The fad of collapsible furnishings that can be torn-down and re-assembled easily creates a hidden danger in the home for they release VOC’s that are known to have harmful side effects to you and your family’s health. The solvents and glues used on such products eventually begin to leach out of the wood thus exposing you to cancerous compounds that should be avoided considering the small confined spaces in such homes. More
Compressed Wood Product Warning
March 21, 2009
Managing your small spaces
February 27, 2009
Unlike full blown houses, one of the disadvantages of condos it it’s relatively smaller space. One tip to mange the space is to create a focal point in every room. Focal points make a room feel spacey and homey at the same time, and doesn’t need you to extensively put designs in everything. Keep your space free from clutter, as a messy condo makes it easy for you and any visitor to feel stuffy and cramped. If you have any inner doors you can make do without, try replacing them with curtains for a more open feel. You should also pay particular attention to your windows, as keeping them clean will allow more light to flood into your living space. In cleaning, using smaller vacuums are recommended as they can maneuver around smaller spaces better.
Housing Cooperatives Vs. Condomunium Associations
January 30, 2009
Most people have heard of housing cooperatives and the utter difficulty of getting into them that even some of the most influential people have been denied access to them. Condominiums operate on the concept that you are buying real estate as if it were a single family home much like a real home on a lot except your property is stacked one on top of the other. This is good for you pay people and the developer who normally owns the property and maintains it. Housing Cooperatives on the other hand owns the building itself as a corporation, with the residents living within it’s walls as tenants/co-owners rather than sole owners. The cooperative owns the unit you live in and you get a lease/rental contract with the building maintained by the cooperative.
This type of housing arrangement is advantageous for it can have the same benefits as a condominium but without the hefty taxes for a cooperative is considered to be a small business entity that falls into a group of non-profit businesses. Tax discounts and other incentives are given by the government for such housing groups allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of communal living that is not only cheaper but more community than business oriented.
Greatest perk a condo can give you.
January 25, 2009
If the pipe of you water service provider’s cut, what do you do? If the electricity’s down, how can you accomplish things? This is one of the major reasons why people prefer living in a condo. First off, condominiums have water tanks. Depending on the size of the condominium but normally, they have large ones enough to accommodate the dwellers. If the water pipe becomes busted, the pre-collected water inside the tank will be the thing that’s going to be distributed. Since these tanks are big and not most of the time the units are occupied, water will suffice the units until the pipe has been fixed.
Second, condominiums have generators. Since generators run on oil, all you have to worry about is the amount of your next month’s association dues (you have to pay for the used oil).
Well at least, you didn’t suffer bit.
Photo taken from http://www.acoustiblok.com & http://www.cartoonstock.com
The Compact Community In A Box
December 15, 2008
Condo’s are a compact urban community that exist on multiple dimensions; up down, left and right you have neighbors and they can be both boon or bane depending on your relationship with them. First, make it a point to get to know the people within the community for they are the ones you’ll be living with for some years. Learn to give and take, a noisy party during a birthday may be excused so as you get the favor returned when you take the stand.
Participate as much as you can so you get the who’s, what’s and if’s of the community and so you get to know issues before they affect you. Fostering a sense of community even in box like a condominium is a worthwhile effort that would make you an integral part of a harmonious community.
House Plants
November 26, 2008
Image Source: img2.timeinc.net
A plant may be healthy when you bring it home from the nursery but it dies after a few weeks in your care. If it was given the correct amount of water, the culprit could be the lack of enough sunlight. With very little sunlight, the leaves often turn pale, wilt or the plant will not grow – which means no food energy is produced. On the other hand, if the plant has too much sunlight, its leaves will get burned. If too much sunlight comes through your window, move the plant back from the window or put a see through curtain on the window because plants lean toward the direction where light is coming from (photo kinesis). To have healthy houseplants, give their pots a quarter turn every time you water them.
