Demand for land in Thalahena, Gothatuwa and Kolonnawa are rising significantly, resulting in the highest percentage increases in land prices in Greater Colombo, according to a recently concluded study. LankaPropertyWeb.com analysed postings in its website to ascertain the change in asking prices for land in the Greater Colombo area. Thalahena topped the list, recording a year-on-year percentage increase of 64 per cent. Ragama, Gothatuwa and Kolonnawa continues to be popular with land prices recording a percentage increase of between 55-35 per cent.

The percentage increases are in line with the increases noted in the asking prices of land. In Thalawathugoda, the average price per perch is between 1.7 – 2 million Rupees. Interestingly, with the spike in percentage increase, neighboring suburb Thalahena, joins the same price category.  While land in Kolonnawa and Wellampitiya both fall within the range of 700,000 to 1 million Rupees, both have displayed a remarkable increase in land prices over the last year. The implications of these percentage increases in average price per perch of land are far-reaching.

Notably, the most expensive areas in Greater Colombo for average perch prices remain much the same as last year. Areas that are closest to Colombo show the highest prices, with Dehiwala and Nawala the most expensive of the areas in Greater Colombo.

As Colombo is the commercial hub and where most of the workplaces are based, it is not surprising that land prices continue to be on an upward trajectory. But as the two figures indicate, people are seeking living spaces outside of the city. This is most noticeable to the east of the Colombo city. Although there are certain pockets where land prices have shown slower growth i.e. Nugegoda, Rajagiriya and Pannipitiya areas (this could be due to prices already being high in these areas), prices in Athurugiriya, Pita Kotte, Maharagama, Kottawa and Hokandara all indicate an increase in percentage between 25-32 per cent . While such demand for land could be partially driven by better connectivity enabled through improved transportation and the rapid development of the sub-urban centres, families are also seeking more affordable, less congested locations.

Since further development of the Colombo centre remains a high priority for the Government, land prices in Greater Colombo will continue to increase. As the jump in asking prices per perch in Thalahena, Gothatuwa and Kolonnawa exhibits, previously under-developed locations, which are now increasingly becoming accessible due to infrastructure changes, will continue to gain traction, largely determined by their proximity to highly developed, desirable suburbs of Colombo. Land prices therefore will continue to increase further, as potential buyers seek out land for purchase in proximity to the Colombo city.

Driven by the desire to help people find a piece of land that they can afford and to highlight the fact that there are still affordable lands available in the metropolitan areas, LankaPropertyWeb.com is launching a campaign to assist potential buyers find plots of lands that is within their budget and in the areas that they desire. Named ‘Athe athi mudalata idamak soyaganna’ or ‘Find a land that’s within your budget’, the objective of the campaign is to help potential buyers sieve through the many options available to them. A dedicated page for the campaign has been launched at www.lankapropertyweb.com/lands/

“With the land prices in urban areas increasing unabated and land considered as one of the safest and best investments out there, prospective buyers may easily become frustrated and discouraged in their mission to find that ideal plot of land. Our campaign is primarily targeting those buyers with the aim of matching their location of choice with their budget. We aim to help first-time and experienced buyers navigate this rather crowded sector and find land that also holds great promise, especially since Colombo will continue to reap the benefits of better infrastructure and connectivity,” remarked Daham Gunaratna, Managing Director of LankaPropertyWeb. 

LankaPropertyWeb.com continues to be Sri Lanka’s premiere real estate website, showing an extraordinary growth in traffic and other vital metrics over its twelve years of operations. With over 2 million users conducting more than 4 million visits annually and over 17,000 advertisers offering a variety of property-related services, the website continues to be the “go to” place for serious and prospective buyers and sellers of real estate in Sri Lanka.

The full list of average land prices and price changes can be viewed from: https://www.lankapropertyweb.com/house_prices.php#lands-wp

The post Land Prices in Greater Colombo Increase by up to 64% as Demand Grows for Affordable Land Outside the City appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Have you always wanted to add a modern touch to your home yet find it absolutely difficult to fit that in to your limited designing budget? Well here are some under the budget interior designing ideas you could use to give your home a new look.

1. Using crown molding for ceilings

There is no better way to turn an ordinary home into a high end one than investing on some crown molding for your ceilings. Rather than simply leaving your ceiling as it is, you can add decorative crown molding for the ends to create a more expensive look. This is a detailing that certainly costs much less and ties the walls and ceilings together in the most interesting and perfect ways!

2. Selecting the right paint shades

The shades that you use to colour your walls have much more of an impact than you could ever imagine. While most people are afraid to try bold colours on their walls, others simply dive in to it. However, you always have the choice of going elegant with neutrals or adding a bop with bold. Do keep in mind though, that the colours (paints) you select need to match with your home space. If your house is small it is best to stick to neutrals and add colour through detailing!

3. Curtaining details is a must

The first thing that anyone would notice in a home after they walk in through the doors is, the living room decor and curtaining. Most often you might be able to easily make the living room decor work by adding personalized touches, however, the curtaining or window treatments are definitely a trick. Look in to the latest designs and switch up your home space, to accommodate them. (Tip: Wooden curtain poles is the biggest trend right now!)

4. Installing mirrors

Mirrors are a must have in interior designing. Whether you own a small space or large space, fitting an interesting mirror would certainly upscale it 10 times more. So look for interesting mirrors with unique shapes or borders, and find the ideal place for them in your home. (Tip: Place mirrors in areas where natural light falls the most in your home to create an illusion of a larger space!)

5. Accessorizing

It certainly doesn’t cost too much to accessorize your home, yet the effect it has is unbelievable. A tip to follow when accessorizing would be to use bold shades if you have painted your home in neutral. This way it adds a more interesting and modern touch to your home. Personalizing these also works best to add a more ‘homely’ vibe to your home sweet home!

It doesn’t take much to invest on some low budget interior designing tricks. But what you need to make sure is that you select the right details and tricks to dabble with!

The post Top 5 Interior Designing Ideas Under the Budget appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Colombo City Centre (CCC) is the latest retail experience to join Colombo’s skyline. Its superior design makes it a prominent landmark in Sir James Pieris Mawatha, facing the Beira Lake in Colombo 2. CCC gives the ultimate “shopping mall” experience Colombo quite lacked until now. It can be called as a lifestyle destination, set at the forefront of the dynamic changes taking place in the country.

This mixed development project is a joint venture between Abans and Next Story Group from Singapore. CCC is worth USD 180 million and has bagged multiple awards within a short period of time, including ‘Mall of the Year’ and ‘Asia’s Greatest Brand’ title.

In fact, this new mall offers much more than what any Sri Lankan folk would have dared to expect from the usual Liberty Plaza, Majestic City and Crescat.

Location

Colombo 2 is a hotspot for commercial activities. This is only a 50 minute drive from Bandaranaike International Airport via the Colombo to Katunayake Expressway. In close proximity to famous  landmarks ofColombo, CCC is built right opposite the historic Beira Lake. It faces the Seema Malaka Temple, which is an iconic architecture of Colombo. Most importantly, it’s a Geoffrey Bawa creation hence both a piece of art and a place of cultural importance.  There are many star hotels, restaurants, hospitals, parks, theatres, universities, retail shops and the National Museum around this location.This is close to the Clock Tower and Fort area. Galle Face Green is as popular as Mount Lavinia beach. It overlooks the Indian Ocean and is merely a few minutes’ drive away from CCC. CCC is situated in one of the highly demanded prime locations in Colombo.

The Mall

CCC has 47 stories. The first 5 floors make up the retail section. It has numerous shops of  local and international brands, food outlets and a multiplex cinema. This complex is luxurious and spacious, certainly delighting customers. 

This is probably why it attracted flocks of people upon opening. They were eager to witness a construction determined in transforming Sri Lanka. 

Nearly 50 high-end brands occupy an area of 200,000 square feet within the mall. . Some of the noteworthy brands are Apple, Swarovski, Armani Exchange, The Body Shop, Mango, Charles & Keith, Titan and Clarks. The retail space includes local brands like Jezza, Aditi, Abans, Avirate, Chamathka and Odel. There is also a Cargills Food City and Miniso to serve the everyday needs of shoppers. Even kiosks for Bubble Me Bubble Tea, Isle of Gelato and snacks are available.

Cinema

The third floor includes a multiplex cinema by Scope Cinemas. This is the first and the biggest multiplex cinema in Colombo. It has 6 screens and around 30 shows are available on an average day. The full seating capacity is 750. Furthermore, movie-goers can enjoy an extraordinary experience here in contrast to the other cinemas in the city.

The seating arrangement forms an amphitheater style, allowing no room for complaints from shorter people sitting at the back. This offers perfect visibility from any row. The impressive sound system gives an almost reel-to-real life experience. Another interesting element about the cinema is the exclusive 24-seater VIP theatre. Comfort is given thorough consideration with how the seats are made for a relaxed movie-watching time.

Even differently abled individuals can enjoy comfortably, thanks to how certain features are in place to offer them ease. Scope Cinema in CCC provides next level entertainment. Movie buffs can munch on the large variety of food and beverages available at the cinema while watching their favourite blockbuster.

Food Court

Above all, there’s one thing people don’t want to miss at CCC – The Food Studio. It houses over 20 different restaurants in a massive food court and serves for a variety of tastes.It has cuisines from Asia – Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia; Far East to China and Japan and even a MacDonald’s. Besides, there are exclusive dessert stations to cater to the sweet tooth cravings..

There are two sections in the Food Studio. One is the indoor area, ideal for get-togethers, business meetings or even a date. The other is an outdoor area with a remarkable view of the Beira Lake and the surrounding areas. It also has an island bar. The day time ambience is relaxed and friendly. But the evenings are even more magical. It brings along a stunning site with golden lights sparkling the Colombo 2 skyline.

Apartments

State-of-the-art apartments take up a significant proportion of the Colombo City Centre. Known as The Residences, these 192 condominiums are at the peak of what luxury and superior design can offer together. These apartments are a symbol of the dynamic changes transforming Sri Lanka at a rapid pace. 

