education System

The private education systems in southeast Asia are usually praised as being some of the world’s best. In Hong Kong, this is no different with students at international schools achieving excellent results in a variety of subjects every year. If your children are young enough they can even be put in the public school system, learn a new language and be well looked after.

Culture Diversity

Hong Kong was built off of settlers from all over Asia and this can be found in the wide variety of food and cultural diversity that exists within the city. From packed bars to historic temples, there is something for everyone in Hong Kong.

Even if you prefer hiking or a beach day, you will find some spectacular beaches and national parks scattered all over Hong Kong. If you are interested in checking out Rent prices you can take a look at this page.

One of the Safest Cities

The major benefit of living in Hong Kong and moving your family there is safety. Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world and no matter what time you are walking, be it 3 in the morning, you still don’t feel unsafe.

With superb police presence, help isn’t always far away.

Make the Move Today!

Taking your family and living in Hong Kong will be one of the smartest decisions you make today. Not only is it incredibly safe, your children and you will learn so much more about life and what is out there!

Are you looking to move cities? Not sure where to go to find a rental place? Go ahead and take a look at our luxury rentals page and get the best accommodation sorted out before you even arrive!

America needs about 5 million homes to meet buyer demand. That’s one of the reasons why real estate home values are so high.

You could do your part and put your home on the market. In this market, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll make a profit from the sale of your home.

At least it’s easy to think that way on the surface. Home sellers often only think about what they paid for the home and what they can sell it for.

They don’t take into account fees when selling a home. That could leave you disappointed when you get the final check at the end of the home selling process.

Keep reading to learn about the fees to expect when selling a home.

1. Home Inspection

It’s not necessary to get a home inspection before you list your home. It is the smart thing to do, though. This will tell you if there are issues with the home.

Waiting until the buyers make the inspection could cause delays in selling the home.

2. Repairs

Decide which repairs you should make and which ones to put off and notify buyers of the issues. Your decision will impact the sales price of the home.

If you already moved from your home, you may need to work with a contractor from a distance. That could make it difficult to manage the repairs.

3. Real Estate Commission

A real estate agent is a valuable asset when selling a home. They help you prepare the home for sale, make recommendations, advertise the home, and coordinate showings.

You’ll have to pay for their services, which ends up being about 6% of the sales price. Half goes to the seller’s agent, half goes to the buyer’s agent.

4. Home Staging Costs

Home staging is essential if you want to get the most value from the home. Buyers will pay more based on the first impression they get.

Professional photography and home staging make a big difference. Budget about $500 for these services.

5. Closing Costs

Most of the closing costs get paid by buyers. Sellers have some costs to consider as well. Most of these costs are negotiated in the contract.

You’ll get asked to pay title fees, property taxes, and escrow fees.

6. Mortgage Prepayment Fees

Selling a home is exciting, especially when you pay off your mortgage. What sellers usually don’t remember is that they may have prepayment penalties in their loan contracts.

The penalty depends on how long you’ve had the loan and the outstanding balance.

The Many Fees When Selling a Home

When you’re selling a home, you just want to cash out to take advantage of a hot real estate market. If you want to get the maximum amount of profit from the sale of your home, don’t forget about these fees when selling a home.

The home selling process is complicated enough. You don’t want all of these hidden charges to bite you at the end of selling a house.

Hopefully, you just learned some of the fees to think about. If you enjoyed learning about selling a home, you’ll enjoy the other articles on the blog. Check them out today!

Selling a home is complicated. It demands a lot of time and effort to make the process go smoothly and efficiently. Firstly, your home up for sale means you have to be more conscious about your living habits. In other words, you have to be more mindful of every little corner of your house.

The minute you put it up for sale, the likelihood of receiving offers or interest for showings will increase. If you’ve been living in the same house for a long time, it gets even harder to start the process.

You can often feel lost about where to begin, and the emotional attachment doesn’t make it any easier. However, if you have made up your mind to go for it, you are definitely in the right space. Keep reading to learn about the basic steps you have to follow for a hassle-free process of selling your property.

1. Identify Your Needs and Wants

Firstly, ask yourself why you are selling your house. There must be a valid reason behind it. Before even putting it up for sale, think about what you are expecting from this sale.

You can look up some of the listings near you and see how they have been advertised. What are the features and specifications that add more value to listings? Get an idea of the property rates around your area. It’s advised to be as specific as possible so you can sell your house to meet your requirements.

2. Determine Your Expectation

One of the most vital considerations when selling a home is the price, as it determines your overall direction; establish the price before you list it. To come to a realistic idea, compare it with some similar homes in your area. For example, if you live in a certain neighborhood, obviously property rates will be close.

