2018 - Page 5 of 13 - Millenia Realty Dominica

Oct 08 No Comments

Signs you Need to Move House

Author: Marketing

Categories: buying,selling

You’re Daydreaming about the Perfect Home—Finding yourself constantly daydreaming about features you wish your current house possessed? Is it an open-plan kitchen, triple garaging, swimming pool or master bathroom? You would be more comfortable if you upgraded to a more modern house packed with more features. You want a house that has it all. This is a sign that you are ready to move to a home with larger bathrooms, larger closets (maybe a walk-in), a home office, etc.

Your Family is Growing—Planning on growing your family or trying to cram your children into a shared bedroom? Then you are ready to move into a new home. Having the right amount of space is an important part of a happy household, especially as your children get older. Living with 1 bathroom might be manageable when your kids are toddlers, but just imagine 3 teenagers sharing one tiny bathroom. Mornings will get stressful really fast!

You Hate Your Commute—This sign that you’re ready to move into a new home sometimes has little to do with how much you love your home. It’s about your job and the amount of time it takes for you to travel from home to work. Long commutes can be mentally and physically exhausting, not to mention financially draining with the current price of gas. Spending more time in the car than you spend in your home is a sure sign that you need to move.

Your Voice Echoes in Your Home—Once your home was filled with the harmonious, melodic hum of a busy family. Now you ask your spouse where the keys to the car are and you hear your voice bounce off the walls like you’re in some sort of sanatorium. The kids are gone, and their noisy friends with them. When did that happen? Hard to say, but it happened and now your way too big house is just a haunting reminder of your kids’ absence. Time to ownsize. The space will feel more practical, and the limited square footage will discourage adult children from moving back in with you.

You Dread Caring for Your Yard—You might be ready to move if you are constantly frustrated with the upkeep of a huge backyard or expensive landscaping. Consider moving to a home that has a smaller, more manageable yard.

Your Neighbourhood Has Changed —When you first moved into your neighbourhood, it may have been a quiet leafy street of single storey homes. However, neighbourhoods can change over time. If increased development caused by a growing population isn’t to your liking, it may be time to find somewhere away from the urban life.

When you come to the decision to move, be smart and seek advice from a trusted agent to get you up to speed with the market in the area in which you are looking to move.

Oct 05 No Comments

Say I do in the Nature Isle

Author: Marketing

Categories: buying

I’m thinking of things we can do in Dominica and the first thing that came to my mind is GET MARRIED! I’m already married but I can always consider renewing my vows in one of those lovely locations here. Although Dominica is often referred to as untouched, this is an advantage because we can enjoy almost entirely free of charge, the Hot Water Springs, Waterfalls, Lakes, Rivers, Beaches, Forests, Flora and Funa, as well as the God Fearing and Loving People.

What comes to mind when you think of romance? PRIVACY, SECLUSION, QUIETNESS, JOY, COMFORT. Picture yourself in a cottage surrounded by nature; birds chirping, the sound of a water fall or river flowing nearby, the smell of the forest, the cozy wooden structure, ohh the list can go on and on… and all of that with a loved one.

In addition to the beauty and comfort offered here in Dominica, getting married is pretty simple.

It basically involves obtaining and submitting to Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs a completed marriage application form, a valid passport(s), original birth certificates and EC$7.5 postage stamps. A Non-marriage Certificate or Statutory Declaration attesting to the marriage status of applicants is also required; in cases where one or both of the applicants are divorced a Decree Absolute is needed, if one spouse died a Death Certificate is needed and in cases where an applicant changed their name a Deed Poll in required. In cases where relevant documents are not in English, an authentic translation is needed.

Once the documents are reviewed the applicant can pay relevant fees at the Accounts section. These fees are:

Licence Application Fee – EC$300.00
Additional fee for licence granted under Section 39 (2) where applicants do not meet the two (2) day residency requirements – EC$200.00
Weekend or public holiday processing fee – EC$204.00

Additional information, details and assistance can be obtained from Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs.

Ok, we’ve dealt with the serious stuff let’s ponder on the experience of honeymooning in the nature isle.

Some say that Dominica is one of the most exotic and romantic places in the Caribbean and although I haven’t visited sooo many places I must agree from what I’ve seen so far. There are many locations to choose from, from Calibishie Lodges and Secret Bay in the North to Jungle Bay in the East. If you are a town person then there is the Fort Young Hotel, Garraway Hotel and Flamboyant Hotel. Even in the midst of our forests are cottages and eco-lodges such as cocoa cottages offering that natural, calm, snug, pleasant and romantic environment.