The apartments come in four different choices – 2 bedroomed up to 5 bedroomed ones. The 2 bedroomed apartments offer spacious layouts with an open kitchen and entertaining areas. This is built on 1,302 square feet. The 3 bedroomed apartments take up 2,118 square feet each, and two of the bedrooms offer amazing views from the terrace along with a semi open study area. The master bedroom includes a walk-in wardrobe.

The penthouses each have either 4 or 5 bedrooms. The living areas are generous and can accommodate a baby grand piano. The 4 bedroomed apartments take up 2,431 square feet while the 5 bedroomed apartments boasts of a 4,898 square feet of absolute luxury. These are also made with giant dining areas to seat up to 10-12 guests, bar seating, wine cellar and housekeeper’s quarters.

The price begin from LKR 70 million. Superior fittings and a beautiful collection of furniture make the price well worth it. It’s a real estate treasure in the heart of Colombo.

The post Colombo City Centre – Colombo’s Dazzling New Mall appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

As exciting as it is to move from one place to another in sri lanka or wherever you are from, the hassle that you have to bear is equally exhausting when finding a house movers. You need to make sure that you pack everything and have them sealed in a way here nothing is damaged while being transported or before selecting the right movers / house movers. You also need to be particular about the cost that you would have to incur while moving or when looking for a moving quote. So here are some tips you could use to make your move easier! 

1. Make a list

Making a list of what you should be taking along with you and what you should be absolutely particular of when packing, certainly comes in handy to make your moving day easier. This way you would know exactly what you need to carry with you.  Thus being able to easily check them out from the list making sure that you don’t end up leaving anything behind! So whether you are calling in for offers by moving companies or moving experts to help you out in the moving process, take some time and make a list of all those that you should be packing up before you move!

2. Leave or donate

Your new home is a new start so don’t bring the old and unwanted baggage along with you. Instead sort out what you need and leave the rest behind. This applies to certain household goods too. You have the option of donating things as well. Getting rid of clothes, old furniture and fittings, toys and whatnot will further reduce the load that you have to carry. This in turn would reduce the space requirements you would have to look for when booking long distance moving services. Remember lesser loads mean lesser moving costs, so be smart!

3. The ‘Open first’ box

When you are packing things, it is natural to use boxes. However, you wouldn’t know what is in them unless you open them up, and this makes things messy. To reduce your work and make settling in to your new home easier, make sure that you always label the boxes on the outside. You could include your contact information on them as well to be extra cautious with your belongings.

Set aside a separate ‘open first’ box and pack all the absolute essentials you would require to start over at your new home. Include personal belongings, bed sheets, blankets etc. into it and make unpacking at the end of the day less tiresome for you!

4. Don’t load everything into the moving truck 

Another factor that you need to be mindful of when moving is to not load everything into the moving truck, even if all the boxes have your personal information displayed. Sure you might be tempted to, especially when you notice even the smallest amount of extra space. However, when it comes to important documents, the ‘open first’ box and fragile items, you might want to think again on this choice!

5. Select the right movers

Getting good house movers is a big  part of moving. You need to find those that not only meet your budget, but are also quick and reliable in their services. So look for moving firms with some of the best customer service and reviews by previous clients and then sign up for a full service moving experience!

After all, moving shouldn’t only be about trying to reduce cost, but rather making sure that you get all your belongings transported in the safest way to exactly where you want!

6. Pack smart

A mistake that many tend to make when packing their things into boxes is messing up the sizes. It is quite surprising that an assumption that heavier things ought to go into bigger boxes and the lighter ones should go into smaller boxes, has convinced people to pack things in this way. However, the truth is that doing so only makes carrying them about harder. Instead switch your heavier items into smaller and less spacious boxes and make moving and storage much easier than ever before! 

7. Finish packing before the big day 

The actual day you are moving should be the day where you only have to load things into the local moving truck or get them auto transported to your new place. In Sri Lanka, given the traffic congestion and busy days throughout the week, planning your moving day beforehand will certainly be beneficial! Once you have found the perfect day, call up the van line and get them to move your things. However, make sure you are done with all the packing that possibly needs to be done before this big day!

Moving is fun if you know how to make it work. It is an opportunity to find all those things that you thought you lost, and look back on the memories that were once stored behind closed doors. So think simple and pack smart to make your moving life easy! 

The post How To Make Moving Easier appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

The Location

Sky One Residencies is promising to redefine the skyline of the heart of Colombo. Located in the northern end of the Beira Lake, the new residencies is set for completion in 2021. It will complement the nearly completed Lotus Tower as the tallest standing structure in Colombo 10.  

Sky One Residencies consists of twin-tower apartment buildings comprising 36 floors and housing 270 sky one apartments. Seven floors amongst these are exclusively dedicated for parking. This includes a basement parking facility and dedicated floor to provide the widest range of fully-equipped amenities. 

Located at the heart of the urban center, Sky One offers a unique mixture of modernity, culture, diversity and history.

The rejuvenation and redevelopment plans for Maradana and Colombo 10 locality has seen much progress over the last several years.  Sky One Residencies will add to this further by bringing an unprecedented level of luxury living to Colombo 10. It will sit among the old colonial era architecture and landmark buildings like the Maradana Technical College. In shape, form and height, Sky One will tower over most of these architectural treasures.

Apartments at Sky One Residencies

The location itself is strategic for several reasons. In terms of access, Sky One is in close proximity to the transport hub of Sri Lanka. The Fort railway station and the central bus station are less than two kilometers away. While the Maradana railway station, is practically a stone’s throw away! Sky One will also be located within accessible distance of the proposed Light Railway Transport. Thus making the location of even more convenient and connected. The Trace City is also in close proximity, enabling more convenient access to the IT hub of Sri Lanka.

Located within the radius of leading national and private schools, residents of the complex would be able to reach different parts of Colombo within a very short time. Hospitals, shopping malls and entertainment are merely within a 3 kilometer radius from the location. The renowned Elphinstone Theater and the Tower Hall Theater located within walking distance of Sky One, showcases a piece of Sri Lanka’s ancient rich cultural heritage in theater . 

As an up and coming part of the Colombo city, Colombo 10 will continue to benefit from improved infrastructure development. Connected to the rest of Colombo, the World Trade Center etc. Sky One is still far enough to offer an alluring view of Colombo’s fast-evolving skyline. The calming water of Beira Lake almost standing guard over the bustle of this busy city, adds more to this 360-degree view.

Sky One Residencies is the newest venture of Zhong Tian Ding Hui (Pvt.) Limited. ZTDH has established a sound reputation in Sri Lanka. Backed by investments that promise a high degree of quality maintenance, expertise and experience; their projects include “THE ONE” Luxury Residence Project in Colombo 01, the Excel World Shopping Mall Project and the “Thurstan 42” Apartment Project.

The post Sky One Residencies Rises in the Heart of Colombo 10: Joins the Lotus Tower in the Skies appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

With Colombo city turning into a business hub, a rising demand for apartments has been seen over the years. Catering to this, recent studies of LankaPropertyWeb (LPW) show that apartment developers are now exploring the suburbs. Thus contributing to the ‘business hub’ by opting to construct complexes beyond the main city.

The increasing population and the changing lifestyles of people have also influenced the number of apartment constructions taking place. However, over the years such constructions taking place in the inner city of Colombo (i.e., Colombo 1-15), have continued to decrease in number.

Condominium Projects From 2014 – 2019

According to the Condominium Management Authority (CMA), there is an increase in condominiums in Colombo from 2014 to 2016. Yet, an obvious reduction is seen from 2017 onward. Apartment constructions in the other districts are following a downward slope as well. However, in the greater Colombo areas like Rajagiriya, Mount Lavinia etc. there is a continuous rise in apartment constructions from 2015.

The opening of Sethsiripaya in Battaramulla by former President Mahinda Rajapaksha in 2012, brought about plans to shift government offices into the administrative hub of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. Thus leaving Colombo city for business affairs. As a result, now the 13 storied building houses the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ministry of Housing Construction and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education and Highways etc. This has brought numerous improvements in terms of administration and service to the public. 

Future development projects expect to further uplift the standard and infrastructure in the greater Colombo areas and the Western region on the whole. Introduction of the Western Region Master Plan 2030 that includes the construction of the Light Rail Transit system from Malabe to Fort with 16 stations, the Tech City Development Project directed in Malabe, Athurugiriya, Kaduwela and Homagama areas, creation of the Airport Business City, the BIA Gateway Project are some constructions expected within the next ten years.  

The Kottawa – Makumbura Multi-Modal Transport Hub opened in April of this year to the public, is another development project that was taken up to improve the transport system in the greater Colombo areas.

Price Changes in Land in the Greater Colombo and Colombo Areas From 2018 – 2019

The data of the CMA on land price change show that over the quarters of the past year and this year, changes in land prices are higher in the greater Colombo areas of Rajagiriya, Nawala, Kalubowila, and Dehiwala. On the other hand, there is an evident hike in Colombo 3 given the many developments taking place. However, the prices of the other areas of Colombo aren’t rising as high as the greater Colombo areas.

Comparing this with the rising apartment constructions in the greater Colombo areas, the interest of condominium developers is justified quite obviously.

Floor Area in Condominiums From 2014 -2019

Floor area space amongst apartments in Colombo are reducing too. But, in the greater Colombo areas, they are increasing. This hints at apartments in the latter turning out to be more spacious than those in the main city. 

Many established and recognized private universities are also increasing in number in the greater Colombo areas. This has created an access to education in these areas, equally if not more, available in quality and standard as the main city of Colombo.

Improvements in infrastructure, transport facilities, education and many more taking place in the greater Colombo areas, has developers now realizing the opportunities available for them. As a result, an increase in apartment construction in the greater Colombo areas is speculated within the near future! 

The post Are Apartment Developers Moving to the Suburbs? appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

When you put on those Oculus Go virtual reality headsets, can step into a reality much different than the one you live in. You could be living in Colombo, Sri Lanka or LA in the States, yet travel around the world or be standing on a plank on the highest floor of a skyscraper trying to grab a couple pieces of cake!

Virtual Reality or VR is generally a term quite closely associated with video games. Whether you are a gaming maniac or just randomly testing out things, there isn’t a single person who doesn’t enjoy the realistic feel this form of gaming creates. But now, technology has taken VR to the next level by incorporating it into a more profound field like Real Estate. Thus creating huge breakthroughs in the industry by increasing efficiency and productivity in every way.