Find houses with the same number of bedrooms and baths to compare. Factor in maintenance, fixtures, and repair costs into the final price. Do a mental calculation of property valuation based on all these factors.

3. The Right Price

If you sell your home at a relatively lower price, chances are it will attract buyers right away. But you could find yourself at a loss, which would be a shame. On the flip side, if you demand an amount that’s higher than the market price, it might deter homebuyers. Anyone who is looking to buy will try to get the best house they can in their price range. In other words, under-selling your house will leave you with lots of guilt and financial stress, and over-selling it will shoo away potential buyers.

Cash Sell Options “As is”

Nowadays, a direct cash offer is a much better option. You may want to start looking for ads or banners that indicate ‘We Buy Houses’ to avoid the hassles of real estate fees, hidden costs, and commissions. Some trustworthy home buyers may be ready to pay cash for your home, allowing you to skip any kind of cleaning and renovation troubles. This is possibly the easiest way for selling your house quickly and within your desired price range.

4. Find a Reliable Real Estate Agent

We strongly suggest not only finding a good realtor but looking for someone who’ll cater to you. Many real estate agents are experts in specific areas such as neighborhoods, types of homes, etc. Get in touch with at least three different real estate agents.

Compare all the facts and numbers to identify your match. Pick the one that understands and respects your expectations. Don’t forget to communicate your schedule to make it work between the two of you. Remember, a good real estate agent is an asset when you are selling—you want the best in the business.

5. Compare with Other Listings

When you begin your hunt to compare prices, you’ll have more perspective. Don’t jump to a conclusion. Take your time to weigh out some of the differences between the listed properties and your home. Find a unique selling proposition (USP). It can help you to set your expectations. However, to ensure that your process is easy, you should get your numbers and facts right.

Keep track of what’s most popular in terms of the number of bedrooms and baths. Accentuate the pros of your house and work on the cons to make it as appealing as possible. If you have any concerns about this, you should talk to your realtor. Communicate your thoughts so that they can guide you in the process too.

6. Think Like a Buyer

If you were in the market looking for properties to buy, what would your concerns or requirements be? What type of house would appeal to you as a buyer? Prepare your house so that it sends a message right away when people express their interest in showings. Make sure your house looks well maintained and clean.

You should also ask yourself what things put you off. Check if your house has any issues that need to be taken care of. Make sure your carpets, upholstery, curtains, and cabinets are all clean. Pay extra attention to the condition of your bathrooms and ventilation. One trick to make your house instantly light up is by changing the lights to warmer tones. If your house has a backyard, make sure you are allocating some time on weekends to mow the grass and make it look nice and clean. Maybe plant some seasonal flowers to give them ideas too.

Since you have already decided to put up your house for sale, you need to wait it out. Don’t start to move out before your house is sold. Patience is key. Your agent may be talking you into buying another property. But please wait for your house to be sold first; don’t give in. This way, you won’t have to stress about finances. Plus, your furniture will only be in one house at a time. Once you finalize a deal with the buyer, only then think of relocating.

7. Expert Advice

Following this last tip just before you close a deal about selling your home will spare you the hassles of going through a lot of mistakes, tedious tasks, compromises, and stress. It can be a prolonged job. Selling a home does not end with shaking hands with the buyer. The decision to sell your property can be stretched longer than expected on your financial status and in many other ways.

You must factor in tax implications, consequences, and paperwork and their impact on estate planning. Your deal, payment terms, and buyers’ payment options will all have to be aligned to make it a successful sale. Therefore, we highly recommend you to get expert advice on all the aftermath of signing the deal. All you have to do is turn to the right people for guidance. In this way, you will no longer be worried about the hidden charges and formalities.

8. Prepare Your Home for Sale

Declutter is the word. Display your home in a way so that the best features speak for themselves. Potential buyers should be able to walk in and look inside all the rooms. Clean windows, let the natural light accentuate the beauty of your house.

Get rid of belongings that you have been hoarding and make more space to add more value to your property. Make sure your driveway is also clean, as first impressions are very important.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have now gained more perspective about your moves. We also suggest you do further research based on your area, beyond the list we have provided. Do whatever is needed to wrap your head around how it all works—especially if you are a first-time seller. Just make sure that you are aware of how competitive today’s real estate market can be. So to stand out, you have to make it a good value for both parties.

If you opt to sell your property all by yourself without the help of a real estate agent, then consider the extra costs you will encounter. Then, there will be no room for disputes about the ownership transfers. Lastly, go through these tips thoroughly to be on top of your game. Happy selling!