Getting married? Take advantage of nature or better yet, the Nature Isle. Not yet ready to say I DO? A romantic weekend with the significant other is also a reason to enjoy the nature isle.

Oct 04 No Comments

5 Easy Ways to Makeover Your Kitchen

Author: Marketing

Categories: home improvement

Some simple changes can bring your kitchen into the modern era. Here’s how:-

Paint. You have heard it before, but the cheapest way to change a space for the better is a gallon or two of paint. If you stick to neutral colors, you can add accessories, art, or curtains in a striking color as an accent. Neutral colors are better if you are planning to sell.

Cabinets. There are four ways to change your cabinets on a budget:-

Change the look. If your cabinet bases are in reasonably good shape, paint the cabinets.
2. The dark side. If you would rather not paint, consider staining the cabinets if the wood is in good shape. A dark stain in cherry or dark teak will update the look.
But remember to clean and sand them before you stain/paint. The time spent preparing them will pay off in the professional look of the result.
Open them up. After you paint the cabinets, take the doors off the top cabinets entirely to give them an open look.
Add new hardware. Adding updated hardware can do wonders for the look of the kitchen. Brushed nickel or pewter knobs is a modern style can take decades off the style of your kitchen.
If the budget allows the ordinary doors can be replaced with glass cabinet doors.

Appliances. If your appliances are in good working order, you can update their look by painting them. If you are afraid to do it yourself, take them to an automobile paint shop and have them done. It is well worth the expense, which will be much less than new appliances.

Countertops. New countertops are available at most home improvement stores in standard sizes. They are precut and ready to install. And they are very cost effective, especially if you chose a color or style that is on sale or clearance.

Floor. The new styles of press and stick vinyl tiles look surprisingly high end. And they can be quickly installed. Try the new styles that look like slate – beautiful!

All of these ideas will cost you much less and will be faster than a standard remodel. And most can be done yourself – reducing the cost of labor. The resulting kitchen will enhance your home – and your bottom line!

Oct 03 No Comments

A Remodel may be Just What Your Business Needs

Author: Marketing

Categories: building

Is your business in a tug of war with the struggling economy? Are you yearning for an increase in business traffic? What about your plans to expand the business; is that on hold? Maybe it’s time to move on to the next best alternative – remodel your store/office?

Remodeling efforts are increasing as business owners’ increase their efforts to outshine the competitors and improve their capital investments. We are seeing it happening, businesses are making the move, they are improving their businesses, they are changing faces, some are even rebranding. Just a few years ago the Fort Young Hotel, one of Dominica’s most renowned and famous hotels, remodeled their building which improved the visual appeal of some of its public areas. We also saw the refashion of National bank of Dominica Ltd and we embrace the new look and feel.

Keep in mind, renovations doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes the minor changes can catch shoppers’ attention, but you would like to maximize your potential so probably you shouldn’t hold back on the remodel.

If your business has been in existence for some time now and more so has been in the same location, now may be the time to brighten up the doorway. Invite new customers with your fresh look and entice existing customers to enter to see what’s new. That in itself is marketing for the business.

For some businesses remodeling is not even an option, you have been leading in the battle with the economy but you have a new micro struggle and that is space. Your door is always clogged with customers; your reception area can barely hold waiting clients and you have no more storage space for new items in demand. Sometimes business growth demands extra space. Customer satisfaction and by extension customer experience may also demand some extra space. Your business is going well? Expand. Build a larger store/office.

Competition may not be the reason why you may need to renovate; perhaps you’re not even reaching full potential but wear and tear, or a disaster demands renovation. This is an opportunity to deal with existing issues with the current design and layout. Is everything in the most strategic location?

Women spend quite some time in the salon or at the beauty parlor; some stores have taken advantage of this and have remodeled to include a food department. We can well imagine how this can make existing customers happy or draw new ones in.

One thing to note however is that although renovations may increase sales and rekindle customers interest, it is also essential to examine other aspects of the business, like product range, prices, staff/management relationships and customer service, they too may need to be remodeled.