Here are a few ways you can incorporate Virtual Reality into your real estate marketing business.

Virtual Reality and Property Showcases

Property showcases are a huge part of attracting potential clients to a particular property. It is a process of convincing them based not only on facts and figures but on images as well. Invoking emotion to such sales will further increase the potential of selling out apartments or housing spaces. So what better way to do that than using virtual reality!

VR technology and VR content in the real estate industry is still a new trend limited to certain countries only. However, it is a trend that is catching up in the industry across different parts of the world. 

Property showcases bring together developers of apartments and houses to one place. It creates a stage for them to showcase their property and create potential interest in purchasing, amongst buyers.

In the point of the customer, such showcases save their time while also helping them make the best purchase. However, without visiting the place in person, there is no way you can truly tell whether the apartment of your choice suits your needs and meets your requirements. Bridging this gap is the VR technology. 

This form of technology facilitates walking through the apartments as if they would when they visit in person. Thus letting them explore a range of complexes in one place without having to travel for miles! For developers, this is a great way of attracting interest. All they need to do is find VR experts and design the walkthrough virtual tours for their property!

Virtual Reality and Property Staging

Humans deal with emotions and emotions have great power in influencing their every decision including purchase. When the seller or estate agent meets this, sales is a piece of cake! 

A house or apartment that creates a homely and cozy vibe invokes this emotion. Thus it is up to the developer or seller to create such a vibe in the property that they are marketing. What is expected is that you bring together furniture pieces and various detailing rather than presenting a bare space. But the negative side of this is that as great as it may invoke emotion and create an intention of buying, the cost you have to occur in return is too high.

This is when Virtual Reality technology works its magic! 

With the help of the right developers, virtual staging could be used to fill any space with some of the most amazing furniture pieces and fittings that closely resemble your design plan. You can also change other interior designs and details for practically no cost at all! While you will have to incur the cost of having this designed by experts, you don’t have to physically fill up a space with actual furniture and whatnot! 

Virtual Reality and Property Visualization

Believing what we can’t see has always been a challenge especially when it comes to decisions involving large amounts of investments. This has led to many property developers and real estate agents spending huge sums of money to create models and demonstrations to convince potential buyers of their idea and the reality they could be living in. Clients are already hard to convince even when they are visiting an open house. But when the property has not even been built yet, the challenge is harder.

Saving cost, time and effort is the VR technology that uses digital content in creating various elements to suit one’s design and requirements. Thus becoming the perfect substitute and alternative for this. Using VR you can construct building after building in a virtual environment to resemble its drafted plans. This helps in easing the convincing process and scoring sale after sale.

The reason for this is because through this mixed reality you are not only able to showcase the exterior of a particular construction but its interiors as well. Adding to this, the furniture, detailing, walkthrough reality experience, etc. further enhance saleability. 

All you need is to get those htc vive vr headsets set up and ready for action!

Virtual Reality and Partnership Marketing

VR technology can be used in partnership marketing too. The fittings and furniture set up in the virtual property display can be linked to other platforms that sell this. Thus allowing the customers to make direct online purchases based on the interior displays that they see in this augmented reality. For the property developer, this is a great way to make a few extra bucks through the collab. 

The design can also be developed in a way where customers can make certain changes to the property. This way, they can have their homes designed based on their requirements rather than what is being offered.

Since all these cater closely to the customer’s expectations, increasing sales while reducing the costs of the property developer is not a dream anymore.

It is becoming a foreseen reality!

The post Why You Should Be Using Virtual Reality in Real Estate appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Living in an apartment sometimes may seem like a bad thing at first, particularly in the main city of Colombo. This is because most of these aren’t exactly spacious, and even if they are, Colombo apartments aren’t all affordable! However, if you knew exactly what you should be looking for, finding an affordable and spacious apartment or any sort of property for sale, isn’t so hard!

Here are some things you should be looking for when purchasing an apartment.

1. The Ceiling Height

The reason most apartments seem rather cramped up is mainly because of the low ceiling height. Low ceiling height creates a claustrophobic environment making even the most spacious areas small and confined. Therefore, when you are looking around for long term apartments to stay in, always lookup. Consider the height variation from the ground to the ceiling. Then find an apartment that would not only look but also feel spacious! Air conditioning and large bedroom space isn’t the only thing to focus on in real estate properties! When you are buying property every detail should be carefully analyzed. This will help you avoid making decisions you will come to regret at some point!

2. The Outside View 

Sri Lankans are always quite particular with regards to the view of a space. Whether they are simply purchasing investment property or residential properties, this is a detail that is certainly not treated any less than buying land. The reason for this is, in Sri Lanka there isn’t a single place without a killer view! As a result, this has almost become an obvious expectation people have when property hunting with real estate agents.

Skyscraper apartments with meager space for a balcony is just not worthy of an investment. Even though you might only be staying for a short term currently, doesn’t mean you wouldn’t consider purchasing it someday! After all, once we get used to something it is pretty hard to let go! So think smart about every aspect from hiring the right property managers to getting designers to redo the place. This includes focusing on the balcony space as well. It should be spacious enough for at least a furniture or two!

3. Focus on Storage Space 

You might have read many guides to buying and adjusting into a new place, but practically when faced with this situation there might be many issues to deal with. Starting from packing your furniture to transporting them safely, you’d have a load of things to bring along with you to your new home. Therefore it is a good idea to always focus on space when selecting a place to move into. This applies to not only being able to house the family members in your home but the extra things as well. Do inquire about hidden storage spaces and alternative options that you could use to make more room for your belongings.

4. Open Space

The rental market for property is one that is large. To make sales in this, landlords use all sorts of tricks. As the person purchasing this, it is up to you to know how to select the right place. One big factor that contributes to an apartment looking cramped up or not is its layout. The more open the layout is, the lesser cramped up it would look. So focus on the layout as well.

Apartments don’t necessarily have to have the apartment feel. They could be apartments yet look like homes, and this is achieved through the layout. So if you don’t want to end up regretting your apartment choice, prioritize this aspect too when selecting one!

Achieving a balance between space and cost is an inevitable challenge. However, knowing what to find and how to make things work would make living in an apartment homelier than ever!

Be specific, know what you want and visit top real estate sites for Sri Lanka ads – property, to grab only the best deals!

The post Tips to Purchase the Best Apartments appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

As the population increases it is almost impossible to find a large space to call your own. In a city that is bustling throughout the day and night, your best choices are sometimes tiny homes. Most of the time prices for large houses are sky high and limited in number. So usually you’ll find yourself in a tiny house far from what you would have initially planned for. But the beauty in small spaces is knowing how to make it work. When you do so your home and living space would be nothing less than comfy and cozy! 

Here are some quick designing tips you need to try out to give your small home a makeover it deserves!

Inbuilt wall shelves

Space is always a dilemma in a small home design with limited square feet. Nevertheless, if you make use of it in a positive way to create more aesthetic inbuilt fixtures, you wouldn’t find yourself complaining at all! Most people opt to use open floor plans when designing small home plans with house builders or on their own. This is done mainly to overcome the claustrophobic nature caused by the limited space. 

When it comes to storing things, space becomes even more rare. In such instances finding alternatives like shelves will be of more help! Shelves are necessary to store things. Yet sometimes you might not find space even for separate stand up racks. With this in mind, it is best to look into building one using your wall as a base. This way you will be making use of available space rather efficiently! Get creative with the design and fit in spotlighting to make it shine and stand out more! 

Revamping with the existing 

Giving your home a modern touch or a makeover isn’t always costly. You can simply start off by looking at what you can do to revamp the old rather than purchasing something new!

Take a look at those large windows and think of what you can do to give the old curtaining a new touch. Like professional interior decorators, try creating a backdrop in the seating area. Using interesting fabric for this and hanging them on the wall at the back of your sofa is, in fact, a great way to add detailing. Restyle and add color to a stand-up lamp by layering it with varied material shades. This will give it a look like the many interior design displays on magazines.

You could also try covering up boring floors with interesting carpets or rugs to give it a new look. Revamping is a great method to use in your home to give it a newly built look effortlessly. It eliminates the need for hiring project managers and professionals in interior architecture, even if you want to sell your home someday!

Adding a personalized touch with DIY

DIY artwork is a growing trend in the modern-day. It adds a special touch to your home and highlights your own skills by incorporating your own creations as decorative elements.

In small house plans, this trend especially serves well to bring out the best in any space. While many search for a career in interior design, not all know the best ways to bring their knowledge to life. You don’t have to know design theories, complete interior design courses, and whatnot to bring life to art! What matters is that you have a knack and skill for it.

So if you have a talent at creating amazing wall art to be displayed in a home office or string art designed using computer-aided designs, start your projects today! Display these proudly in your home and add a personalized touch in ease! Remember artistic touches don’t have to always come from a professional! The more you it is, the better it would be!

Repainting the chairs

Try some DIY revamping on your old chairs and style them to match the trends! Change the seat covering using interesting fabric material or repaint over the wooden frame to give any old chair a completely revamped look! What’s great about this trick is that as the seasons and trends change you can keep changing designs and remain relevant always!

Designing a space is all about being creative in how you use it. Thus, the space available for you to do so should never be a limitation for this!

The post Top 4 Small Home Interior Designing Ideas appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

LankaPropertyweb.com (LPW), Sri Lanka’s premier property site, recently tied up with Hatton National Bank (HNB) to offer its customers a range of home loan products. Through this expansion of services, LPW seeks to minimize the hassle buyers undergo in order to secure a credit facility to make a property purchase. Available through the LPW website, the service allows prospective buyers to connect directly with HNB for more personalized information on possible home loan products and plans that will suit them.

LPW selected HNB for its partnership based on the bank’s reputation for stability and trusted reliability, together with its highly varied portfolio of home loan products and related value-added services, in alignment with rising customer demand for highly personalized products

The partnership will also enhance the degree of responsiveness and services on offer by HNB, enabling in greater ease of access to credit facilities for general and home loans. The bank has also invested heavily in technology utilized towards the automation of its back-end administrative processes, drastically expanding its ability to quickly and effectively respond to the influx in inquiries for home loans enabled by its partnership with LPW.

