Housal News and Articles

Can’t Decide Between a Condominium and a Townhouse?

In real estate, the sky is truly the limit. There are so many choices to make when you’re starting to look for a new home. If you’re in the market to buy a new home, your choice of residence is probably already on your mind. Choosing a place is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. However, it can be challenging to decide between a condo and a townhouse, especially when each has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at some of these differences so that you can make an informed decision about which one to choose as your next home!

Ownership

When you buy a condo, you own your unit and share joint ownership of the building with the other owner-tenants. This joint ownership extends to the structure of the building and its common areas, such as the gym, pool, grounds, and airspace.

Ownership of a townhouse is more comparable to ownership of a detached single-family home. Here you own both the structure and the land on which it sits; the only difference is that it shares some walls with other townhouses.

Maintenance

Condos are the easier of the two types of housing to maintain because the HOA handles all maintenance and repairs outside the unit.

Townhouse owners must perform additional maintenance tasks, such as cleaning roof gutters or repainting the building’s facade, for which the HOA is not responsible.

Condos and townhouses require less maintenance than detached homes, making them ideal for first-time homebuyers (or busy people in general).

Amenities

Townhouse communities are typically smaller than condo communities, which can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on how much communication you prefer to have with your neighbors. If you want a strong community feels with places to socialize like swimming pools, gyms, or bbq areas, a condo is more likely to have these amenities. Townhouses may have more private amenities, such as a front lawn, back yard, or garage, that are not shared with other residents.

Homeowners Associations

You can’t discuss the condo vs. townhouse debate without bringing up homeowners’ associations (HOAs). This is one of the most significant differences between these properties and single-family homes.

When you buy a condo or townhouse, you must pay HOA fees every month. The HOA manages the building, grounds, and common interior areas in a condo. The HOA manages common areas in a townhouse community, including general grounds and, in some cases, roofs and exteriors of the structures.

Location

High-rise condos are commonly found in urban centers because they are denser housing, and their amenities can make city living more enjoyable. Because townhouses require more space, they may be located further from the city center, reducing walkability. Townhouses are clearly intended for car owners, and many have private garages or at least personal parking spaces.

When choosing the right home for sale, consider how much money you have saved, how much space you need, how long you plan to stay in your home, and how much you are comfortable spending on repairs, maintenance, and remodeling.

Visit open houses and look through online listings to see what’s available in your price range. It is a brilliant idea to work with a real estate agent to help you narrow down your choices and conduct extensive research to go into the home buying process, knowing exactly what you want.

How to Fix Chipped, Peeling Paint Before Repainting?

Published Date : February 16, 2022 Article Design Real Estate 101 Selling tips

Repainting is one of the simplest ways to give your home a facelift. It’s easy, affordable, and if done correctly, it can make your house look brand new again. A fresh coat can increase the value when selling your home. The only drawback? Repainting can be a little messy.

There are many ways to repair chipped or peeling paint, but only a few methods are actually going to work. It is most important to match it as closely as possible to the surrounding area when it comes to texture. You want the repairs to be subtle and blend in, not look like a prominent splotch on your wall. Below are the tips you can use to get your job done:

Clean the Surface

Surface cleaning is one of the essential parts of a DIY painting. If you do it carelessly, your repainting will not look good. There are two main reasons for surface cleaning before repainting. The fine dust on the surface can make your painting uneven and dirty. Another thing is that a dirty surface won’t let the paint get absorbed and get a good hold of the surface. You may use a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush to clean it gently to remove the dust. Then wipe the surface with a piece of clean cloth.

Sand

Sand before painting the walls, or you will end up with bumpy texture on the wall. It is essential to sand your walls before painting them. If you don’t, when you paint over splotchy areas, the paint won’t be very smooth, and this will result in a bumpy texture on your wall. Sanding the walls before applying a coat of paint will give a clean finish.

Making your house look fresh and new with the help of paint becomes essential when you are preparing your house for sale.

Apply a Primer

Painting your house is a fun project that you can do in just a few days. However, if you don’t prepare the surface properly, the paint won’t stick, and you may find yourself redoing your paint job later on. A primer is necessary for any painting project because it creates smooth surfaces for the paint to adhere to. You could waste your time and money repainting the entire house by skipping this step.

Apply Paint and Topcoat

We quickly get carried away while painting a room. You want to make sure you paint everything, and you want the walls to look good. However, you must understand that less is more. When you start slathering on the paint, you might notice that the walls look too light or seem to lack depth. If this happens, it may be time to add another primer layer or paint. You can also switch your brush for a foam roller if you aren’t putting enough paint on the wall.

When you’re painting your home, it’s essential to do it right the first time. Prep your walls and paint them before repainting if they are chipped or peeling.

This is a common problem for homeowners to paint their houses. Peeling paint makes the whole process of home improvement look shoddy and takes away from the overall look of your home. You can prevent this issue before repainting your house by taking the proper steps. If you’re looking to sell your house or buy a new home, do it with the best!

How to Make Your Home Happy This Valentine’s Day

Published Date : February 12, 2022 Article Design Housing tips Property Recommendations Real Estate 101

Every year, the big day rolls around, and for some, it’s a time to celebrate love. But for many others, Valentine’s Day is an excuse to spend more money than we can afford on gifts that aren’t as thoughtful or personal as we’d like them to be. So why not change this manner this year?

Chocolate hearts are great, but they don’t last long enough. You can make your home happy this Valentine’s Day by making a few simple changes to make it all warm and lovely.

This Valentine’s Day, you might be spending time with your family and friends. To provide everyone a lovely time, make sure to have the right atmosphere at home. These are some tips for you to prepare your home for this valentines:

Clean it up

Don’t wait till spring to feel obligated to clean your house. It is time to break out the rubber gloves and do a thorough cleaning of your home. Spend extra time cleaning areas you don’t regularly clean, such as your washing machine, microwave, and other equipment. It will take a few hours out of your day, but the end effect will be worth it. Maintaining your house regularly will also give you a good return when selling your home.

Redecorate the House

Style is constantly changing; there has been a shift in interior house décor trends in the previous few years. Consider repainting a room if you want to show your house some love.

Consider decorating your room with timeless home décor that will look nice no matter the season or style; don’t stay hooked on last year’s trend.

Not just a decoration, but if you are willing to go for a significant change, you can consider looking for a new house for sale or a condo for rent. What can be a better time to buy a new home than this?

Arrange Flowers

Flowers are associated with love and happiness for a reason, especially at this time of year when the outer world is cold and dismal. Why not pick up a bouquet or a dozen stems of your favorite flower the next time you’re out running errands? In addition to the beauty of the flowers, they will fill your home with a deliciously fresh aroma.

Decorate

Make your room extra cozy by hanging balloons with your favorite photo and decorating it with candles and fairytale lights. Use stuffed pillows that match your color scheme to make it look livelier. Blow up pictures of your loved one that you haven’t shown yet and hang them from the fairy lights that run across the room.

Home is where the heart is, so it’s essential to make your home as happy as possible this Valentine’s Day. To do that, you’ll want to use decorations and other items that are meaningful for you and your family. By taking a few simple steps and putting in a little effort, you can turn your home into a romantic getaway for you and your loved ones. If you’re interested in buying a condo or selling a house this Valentine’s Day, you can find amazing deals on the property at the well-reputed real estate platforms in the Philippines. Have a happy Valentine’s Day with your family and loved ones!