Oct 03 No Comments

Upgrade Your Stairway with Some Trendy Balusters

Author: Marketing

Categories: home improvement

For ages, homeowners with interior and exterior staircases have used balusters to guard the area from accidents, provide support to people who find it difficult to climb stairs and to enhance the beauty of the home.

Balusters come in various materials and styles. Traditionally, wooden balusters have been a popular option for interior staircases but they take a lot of time to construct since they involve the craftsmanship of the artist. They are preferred mainly by those who want to give their home the specific appeal and appreciate the craftsmanship of wood. Another drawback is that wooden material is bound to decay in a specific span of time and may get infested with termites, thus the buyer will be forced to get new ones, which is not the case with other materials.

Metal balusters are a result of commercial production where industries conveniently produce a good quantity of them. Thus metal balusters have gained so much acceptance and popularity that wooden balusters have been given a back seat. The level of strength and support that metal balusters can provide is much more than the wooden counterpart’s hence, people like to get them fixed in the house to get more sturdy railings.

There is also the option of combining these two materials to offer more texture and dimension in your design.

One of the more sophisticated types are the glass balusters that provide iron railings with a unique look. These have a metal body and the spaces in between have glass panels that can be coloured or transparent as the homeowner prefers.

Whichever material is used, perfectly designed balusters will enhance the appeal of a home.

Were the above tips useful? Share this article with family and friends.

Oct 02 No Comments

Cracked Walls: A Sign of Major Structural Problems

Author: Marketing

Categories: building,home improvement

DO YOU HAVE CRACKS IN YOUR WALLS, SAGGING ROOF LINES, FOUNDATIONAL CRACKING AND UNEVEN OR TILTING FLOORS?

The cracked walls and foundations, sagging roof lines and uneven or tilting floors can be symptoms of major structural problems.

Two common causes for structural problem are Differential Settlement (when the building foundation settles unequally) and Poor Renovations (when changes are made to the structure of a building without proper support). These can put great stress on the foundation, wall, floors, ceilings and roof of a building.

If you have observed any of these symptoms, you can save yourself problems and money by calling in professionals that can help you. We suggest you start by contacting a structural engineer to conduct a building inspection.

A building inspection on your home or commercial property is a visual examination of the physical structure and system, from the roof to the foundation, which is designed to identify observed defects within specific components.

Also, if you are planning to renovate, we advise you to get professional help before you start hacking into the structure of your building.

Timely Actions Very Often Prevent Great Losses!

Oct 01 No Comments

Choosing a Building Plan from a Collection

Author: Marketing

Categories: building

Browsing through the web in search of a house plan? What features are you looking for? Here are a few tips on how to choose the right plan for your new home.

Your land topography will affect your building plans in a big way. It will save you time and money if you choose a house plan that fits your land rather than trying to make the land fit the plan. Costly exercises like excavation is often used to amend land to fit plans especially in mountainous countries like Dominica however this may not always be necessary.

The size and shape of your lot can have a great impact on the style of the home you can build, and thus the house plan you will need to choose e.g. a small rectangular shaped lot will restrict the layout and style of the home.

The blueprints commonly referred to as the plan can be changed. Most times when a plan is selected, the buyer may want to change certain aspects to suit their needs or personal preference or sometimes even the land topography. Find a house plan that is close enough to what you are looking for and request any necessary changes from your architect. Say, you spend a lot of time in your kitchen and would prefer have a larger kitchen than a master bedroom; you can request a change to achieve that.

You’ve found the right layout but this house is just too big. Examine the plans with your architect and discuss cutting down the size of the different areas until you get the house down to the size you are comfortable with. The reverse is also possible. It’s a good idea to limit your search, but not too narrow that you don’t allow yourself to see other appealing layouts.

3-D plans are used to assist in visualizing the home when it is complete. A mistake that some people make is disregarding a home design because of its outer appearance. The exterior of the house can easily be changed especially if the issue is the finishing like the color, doors and windows displayed. What is most important is size and layout, so go ahead, examine the house layout and size even though you are not completely sold on the external looks.

Knowing what to look for can speed up the process of choosing the house plan that’s right for you. It is also wise to have an open mind when searching for a plan. There are many great house designs out there. Looking at different homes may broaden your knowledge and may just lead you to a better design that you probably never would have thought of.

Sep 28 No Comments

Are you in the living room or the drawing room?

