Tips Tp Decorate Your Living Room - Part 2

Hah! Kita sambung cerita cemana nak ceriakan our living room kay?

6. Arrange Furniture for Conversation

Living rooms are gathering spaces, so use furniture arrangement to promote conversation and interaction. Pull seating pieces away from the walls and arrange them to face each other. If you have a large living room, break it into two conversational groups for a more comfortable, intimate feeling.

7. Plan for Inviting Lighting

Lighting in the living room should be geared toward creating a relaxed, comfortable mood. Aim for layers of light, and position light sources so they form roughly a triangle to ensure good distribution of illumination.

8. Dress Your Windows

Although heavy window treatments are mostly a thing of the past, living room is the place for elaboration and luxury if you're so inclined. The combination of relaxed shades and floor-to-ceiling draperies can be understated yet elegant.

9. Design Your Media

If your living room is also your family room, watching TV may be the main use of the room. Whether you have the newest model or an older one, incorporate it into the room's design so that it's a feature but not dominant.

10. Accessorize With Art and Decorations

Living room walls come alive when you use them to display art or collections that you love. Group items for impact, and hang them low enough to relate to nearby furnishings or architecture. The most common mistake in hanging pictures is putting them too high so please avoid the mistake!

Tips To Decorate Your Living Room - Part 1

Since I have started talking about house, which the area I specify and mentioned most in my blog, memang tak renti lah I akan korek all related to it. Rasanya I belum pernah share pasal tips on how to decorate living room kan? Ok lah, let me share with you:-

1. Set the Mood with Color

The color you choose will definitely affect how guests feel in the space. Colors can energize or relax the space, depending on how intense they are and how warm or cool they are. For example, a serene scheme of soft blue and white makes your spacious living room feel calm, cool, and collected. In other words, gracious setting for elegant gatherings. A light tan carpet underfoot can also warms the space and keeps the cool tones in balance.

2. Finish the Walls and Ceilings 

Traditionally, the walls of the living room receive more elaborate or formal treatment than other rooms because the room is a public space. To make it a welcoming room that expresses your personality, choose wallcoverings or treatments that reflect your style. The walls in this room are wallpapered with a chic print. The effect brings warmth and texture to the walls and gives them a look of antiquity.

3. Add Character with Architectural Trimwork

Trimwork serves practical purposes, covering the seams where floors and ceilings meet walls and supporting the structure around openings. But these elements serve aesthetic purposes too. The style of trimwork helps give your home a distinctive look, whether classical, contemporary, old-world, or regional.

4. Choose Stylish, Comfortable Flooring
 
In keeping with the function of the living room as a public space, choose a floor covering that provides comfort underfoot and makes a design statement as well. You can always choose either a vibrant carpet or timber flooring for the said.

5. Create a Focal Point

In most living spaces, the television is the true center of attention. To keep them from competing, pair them up. A beautiful view or a stunning piece of art can also serve as a room's focal point.

To be continued...

Carpet 3 Juta Benang..

Before korang baca entry ni, jangan berburuk sangka mengata I ni memang suka menunjuk-nunjuk ya. I just nak share dengan korang pasal hal perihal rumah. Bukan rumahtangga ya tapi pasal rumah!!! Ni untuk kebaikan korang gak takut nanti in future, my tips ni berguna jugak kat korang bila sampai waktu nya nanti. Time tu baru lah terkenangkan jasa I ni.. Hah! Time tu gak lah baru nak kata.. "Oooooo.. Mama Aliaa ada mentioned pasal ni..?"

Ni anbal yang terhampar kat main hall rumah I.. Bukaan lebih kurang 14 x 10.. Hai! Macam rumah lah pulak.. Nampak tak ketebalannya? Hah! Hampir setengah ruas jari ni masuk tuh! And korang nampak tak the benang is so rapat. If you want to know, carpet ni ada macam-macam jenis. From serata negara pun ada, macam-macam corak pun ada.. The thread count also counts untuk carpet yang bermutu..

