By Marcos de Guzman Jr.
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Space is a prime commodity and not many of us have the luxury of it. We continually have to rethink and reinvent our area to suit our ever-changing requirements.

On top of this, we likewise want our space to look neat and presentable. It’s a need and a wish we are faced with as soon as we get to our front yard.

Parking

One common problem most homeowners experience is lack of parking space. In many subdivisions, homeowners are forced to park on the street. This practice is a form of injustice to the neighbors. The streets are meant to be used by everyone and are not privately owned, even the one directly in front of your home. Some people even go to the extent of converting their garage to another purpose and parking all their cars on the road. This, of course, is not just an inconsiderate act; it is also against the law. Just because your neighbors are not complaining does not make things all right.

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By Amado de Jesus
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Termites are everyone’s nightmare. They are the most destructive wood insect in the world. Subterranean termite species live in large colonies underground and affect houses, buildings and cellulose-based products. Most of these species thrive in the tropics and warm temperate coastal and inland regions.

Subterranean termites enter structures by tunneling in through the soil. There are several ways they can gain access to wooden parts of a structure. They can tunnel through timber in contact with the soil; they can make shelter tubes along foundation walls; and they can make shelter tubes through a crack or void space. The key therefore to termite control is finding a way to block off these entry points by installing barriers.

Some of the most common termite control barriers are soil poisoning using pesticides, physical barriers around the house, a combination of the two or the bait and monitoring systems.

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By Marcos de Guzman Jr.
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–A perennial problem for every homeowner is storage. As years go by, our personal stuff accumulates. We hate to discard some things due to sentimental reasons. We are so attached to other things even though a lot of times we do not really need them.

Knowing full well that one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, you have a couple of practical options. One solution is to sort out the things you no longer use and give them away. Heaven will bless you for your generosity, perhaps with a wonderful feeling of contentment. Another option is to hold a garage sale and earn a few bucks for your junk. However, I can say from experience that this may not be a completely fulfilling endeavor. You could feel slighted that the things you own are appraised much lower than you expected. Just look at it this way: these old items are like barnacles at the bottom of the boat; the more you have, the slower you go.

After that’s done, I’m pretty sure you will still have a lot of things left at home to store. Now, for those who just can’t part with their possessions or for those with many interesting activities that require so much stuff, creating storage spaces must be practiced like an art.

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By Tessa Salazar
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Property experts note that aside from “good sign” the deluge of condo developments brings for the Philippine property market, it gives prospective buyers more choices in terms of size, design, location and price.

Global Property Guide’s chief economist Prince Christian R. Cruz notes that the more options available, the better it is for buyers.

Richard Raymundo, Colliers International’s director for research and consultancy, says that as with other industries, a more robust property sector would contribute more to the economy and also increase property values. He also says another positive result of a property sector boom is increased employment for the construction outfits.

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By Charles E. Buban
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Buying a house is one of life’s most exciting decisions. And though it may seem complicated—or even scary—it is quite a simple and easy process as long as you take it one step at a time.

The first thing a homebuyer should ask: What type of housing unit should I buy?

Phinma president and CEO Willie Uy suggests that homebuyers first determine if they prefer a single family home, which means the ownership includes the house and extends to the limits of the property lines; a townhouse wherein the ownership includes the lot on which the house sits as well as the entire structure, or a condominium, where ownership is limited to a single unit and a shared interest in all of the common areas, like the swimming pool or the gym, for example.

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