If you’re like most people, your basement is just a dark place where you store stuff you don’t use often. But what if I tell you that your basement could be so much more? What if I tell you that your basement could be turned into a reptile terrarium? Interested? Well, keep reading! I’m going to show you how to turn your boring basement into a fun and exciting reptile habitat!

Photo by Alexander Kuzmin on Unsplash

Transforming Your Basement Into a Terrarium

With a little woodworking skill, and the necessary equipment and tools, you can forgo buying a terrarium and make a customized cage for your reptile. You can even make this part of your renovation project and hire a contractor to help you build an exceptional reptile terrarium. Plus, if you have a huge reptile, then it needs more room, and the basement is the best place for your pet. To transform your basement, you should do the following:

1)   Clean and Sanitize Your Basement

Just because they are known to spread bacteria and germs, it doesn’t mean that they have to sleep in a dirty basement that has not been sanitized. Pets are living things, and when exposed to dirt and germs when in captivity, they can become ill.

Therefore, if you keep its environment clean, you won’t have to worry about your pet spreading illnesses to everyone in the house. The first thing you should do is remove all the things stored in the basement and put them in the garage.

Clean the basement, making sure that it is dust-free and spotless before sanitizing it and killing all the germs. But make sure you use the right disinfectant that won’t harm your reptile pet.

2)   Pick the Reptile Pet You Want to Adopt

Every reptile has its own unique requirements; therefore, the pet that you pick will determine how you’ll design the terrarium and the amount of space needed in the basement. This will also determine the kind of modifications you will have to do to make the basement comfortable for your pet.

For example, if you’re a first-time reptile pet owner, you can go for a crested gecko, which is quite easy to keep. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t have some work to do every day. Gecko life expectancy can be affected by their environment when in captivity. They may be able to live for over 15 years, but mistreatment, malnourishment, and illnesses can shorten their lifespan.

Therefore, the size of your space, finances and amount of time you have to take care of it can play a key role in the pet you pick. But most importantly, you need a huge space for your new cage since you wouldn’t want to let your reptile walk freely in the basement.

3)   Construct the Cage

If you own a huge pet, you should start by picking a simple design and building one. Very few options exist for huge captive reptiles. So you can either repurpose a closet or build its structure from scratch using glass, plastic, wood, or screen.

The type of material you pick will also be determined by the pet you plan to adopt. Some creatures like Jackson’s chameleons require abundant airflow, so they won’t thrive in a solid-walled cage. If you’re planning on getting a huge reptile pet, your terrarium should have a frame and a hinged or sliding door. Now with your structure ready, you have to solve the following concerns:

Light

Most basements don’t have windows, while others have very small windows that can’t let too much light into the room. You may have to leave the light on all day long and at night, which can be quite costly, so you may have to find an efficient solution like solar power to keep the lights on and your electricity bill low.

Heat

Since the basement is below ground level, it can get really cold down there, especially in winter. So you will have to protect your pet from the cold—even in summer when it gets cold. Luckily, a heater can help you keep your pet warm during the cold months.

You can install an AC with a reliable thermostat to help you control the basement’s temperature. However, you should note that if you leave the cage heater on for an extended period, the cage may dry out.

Humidity

If your basement gets damp at times, you may need to find a solution for it, which means using warm air to keep the room dry.

4)   Build a Terrarium’s Habitat

As aforementioned, each reptile has its own habitat; therefore, your main goal should be to make it as natural as possible as a pet owner.

Once the cage is ready, you will need to get the best substrate for your reptile. This is a way to replicate the natural habitat of your pet, and it won’t be good for your pet to crawl or walk on the floor. To add, you need something to help absorb the moisture while improving the room’s aeration. The best substrate for amphibians and reptiles should be a natural dirt substrate.

If your pet loves sunning, you will have to add some stones when it can bask while trying to warm its body. If you get a chameleon or a reptile that loves climbing, you may need to add some plants in the cage. Don’t forget to create some hiding spots for your pet as reptiles do get scared when they meet something new.

Photo by Hexandcube on Unsplash

5)   Close All Escape Routes

Reptiles are very cunning creatures that love exploring their environment, so they will use it if they find an escape route. And considering how costly these pets are, it can be really disappointing for your pet to escape. Therefore, you should look for all the possible escape routes and close them.

Final Verdict

So, whether you’re a first-time herpetoculturist or an experienced keeper looking for a new project, transforming your basement into a reptile terrarium is definitely the way to go. Just be sure to do your research and plan ahead so that everything goes as smoothly as possible. With ample planning, you can enjoy years of watching your scaly friends thrive in their new home. Good luck with your project!