This carpet, my hubby beli tapi tak tau datangnya from where.. I mean,, made from which country tapi tak kisahlah beb, yang penting the benang sampai 3 juta tu, amat rapat sekali.. Carpet camni memang sesuai untuk yang beranak kecik sebab kalau air tumpah, dia tak meresap dalam.. korang boleh lap jer.. kalau air sirap pun, korang boleh cuci tanpa bersusah-payah menyental.. And dek kerana benagnya yang rapat, habuk pun tak mboh masuk dalam.. tak ada ruang you.. so semua kat surface je..

Btw, my hubby beli carpet ni kat Parkson Seremban, nun kat tingkat atas.. Harganya jaaaauuuuuhhhhhh lebih murah from mana-mana kedai.. And, I nak cakap kat you lah kan.. setelah berpengalaman berkali-kali gi Nilai tu, yang kononnya dapat harga murah and kualiti terangkat.. rentikanlah.. Tak payah lah korang berpanas and berpeluh ketiak gi jalan from satu kedai ke satu kedai.. Tokeh nya orang yang sama.. kalau berpuluh kedai carpet kat situ, taukehnya ada 3 orang jer yang own all the kedais.. (apa nyer bahasa dah...).. And the mamat kat sana.. auta pusing punya SA! Tok sah korang percaya.. Try lah test.. Depa pun bukan pandai maths pun! Pilih banyak macam2 with different sized, after the SA quote prices, korang pusing balik, mesti lain dah harga.. hahahahahhah....

Security Block for 3 Pin Plug

I tak tahu lah apa ke nama benda ni yang sebenarnya tapi my hubby beli kat IKEA to prevent small kids yang selalu dok main kat plug kat rumah.. Pantang nampak, mulalah cucuk the plug dengan jari depa yang halus tu.. Tak pun diambik mainannya and mula cucuk kat dalam lubang tu. Huish! bahaya tu nak ooiii... so to solve the problem, keluarlah kan lah duit tu buat sesuatu sebelum nangis tak berlagu kan.. bukannya mahai pung!!!

Hah! Ni lah rupanya.. bukannya guna pun plug bebanyak ni.. Nak guna baru bukak.. tu pun bila nak vacuum je kan baru guna kan?

The Minimalist

Those who are looking for minimalist for their house.. let me share with you the tips on this trend..

1.Less stressful. Clutter is a form of visual distraction, and everything in our vision pulls at our attention at least a little. The less clutter, the less visual stress we have. A minimalist home is calming.

The minimalist living room/ area.. emmmm.. agak menarik gak kan white color ni tapi my hubby tak suka white.. i pun agak kurang gak sebab takut cepat kotor!



This study area which is also in white color.. emmmm... nahe, nahe, nahe for my house.. wakahkah...

2. More appealing. Think about photos of homes that are cluttered, and photos of minimalist homes. The ones with almost nothing in them except some beautiful furniture, some nice artwork, and a very few pretty decorations, are the ones that appeal to most of us. You can make your home more appealing by making it more minimalist.

A nice bedroom.. nice bed, nice bed sheet, nice lamp, nice carpet.. and semuanya nice lah! Duit je yang tak nice..huhuuhu..



Brown, brown! My hubby's favourite color.. Dah lama tersampuk dengan color ni.. Ni dia punya penangan lah ni sampai tersampuk kat I.. but our dapur is not brown.. kang kok semua brown kang, macam dalam hutan je.. dikelilingi pokok-pokok!


3.Easier to clean. It’s hard to clean a whole bunch of objects, or to sweep or vacuum around a bunch of furniture. The more stuff you have, the more you have to keep clean, and the more complicated it is to clean around the stuff. Think about how easy it is to clean an empty room compared to one with 50 objects in it. That’s an extreme example, of course, as I wouldn’t recommend you have an empty room, but it’s just to illustrate the difference.


Gaya minimalist ni actually sangat sesuai to those yang ada anak kecik or yang malas kemas rumah! hahahhahh...

Psychology of Colors (in House) - Part 2

Ha..sambung, sambung.. ni cerita pasal post psychology of colors lagi.. I malas nak tulis berjela2 dalam satu entry nanti orang tengok pun tak dak syok ooo...

