real estate Archives - Page 11 of 18

5 STEPS REMODELING A HOUSE FOR AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN

The open concept floor plan has been around for many years, since the 90s. To this day it remains popular a popular house improvement among many homeowners, thanks to its flexibility and aesthetic appeal. One of the things that draw people to the open floor plan is the fact that many people feel rather confined by hard divisions in houses. In this article, we will outline a few considerations to make if you want to remodel your house for an open floor plan.

What are the pros and cons of an open concept floor plan?

Despite their appeal, open concept floor plans represent a great departure from regular structured layouts. They aren’t for everyone. Before you commit to remodeling for this floor plan, consider weighing the pros against the cons.

Pros of open floor plans

It’s flexible – With an open floor plan, there are no limits to how you can arrange your home. With some creativity and planning, you can have a great setup that allows you to cook, watch TV, and supervise the kids at the same time. You can also switch up the layout as often as you like when you feel bored with the current layout.
It offers value – The value of your home, both perceived and actual, will go up when you switch to an open floor plan. Homes with such layouts tend to attract more interested buyers than others. In some areas, they even often sell for more than the asking price.
It allows for the smooth flow of traffic – An open floor plan optimizes circulation throughout your house. This optimization will then improve workflow in areas where lots of people gather and work, like the kitchen and living room.
It optimizes for natural light – Walls can steal a lot of natural light from the house. When you take them down, the natural light flows between different rooms more easily and the atmosphere greatly improves.
Family bonds better – When you take down the physical ones, the metaphorical borders between family members fall with them. Open floor plans encourage household members to be closer to and spend time with each other, which improves their bonds.

Cons

It costs a lot – Converting a home to an open concept floor plan costs a lot of money, thanks to the taking down of walls and all the necessary structural adjustments. You will most likely have to work with engineers and architects besides a contractor.
Energy costs will go up – Big open spaces can easily rack up HVAC costs since they cost more to cool and heat. These costs will be felt most strongly during extreme seasons, like summer and winter. If you’re going to commit to an open floor plan, expect to pay more in utilities.
The atmosphere gets busier – When you take the walls down, you make it easier for people to engage in more activities in the space. When these activities overlap the atmosphere can feel busy and the house can easily get disorganized, even cluttered. For household members that like their private space, this can be a problem.
The house gets noisier – This ties in to a busy atmosphere. With more activity noise levels will rise, which can be intolerable.
It’s harder to demarcate sections – While the whole point of an open floor plan is to do away with hard divisions, you might still want clearly identifiable sections in your house. It’s harder to do that with an open floor plan, especially if your space is large. It’s also harder to designate storage space.

Is an open floor plan right for your house?

Despite their allure, open floor plans are not for every home. Many may need steel beams installed to strengthen their structure so that removing the walls doesn’t damage their integrity. To determine if an open floor plan is suitable for your house, you will need to work with a skilled and experienced structural engineer. They will assess your home’s structure to determine if your desired layout is possible. If it isn’t, a talented engineer should be able to help you figure out a way around the issue. You may expand corridors or even extend the home and have the desired layout in the extension.

5 step to converting to an open floor plan

Once you are clear about your desired floor plan, you can start working on the project. Such renovations need you to work with a team of general contractors, architects, and structural engineers. Below are the steps to take:

1. Create layouts and have your home assessed

You first need to get a structural engineer to check out your home and assess the existing structure and layout. They will then use their assessment to create the right kind of building plan for your vision. Once that is done, get a designer or architect to help with the creation of plans and layouts. They will supplement the engineer’s work by adding the latest design trends to your home.

2. Find a general contractor and get building plans

With your plans ready, seek out a skilled and experienced general contractor to do the actual work on your project. The contractor will also help you with getting building permits for the renovations, especially the ones for making structural changes to the house. They will also help with inspections to ensure all works comply with building codes.

3. The demolition phase

Once you have all the permits, the demolition phase comes next. The general contractor should take care of this, ensuring load-bearing walls were taken down and structural beams put up to maintain your home’s structural integrity.

