Whether it’s in a property located in the same barangay or at a place located in a totally different region in the Philippines, moving from one home to another is in itself a tedious process. It becomes something of an even bigger adjustment when the new home being moved into is vastly different in terms of space, community, and overall type of property. So when making that leap, it is important to know the different considerations to make and opportunities you’ll have when moving from a condo to a house and vice-versa.
Moving from a Condo Unit to a House and Lot
Moving from a comparatively modest-sized condo to a larger house and lot is something of a natural progression, particularly for growing families. With that said, along with having a little more living space, there are also additional responsibilities to residing in a house and lot.
Do(ing)-it-yourself
When living in a condominium, the tendency is that the administration fees you pay regularly already include the payment for most, and sometimes all, of your utilities. However, as you move into a new house, you’ll now be solely responsible for taking your bills into account and actually making those payments.
Similarly, having no administration fees to pay means no administration to turn to when your home needs repairs or maintenance. This means having to be the one to either make the repairs or do the maintenance yourself or seek out the professional services needed for whichever concerns there is. If you don’t have your own tool kit yet, this is as good a time as any to invest in one, especially since you’ll have money saved from not paying administration fees.
Keeping your home secure
Another aspect of your residence that was covered by the property administration (and why you pay them their fees) when you were living in a condo is security. Now that you live in a house, it is now solely your responsibility to keep your property (and those living in it) safe. Granted, security is present on some level if your property is part of a gated or exclusive community, you will likely need to take a few extra precautions.
For one, the development you previously lived in likely had a sprinkler system built in to address possible fires, which your house may not have. So, investing in a fire extinguisher might be worth considering, as well as ensuring all wiring meets safety standards. You’ll also want to make sure there are proper locks and deadbolts to the doors that lead outside, and that you also have ladders on hand if yours is a two-story home and you need to exit from the upper floor.
Doing some landscaping
If you’ve lived in a condo for some time now, it has likely been a while you’ve been responsible for the upkeep of a yard. Granted, there are property managers who care for the common grounds shared by you and the other unit owners in the condominium, but when you move back to a house and lot, you’ll be doing the cleaning and/or gardening of your yard.
While considerably a lot of work, being able to do what you want with your lot is a significant benefit to moving to a house from a condo. Whether using your yard to establish a garden, a children’s play area, or even additional parking space, you get to decide, and simply have to get used to also be the one responsible for the upkeep.
Ready to move from a condo to a new house and lot? Visit Ohmyhome online and view the latest houses and lots for sale in the Philippines.
Moving from House and Lot to Condo Unit
While moving to a larger space is seemingly the more common thing to do, there are also benefits with moving to more modest-sized properties like condos. Among these are how condo units require less upkeep and are comparatively less costly than larger houses and lots, and selling the latter and moving into the former is also a way for some to generate needed funds.
Letting things go
Having significantly less space is the primary challenge with moving from a house to a condo, leaving you with decisions to make about your things. You like to keep fit, but do you actually use your treadmill? Wouldn’t running at your community’s jogging path instead help you save space? How about your fish tank? It’s been some time since it’s actually held water and fish.
Having to let go of some possessions can’t be avoided when moving into a smaller space. You’ll have to determine which among your things are essential to your lifestyle, and which you only use sparingly and thus can either sell or give away in the name of having more living space.
Measuring furniture (and maybe getting new ones)
Another aspect of living in a limited amount of space is knowing early on how your furniture will, or will not, fit into your new home. This is particularly important for large items like your bed/s and sofa, which are essential in any home, and measuring their dimensions will give you an idea of how they will fit in your new condo.
Figuring how much room they will take, and the angles they ought to be positioned in to make sure they are complementary to the doors, windows, and other furniture, will be helpful in maximizing living space. With that said, buying new pieces may be in order if those coming from your old house are too big for your condo.
Getting used to the community and its rules
Given that a condo unit is part of a larger collection of residences standing on a shared property, it is important to be mindful that you are in close proximity with your neighbors. With that said, there are likely several rules and guidelines in place to help maintain order in the community, which is best to be familiar with along with just being considerate of the neighbors with anything that you do.
Knowing what you can or can’t do is crucial even before you move in, because the inability to have pets, limits on having visitors, and other such policies may not be what you had in mind in a new home. Indeed, no two properties are the same, even when it comes to rules, and recognizing such deal breakers beforehand can better ensure that you find the ideal condo.
Need help finding which condominium developments have the living space you need and the amenities you want? Connect with an Ohmyhome agent and receive expert advice and assistance throughout your search and purchase of a condo for sale in the Philippines.
Ohmyhome was launched in the Philippines in September 2020, following the company’s establishment of a tech team in the country in 2017. Ohmyhome was originally founded in 2016, and subsequently rose in Singapore as a leading PropTech solution and licensed real estate agency.
Ohmyhome expanded into the Philippines so that Filipino home seekers can have a real estate partner that they can trust to have their best interests at heart and can be relied upon to provide exceptional services throughout the entire property journey.
Featuring thousands of properties across many of the Philippines’ major real estate brands, Ohmyhome differs from other local platforms by going the extra mile and extensively helping buyers narrow down the choices and find the property that best suits their budgets, home needs, and lifestyle preferences.
The company’s Real Estate Agents not only help in the shortlisting of options but also provide professional services through the entire purchasing process. These include assistance in property inspections, negotiations, the finalization of the Conditions of Sale, deposit collection, the submission of property documents, as well as providing buyers regular updates.
Ohmyhome helps Filipinos find their dream homes, all while making sure each real estate transaction is complete and is an efficient and enjoyable experience.
For more information, please visit Ohmyhome online or download the Ohmyhome app.