PINK

Pink is the most passive of all colours, promoting affability while discouraging aggression against oneself as well as others.

- Considered the most feminine colour, pink is associated with nurturing and compassion.

- Pink calms and soothes, and is thought to aid in digestion.

- Shocking pink has a much higher concentration of red, making it appear energetic, fun and trendy.

- Men prefer peachy pinks to mauvey ones.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE PINK ARE ...

Sensitive and kind, with a sweet disposition. They wouldn't mind a return to more innocent times and crave romance in your life.

 Ni my adopted room kat rumah lama.. nak tau pasal cerita bilik ni, cari lah kat entry lama I... so sweet kan?

BROWN

Brown is a warm, comforting colour associated with the earth, trees, hearth, and home.

- People tend to buy big-ticket products in neutral colours, especially in an uncertain economy. Browns both put consumers at ease and are considered timeless.

- Brown has a common feel in clothing, making one look approachable, reliable and sincere.

- Brown has a masculine, rugged quality that particularly appeals to men.

- Paper-bag brown is used in packaging to denote a natural product.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE BROWN ARE ...

Down-to-earth and a dependable, loyal friend. Your home and family are very important to you and comfort is the key issue in life.

This is our dining room. Actually my hubby memang suka brown. Dulu I tak suka tapi dah lama kahwin and his interest to this color makes me tersampuk also. And our new house di dorminasi oleh brown color also...

GRAY

Gray represents non-involvement, giving it a formal, dignified, and conservative authority.

- Unlike neutral brown, gray lacks warmth, which can make it appear remote, solemn, and a bit gloomy when used alone.

- Gray is associated with wisdom and maturity, adding to its moneyed appeal.

- Metallic grays offer the promise of scientific and technological advances, as well as a sense of speed and competence.

- Grays are cool and restful in home decor, but also discourage lively conversation and offer an unattractive backdrop for food.


PEOPLE WHO LIKE GRAY ARE ...

A watcher rather than a participator and are reserved in social situations. Generally noncommittal, they don't like to firm up plans until the very last moment.

We don't have gray in our houses, baik rumah lama or rumah sekarang.. nampak macam kusam jer.. next color please...

WHITE - I tak ada lah nak colorkan fon't ni to white... kang macam hantu, tak nampak perkataan "white" tu kang..

White symbolizes purity, innocence, goodness and truth.

- Even though white is neutral, it is considered a cool colour because of its association with snow and ice.

- White is often thought to suggest simplicity, sterility, and safety.

- White is popular on the packaging of dairy products, low-fat items, and refined ingredients such as sugar and flour.

Ni plan asal our wardrobe for master bedroom... Both of us tak suka white ni for our room sebab nampak macam tak kena lah.. unless for bilik anak gadis, boleh ler...

BLACK

Black, the most authoritative, intimidating colour, can appear agggressive when overused.

- Black is considered conservative, serious, and dignified and is used to show respect at solemn and formal occasions.

- Black gives a feeling of weight and depth. People think black boxes weigh more than white ones.

- Text is difficult to read against a black background.

This is our kitchen cabinet for the dry kitchen.. nampak elegance kan? Hitam itu menawan..

PEOPLE WHO LIKE BLACK AND BLACK ARE..

Of course they are black and white people..ha..ha.. (joke for the day)..

Psychology of Colors (in House) - Part 1

I think you must have heard about the power or the aura of colors in our life? Well, I do believe that these colors play apart in creating mood and expressing emotions. Rumah I sekarang pun ada byk2 color so did our old house (apartment). Tapi in different context la. Kat apartment, the colors are more on the wall paintings but the new house, the colors are mor thru furnitures and others. Lets take a look of the psychology of colors here.. Manalah tau boleh ambik idea I ni kalau nak menghias rumah or sebagai..

RED

True red is the most vibrant, compelling colour in the spectrum, expressing excitement, speed, power, joy, danger and passion.

- Red attracts immediate attention and brings objects or images to the foreground.