4. The renovation phase

Once the structural reinforcement has been carried out, the renovation can now happen. This is where flooring, drywall, paint, cabinets, and other elements are installed.

5. Finishing touches

When the hard work has been done, you can select finishings like doorknobs, fixtures, and other little details to make your vision a reality.

Conclusion

Renovating to an open floor plan can feel daunting, and will certainly take work, but it isn’t impossible. With the right contractor and a razor-sharp vision, it should be possible to make it work.

Author Bio

Leon Collier is a blogger and academic writer from the UK who has vast experience working with SuperiorPapers, an admission essay writing service. He loves to take on every challenge thrown at him and has the ability to deliver outstanding work regularly. When he’s not busy writing, he loves reading books and playing tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Finding apartment blocks for sale

So, you’re in the market for a whole apartment block? That’s exciting news. Finding apartment blocks for sale is just one click away. If you’re serious about buying some apartment units here is a good place to start to get a first idea of what your money can buy.

Later it might be a good idea to get a qualified real estate agent who knows the local real estate market and can guide you through the buying process.

They can advise you on the real estate market in your area and financing if needed. That can help you immensely to make your dream of becoming a landlord a reality. With a real professional by your side finding a suitable building will be piece of cake.
Did you know that a typical real estate sale involves more than 20 steps after the initial contract is accepted? Real estate agents walk you through each step to move toward a quick-and-easy close. Together, you’ll create a marketing plan, set the right price and get your new real estate business in no time.

Make your homework

Of course, it is always good to do some research yourself. For example, it can be interesting to look at some property records before buying as well as rental prices. Like that it will be easy for you to find out what yield you can expect from your investment.

If you want to have the least work possible with your asset it would be wise to consider hiring a management company who will deal with the tenants on your behalf.

Newly built apartment blocks for a secure future

Nobody can resist the charm of a new build home.

The plaster does not crumble from the walls, power lines and pipes do not need renovation and the architectural style usually has a trendy and modern design. State-of-the-art materials and the latest standard characterize such a new building.

Yes, buying a brand-new home can be very appealing especially if you are planning to rent it out. You will easily find tenants and beside the usual maintenance jobs there will not be much repairs to do.

A new home has advantages in many ways

A new phase of life begins with a new house and many people fulfil a lifelong dream. The likelihood of taking a risk with such a newly built house is almost zero. Freshly build houses have the great advantages:

New buildings often consist of high-quality materials.
New build houses mostly have the latest house technology integrated.
They are characterized by a low energy requirement.
A modern architectural style is characteristic of newly built houses.

The construction quality has improved immensely in recent years, so that today there are hardly any nasty surprises waiting for the owner after years of occupancy. Therefore, after buying new apartment blocks, you can sit back and relax.

The old charm apartment block

If you lost your heart to one of those old charm apartment blocks you are not alone. Although due to age and new energy efficiency laws they usually need some works before they can be properly rented but it is totally worth it. In the end you will have something truly special and unique.

Apartment blocks for sale

You are looking for apartment blocks for sale? Have a look at

Blocks of Apartments for Sale & Rent in Africa

Blocks of Apartments for Sale & Rent in Asia

Blocks of Apartments for Sale & Rent in Europe

Blocks of Apartments for Sale & Rent in North America

Bio

Our Property under 20k team are the founders of www.propertyunder20k.com and www.listproperty4free.com with the goal to search the cheapest real estate in the world and make it easy for others to find. The team is made up of landlords, real estate investors, architects and builders from several different countries. We just love to have a good strong cup of coffee while we write our experiences in this blog.

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How to sell commercial real estate

Whether you are a broker or a property owner, to sell commercial real estate is not what it used to be as there can be many surprises. Investors view the commercial property as an investment machine aimed to generate income. If the numbers add up, there is a possibility for a bidding war. And if not, the sale may not be that easy.

Getting yourself prepared can make a great difference between being stuck or creating a favourable property sale. However, the best way to get started is to make the property as pleasantly engaging as possible to give prospects a great first impression. An abandoned commercial property for sale can discourage buyers, thereby affecting the sale price.

How do you want to sell commercial property?