Aside from these advantages, accessing the credit facility through LPW will also give access to special interest rates which will vary depending on the client’s financial capacity and key consideration external factors. There is a strong emphasis placed on ensuring that the process is transparent and all pertinent details to the loan products are shared with the customer. The range of loan products on offer are also customized to a certain degree with special packages on offer for Sri Lankans working or domiciled overseas as well as first-time buyers. The emphasis, therefore, is on customizing the loan product to the needs of the client and ensuring that taking a loan does not become too much of a burden on the individual or the family.

To smoothen this process, the LPW website is geared towards providing the most pertinent information required by the Bank to minimize time spent on cross-checking documentation. These are made available through LPW’s very active buyer-seller assistance platform available on its website. In addition to financial information, assistance and advisory services are also provided to prospective customers on property valuation, legal assistance, fees, and tax payments and personal assistance on any matter related to housing loans.

The website also provides information with regard to different credit facilities on offer, allowing prospective buyers to have a clearer idea of what type of a loan facility would best suit his or her situation. Armed with this information, the client can approach the bank to secure pre-approvals and/or instant approvals on loan facilities. While the offers for LPW referrals would be generally made available, HNB will treat each applicant on a case-by-case basis. This helps ease the pressure on the prospective client since individual attention to each potential client is assured.

‘As pioneers in this sector, we have been keenly aware of the problems people encounter in trying to access a credit facility. Sometimes, it takes up to months and it can easily frustrate any person who is keen to buy that special piece of property or their family home. Tying up with Hatton National Bank is a great milestone for us, as it helps us respond to the need we have identified from our customers. For the prospective buyer, the lead time is already minimized, because our platform acts as a virtual intermediary that links the bank with the prospective customer,” LankaPropertyweb.com (LPW), Managing Director, Daham Gunaratna stated.

Through its website and apps, LPW receives close to half a million visits a month by prospective real estate buyers and sellers. The broadening of financial packages on offer through LPW would undoubtedly add towards making the experience of purchasing one’s dream property much more pleasant and hassle-free. LPW will continue to search for meaningful ways to ease the pressure from such interested buyers through an expansion of these complementary services.

LankaPropertyweb.com continues to be Sri Lanka’s premier real estate website, showing an extraordinary growth in traffic and other vital metrics over its twelve years in operations in the country. With over 2 million users conducting over 4 million visits annually and with over 17,000 advertisers offering a variety of services, the website continues to be the “go-to” place for serious and prospective buyers and sellers of real estate in Sri Lanka.

The post LankaPropertyWeb partners with HNB for Home Loan Products appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

What is Sri Lanka? Ceylon, Serendib, Taprobane, Pearl of the Indian Ocean and The Teardrop of India. It is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC). A country that gained victory from a 30 year-long civil war and now is the proud owner of Nelum Kuluna; The Tallest Completed Tower in South Asia.

From the sandy beaches to the cold mountains and widespread jungles, the country promises you an island life experience unlike any other. 

Is Sri Lanka the hidden gem of South Asia? Well as you look through Google Maps you might find Sri Lanka separated by the Palk Strait, looking much smaller than the large Indian terrain. But with its 9 districts, 21 million population and unique culture, the Map of Sri Lanka is now becoming a highlight everyone wants to explore! 

A mixture of urban and modern to Asia’s very own version of the Te Fiti Island in Moana, here are some things you certainly wouldn’t find online on Sri Lanka. 

A Mix of Chilli, A Touch of Veggie, Sweet Wattalappam and Greasy Fries

As odd as this combination may seem to some, for us Sri Lankans it is a daily bread we know the meaning of all too well. You can’t have a traditional Sri Lankan meal without its local spice. A single meal is never complete without a vegan’s pick of veggies in it. A sweet tooth is nothing less than a wattalappam enjoyed during its ‘season’. And greasy fries is a treat we are all digging right now! 

Just like how these dishes make it work, the diversity in culture in Sri Lanka is a beautiful blend. From Sinhalese to Tamils, Muslims, and Christians, the diversity is highlighted even in flag. From the North to the South, to the East to the West, there isn’t a single place where you wouldn’t be at the receiving end of this diversity. Sometimes it is so unique that even in places where people of a particular religion are quite prominent in their presence, you will still find a blend of faiths like a painting with colorful strokes. 

The beauty in the country is, in fact, this diversity that has shaped its culture.

Sri Lanka also has had foreign influences that have shaped its music, traditions, architecture and even language. From the Portuguese to the Dutch and the British, even today their traces remain. Most houses for sale in Colombo especially in Colombo 7, still use British architectural styles in designing. While in areas like Galle, this goes to a whole other level than the houses for rent in Colombo. Thus putting Sri Lanka in a much more unique platform than any other colonized nation. 

When one side of the world is celebrating the Lantern Festival in February, Sri Lanka celebrates Vesak. The country’s own version of a Lantern Festival in May commemorating the enlightenment of Lord Buddha. In April with the Sun moving from Pisces to Pies, Lankans celebrate the beginning of a New Year. Though it is mostly specific to the Sinhalese and Tamils, it is a festival enjoyed by all regardless of race. Honoring the Tooth Relic, Esala Perehara is held in August. A festival held annually for ten days with elephants and performers recreating a parade started over hundreds of years ago. 

Sri Lanka also shares certain festivals with the rest of the world. From Deepavali to Eid Ul Fitr and Christmas, the diversity in the country has Sri Lankans embracing them all! 

Is Sri Lanka a good place to travel?  Of course! A vacation in Sri Lanka is never better than when it is in the season of celebrating. So if you are ever thinking of visiting, plan a trip to Sri Lanka to fit the festive schedule. Thus enjoy the best stay in the best seasons! 

One thing about Lankans is that when we are in the festive mood, our holidays, have no expiry. At least nothing less than a month!

How does the rest of the world see Sri Lanka as? Not that it matters, but we sure do love our holidays! This also probably explains why the first thing we go through in a new calendar is the holidays!

It’s Hot N It’s Cold, It’s Rain N It’s Shine

Blame it on the influence of colonization, but weather is a topic Lankans share all too well with the British. Not to forget sipping on a cup of tea with a hint of Ginger whenever we feel like it! After all, it is what the British introduced to the country during their colonial stay! 

Situated close to the equator Sri Lanka doesn’t necessarily experience the 4 seasons like most countries do. Yet it has its own designated areas where it shines bright in its own season!

What is the Sri Lankan weather like you ask?

Hop on a train and travel to the hills in Nuwara Eliya to enjoy a touch of the chilly winter. Get off and move to the East or the North to enjoy the scorching sun and natural hot springs. Down South, you’ll find some of the most amazing beaches to ride the waves or chill while you get that natural tan. Welcome the urban city life in the West that is home to some of the most luxurious hotels and restaurants along with skyscrapers that are working their way to the top!

While most of the time in the city your climate experience is limited to either rain or shine. As the year ends, the climate gets cold. During the months of February to May, a pair of sunglasses, an umbrella and sunscreen is a must!  The fun thing about the Sri Lankan weather is, it is based on where you are in the country and of course which time of the year it is!

A Trail in the Wilds, A Dip Under the Waterfalls, A Climb to the Peak

Sri Lanka certainly doesn’t lack at all in nature. This has made a great contribution in putting the country as one of the best islands to visit in 2019.

If one were to ask ‘is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka?’ It certainly is! As a female traveling solo or a bunch of friends backpacking together, Sri Lanka is probably safer than other places in the South Asian region. Sure, it did experience its hardest hiccup after 10 years in April. The Easter Sunday attacks was not easy on anyone. It especially affected Sri Lanka Tourism a lot. But today, not only has the economy boosted, now it is very much safe to travel to Sri Lanka too!

So look up on Travel Information and the Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka to enjoy the most out of your stay here!

What are some things to do in Sri Lanka? Well, what isn’t would be more accurate! From the long stretches of jungle and wildlife to the waterfalls flowing from meters above and the amazing hiking trails for an explorer’s thrill; what you are looking for, you will certainly get! However, to enjoy the best views it is always recommended that you take public transport like the train or bus. This will definitely be an experience unlike any other.

For the best or the worst! 

Traveling towards the mountains, Ella otherwise known as The Lovely Mountain Town Ella in Sri Lanka is a hiker’s dream paradise. From the hiking trails to the mountains, it is a place sure to get rid of stress and pressure!

The hike to Little Adam’s Peak on a day trip, exploring Ravana’s Cave, the famous Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Waterfall, and Flying Ravana – Sri Lanka’s first-ever Mega Zipline are some of the many things awaiting the tourists and local visitors at the site. Yet to enjoy it all one full day’s trip is hardly enough! Instead, extend your stay for at least 3-4 days and find temporary living amongst the bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, villas or annex for rent.

Moving towards North you would be able to witness a postwar land working its way towards development and progress. A few kilometers down from Jaffna, Trincomalee is famous for its natural hot water springs and many other historical sights. In the past, the area was Sri Lanka’s first harbor that attracted Indians and other nationals into the country. 

Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are also significant ancient cities in Sri Lanka with a long history of the kings that ruled. The architectural constructions and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress bear witness to the amazing knowledge and intelligence our ancestors possessed. The deeply embedded Buddhist culture and temple constructions in the area make these places religiously important too.

A total of 8 places in Sri Lanka have been recognized as World Heritage sites as well by UNESCO; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.  

In the Southern areas of Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Galle the long stretches of sandy beaches not only promise fun and tan but also gives you the opportunity to explore the sea life residing deep below. From scuba diving to whale watching and riding on glass boats, if you are looking to explore the unknown these are perfect places to visit! 

The National Park in Yala, the Wilpattu National Park, Kumana National Park are some of the many open wild spaces that brings Africa home to this little paradise. Enjoy your ride on the Sri Lanka Wildlife Safari Tours as you get as close as possible to your subject for that Instagram worthy shot. Who knows you might even encounter a closeup of Tuskers knocking on your windows or monkeys messing around! 

In most countries, many only look forward to visiting the suburbs while avoiding the city. This is generally because the city only has to offer a hustling and bustling life. But in Colombo Sri Lanka, this is so much more different. Even when you are in the city living in an annex for rent in Colombo, you wouldn’t feel too far away from nature, especially because of this island essence. 