- Red makes people feel warm. Coffee will seem hotter in a red cup than in a blue one.

- Red is the first colour you lose sight of at twilight and is not well seen at a great distance.

- Barn, claret, and crimson reds are considered regal, exclusive, and strong and have great appeal for men.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE RED ARE ...

Full of excitement and like to live in the moment. Easily bored, they also enjoy having the power to get things done quickly. Red lovers are passionate about life.

Here is our RED kitchen cabinet for our wet kitchen..he.he.. to tell you, the owner of this kitchen merangkap "mam" besar dalam umah, who is "ME" he.he.. memang ada ciri-ciri disebutkan kat atas. To sum it up, I memang garang you...!

YELLOW

Yellow is psychologically the happiest colour in the spectrum, associated with warmth, optimism, and joy.

- Yellow visually pops out at you, making it the most noticeable colour. It's therefore a favourite for signs and product packages.

- Yellow stimulates clear thinking. Black type on a yellow ground is the most legible colour combination and aids in memory retention.

- Yellow adds vitality to other colours, making hot hus appear even more brilliant and bringing cool colours to life.

- Overexposure to bright yellow can be unsettling. Paler hues are better for socializing, whereas gold tones signify wealth.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE YELLOW ARE ...

Generally happy, playful, and optimistic. If something isn't working in their life, they will quickly seek to change it. Spontaneous, they have boundless curiosity.

This is the 2nd room of our old house. Bilik ni my was my hubby's adopted room. Asalnya nak dicolor warna ala-ala matahari gitew tapi dah tersalah pilih color, jadi terang lah plak! Pas tu jadi bilik my maid.

P/S: I tak rasa my hubby ada characters kat atas..he.he.. what ever..

ORANGE

Orange is stimulating, energizing colour that appears friendly, outgoing, cheerful and adventurous.

- Bright orange has a very high visibility, making it ideal for warning signals or grabbing attention, even when used in small amounts.

- Easier on the eye, autumnal and spicy oranges are warm, exotic, and appetizing, while peach tones are most flattering to the skin.

- People who wear orange are thought to be creative, enthusiastic, and fun to be with, but possibly also a bit irresponsible.

- Because of its playful, active qualities, orange is a favourite of children, teens, and athletes.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE ORANGE ARE ...

Gregarious, dynamic and fun to be with. Flamboyant by nature, they don't mind sticking out in a crowd. They also have a great appetite for life and food.

So far, we all tak pernah lagi ada orange for our houses. Mungkin the color is too bright or memang tak pernah terfikir pun of this color. Tak menarik kot.. tapi this kitchen nampak cantik plak kan? What say you?

GREEN

Pale green is physically the most relaxing and calming colour in the spectrum. As the easiest colour on the eye, it can improve vision.

- Vibrant greens remind people of the spring, nature, life, and youthful energy.

- Darker greens are associated with stability and growth, suggesting high economis status and success.

- Green is the worldwide symbol for safety. Green also means go.

- People who wear green are thought to be kind, dependable, and generous.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE GREEN ARE ...

Feel safe and make the world a better place for others. They are generous with time and goodwill, but also can be stubborn about issues that are important to them.

Emm.. cozy nyer dinig room dia kan. Tapi ni dah concept English, tak sesuai plak utk rumah akak you... Kat Malaysia ni pun susah mau jumpa dining set hijau cenggitu so mak tak kuasa noks utk layan green color ni. Kalau bedroom, kira ok gak..

BLUE

 Blue is the best liked of all colours and is a particular favourite of men.

- Practically all our associations with blue are positive, making it an uplifting and peaceful colour.

- Navy blue comands respect, representing loyalty, trustworthiness, fidelity, and integrity.

- Blue can make a space appear larger, and time seems to pass more slowly in its presence.

- Deep blue is associated with opulence in many cultures, and when you are the best, you get a "blue ribbon".

PEOPLE WHO LIKE BLUE ARE ...