Sell commercial real estate without a broker

While it is unusual for owners to sell commercial real estate by themselves, we cannot rule out the fact that it is possible. Some may have rich experience in commercial properties and are sure to complete the deal without an agent. Others may simply want to maximize their proceeds by circumventing the broker commission.

Whichever way, note that a lot is at stake with commercial real estate sales. Also, the process is complex to finalize. If you have decided to sell by yourself, you will be the one in charge of the entire transaction process, from listing your property to finding potential buyers, communicating with them, finalizing the paper works, inspection, hiring a lawyer etc.

Commercial property for sale using a broker

The activities involved in selling your commercial property by yourself can be hectic and time-consuming. Thus, finding a reliable commercial real estate company who has your best interest at heart can save you a lot of hassle.

They will take over all the processes and help you sell your commercial property quicker. Beyond these, they will help to determine the proper worth of your property for the current market conditions. This is saving you tons of research time.

Rather than relying only on the conventional marketing approaches, professional brokers have an established network of investors and brokers who may be interested in buying your property. They will present your property directly to these prospects, which significantly increase your chances of getting a competent buyer promptly.

You get many benefits when you employ a broker to help with your property sale. But just like with other industry, it is important you do research before deciding on a brokerage agency. Like this you get the best deal for your property.

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Home Staging Like a Pro to Attract Millennial Buyers

According to Realtor.com’s 2020 Housing Market Predictions, millennials or those born between 1981 and 1996 are going to buy the most houses during the year 2020. So, it’s a good idea to target your listings to millennial homebuyers. However, you may not be able to sell homes to millennials with the same old staging ideas. You need to understand what they expect from their future homes and stage your properties accordingly.

To make it easier, I am sharing some home staging ideas as per the millennial home buying trends that will help you stage the perfect home for your potential millennial homebuyers.

A Practical Home Office

Millennials usually prefer self-employment. And, more often than not, they like a small, secluded office in their homes. Moreover, remote working is trending. So, even if you’re listing a compact home, try and incorporate a subtle office design when staging the property. Add a desk, a few books, some stationery items, an LED table lamp, a comfy chair, a rug, a plant, and top it off with some wall artwork. Minimal and attractive décor like this will highly attract millennial homebuyers.

Furnishing that Wows Millennials

Millennials prefer a tasteful mix of traditional and modern when it comes to furniture. They like furniture that makes a statement without being over the top. So, go for minimal, contemporary furniture pieces. Add a pop of color with throw cushions and curtains. You must steer clear of wall-to-wall rugs. Natural wooden flooring will accentuate the simplicity of the space and also make it look more spacious.

Also, any buyer would be more interested in the selling point of your listing. So, make sure the fireplace, moldings, kitchen storage, etc. are attractive.

Relaxing Outdoor Spaces

In a survey by Better Homes and Gardens, 77% of millennials who participated said that they want their outdoor space to feel like a retreat where they can relax. So, it’s a good idea to give the patio, porch, and balcony spaces equal attention as you would give to the interiors. You can add wicker chairs with some throw rugs and cushions or go for rocking chairs to give the space a proper outdoorsy flair. Don’t leave out the greens; the greener, the better. To complete the décor, add a coffee table and place a couple of magazines.

Smart Home

Millennials are used to getting anything with a tap on their phone. Imagine offering them a home that understands their habits. They would love a home with modern capabilities, such as voice assistant, keyless entry system, convenient USB outlets, IoT-operated appliances, etc. You can always add these costs to the pricing.

Game Room/Gathering Space

Every millennial buyer would love either a game room or a lively living space. You can get creative and mix these two together to show the potential of the home to adapt to the whims and fancies of the buyer.