What are the must-see things in Colombo, Sri Lanka?

The list could definitely go on. To start off the recently opened Lotus Tower is an absolute must-see especially if you are one for killer views. Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, Viharamahadevi Park, The Pettah Market, Dehiwala Zoo, The National Art Gallery are some others that stand out in the ‘Colombo Sri Lanka travel list’. 

One thing great about Colombo is that as long as you are on the coastal sides, you will definitely get to enjoy an amazing sunset, bask in a couple hours of tanning and take a stroll through the roads beautified by natural waters and green-lit trees. 

To offer this serene experience to anyone that visits the country, apartments for sale in Colombo and apartments for rent in Colombo have been carefully designed with location and view in mind. 

In fact, this is so carefully thought through that you would hardly find any rooms for rent in Colombo, homes, or lands, in a bad spot! However, this depends on how much effort you put into finding the best places to stay in too.  

While there are hardly any lands for sale in Colombo that isn’t surrounded by some form of nature, those that are a complete opposite exist too. So do your homework beforehand! 

Sri Lanka has a lot to offer to anyone and everyone that visits. But it is up to you to know where to visit, how to get there and the best things to look forward to, to make the best out of this trip! 

The post What Wikipedia Can’t Tell You About Sri Lanka appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

• Highlights lessons from Malaysian development experience relevant to current challenges in SL

• Calls for urgent recalibration of policy to support affordable vertical living

• Reiterates potential for focused property policies to enhance Sri Lanka’s regional economic status

The future of Sri Lanka’s economic development could very likely hinge on how domestic policies towards real estate evolve, particularly with respect to supporting the massive demand for vertical living in Colombo and its suburbs.

These were some of the key insights which emerged out of a Breakfast Meeting jointly hosted by John Keells Properties and DFCC Bank at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel on 24 September 2019.

Featuring an insightful presentation by Guest Speaker, MD/CEO of Malaysia’s Impetus Alliance Advisors, Michael Yam and a panel discussion with John Keells Properties, Sector Head, Nayana Mawilmada, the breakfast meeting provided an exclusive group of DFCC Premier customers with an unprecedented overview of current challenges, potential solutions and latent investment opportunities in Sri Lankan real estate.

“While the rate at which real estate development takes place can be drastically altered by socio-economic volatility, the demand for housing is primarily driven by population growth and employment opportunities. In that regard, there are many lessons that can be drawn from the story of Malaysia’s development and adapted to help Sri Lanka overcome its present challenges,” Yam explained.

Currently ranked third out of 10 countries in the ASEAN region – which itself is the 3rd fastest growing group of nations in the global economy, Malaysia’s current success at the macroeconomic level is directly traceable to a policy reforms passed in the wake of the global financial crisis that sought to enhance financial system resilience by – among others – reclassifying real estate as a priority sector.

“This fundamental reclassification enabled the state to implement stable, property-friendly policies, improve access to finance, ensure rule of law and enhance connectivity through substantial investments into public transportation. In cities like Kuala Lumpur, this framework enabled the decentralization of commercial and administrative complexes outside of the Central Business District. As a result, the load placed on public infrastructure is distributed more evenly, enabling the entire city to function more efficiently,” Yam explained.

He further noted that if Sri Lanka could follow in these footsteps – the country could well be poised to play a similar role to the SAARC region that Malaysia does for ASEAN. This observation was particularly impactful given that Sri Lanka also occupies a similar position in the SAARC region which Malaysia holds in ASEAN.

Sri Lanka’s GDP of US$ 88.2 billion is much smaller than Malaysia’s US$ 304.7 billion GDP, Sri Lanka’s economy is the fourth largest in South Asia, where Malaysia’s is the third largest in ASEAN. The alignment in terms of regional position on GDP per capita was also significant, with Malaysia holding the 3rd rank in ASEAN with US$ 10,330 per capita, as compared with Sri Lanka’s 2nd position ranking in South Asia with US$ 4,240 per capita.

“Over the past decade, Sri Lankan real estate has made some truly impressive advances – particularly in relation to the development of high-rise condominiums, branded residences, and commercial spaces. Meanwhile, there are some notable mixed used integrated developments in the pipeline and plans for greater connectivity in public transport. However, even major cities like Colombo have been slow to move towards transit oriented development and planned township development. These are areas which will have to be given careful consideration moving forward,” Yam stated.

Among the most pressing challenges facing the country over the medium-term will be the dearth in affordable vertical living within the city and its suburbs.

“Vertical living and multi-family residential spaces will be absolutely fundamental to solving Sri Lanka’s future housing challenges. At present just over 90% of Sri Lankans live in single family detached housing, and over time, this is a dynamic which cannot be sustained within the city, leading to increasing volumes of new housing stock being shifted to the fringe of the city, massive traffic congestion, and major distortions in real estate prices,” John Keells Properties’ Mawilmada stated.

Illustrating the growing severity of these issues, he pointed to analysis carried out by John Keells Properties which found that average commuting times from major residential suburbs had increased to almost two hours on average. Meanwhile, average vehicle speeds within Colombo have steadily plunged from 22 km/h in 2012 down to 8 km/h in 2018.

“Among the most urgent priorities will be to change the way we approach urban development. There needs to be a shift towards densification and mass transit, while the private sector needs to be stimulated with the right incentives to help fill the gap in middle-income housing. This cannot be accomplished without transparent regulations that help stimulate development and lowering the cost of construction – which are presently among the highest in the entire region.

“Similarly, there needs to be a concerted effort on the part of policy makers and the private sector to help widen access to housing finance – such as through a reduction in interest rates and tax rebates for first-time home buyers. Such reforms will undoubtedly have a transformative impact on our society and our economy,” Mawilmada stated.

For more insight visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up369xz5Ehg

The post MICHAEL YAM HIGHLIGHTS MAJOR EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES IN SRI LANKAN REAL ESTATE appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

The holiday season; a season of joy, a season of giving and a season of ULTIMATE DECORATING! 

As the snow drapes the streets with its cold blanket turning every place you set your eyes on into a winter wonderland (except for in the tropical countries of course), Christmas is a season much anticipated by people of all ages. In remembrance of the day Jesus was born, this festival is one of the many special Christian holidays.  

Christmas is also the best season to bring out the inner designer in you with amazing Christmas decorations.

From the creative wreaths to the lit Christmas tree and string lights, designing and decorating takes a whole other level during this month. 

So for those wondering ‘How to decorate your house for Christmas?’ here are a few decorating ideas you could use to upscale your Christmas house decorations to the next level!

Presenting is decorating

Browsing through the internet you might come across all sorts of ideas to choose from, for your decorations. However when you look up for ‘What are some ideas for Christmas decorations?’ the list of things that follow may range from a white themed Christmas to a rustic Christmas with nature and wood.

Nonetheless, what you should know is despite the style you choose, starting from your house to the yard land and the food, aesthetics, and presentation plays a big part. You could have a less selection of Christmas decorations than your neighbour or store-bought food laid out on the table, but if you know how to present them well, nailing the season like a pro is a piece of cake.

Use a tiered platter to place the food in, to create an illusion of height. Mix and match the colours of the cutlery to the food that you place in them, to add vibrant shades to the red and green theme. 

Overall try to create a story with every piece of decor that you incorporate. Even if it only a simple pine decor or fancy folded napkins, work to connect them together. This way even if you don’t necessarily stick to a particular theme or particular colors, you are still complimenting every element in its own way.

Bring your personality to your decor

While Christmas is the season of remembrance, love, and joy, it also brings out the competitive streak in most people. It’s almost funny how neighbours and friends compete to upscale decor! It shouldn’t matter if your neighbour is going all out with their decor with a pre lit reindeer and a sky-high Christmas tree in their front yard. Instead what you should be doing is keeping things true to yourself.

Try Christmas decorations DIY that are simple, easy and budget-friendly. DIY shouldn’t only be limited to Christmas cards and crackers. Using them in your home decor is also a great way of showing your personality and the Christmas spirit more genuinely. Ask yourself ‘what are some popular Christmas decorations?’ and think of how you can incorporate them into your decor by customizing it the way you want. Start off with simple wreaths to snowflakes, stockings, and centerpieces and work your way to the top!

The outdoors matter too

If someone were to ever ask ‘What are the most popular Christmas decoration colours?’ The obvious answer would be green and red. They are the most used shades especially during this season when decorating the insides of a home. However, just as the interior gets a makeover, the outdoors too should be added to your decorating schedule. You can’t have someone walking through an absolute mess of overgrown weeds and an unkempt lawn just to be welcomed into a ‘fairly land’ on the inside. That is just not right in every design sense! 

So start working on outdoor Christmas decorating. 

To keep things simple you could either wrap fairy lights around the trees and their branches or have multicoloured Christmas lights draped on the borders of your roof. If you want to take it a few notches high, you could go all out with lit wire displays of Santa’s sleigh, a Christmas tree and even Santa Claus himself!

Pop colours are the attention grabbers

Mixing in bold shade Christmas decorations to a neutral or white themed living room is a great way to overcome your detailing efforts going unrecognised. When things are too white and silver, what you want to highlight never gets its time in the spotlight. But by using such vibrant colours making them stand out isn’t that hard.

The Christmas tree is another detail that cannot be missed during this season. Because of its obvious significance, people think of different ways they can use to highlight this tree in a unique and personalized way. 

‘What are your favourite ideas for decorating a Christmas tree?’

For many, a star on the top, fairy lights, ornaments, and garlands are the go-to decor when it comes to this question. But bringing each piece out and creating a statement of its own; that is where the fun begins!

Work on it. This way every piece of your holiday decoration stands out and creates the magnificent final look you’re going for. 

Minimalism is chic 

As fun and fascinating as it is to go all out with your Christmas decoration ideas, sometimes minimalism is the best too. Keeping things simple and chic adds a touch of elegance and class unlike any other. 

Interesting centrepieces, candles or flower displays are in fact more than enough to stay in line with the popular Christmas decorations. Include such detailing and add the much needed ‘wow factor’ to your home! 

Christmas day is about family and joy. So don’t let the holiday cheer centre too much around how you can top another’s decor or how tall and fancy your tree is. As great as it is to decorate, embrace the time you spend with your family too. Revisit old memories and bond with everyone you have or haven’t seen over the past year and celebrate this Christmas with all those you hold dear!