Author: Marketing

Categories: home improvement

Many are not sure or do not know which it is. “Living room” and “drawing room” are two terms in the world of the home interiors that are often used synonymously. Most of the people tend to assume that living room and drawing room are two words with same meaning and can be used to address any common place used for gathering and socializing. However, this is not so. In true terms, living room and drawing room are two unique terms used to address different types of seating area.

A living room is relatively a new term in the home industry. This room is commonly addressed as the sitting room or lounge and is generally used by the house owner and his family members for relaxation, entertainment and recreation. The living room is a versatile room and is also used for other activities such as watching television, reading books, gossiping with family members, spending time with children, drinking, eating and many more casual activities.

On the other hand, a drawing room is an eighteenth century term that was earlier used by the British people. The room is mainly used for the entertainment of the visitors. This is the place where guests are made to sit down for a short period. The room is also used for seating the guests after they are through with the dinner. Therefore, conclusively it can be said that the main function of the living room is to provide the family members with a common place where members can flock together and have a fun and engaging time, whereas the function of a drawing room is to provide a room where guests can be entertained.

The drawing room is generally located near the entry door or the front door so that the guests are led directly into it. On the other hand, the living room is generally located in the inside portions of the house, mostly near the kitchen so that members can get snacks and drinks while they indulge in casual activities.

A typical living room is generally furnished with comfortable chairs, sofas, recliners, tables, lamps, fireplace, bookshelves, rugs, media devices such as television, music player, and home theatre and other decorative items such as piano, art work, etc. On the other hand, drawing room is mainly furnished with formal seating furniture such as chairs and sofas. The decoration is kept minimal and items having a functional use are introduced.

Sep 27 No Comments

Environmental Impact Assessment

Author: Marketing

Categories: building

Do you know what an Environmental Impact Assessment is? This is a formal process used to predict the consequences of a plan, program, policy or project (which we will refer to as projects in this article) prior to making final decisions and execution.

What is the purpose of performing an Environmental Impact Assessment? The objective of Environmental Impact Assessment includes predicting the impacts a project will have on the environment, finding ways and means to reduce predicted adverse impacts, shaping projects to suit the subject location and presenting the predictions and options to the decision-makers.

Some projects because of their nature, size or location are expected to have an effect on the environment and therefore will be required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment, whether proposed by public or private individuals.

Projects affect many factors in the environment in ways that may not necessarily be visible to the ordinary man or woman. Flora, fauna, soil, water, air, landscape and even human beings are some important factors likely to be affected by these projects.

An example we can all relate to is the construction of a new road. Construction of a new road can positively affect an area by reducing traffic congestion. On the other hand, land may need to be cut to build the new road which may negatively affect an area by changing its geography and may even disrupt the drainage pattern, thus forcing the redirection of existing watercourses and considering more suitable methods of treating run-offs.

Construction of a new road in an area also means an increase in the number of traffic and thus an increase in air pollution. It’s possible that emission from vehicles can affect already existing atmospheric pollutants which may then affect human health, animal health and natural resources. In some areas buildings may have to be moved to accommodate the new road, also affecting the life of the owners and residents of that property.

Environmental Impact Assessment may seem tedious or scary but it is important to have a rational approach to sustainable development, especially given the fact that development is an ongoing process and will impact the environment one way or another.

Sep 26 No Comments

Live Different – Imagine the Comfort and Charisma of such Eating Spaces

Author: Marketing

Categories: building,home improvement

Kitchens, family rooms, and dedicated dining rooms all offer opportunities for comfortable, attractive eating spaces. Consider these options for creating practical eating areas in your home.

Dining area: For a more formal dining experience, opt for a dedicated dining space separate from the kitchen. A dining area might also be part of a family room, giving the eating area the potential to act either as a formal or casual dining setting, and giving it multi-use possibilities.

Eat-in kitchen: A table and chairs arranged conveniently in an eat-in kitchen saves steps. In addition to a casual eating space, it provides a place to talk, do homework, or socialize with the cook.

Breakfast nook: Placed just off the kitchen, an eating nook is a great option for informal meals away from the messy work core.

Island/peninsula seating: Extend an island or peninsula countertop to create an overhang that invites a row of stools.

Table-height counter: Integrate a table on one end of an island or peninsula for casual seating at table height rather than bar level.

Banquette: One of the best ways to squeeze additional seating into a tight space is to build a banquette along a wall. A banquette can be designed for the kitchen, the dining room, or an adjoining nook.