One most important trend that you need to look out for, if you’re trying to sell homes to millennials, is the use of technology in real estate. Virtual home staging or 3D home design has gained massive popularity because of its advantages over traditional staging. But before we go into that, here’s a small definition of virtual staging to brief you:

Virtual staging can be referred to as online interior design, in which your property is staged virtually in pictures without the staging furniture. Most buyers, especially millennials, prefer viewing the property online so that they can shortlist without going to showings unnecessarily. This makes virtual staging a practical solution. Moreover, it has some added benefits:

Virtual home staging costs way less than traditional staging. You do not need to buy or rent furniture, which will tremendously save costs.
You will save on the cost of manpower for furniture installation and the cost of photoshoots.
Cost of minor fixes in photographs such as fixing broken doorknobs, window glasses, flaky paint, etc. will be covered.
With online interior design, you can customize home staging as per different listings and people.
Vacant staged homes are the hotspots for burglars. With virtual staging, you will eliminate this risk.

If you’re looking for the best in class virtual staging services, Styldod is your ultimate destination. Get in touch with us to find out how you can leverage our solutions and sell your property quicker with great return on investment.

Author Bio:

Rahul Agarwal is the Co-founder & Chief Business Officer at Styldod, where he has taught a computer to do interior design! Styldod provides the most hassle-free & inexpensive virtual staging solutions for real estate agents so they can sell their listings faster, and for higher prices. Rahul was also a co-founder of Mebelkart (which is acquired by Ask Me). He’s your everyday IIT Kanpur nerd who pushes the boundaries with his innovative entrepreneurial stints and is also a sound startup investor & advisor. Rahul attributes his success as a professional to the discipline he has learned from his district hockey days, being a swimmer and a gym enthusiast.

Buying vs Renting – should you buy a house?

Buying or to renting a place to call home is one of the questions on many people’s minds at a certain point in life. If you are settled in a place with a good job and can foresee yourself staying there in the nearest future, would it be more advantageous to continue to rent or take out a mortgage?

The answer generally depends on individual’s choice, as you may have different values to the usually home buying route. Of course, there are benefits to renting a house, but the advantages of buying supersede that of renting. It gives you a sense of security and satisfaction in having a place to call your own – permanently. With that said, outlined below are a few key benefits you enjoy when you buy your own home as against renting.

1 – Equity building

One major benefit of buying a home is in building equity. As you make your mortgage payments, the amount of money you owe on a home reduces. And the more your home value increases, the more money you save. You can even consider mortgage as a forced savings plan. When you pay rent, you are technically making someone better off by paying their mortgage and building up their equity. Of course, renting can initially be cheaper than buying a home, but many see it as throwing money down the drain. If I may ask, why do you want to be building savings for someone else when you can contribute towards your own investment?

2 – Modify to taste

It is always fun to create a living style that is all your own. As a homeowner, you can always make changes to your home to suit your taste and preference. You can renovate, customize, and paint the walls any color you wish etc. In fact, there won’t be anyone to tell you what you can and cannot do. But if you rent a house, you are always at the mercy of whatever the homeowner will allow you to do.

3 – Unparalleled stability

The stability you experience when you have your own home is unparalleled. You understand that if you lock in an interest rate your payments remain constant. If you rent, you have no control over the increments in rental payments. The property owner may evict you or even sell the home from under you at will.

Final thought about buying vs renting

Renting a home can be a great place to start. But when you buy your own home you have a sense of permanence, and it also contributes positively to your financial future as you are constantly building equity. Additionally, buying a home provides security for your family knowing that they have a place to call their own.

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5 tips – selling overseas real estate on an international market

Selling overseas real estate to an international pool of clients is a completely different game all together. You know better than anyone that this means to get your property in front of your ideal client in their home country.

Selling overseas real estate – How can you possibly do that?

It can be a mine-field when trying to create an effective strategy when you are marketing your property online. What website will the possible buyer look at? Is there a website where you can offer your real estate to the whole world? Of course, almost every website can be visited from all over the world but would it be popular enough in the country of your ideal client?

1 Get the right real estate portal that is specialized to promote to international clients

In fact, the services of many huge website portals only available to the country they are located in. Realtors with international listings usually are not allowed to list them. Even if one allows it, their focus is not on helping real estate agents to promote to an international audience.

Check out one of our property portals that not only performs extremely well but also will put your ad on a world map, making it easy for international buyers to find it.

Register with them and benefit from a range of services that will help you buy, find, sell or rent international real estate.