Like a sense of calm and order in their life. Trustworthy, they are also value loyalty in others. Sky blue attracts pleasure-seekers and daydreamers, while navy appeals to the serious and conservative.

Aaa..... menarik sekali.. White and blue, good combination of colors. Macam kat tepi pantai gitew.. I think this color suits my eldest son since his characters are much more like mentioned above. Sesuai...gitew...

PURPLE

Royal purple exudes class, power, passion, sensuality, and luxury.

- Deep plum is spiritual and mysterious, with a serious dignified quality.

- Lavenders and violets have a sweet, romantic, and nostalgic appeal.

 - People tend to get less work done in purple rooms because the colour encourages daydreaming.

- Women often cite purple as their favourite colour.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE PURPLE ARE ...

Known as a negotiator and have a strong desire to please. Though well-liked, they don't confide easily in others and enjoy a slight sense of mystery.

Ni rumah lama I.. the master bedroom. Combination of pink and purple untuk romatica d' armour..konon..

Choosing A Cooker Hood

My friend is moving into a new house and she did ask my opinion about choosing a cooker hood. Well, for us (who were living in an apartment before) now, moving to a landed property, of courselah nak "ups" sikit kan? We know that every single brand in the market has their own specialty but usually we don't know what suits us best. I mean to cater our needs...

For me, my concern is just simple, choose the good ones to avoid smoke and the oil spread to the entire house. If not, satu rumah boleh bau ayam goreng. Even my house does have a separation door between the wet and the dry kitchen but still, the bau meresap ke seluruh rumah tu... macam asap lampu Aladdin pun ada...he..he...

And here are my tips:

All those recommended brands like ELBA, FAGOR, ZANUSSI, are reputable ones so it doesn't matter so much what brand you choose. For a strong suction hood choose something of 1200 m3 suction power. tHE most important is to plan your ducting (to channel the hot air out of the house) as short as possible. The longer the ducting, the lesser the suction power. Similarly for each time the ducting bends, the suction power is reduced.

If there are no large windows in the kitchen, you'll need a ventilation fan to remove stale air. A ventilation fan does not serve the same purpose as a hood and so does not substitute the other.

My principle is simple so up to you to choose. I had FAGOR in the house!!! FUJIOH, far from budget though it's damn good!!

Choosing A Contractor

The entry before ni, I ada mentioned pasal house renovation kan? This is the continuation of the entry. Ada yang bertanya pasal choosing a good contractor. Well, as for my case, I based on trust of my former contractor. Yang lain akak tak cayo dik ooiii. Nak pulak bila nengok rumah lain yang mana the contractors ambik kesempatan. Kesian youuu... Ada yang lari, ada yang separuh siap, ada yang siap tapi macam pahat masih berbunyi (tak sempurna) and ada yang siap tapi alahai.. hasil kerjanya.. sedih I nengok! Kalau kena dgn laki akak, dah lama dah!

I want to share with you some of the tips, kalau2 berguna:

1. Ask if the contractor will design and build or you need to get another designer yourself. Also, ask who will supervise the whole project.
** My contractor ni bukan lah interior designer tapi he's good in giving suggestions.
2. Ask what grade of workers he will use. When one contractor quotes you a high price and another quotes you very much lower, you'll need to understand what causes the price difference. Price differences come from materials, design, grade of workers and types of accessories used.
** Totally agree. Usually price comes with quality but need to be careful also. Jgn sampai tertipu plak.

3. When choosing a wireman (especially when he is working alone) make sure he is suitably qualified. Mistakes in wiring can cause an overload and leads to fire accidents.
** Usually the contractor comes with his own wiremen. My contractor ni, wireman dia, his brother in law. Senang kerja adik-beradik ni kot..

4. Ask how your contractor what steps he will take to minimise mess to your house.
** Ni tak payah tanya. My contractor memang bersih. Baca entry akak sebelum-sebelum ni yek. Dah melambung I muji dia. Tapi ye lah kan, dia tak lah baca blog akak ni. If baca, sure akak dapat discount lebe lagi.. ahaks!

