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Purchasing your first home can seem daunting, but with a little planning, you can rest assured you’re making the best decisions for this milestone moment.
Purchasing your first home marks a significant and exciting time in anyone’s life but can often be met with a great deal of anxiety. With so many things to consider, it’s easy to forget an important detail or two in the thrill of it all, no matter how obvious some things may seem. Purchasing a home is a huge financial obligation, therefore it’s best to cover your bases and ask all the right questions before rushing into it. From the basics to the big decisions, below are a few key considerations when purchasing a home.
Selecting the right location
Finding the most suitable location for you and your family is a significant part of purchasing a new home as it sets the tone for your day-to-day life. Select a few favourable areas and weigh up the pros and cons of each such as proximity to work and school, safety and average age of residents, etc. before making a decision to ensure your lifestyle will seamlessly blend with your new neighbourhood.
A home best suited for your needs
We spend so much of our time in our homes so it only makes sense to make it a sanctuary that best meets all of our requirements. Really do some intense thinking of what your priorities are in purchasing a home and go from there. The worst thing you could do is make a rushed decision and realise you can’t make the home you’ve purchased work for you.
Think about your long-term life
Buying a home to suit your current needs is important, but such a long-term decision requires more long-term thought as well. Consider what you’d like your life to look like a few years down the line and account for potential growth, both in terms of who will be occupying the space and expanding and renovating when purchasing a home. Perhaps you plan on growing your family or creating a home office environment, which should all be considered in your initial deliberation.
Choose practical features over flashy ones
It can be easy to fixate on all the glamorous parts of purchasing a home such as fancy light features or a particularly beautiful bathroom sink, but that shouldn’t overshadow the practical features such as sufficient storage and good security.
Run through the potential issues
Asking all the important questions can save you from a lot of hassle and unforeseen expenses and hidden costs down the line. Ensure that the home you are purchasing is not at risk of any major faults such as water, flooring and structural damage. Make the assessments yourself where you can; keep an eye out for water blotches, cracks, mould, uneven or bouncy floors, etc.
Account for the payment of transfer and conveyancing fees as well by always keeping a little more cash than you think you need aside.
The entire process of selecting your first home will never be perfect, but once you’ve comfortably settled in and found your new happy place to create wholesome memories, it will all be worth it. And when you are ready to renovate or make any changes to your new home, our Tiletoria team will be waiting for you at your closest showroom with friendly advice and suggestions.
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Upgrading your bathroom is one of the easiest ways to elevate your home and a simple project to boost your resale value. While it can seem daunting at first, redoing your bathroom doesn’t have to be a big or costly change. Here are 10 tips for making the most of your space on a budget.
1. Consider who you are renovating your bathroom for
If you are renovating your bathroom because you plan on living in your home for a good couple of years then it makes sense to invest a little more or add a personal touch in the space however if you are planning on selling your home within the next 5 years and looking for a quick-fix, it’s advisable that you choose items with universal appeal so that you have a greater chance of impressing potential buyers and getting your home sold.
2. Sticking to the layout/ resist the urge to change the plumbing
Changing the layout of your bathroom can become a costly renovation as it constitutes construction costs and plumbing however if you do general refurbishing, it should save you a pretty penny. You’ll be surprised by how much you can achieve by making the temporary changes.
3. A simple repaint/ fresh wallpaper
Sometimes a simple paint or touch-up can completely transform your space. Bathrooms typically work well when painted with neutral colours however if you are looking to switch it up a bit, incorporate a pop of colour by creating a statement wall. Some of the top interior design colour trends for 2020 include olive green, golden yellow and mango. Don’t shy away from wallpaper either – it’s making an interior design comeback and with its wide range of patterns and designs, it’s a quick fix and simple way to really make your space your own.
4. Freshen the grout
A simple way to make your tiles look more sleek and fresh is by adding a fresh layer of grout as this the tile lines easily get dirty and can make your entire bathroom look dull and outdated. A trouble-free DIY project with a big impact.
5. Install a new bathroom sink
A bathroom sink is one of those instant eye-catchers when entering your bathroom space and won’t break your bank to upgrade. It can also be a DIY project that doesn’t require extra plumbing costs if you’re comfortable with taking matters into your own hands. Tiletoria has a wide range of basins to choose from, should you opt for this upgrade.
6. Install a new toilet
A new toilet can often be inexpensive and makes all the difference as it is definitely a focal area of the bathroom. Installing it can also be a DIY project if that’s something you’d prefer. Tiletoria offers a wide range of toilets to choose from to instantly make your bathroom feel more luxurious.
7. Bringing the outdoors indoors
A bit of greenery never hurt anybody. In fact, it does quite the opposite; house plants are known to improve your mood and reduce stress. Make your bathroom a little sanctuary by adding a few house plants (opt for ones that are great in low light such as Chinese Evergreens or Peace Lilies).
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Traditional brassware has been relatively limited to silver and chrome, and, while chrome has remained at the top of sophisticated interior design trends, there has been a serious surge in matt black taps. Here are just a few reasons why black is the brassware to have!
Simple doesn’t mean Simplistic
Adding a black tap to a minimalist interior look can create a striking feature in any room of your house! Black taps work particularly well against white walls, contrasting neutral background, industrial-type materials including concrete and metals, as well as various timber tones.
Marvel at Black and Marble
While black goes with anything (the general rule in any application, from clothes to interior design), black taps add an additional splash of class and sophistication when matched with marble. The taps can help to highlight those darker veins within the marble.
Suitable for ALL Applications
Ultimately, no matter what your style or application you are looking at, black taps create a chic, timeless and classic look that everyone will adore! Whether for use in commercial or residential applications, black taps are easy to maintain. Because most black taps are made with an electroplated finish, this provides durability and resistance to watermarks, fingerprints as well as wear and tear!
Visit a Tiletoria near you to view our range of black taps!