If you are looking for overseas property yourself but you are on a limited budget, check out this website https://www.propertyunder100k.com/ and find lots of bargains below 100k.

2 Use a sales platform that is internationally known

There exist platforms that facilitates the sale of real estate between third-party buyers and sellers. This is a very good way to get good leads. One example would be eBay. Maybe it is not available in your country or the real estate section is restricted but once you have an account in eBay you easily can use it on eBay sites of other countries.

Another good website were you can list your property is https://www.listproperty4free.com/

3 Use Social Media to promote your overseas real estate

Probably you heard this many times – no matter what you want to promote – use social media. Used in the right way you are no beating in the air but actually getting some real results. Actually, it might be even easier to find the right audience for your property. In Facebook for example, you can enter your real estate in the market place and promote it in related groups. And the best of all, it’s all free. Just takes a bit of your time.

4 Make the best impression

I can’t stress this enough. When selling overseas real estate, the first impression – which will probably be when someone looks at your ad – is the most important. By this someone might decide to make contact and come for a viewing. How can you do this?

Present your property in the best light, tidy up, declutter do what it takes to give a great feel to the place and very important – do professional photos.

That’s making a good impression from a visual point of view. Also, put some work in an appealing text to describe your real estate. Mention the best features of it and it’s potential. Especially in an overseas real estate it makes sense to tell a bit about the lifestyle too.

5 Be flexible with payments if you can

Sometimes it is already hard enough to get a mortgage for a first home. If you like to get something abroad it gets even more difficult. Therefore, you will have more possible buyers if you can be flexible with your terms of payment.

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Home Improvements You’ll Never Regret

When it comes to home improvements, there are some that surely will last a lifetime.

Home Improvements

Sitting in an apartment that was built when I was born, I wish the builders already had thought about some extras instead of going for the minimum standard. But on the other hand, I probably would not appreciate some changes as much. Although it’s impossible to predict the future there are a few enhancements that surely will give more comfort, sustainability and even increase the value of your home. So, no matter if you’re ‘dwelling or selling’, here are some areas that are a safe bet.

Windows

By replacing old windows with high-quality double-glazing windows, you are adding energy efficiency along with security to your home. Needless to say, it makes your house so much more comfortable, they look good and sometimes they are also easier to clean – depending on how your old windows looked like. This is definitely something you will love.

Heating

Did you know that upgrading a home’s boiler and heating system has the highest return of investment when it comes to increasing a property’s value? At the same time, it is even more cost-effective than other renovations and refurbishments.

Best is to combine the fitting of new heating equipment with other improvements, such as replacing old windows, sealing the entrance door and insulating the roof. In doing this, you can see your energy savings begin to show.

Electrical

Extreme temperatures can put an extra burden on your home’s electrical system. If yours is already older it would probably be a good idea to have it inspected and at the same time the electrician can advise you on electrical improvements you can do.

Getting the right lighting in your real estate is not only saving electricity but it also puts your home in the right light. With the right light fixtures you can cater for the right mood and set an ambience everybody loves.

No-Cost Home Energy Upgrades

Some countries help homeowners to make energy saving upgrades. Whether you rent or own, you could be eligible to receive free energy-efficient home improvements or get some financial help. It surely is worth to look this up in your country before you start your home improvements as this can really make a big difference in your budget.

Are you still looking for your own DIY project? Have a look at homes for sale that need renovations on https://www.all-real-estate.com/derelict-properties-for-sale

Or you just finished your home improvemets? Let us know how did it go in the coment below. If you are thinking to sell it, you can list it with us for free.

If your home improvemets are very extensive you might wonder where you can stay in the meantime. I know some who put a mobile home in the backyard allowing them to live hassle free until works were finished. In that case you might like to look up some mobile homes for sale.

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Why most Lenders Use Gross Income instead of Net Income

It might not seem logical that most lenders use your gross monthly income when deciding affordability instead of your net income, the money you actually take home. In the end, it’s the take-home pay you will use for your monthly expenses – this will include your mortgage.