We wish you a Merry Christmas from Lanka Property Web & House.lk! 

The post Slay Christmas with these Amazing Christmas Decoration Tips for your Home appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

As you are packing up those store-bought Christmas decorations that have been adorning your home throughout the holidays and restoring the symbolic tree that might need a lot of ‘dusting’, for next Christmas; the first chapter of 2020 has just begun with real estate trends! 

It’s the start of a new decade and a new beginning and there is a lot expected to change. Here is what you need to know on the real estate trends expected to make breakthroughs for this year.

Moving from the busy city to the chill suburbs 

There was a time when the suburbs were considered too ‘basic’ to live or even buy a home in. As a result, more people moved to the main cities leaving the rural and suburban areas. But now moving to the suburbs is the new trend that everyone is striving to be a part of. The advance technological changes that have led to the improvement in transportation, apartment constructions in the suburbs, increasing environmental pollution and home prices in the main city, have all contributed to this trend. 

Meanwhile, luxury apartments in the main city are still unable to accommodate the continuously growing population. Space and price are also always at opposite ends in even the best apartments. At the end, you could be living in a lavish condominium with space strictly restricted for obvious reasons.

This imbalance, however, has also paved the way for new opportunities in the housing market. According to the recent studies of Lanka Property Web, apartment developers are now exploring the spacious suburbs where they can cater much better to the expectations of clients. Still filled with greenery; the spacious suburbs, are less prone to the decreasing quality of air too. Therefore people can expect a better quality of life here, more than in the main city. 

Locally as well, these changes have been witnessed over the past couple months in the real estate market. The rising air pollution in the main city, the government’s goal of converting the metropolitan city into a business hub, the increasing gap between land price and space are all creating rippling effects throughout the real estate industry in Sri Lanka. 

While the main city becomes a business hub, the suburbs are turning into residential areas. To facilitate this, transportation and other infrastructure facilities are expected to reach high levels, within the upcoming decade.

Millennials purchasing homes

Studies conducted by popular sites like realtor.com, show a common trend of Millenials dominating the home buyer category. This is in addition to the baby boomers who are increasing in number too. Citing reasons as them finding more stable jobs, earning a stable household income along with starting families and becoming parents; many are first time home buyers or starter home hunters.

Since Millennials use the internet more to gather information over any other source ensuring your business has a reputed online presence is key. This will surely go a long way in reaching the expected business outcomes. Including additional service details like a house loan calculator, updated mortgage rates and latest estate trends in the website, could further improve your credibility and trust in their minds. Signing up with reputed property sites like house.lk etc could also increase one’s reputation as a reliable agent.

Millennials also seek space, affordability, close vicinity to the main city with a reasonable cost of living. Thus homes in the suburbs are welcomed more by them. Accordingly, providing such information transparently and in-depth while selling homes is necessary to attract the right customers. 

Amenities and interior decide everything

The imbalance between the growing population and the lack of space has led to an increasing number of apartment constructions taking place. Peoples’ expectations in terms of amenities and services offered by these are on the rise too. As a result, people are more particular about what they are looking for in addition to price, location, etc. 

Influenced a lot by modern global trends with the advancing technology and globalization people expect the same locally as well. In the real estate industry, this causes comparatively high pressure on the developers of these apartments. Hence, striving to keep up with the upcoming trends of this industry is a special factor to pay heed to. 

Government policy changes 

Over the years in Sri Lanka VAT has been a huge part of taxing and a large source of income to the government. With the appointment of the new government on the 18th of November 2019, VAT rates were revised.

• VAT on condominiums – taken off completely.
• VAT on other goods and services reduced from 15% to 8%.
• Nation Building Tax 2% charged on domestic goods and services and economic services – removed.
• Income tax on the construction industry reduced to 14% from 28%. 

These are all expected to create rippling effects in the real estate industry of Sri Lanka. Consequently, increasing the opportunities and capabilities of those looking to purchase property. 

Ease in obtaining Home loans 

Today obtaining housing loans in Sri Lanka; especially in Colombo can range between a period of 3 to 14 days. As interest, a fixed rate between 12% – 15% is charged. Certain banks even allow those above the age of 55 to obtain housing loans repayable within 20-25 years.

All these bare evidence to how far the banking system and the government have come far in facilitating housing for everyone. As a result, influencing and affecting the real estate industry on the whole. 

Since now more people are even considering purchasing property of their own and renting out for short stays, being aware of what is to come in the future for the property market is required to make the best out of real estate marketing!

The post Real Estate Trends 2020: What You Need to Know to Make it Big This Year appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Following over a decade of successful operation of helping people find, sell and rent property in Sri Lanka, LankaPropertyWeb.com which has become the most popular place for properties along with House.lk started a new chapter in its journey by establishing a ‘Property Centre (PC)’ in Colombo. 

In a prime location at No.1 Bagatelle Road, Colombo 3 in the Platinum One Building, the new space is the first-ever Property Center to be found and facilitates both buyers and sellers on their property needs. 

“The Property Centre was conceptualized to provide assistance and build awareness on the property market in the country,” said Daham Gunaratna, Managing Director of Lanka Property Web (Pvt) Ltd, noting that they are also in the process of creating property advertising centres across the country.

“We have opened 14 such locations in greater Colombo so far with many more to be signed up soon. The Property Advertising Agents (PAA) network that we have across the country also aims to help advertisers submit property ads in addition to our website and app.” 

With the purpose of serving the customers and agents better while assisting them in terms of property-related matters, LankaPropertyWeb relocated from its previous venue in Colombo 4. At the new Property Center individuals can not only obtain assistance with their property advertising process but also apply for buyer and seller assistance such as legal, property valuation, documentation etc. involved in the process of purchasing and selling property. 

Initiated with the concept of being a ‘one-stop-shop’ to cater to all property needs of buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords; the Centre facilitates assistance in posting ads, handling paperwork such as property deeds and agreements, valuing property, professional consultation on purchasing apartments, making property investments, legal advice from an imminent panel of property expert lawyers, assistance with applying for mortgages and advice on best mortgage rates as well.

In the real estate industry, it is imperative to keep communication lines open with customers who are in the market to rent, lease, source a valuation, purchase or sell a property. With regards to this, LankaPropertyWeb which has been a dominant presence in the development of several neighbourhoods is currently expanding its service network through PAA to assist and help individuals to post property advertisements. Mr Gunaratna added that with this relocation, Lanka Property Web will be able to serve extensively to its loyal customers who have trusted the brand for more than a decade.

“We are immensely proud of our exceptional service levels that can be adapted to customers’ personal needs, including a face to face point of contact and direct them throughout the process.” 

Furthermore, the company shares knowledge and insight on the current property market, latest updates on the industry developments, future of property investment options available in the country etc. 

At the Center, prospective investors have the opportunity to discuss investment potentials as well. Accordingly, the Research and Analysis team of LPW will assist them with market research and feasibility studies done to understand the viability and ROI from such projects to make better-informed decisions. LPW plans to educate the public too using informative videos and articles on what to be aware of when purchasing and selling property.

New initiatives to develop the real estate business with the economic changes such as VAT reduction will assist potential investors to look for superior property investment opportunities while other related parties can search for opportunities to expand their businesses. In this context, LankaPropertyWeb, which is the most widely visited property website, will be the prime property centre to facilitate the end to end process. 

LankaPropertyWeb’s experience in the property investment market has certified the company to carve out a stellar reputation in the industry for both the services it provides and the unparallel properties delivered.

The post LankaPropertyWeb sets up new Property Centre appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Sinhala being the native language of Sri Lanka has given rise to a rather unique set of city names in addition to the general English names that many are familiar with. But with the growing use of English as a main language especially in Colombo, some might not even be aware of the existence of these Colombo 1 – 15 city names in Sinhala. On the other hand, the usage of these names are also quite seldom heard if not for when you travel on the bus and the conductor yells them out loud. 

So if you are not familiar with these Colombo 1-15 names, here is the complete compilation of the English and Sinhala names of the 15 divisions of Colombo. 

The post Colombo 1- 15; Are You Familiar With These? appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Home is a place of rest and a place of joy and laughter. To bring out this vibe, many think a lot about the kind of house they wish to live in. In fact, the sort of house designs they want to explore take the top when designing such house plans. Thus you find many people doing prior research on photos of house designs Sri Lanka, Indian style house designs, small house design and even opting to explore things out on their own. This has led to a constant evolution in the home design and structures witnessed in the modern-day and era.

The rising population, limited space and the advancing home interior design trends have also had a major influence on these house designs. As a result, now you would see a set of primary or basic house designs in Sri Lanka that have gone through many upgrades and changes through interior designing.

When you simplify these home designs in Sri Lanka you will identify that the choices are more or less limited. But through interior and exterior home design Sri Lanka, the limits are endless. They give your home building that much needed unique touch by taking it to a whole other level!

Here are a few such housing construction styles, broken down to their simple home designs or simple house design plans for you to choose from when building your very own dream home. 

Single / Detached Homes

A single or detached home is the general one-floor house you see in almost every neighbourhood. These houses are also known as free-standing residential buildings. The house designs used in the construction of these may even appear commonly amongst many vacation homes. In such home designing images finding open floor plans, garage and gardening spaces is usual.

When compared with apartments and terraced home designs, depending on where single houses are located, the facilities available may be higher. This is because in general most of these homes are located in the less dense urban areas where outdoor space is available in abundance. Thus expanding the liberty of adding in more rooms and facilities into the house plan.

When you are building a house of your own with the expertise of house builders in Sri Lanka, usually you have the freedom to explore various home design ideas. However, sometimes there might be certain restrictions and obstacles in the process. For example, the independence you have in building your home the way you want could be limited in a neighbourhood where colonial architectural design is the prime style.

The reason for this is the strict conditions have been imposed by the state in such areas in the hope of preserving the cultural and historical value. Thus requiring all citizens of that area to maintain similar housing designs regardless of the architects of Sri Lanka that they work with. Especially in areas like Galle, this is seen quite often. 