5. Beware of rogue contractors.
** Ni yang I takut ni.. Kus semangat! Siah palih!

Working along with contractor is another subject. Nanti I cerita lah. Busy right now. Ni pun dah kira curi-curi masa je ni..

Tips: Renovating New House

Before moving into our new house about a year ago, it was a massive plan actually because we have to make things done in a short period of time. Renovation needed to be done in 2 months taking into consideration the tenant wanted move into our house ASAP.
http://mama-aliaa.blogspot.com/2011/08/rumahku-untuk-disewa.html

Knowing my hubby, he's kind of an organized person and he really looks and takes things very carefully and properly in a very timely schedule. And alhamdulillah, we managed to get things done within that period and we are almost satisfied. Not to say our house is 100% renovated tapi all the major construction and renovation were all done.

Here are some of the tips which I want to share with you, taken from one of interior designer's websites. Maybe you can make it as your guidance?

Renovating A New House


1. Before renovating, plan whether you intend to sell property in the future. Will the renovation add value to your property? Some renovations do not add value and can even turn off prospective buyers if not esthetically done.

** Agreed. Kadang2 ada orang tak suka taste yang kita suka. Ada suka English country, ada yang suka modern. Yang paling I tak tahan, ada yang tastenya macam orang dolu2 tu dik non ooiiii..


2. Everything goes through wear and tear and trends do change. Provide allowance for remodelling in the future.

** I do not agree with this. Banyak duit nak spend tu. I always go for simple, modern and yet elegance. Sepanjang zaman boleh tahan...


3. Plan a budget and get your priorities right. Don't be tempted to bust your budget even when some contractors try to hard-sell.

** Ini tersangat lah betul nya dik ooiii.. Kena put aside extra budget for add on factors. I rasa semua orang akan melalui ini :)

4. Extensions fall into the category of major renovation. Consider whether it's worth it in the long run.
** Especially the kitchen.... Yang lain, not necessary..

5. Remember trends change very fast! Something that looks modern today will look passe in another 7-10 years. If you do not wish to keep spending money to 'update' the look of your home, ask your designer to propose something that will withstand the test of time.
** Like I said before. Better, you choose your decoration and interior sendiri. Look up in magazines. Jangan lah kedekut nak membeli. For your own good gak...

6. Renovate first, then move in. Renovation work is dusty and messy!
** Yup! Especially yang ada anak kecik macam I ni ha..

7. Many people take a bank loan on top of their home mortgage to renovate.
** Never, never, never do this. Berapa banyak lagi kau nak berhutang dik oiiii...

8. Allow ample time for planning, sourcing, engaging your contractor or designer, designing, actual delivery of work and another 2 to 3 weeks after job delivery for rectifications and touch-ups. If you do not allocate enough time but plan your moving in on a tight schedule...you're setting yourself up to a major heart-ache especially if your project is a major one!
** I leave it to hubby. And he has done a great job in making sure everything was in schedule. And our contractor, memang kelassss gitew...

9. Don't spend ALL your money on buying the property but later choose the cheapest stuff for its interiors. Nothing is less flattering than entering a grand bungalow and finding that its furnishings are all low-cost ones.
** This is truly funny and I have seen so many examples!!!

10. When you hire a contractor to do grills, make sure he provides sufficient numbers of escape exits. We've met a few contractors who do not provide enough escape doors if the house-owner forgot to specify. Their intention to undercut is to save some money but that is irresponsible!
** Yup! True! And make sure you know where you put the keys and remember the keys of the emergency entrance are located nearby and can be reached at all time.


11. Have you ever been to a house where you don't feel comfortable and your eyes hurt? That is what insufficient lighting can do. Install dimmers so that you can tone down for relaxation or brighten up for reading.
** That's what we did! Actually I hate yellow lights. Buat I fening.

12. Plan the functional usage for each and every corner of the house. Then only you will know what you require: electrical points, task lighting and future purchases.
** Very the true! Plan kat mana nak letak tv gedabak, Astro bagai, microwave, oven bagai.. kang menagis bila plugs tak cukup or nampak wire jalan merentas desa kang! Hiks!