Some Reasons why Lenders use the Gross Income

Foremost, it’s widespread. Most mortgage companies use the gross monthly income to analyse the debt-to-income ratio – and consequently affordability. Like this, everyone is using the same procedure and it is much easier to compare the loan that was offered. Of course, there are exceptions, a few loans do take monthly expenses into consideration.

Another reason is this, it’s a number that most clients know. Calculating the net income with taxes and other deductions is complex and can vary every month. Gross income is steady and easier to calculate monthly. It would be too work intensive for mortgage companies to adjust their loan programs for each person’s exact overheads.

Also, another factor that has to be considered is that when clients are asked to proof their income for their loan application, the last two years of your tax declaration is needed along with recent income statements. The gross amounts on those should align with the documents from your revenue office. As those documents will also show the gross income it is just a lot easier to use those numbers.

Thinking to buy real estate?

If you’re thinking about buying some real estate and want to know what you might qualify for, there are many websites out there where you can get a first idea. Just keep in mind to enter your gross monthly income. By visiting a few you will be able to find out what will be a good option for you.

If you are looking for a real estate bargain, check out our property listings at https://www.all-real-estate.com/property-list/for-sale

You may even be able to find a home that is so cheap that you not even need a mortgage. Does this sound intresting? Then visit our partner site https://www.propertyunder20k.com/ where you can find real estate for sale for less than 20,000 EUR.

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From fixer upper to cosy home – 10 practical tips

Fixer upper to cosy home, or better, how to purchase an old, inexpensive, run-down house and turn it into a gorgeous property everybody loves.

It doesn’t matter if you are planning to purchase a fixer upper to turn it into a home for yourself or if you are planning to make some money in the resale afterwards – you will definitely benefit from the following tips to get you through this challenging mission.

Fixer Upper to Cosy Home

The idea is simple, you buy an old building in need of repairs for a great price and a few buckets of paint later it has become a dream home. There are so many tv shows out there where exactly that happens. Of course, it all looks so easy. In reality it is not as simple as it looks. To turn your renovation project into a success lets look at a few areas that need to be considered.

1 Buying the right house

It all starts with picking the right building to start with. The biggest or cheapest real estate is not necessarily the best choice. You have to consider several factors here, especially if you are thinking to sell it after you’re done with it. What are the prices in this location for a home in a good condition? How much will the renovation cost? Is there a lot of demand for houses in this location with this size? To answer these questions, you might need to make a bit of an investigation and talk to a few people. After making all your maths you will see beforehand if it is actually worth it to jump into this venture.

Getting the right project for YOU is the key here. A house that fits in your budget and skills. This is not only the first but the most important decision you need to do.

2 Getting professional help

Unless you are a professional yourself it is always worth it to have some expert by your side to help or to guide you. If you don’t want to get a contractor for the whole job to save some money, you might be able to use him just for some stuff that you find more difficult. This will take some pressure out of you and you can be sure it’ll be a job well done. While you leave those difficult parts to someone else you can concentrate more in the other things that need doing. One thing is for sure, there is always more to do!

A lot of renovation works are not that complicated. It is amazing how quickly one can learn the basics by watching some YouTube tutorials.

3 Planning and Research

With careful planning and some research, you can guide your project in the right direction. This is of course, if you like to make changes to the layout of the house. Best would be to consult with a realtor to see what the clients usually like or dislike. Find out what they have on their wish list and think about a wow-factor you can add to your home. This can make a huge difference in the end.

Just as an example. If your project is in a hot climate, homebuyers might really love to have a pool in their backyard. If you are able to add one for, let’s say 10,000, but in the end, it will make your real estate be worth 20,000 more because of that, it’s totally worth it.

4 Get your hands dirty

You can save a lot of cash if you are working on your own house. There are so many things that are easy enough to do, even if you are not a handy person.

If you belong to this rare specie that can’t even put a nail in the wall, still there are many things you can do. For example, there is always cleaning up to do and often workers can tell you how you can prepare some works for them. This will make their jobs easier and as a result save you some money.

5 Shop around

When it comes to using the right materials for your renovation project it is always worth to shop around for special offers or to find out if the DIY shop offers discounts if you buy a certain amount.