However, a detached home constructed in an area with no such restrictions has limitless home designing freedom. You can choose to follow whichever house design and features you want based on your preferences. Of course, common factors like location, environment, weather conditions etc. should be taken into consideration. This will ensure that the house plan you draw and the house you build lasts long enough to even be passed down for generations. 

Recommendations:

When constructing your home you can either go all out or limit things beyond normal ranges because of budget concerns. But in some countries, the state is strictly involved to ensure minimum standards are maintained in every home that is being built. This fortifies a spacious environment is created for sustainable living in the entire society. It also leads to people not being coerced into living in cramped up underground basements like parasites!

In the USA, depending on the State you are constructing your home in, the laws that apply to house plans and house designs vary. A traditional home according to minimum standards should have at least one livable room with space for a closet and a window (regardless of style and size). 

But in Sri Lanka, many seek for at least 2 bedroom houses with a bathroom and a considerable amount of yard space. While 1 bedroom living spaces are used temporarily and usually found as boarding rooms or rooms for rent.

Overall a single modern home plan would include a minimum of 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, a living room welcoming guests at the entrance and perhaps a tiny gardening space.  

Duplex / Semi-Detached Homes

Contemporary house plans or house design plan pictures for semi-detached or duplex homes show houses built side by side or in two stories. The space offered in these are comparatively huge than a detached or single home as well. Duplex homes are ideal for those with a large number of family members. This is because they are capable of occupying everyone and everything while still having plenty of walking space. 

A unique feature in these homes and house plans is that most of them are built mirroring or twining the other. So you wouldn’t find much of a difference between the two units, their exterior house design and in some cases, interior home design too. 

Duplex house plans Sri Lanka that has been constructed side by side, have an advantage of using one unit as an additional source of income by renting. The second unit could also be used as an independent office space to enhance working from home even better. This method may result in tax reductions and fees depending on where you are from and the laws imposed. 

Recommendations:

The number of rooms and space within a duplex that could be included
in the house plan may vary depending on the size of the plot of land. Due to this many choose to construct a duplex if only there is an abundance in space. But the hidden secret behind a duplex is that unlike a single house plan Sri Lanka, you can go higher. All that matters is a strong foundation being laid. Even a 6 or 7 perch land could be used to construct a spacious duplex with more than 3 rooms in the house plan. 

Accordingly, a smartly designed semi-detached home could contain a minimum of 5 rooms including 2 children’s rooms, a master bedroom, a guest room and a linen room that could also be used as a maid’s room, 3 bathrooms, an L shaped veranda with a small house garden design area and parking for 2. Using height as your hidden weapon when working on the home design is one of the greatest tricks to create a spacious look for a duplex. So don’t give up on the duplex of your dreams anytime soon! 

Triplex / Terraced Homes

Similar to a duplex but one unit more in number is a triplex or terraced home. These homes share side walls and are often mirror images or identical houses of the initial unit. Some of these might also be built by combining a two-storied semi-detached house. In other words, they have two floors and are 3 in design or number. When they are built in a row next to each other, the first and last of these houses are known as the end terrace. 

However, unlike with a detached or single home, here outdoor space is largely limited for obvious reasons. Hence, they are also comparatively cheaper in price than the previous two.

Recommendations: 

The total number of bedrooms included a house plan of a triplex could go up to 6 or 9 depending on the design. However, since this is usually a repetition of the ground floor in terms of structure, a contrastingly huge difference in space or design may not be seen. Yet it may be arranged in different ways if they’ve been built one floor over the other than side by side. 

A triplex may also include a minimum 5 or 6 bathrooms and bathrooms fittings, large living space, small front yard (depending on the location), parking, a spacious kitchen to fit in the latest kitchen items and a patio (if backdoor space is available) in its house plans. More extra rooms may also be included after taking the plot size and location into consideration. 

Factors to consider when selecting a housing design 

Although there is a variety of housing designs to choose from when building a home of your own, you need to be practical. So here is a list of things to consider when selecting a housing design. 

Lifestyle

The life one family or person lives is always different from another. What they expect from their homes and the amenities they would require may vary too. Considering such practical concerns and designing a small house plan that fits will ensure that the house you live in supports and eases your day to day life. Ask yourself; 

Are you someone who works from home? 

Do gaming and working out occupy a big part of your daily routine? 

Imagine yourself living in the house built according to the small house plan. This will help you identify what works, what doesn’t and what is needed. Consequently, you would be able to construct a house plan that is not only luxurious and comforting but practical too.

After all, once you have invested a lot and found movers in Sri Lanka to move your belongings into the new home if it doesn’t contribute to the lifestyle you live, it is never going to be a worthy one!

The property and budget

When designing a house plan, factors like the direction the sun faces, privacy and the budget should always be a priority. This is because they have a much greater impact on your final home than you could ever imagine. 

Costs that may be incurred in future

For example, a house built by house builders in Sri Lanka in the opposite direction that the sun faces would have to bear high electricity costs, lighting outlets etc. Thus increasing costs further in future too. However, had it been positioned right from the beginning these inconveniences could have been avoided. Thus saving you from sky-high bills.  

Focus on the basic structure

When most people work on designing house design plans, what they focus on is the interior designing aspect. They picture how they can include different high-end designs and aspects that are commonly seen all over the internet. But what you should be doing is considering the basic structure of the house in general.

In other words, your modern house designs should be practical. It may include new home designs, architectural styles and house interior design. But if there is no proper living space it serves no purpose to anyone. Therefore, the number of rooms – depending on the family members, the purpose of different rooms depending on the lifestyle you live, balconies, gardening space etc. should be thought out carefully when drawing initial home plans.

Even if you design the perfectly structured small house plan, there is a potential for damage and the need for renovations. Therefore, it is necessary to budget possible maintenance costs and be practical when designing a small home design. Sure, it is a great idea to test out-of-the-box new house designs in Sri Lanka on paper. But when they are put into practice they may conflict against reality.

The land 

The land that you decide to build your home in impacts the value of it as well. A house built in a sloppy mangrove with no foot traffic at all has no value in such case. Even if it is surrounded by the best views it will affect the entire foundation of the house. Despite however much, you incur on constructing and designing it, due to its location and quality it would be of no value to anyone. 

In Sri Lanka a common area that has the highest land value and large demand is Colombo. At current, the average land price of this city varies between 30 – 50M. Meanwhile, in other cities, the range is between 20 – 40M. This is a result of the high demand Colombo has in addition to the abundance in facilities available here. 

Documents required in the process of building the house of your dreams in Sri Lanka

Depending on the area that you reside in and the type of application that you are seeking to obtain approval for your home design plan with photos, your local authority may demand a specific set of documentation. However, if the area has been declared as an urban development area and is regulated by the Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1978, the documentation and application would have to be submitted to the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

The following is a list of primary documents that may be required to be submitted in the process.

1. The plans of the site including drawings, site/layout maps and site location maps
2. The building plan to be approved along with 3 copies of the original modern house plan
3. Supporting documentation
4. Ownership certificate/copy of the relevant deed
5. Completed application form – Could be obtained from Pradeshiya Sabha office, Municipal Council, Urban Council or UDA.
6. Application fee / Receipt of payment

Other documents that may also be required to be submitted in the process are;

1. Approved subdivision/amalgamation plan, permit or approved building or floor plan, development permit or original survey plan for site existence from surveyed prepared before 1999/07/29
2. A copy of the owner’s / representative (if submitted by a representative of the owner) National Identity Card
3. Certified copies of deeds with relevant survey plans and documents
4. Certified copy of Pedigree
5. Traffic Impact Assessment report
6. An affidavit certifying that all documents submitted by the owner or developer along with the application are true and accurate.

The post Top: House Plans | Home Design | House Designs | How to Stay Popular in the Designing World appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Over the past years, Lanka Property Show has cemented its position as Sri Lanka’s largest and foremost Real Estate show and convention. This year Lanka Property Show 2020 is scheduled to bring buyers, sellers, developers, financiers and experts together in grand style for the 4^th consecutive time. 

Lanka Property Show 2020 will be held on the 29^th of February and the 1^st of March 2020 at the Balmoral Hall at The Kingsbury Colombo from 10 am to 8 pm. 

Organized and hosted by LankaPropertyWeb; Sri Lanka’s premier Real Estate website, the Property Show is a must-attend event for those with an interest in the Sri Lankan real estate market. The event will provide visitors with all options and solutions available in Sri Lanka’s Real Estate market under one roof.

The Lanka Property Show 2020 will also be a platform for Sri Lanka’s best and most reputed property developers, real estate agents and banks to interact with prospective buyers, share knowledge and ideas and work together to promote Sri Lanka’s property market to the public and the world. 

Both local and foreign consumers will get a chance to view a plethora of properties available in the market to suit every budget. Apartments in Colombo and Greater Colombo area starting from LKR 19.5 Million, along with various housing and land projects will be showcased at the event. Over 25 different projects will be showcased at the event this year, with everything from luxury apartments to affordable houses near Colombo and many new development projects will also be launched to the public at the Lanka Property Show 2020.

Visitors will also be exposed to the various financing options available to them with home loan rates starting from 11.5% available at the event offered by leading banks.

Discussing this flagship event, Daham Gunaratna – Managing Director at LankaPropertyWeb said, “We have always understood that one area where the real estate sector was lacking in Sri Lanka was in terms of efficient interaction between buyers and sellers. In fact, this was the inspiration behind LankaPropertyWeb. From the inception, we have worked to create an efficient and seamless venue for buyers, sellers and experts to interact. Lanka Property Show is an extension of this fundamental concept. Through this event, we are creating a platform for all stakeholders in the sector to interact with each other and experience everything the market has to offer, under one roof. A variety of apartment, housing and land developers, plus solar companies will be showcasing numerous projects and products this year, demonstrating the attraction and utility of this event which has become Sri Lanka’s largest property show with the largest and most diverse number of participants.”

Emphasizing the importance of investing in the property market at this time, Daham added, “The more efficient tax regime that has been put into place by the present government coupled with increased FDIs, a growing middle class and economic development will work together to create a boom in the property market in the near future. It is presently a highly opportune moment to invest in Real Estate in Sri Lanka and secure yourself and your family for the future.”