Prefab homes have come a long way since the old trailer park dwellings of yesteryears. Modular homes are the way of the future it seems. No longer are these small homes just an economic option.

Modular housing is a creative option being opted for by even top-tier individuals who are seeking a more minimal life with less stress. However, there are some luxuries you give up when making the switch to this new way of living.

Let’s take a look at what doors open up when you downsize your life, the pros and cons of modular homes and what challenges you may face when minimally dwelling, and what you can do to overcome some of these factors!

What is Modular?

Today, modular homes come in shapes and sizes that are as limitless as the imagination. However, they need to conform to a set standard to be considered modular.

Though specifics of the codes vary state to state, the concept of the modular or prefab home is that it is designed and built off-site and brought onto the property and easily put together.

This process is often done with CAD software and, with today’s tech, often utilizes innovating building styles like 3D printing. Modular homes are often small, as they must be shipped and assembled easily.

Unlike tiny homes that must reside on a mobile trailer platform, modular homes are fixed to the property they reside on. This also makes them great for resale! in fact, you can finance a modular home on a property through a bank as you would a home.

Pros and Cons of Modular Homes

Modular homes are often quite smaller than a traditional home. While this may have some drawbacks we will discuss later on, the benefits are astounding.

You see, because of the nature in which these homes are built, new and innovative ideas have been discovered to better design the living spaces.

Storage is often found hidden within all aspects of the home. Combination items that transform are key to modern modular constructions. Teamwork makes the dream work, as creative minds work alongside structural engineers to craft beautiful living apparatuses for every type of person.

Today, traditional, Victorian, modern, and artistic styles have been chosen or combined to make the most out of these relatively small spaces. Recycling old materials and incorporating them, (up to code of course) into these homes have changed the way we view a home.

The truly beautiful thing about these homes is that nearly anyone can make their own, or have a tailored, designer living space. How do you ask? Well the concept itself is a platform for savings.

Modular for the Budget

These homes are crafted using some of the highest quality and most desired materials. That’s something most people only dream of doing with a house. But it’s much more attainable than you might think.

Because prefab homes are relatively small, your budget opens up to possibilities never thought imaginable with the construction of a full-size stick-built home.

Modern steel beams, live edge shelving, and uniquely distinct lighting structures can make up the main part of the house. When you live small, you can dream big!

Another savings benefit one receives with these homes is found in their bill. Heating and cooling a smaller home is much more energy-efficient, and it’s easier to afford great insulation.

This also opens the door to easily powering your life with solar, and can make choosing green and eco-friendly tips and options easy!

Surround Yourself With What Matters

A small home needs to be a space you actually enjoy being in. It must align with your style and personality. But what makes modular such a great experience is what is left out.

You find yourself living amongst only your necessities. Cleanliness takes on a whole new meaning, and you crave outings much more.

Conveniently, these homes can be placed in many locations others cannot. Bring on new environments and retreat into the natural nooks of the world. You’ll be glad you did, as you will find peace and happiness being outdoors often more than indoors!

Space Challenge

Modular homes offer a lot, but there are challenges. Space is not what these homes have a lot of. You may find yourself needing to downsize far more than you would like.

There are ways around this challenge though! Storage sheds and carports are easy installments that let you keep your goods safe and accessible from your property.

But don’t be fooled, there are modular homes that do take the size of a full-size stick built. These can incorporate garages and multiple stories. Though shipping these kinds of homes can be quite expensive.

Location is Everything

When you’ve lived your fair share of city life and the mountains call, moving your modular home is quite simple.

Once you find and purchase a new plot of land, your task is to hire a truck and trailer that can fit your home. Eiter as a solid unit, or in pieces. Many modular homes are meant to be easily disassembled and reassembled.

This can be a couple of days of work, but it’s all quite simple. Once you remove and store all the furniture and accessories, fasten down any breakable items. You can then hire someone to come disconnect utilities from your home.

What’s left is the disassembly and loading of your prefab onto the truck. Repeat these steps on your new site and your life has changed. Sell your city property and profit!

Not for Everyone, Possible for Anyone

More and more folks are finding hope in living the life of their dreams in a modular home.

No matter what the pros and cons of modular homes are, one thing has been proven certain: Modulars offers a beautiful and refreshing place to raise a family, enjoy lands you never dreamed of living in, and can be a great start in the housing market.

There are many beautiful properties out there. Check out our list of homes available in a location near you, and compare the idea of a modular home against the home of your dreams, your decision may surprise you!