6 Don’t hide – be open about your plans

Keeping an open communication with the neighbours and passers-by is a great way to find a buyer or tenant. Don’t underestimate the power of the word of mouth.

A construction project usually triggers a lot of interest with the neighbours. They all like to know what’s happening and who is going to move there. They might just know the right person who wants to live in your house once its finished.

7 Decorate wisely

When it comes to choose the right colours and decoration it is always good to get a few opinions. Especial value those of people who are usually dealing a lot with home buyers and tenants. Often it is a good choice to keep it simple/neutral and just set a few highlights.

8 Set a budget

When it comes to your budget, be realistic. Doing your maths is one of the biggest challenges and nearly impossible to get it 100% right. Therefore, don’t plan to spend your last penny, always keep a buffer for unexpected costs.

9 Time

When it comes to time, I never met anyone who could stick to a certain time frame when doing his own renovations – except in tv shows. I believe usually time is estimated very optimistic. Therefore, don’t be disappointed if you can’t finish in a certain time frame. Depending on the scale of you project it is always good to give a few days or weeks extra in case something takes more time than expected.

10 Stay positive

Yes, sometimes a positive attitude can make all the difference. Keeping your spirits up can give you the motivation you need to get the job done: turning your fixer upper into a cosy home.

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How My House Project Helped Me to Escape the COVID Insanity

While social distancing is strongly encouraged—and you should stay home if you can—you have the time of your life. Or haven’t you?

Articles about how wonderful this time at home is, are popping up like mushrooms in autumn. You hear how you can find new passions and hobbies like painting, reading, baking, cooking etc. It all sounds really lovely, just like great holidays at home. How cool is that!

Expectation vs Reality

Reality sometimes paints a very different picture. While others become master chefs, you might not even have any appetite. Or while others are proud how they have parties in zoom with family and friends you may just wish to be left alone finding this peace you so desperately long for. Seeing all this happy people at home made me wonder, why is it so damn hard for me?

Although I would generally consider myself mentally healthy with a stable family life, I found the new situation very challenging. This was for many different reasons. And that’s it really. Everybody of us is different and copes with this new situation during COVID in a different way.

Keep Yourself Busy with the Right Thing for YOU

One factor for me was that I had not much to do at home where I could really find my inner peace. Being at home with all the family all the time can get on your nerves a little, especially if you weren’t used to it. This is even worst if you have no space to escape to. For example, if you have just one bedroom—of course shared with your spouse—that functions also as office for both of you.

What saved me was something I noticed even before the COVID. It has to do with retired men in my region who worked in construction. Strangely enough, after they retired, they keep seeking work for themselves. They even offer their services at a very low price. I could never understand why—after a life of hard labour—you still want to work more. But now I do.

I have a thing in common with those retired men. I love to work and I always enjoyed working with my hands. Working in construction gives me the feeling that I create something lasting. Also, physical activity is proven to be very beneficial for your mental health.

Physical Activity Is Good for Your Mental Health

When you hear “Physical Activity” the first thing that comes to mind is doing some sport—working out in a gym. But working in construction gives a fair amount of exercise too. Fact is, working hard makes me happy. This gave me an idea.

My House Project

Fortunately, I live in an area with a number of uninhabited run-down houses in the neighbourhood. Therefore, it was easy to find a cheap house for sale. I was able to buy one for me that I can renovate now in my own time, all by myself. Not only is this incredible rewarding but I can also go there whenever I need some alone time. It has given me a completely new feeling of freedom—something I lost during the COVID.

My house project also helped me to learn lots of new things. Before doing something fresh in the house I always watch some “How to” movies on YouTube. It’s incredible how creative people are. This is definitely contagious.

Not Only a Personal Achievement

My House Project hasn’t gone unnoticed in the neighbourhood. I got a lot of positive feedback from the neighbours. As much as my house project has benefited me personally in this critical time, I’m still looking forward to profit from it financially. Once finished I’m sure I can sell it for a good price.

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Images: (1) Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay (2) Image by 272447 from Pixabay