Alongside the numerous displays and showcases to be enjoyed and witnessed at the Lanka Property Show 2020, the event will also feature top property agents and LankaPropertyWeb’s own Buyer and Seller Assistance Team providing assistance to visitors with their property buying and selling needs. Lanka Property Show 2020 is set to be the real estate event of the year and a treat for any participant in this market! 

Leading property developers John Keells Properties, Capital Heights by Access Group and 606 The Address will be the Platinum Sponsors at this year’s event while Seylan Bank will participate as the Official Banking Partner.  

Participants can register for the event and get further details at www.lankapropertyweb.com/events  

The post Lanka Property Show 2020; Set and Ready to Wow Colombo with All Property Solutions Under One Roof appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

Nowadays we are all cooped up at home maintaining #socialdistancing by quarantining ourselves for the greater good—in hope of preventing the spread of Corona. Yet, you can’t really avoid the boredom that strikes all too hard during this time. Although Corona in Sri Lanka hasn’t seen the rapidly increasing curve of infected people, there is still a potential for things to turn a complete 360.

If the people suspected of carrying this contagious disease were allowed to roam free, this pandemic could spread much faster than a bush fire in a small country like ours. That is why the authorities have strictly limited the movement of people through measures like quarantine and curfews. In turn, protecting the public and controlling the spread of this disease.

But for us, most part of our lives, have revolved around living a scheduled routine. Getting up, going to work, coming back home, eating, sleeping and doing the same thing all over again has never changed up until now.
In fact, at that point extra time in our hands was a luxury. Yet now, the current situation is so much so that we are all in an abundance of time—we literally have all the time in the world!

To keep boredom at bay and ease the work and minds of the overworking public health officers and doctors at centres for disease control and prevention, use this opportunity to spend time with your family. Try out crafts, baking or even giving your home a full-on makeover! 

Here are a few quick tips to help you out. 

Find new perspectives through rearranging 

For many of us since we can remember, the layouts of our houses have always been the same. Whether it was the stained chair hidden in the corner of the dining table or the crooked table barely hanging in there, nothing has ever changed throughout the years. But now is the time to change that. You don’t have to have the expertise of an interior designer for this. You can simply try experimenting and finding what works best for you.  

Take a look around. 

Were the cupboards always facing North? Then change it to face another direction or move it completely to a new place. Have the sofas always been leaning towards the wall? Then spice things up by changing it to a different angle. Try rearranging the books on the shelves too. Go for an up and down pattern and turn the shelves into a statement piece of their own.

At the end, you’ll be surprised at how much of a big difference these little changes and adjustments could make. You could also take out a few furniture and give them a varnish polish to bring that chocolate browness to life.

Take this chance to flex your amateur carpentry skills and test your limits. Who knows by the end of quarantine you might even reach the level of high skilled carpenters!

Looking back, this is probably the longest period we’ve ever had to stay indoors. The hands in the clock seem like they are hardly moving. And the only travelling we could is to move from one corner of the house to the other. But, the big picture that we need to understand is that the choices the governments have is limited. It is either self-quarantine or having to face isolation! 

What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation you ask?

Quarantine is basically where a group of people maintain a form of social distancing. These people might not have the symptoms of the disease. But would’ve been exposed to the sickness.

In other words, they may be living in an area exposed to the sickness but have not been affected by the disease yet. So if they take proper precaution to maintain social distancing and hygiene, their chances of falling ill is less.

On the other hand, isolation is where those that have already been infected are completely separated from society. They are unable to meet their family and friends in person and are treated all alone in the hospital.

So to reduce the spread and avoid complete separation from your loved ones, your best bet is to simply abide by the law. Since COVID 19 has no solid cure as of now—try exploring the wonderful world of the indoors and connecting on a deeper level with the introverts!

Don’t let boredom get the best of you. Let your creativity flow and discover new ways to give your home and personal space a new look!

Declutter 

There is a reason teenagers and almost everyone gets lost in the midst of a cleanup!

Once you start cleaning you discover things that have been stacked away for safety, things that have been hidden and things that have been stored away for far too long that you don’t even remember owning them. With every little thing that you come across, there is a memory and story behind. It is also because of this that many people end up hoarding things over getting rid of them. 

Use this time to sort out these. Find those that are absolutely necessary or could be used as ornamental pieces and get rid of the rest. You never know, by the end of the isolation or quarantine you might even have a stack of boxes enough for a garage sale!

Try a new shade or revamp the bare walls 

Usually, when a paint job is done, a bare minimum of paint tends to remain in some of the cans. Some people choose to discard these, but others store them and use whenever necessary—especially to patch up spots. 

If you have such remaining cans, this is the time to take them out. Use those extra shades to give your walls a new look. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have enough paint to paint an entire wall. Try drawing out a unique pattern or even polka dots and refresh those boring bare walls! 

You could also try DIY wall art crafts and create your own kind of abstract canvas to be displayed on the walls. This will add a more personalized touch to your home. 

Take indoor gardening to new heights

For those living in apartments, gardening is a luxury that you can’t really afford. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to experiment. Unlike where professional service providers like landscape artists are hired to design an entire yard, you can try indoor gardening!

Plant herbs that could be used in meals and freshening your house, succulents that add a modern and chic touch or even creepers that are the real definitions of nature. Since most of these don’t require special care they could be experimented with at any time! 

This period is probably one of the hardest we have ever experienced globally. Stores are emptying, people are being separated and going out has become a luxury we could only dream of. As a matter of fact, the good days seem like they were ages ago. But, that doesn’t mean you should be sulking away. 

Finding new ways to do things, new approaches for everyday activities and simply doing what you love in a more secure environment are our best options at this point of time. 

One might ask though what is the purpose of quarantining a virus? (especially with over 100,000 confirmed dead already across the world). 

Quarantining is done to protect the rest, and have control over this disease. No one would have ever imagined COVID 19 to blow out of proportion like this. And that is why we have to work with what’ve got—even if that means staying at home to prevent the spread.

We also need to understand that we are amongst the lucky ones who still have the opportunity of working from home. There are others working really hard even during these times to make lives better for everyone! 

So look on the bright side and hope for the best. Bring the outdoors inside and let the greenery and positivity take over your home!  

Bring out the ‘only for special occasions’ dinner sets

A few months ago we wouldn’t have thought that we’d be at home for days or even months. We wouldn’t have imagined that a common cold could build up to a point that it affects thousands globally and separates families from each other. Neither would we have imagined it being the cause for people to die on the streets without anyone by their sides! After all, these happen only in the movies right? But now we realize life is much shorter than anything we would’ve imagined it to be. 

Now cleaning services, plumbing (plumbers) and sewage cleaning services are much more essential than experience providers—what we considered essential but really aren’t. The fancy theatres, bowling alleys, shopping malls, concert venues etc. have become completely meaningless in our lives leaving us questioning what is truly important. 

This time has shown us how much of an important role essential service providers play in our everyday lives. So let’s take the time to appreciate what we’ve been taking for granted. 

Don’t hold onto things for too long or wait for the best time to use them. Live in the moment. Bring out those ‘only for special occasions’ cutleries and dinner sets and dine together with your family. Share your joys, thoughts and sorrows and use this time to become closer to one another.

So what if a couple limited edition plates end up breaking into a million pieces? You still have your family around you and the plates could always be replaced! 

Create a photo wall 

For most parts of the world, February was, in fact, the last time chilling with friends and even working at the desks in office was a thing you could do without any fear at all.  But now the slightest touch or cough could leave you on the receiving end of the deadliest death glares! 

We welcomed 2020 with a jolly spirit. Yet, the past few months spent outdoors almost seems like a distant memory. It was a time when we could mingle without worries, go along with last-minute plans, and a time where working from home was more or less limited to the freelancers! Alas, staying indoors has left us all consciously or unconsciously reminiscing those days. With all of us under quarantine at our homes, life has certainly changed for everyone in some way or the other. 

But, what is quarantine though? 

The word quarantine came about from quarantino which means a period of 40 days in Italian. Back in the days, this time was for ships to remain on the dock before boarding the crew members and passengers. Eventually, this method was used to control the spread of the Spanish flu and other communicable and infectious diseases.

Even today with the spread of COVID 19, this method has proven quite effective. While we sure do miss being outdoors, quarantine and social distancing are the only options we have left to control this widespread and flatten the curve. 

But who’s to say you can’t enjoy the outdoors without really being outside! The warmth of the outdoors has been forever captured behind every image that you have taken. And you can always relive those wonderful memories through them. So don’t flaunt them only on Instagram. Use them to add colour and personality to your personal space by displaying them aesthetically on your walls.

The problem with blank walls in house plans is that no matter what you do to design a room, the blankness is still highlighted. Especially in a bedroom, this is quite a challenge in overcoming. 

While you can, of course, get by this by repainting and retouching them as usual, take this time in your hands to try something new. Bring out those polaroid images or old photos and create a one of a kind photo wall of your own. You can arrange them in a particular pattern or align them altogether depending on what works best for you. To add an extra spark try framing them with fairy lights to create a sentimental and magical touch! 

Another great way to revamp bare walls is a shelf display. Hire a mason and add in a couple of in-built shelves to your wall. Arrange your possessions on these and display every achievement and memory proudly! To create an even grander display, you could also get special lighting done by an electrician and let your possessions shine in style!

The post Quarantine Makeover: Tips to Give Your Home a New Look appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.

The spread of COVID-19 across the globe has brought almost every day to day activity to a stop. Countries are on lockdown, people are quarantined and the economy is at a still stop. Yet amidst all of this, Sri Lanka has managed to come out strong as it always does.

The lockdown implemented early on has put the country in a position where it is now able to continue daily life as usual, but with caution. And this has in fact revived many businesses and the economy, little by little. While there is still a long way to go, it is certainly a positive start!

In terms of real estate, COVID-19 definitely brought the entire industry to a standstill. Managing sales, as usual, was hard for everyone including real estate owners, agents, developers etc. But now the rise in traffic in Sri Lanka’s Number 1 and Number 2 property site—LankaPropertyWeb.com and House.lk—is evidence that real estate is getting back to normal.

Check out the infographics we’ve put together for you.

The post Post-COVID: LankaPropertyWeb and House.lk Witness a Rise in Website Traffic appeared first on LankaPropertyWeb.com News & Blog.