HAPPY RENOVATING!!!

Cerita Pagar Rumah Baru

I dunno whether you all believe in pagar rumah. Not buat pagar tapi baca ayat2 suci untuk pagar rumah. Ni my father in law buatkan for our new house. Ye lah.. kita ni berusaha je tapi Allah menentukan tapi untuk keselamatan dan keselesaan seisi keluarga, why not?

Ni gambar a week before we moved into our new house. Berpicnic kat rumah baru I..

Itu Dik Man, ada je nak menjengah nenek nya punya paper bag. Nak tgk apa ke benda dlm tu... That 2 boys are my nephews. My in laws bawak kat rumah I sbb the mother was being sent to the hospital to gave birth to a baby boy. The 3rd boys in Mak Ngah's family...

Bebudak ni sibuk mengagah Aliaa...

Ni I buat bekal for our "picnic". Nasi lemak and gulai ayam, sambal ikan bilis. Kalau dah penat and lapar tu, nasi seperiuk pun habis licin!

Ni budak, entak bila nak stop bottle ni. Kang kok tak bagi kang, tak mau lelap mata and definitely budak ni tak mau minum susu...



Aliaa macam biasa.. Kalau the brothers hisap susu, mesti jaki nak rampas. Sanggup tarik-menarik tu. Tak dapat botol, rambut pun boleh dicekaunya.. Wah! Garang sungguh anak dara Mama ni..

Tips of Buying a House

This I got from the website of an interior designer, who I have requested to make up my new house. I promised him to give a brief description of my idea how to decorate/ beautify my house tapi oleh dek kesibukan akak kan.. (kasi sengau sikit the tonation), sampai la ni janji tinggal janji. Tapi tak pe lah. Nanti I submit but I would like to share these tips to those who got an intention to buy a house. 

And here are the tips:

1) Access your need

Firstly, let’s begin with where you are staying now.
If you are working and currently staying with your parents… it is good to delay the purchase of your first property until you have saved a significant down payment. When you take a smaller loan on your first home, it will greatly reduce your monthly commitment and therefore will free up your monthly cash flow for other usage.
If you are staying in a rented house now… then you could start thinking about buying your first home. Every month you are paying rental to your landlord anyway. Why not use that same amount of money to start paying for your own home's monthly installments? As for the down payment, you can source from your own savings or seek financial assistance from your parents. This will help to reduce the burden initially.

2) Aim for a home that you can afford

Let’s look at financing part. Assess your lifestyle. How much is your monthly income? How much income do you have left at the end of month? Acknowledging this will help you understand what your budget is when buying a home. Of course, you must also take into consideration the amount of down payment you can afford.

3) Space it out

Next, we will look at factors determining the size of your first home. Think about how the new home space will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future. Will you be staying alone? If yes, perhaps a studio unit or small condominium is enough. Or will you have a life partner with you two years down the road and start a family with children? Then you may want to decide on a bigger home to accommodate expanding family. Always remember that bigger space means more furniture plus decor and cost more.


4) Location

Follow property mantra: location, location, location! Will you be attached with the current employment in the next 5 years? If you are unsure, it makes better sense to decide on a piece of real estate which is centrally located. This first home can eventually be converted into an investment when and if you were to change jobs and move to different location later.

5) 1st hand or 2nd hand

Next, we look at buying a new project or secondary market. Should you buy a second hand house or buy a new house directly from the developer? If time is not of essence, buying from the developer has its advantage. There is room for price appreciation, which will contribute for capital gain for you. The risky part of buying a house under construction lies in the reliability of developer in handing over homes within stipulated time and good workmanship. However, if you are looking to move in as soon as you can, then buying from the secondary market makes more sense. You can check and evaluate for yourself if you like the neighborhood and surrounding amenities.

Nothing is perfect and no matter how many precautions you take before buying a home, there will always be one or two surprises. However, don’t be despair. Don’t let these few initial bumps ruin your first house-buying experience.
I remember reading this somewhere - A house is just a house. What matters is the people inside which make it special.
Happy house hunting!