The Most Common Condominium Conflicts
October 8, 2008
Image Source: clipartof.com
Where any group of people live side by side, there’s bound to be some friction. A condominium set up is no exception. The most common points of conflict in this particular community are: parking, parties, people,pets and politics.
Parking spaces are being used by members and their guests irresponsibly. People often have noisy parties late into the night disturbing other members. Here are some steps to resolve condominium conflicts:
- Let the parties concerned have an open dialogue. More often than not, airing complaints diffuses the tension especially when coupled with contrite promises to mend erring ways.
- If the first step course of action was not successful, then the next step is for the complainants to get in touch with the condominium board of directors and formalize their complaint(put it in writing).
- Get an intermediary or “referee”. This option could be in the condominium’s bylaws. A condominium lawyer or a professional mediator could be present to hash out the problem and come up with an agreement mutually agreeable to all the parties concerned.
- If mediation has not been successful in resolving the issue, then arbitration procedures may me started. The parties concerned select a single arbitrator, if they don’t agree, they each select their own and then select a third one to act as chairman. The arbitrator is a professional one. He/she now, can accept evidence under oath. The arbitrator’s decision is then entered into court.
- If everything else fails, then the complainants can now pursue the matter in court and wait for its decision.
In conflict resolution, it’s up to the concerned parties to seek legal opinion on how to resolve issues, via arbitration? or the litigation route. However litigation could be uncertain, lengthy and expensive.
Choosing Your Condo
September 29, 2008
Nowadays, because of the increasing population and the decreasing available land, homes are getting smaller and the trend is to go up. Condos are becoming more popular and the home of choice for young professionals. If you’re planning to invest in one, there are some factors you might want to consider:
location – as with any real estate investment, location is key. A good location will mean a high resell value and a good return on your investment. Also, consider what you’re needs are. If you want to be close to work, with shops that are readily accessible, then a city condo is for you. But if you want a location with less noise, traffic, pollution and are planning to raise a family, then a condo nearer a suburb and schools may be what you’re looking for.
Monthly dues – monthly dues can vary according to the amenities and services a condominium has. Calculate how much you can afford – remember, these dues will be in addition to your mortgage and can’t be taken off, even if you’re not using the condo’s amenities.
Co-op or Condo?
August 13, 2008
Image Source: www.pmi.org
Condominiums: Owner has a deed for unit, has a separate mortgage, pays property tax on the unit plus a percentage of the common areas and pays a monthly maintenance fee. A board of directors governs the complex with the owner having one vote. The condominium owner has a fee simple absolute unrestricted ownership and is individually responsible for property taxes and maintenance fees. Use the sales price of condominiums with similar size, appeal, age, neighborhood, incurring similar maintenance fees, etc. to determine market value.
Cooperatives: Most co-ops are incorporated and a board of directors governs the complex with the owner of each individual unit having one vote. The owner has no deed, only stock and a proprietary lease which has a term from 10-50 years renewable automatically or at the discretion of the shareholders. He/she cannot refinance his unit as a condo owner can. Mortgage, property tax and maintenance fees are paid pro rata by the owner according to the percentage of the overall size of the unit. Property tax appeals involve the corporation and the stockholders.
The pros and cons of condominum associations
August 11, 2008
Condominum buildings are usually managed by associations. Each unit owner is also a member of the association, and the members regularly elect board membres. The association lives to enforce the bylaws of the building organization, and handles maintenance, repair and other such homeowner isssues. The organization also deals with disputes among owners, and with developers.
This can be a great idea–to band together for a more organized living. After all, condo unit owners live on the same space and structure.
However, because condo associations are not usually made up of property-management professionals, the organization has the tendency to be weak and inefficient when it comes to management matters. And in many cases, condo unit owners have to seek approval of the condominum’s association before doing any renovations on one’s own unit. Or if, in case, you want to lease out or rent out your unit, you might have to seek the approval of the association or board, too.
So unlike owning a house and lot of your own, you would have to please the neighbors, too!