Start with your material palette. Avoid expensive items such as marble and granite, which may offer an extensive visual appeal but would hamper you when matched against rental income. Look at alternatives such as marble effect ceramic tiles, which can still offer the “marble” look but at a fraction of the cost. Next, think of the space. Every little bit of square footage can be additional income rate for you. Look at how best to extend the home without smashing the budget. Ideal areas to focus on would be public zones around the house, such as the living and dining rooms, including the dry kitchens. Tese are the key areas people focus upon when viewing a home for rent, and can sometimes be the decision maker in whether you secure the tenant or not. Next, look at the landscape and introduce items such
as a pond or water feature, and plenty of greenery. Te one thing I realize is that the use of a swimming pool can sometimes be overstated. Realistically, we will never be able to build a swimming pool to satisfy our aquatic needs, but we can build a pool to suit our leisurely needs. For example, instead of building a lap pool, which then tends to be long and narrow and visually disjointed, consider the use of a plunge pool, where the pool is designed for people to cool down and congregate. If you want to be more adventurous, introduce a jacuzzi system or even a mechanical jet for stationary swimming. And always remember to spend on the landscape, as there is no better attraction to a house than a garden that is lush and vibrant. And finally, avoid the frills and focus on the essentials.
Try to avoid unnecessary costs that have little or no impact on the rent, such as the selection of bathroom accessories to lights and cabinetry. Refrain from be exploited by your emotions and impulses, and remember the ultimate goal, which is to maximize profits. On the other hand, if you are renovating for your own
personal needs, refrainment is thrown out the window. Te mindset and criteria guidelines have all changed as it is then important to take note that what we put in we will have to live with. Tere are however different items to go through first when assigning a budget, as not everyone has a limitless budget. Te first item to look into is the structure of the home. Always spend on things we never look at, as while these are things we would never see, it is the backbone in a long, everlasting, maintenance-free environment. For example, ensure the wiring used for the lights
and power points are all certified by the leading industry standards. Tis will prevent shorting later on, or burnt- out wires which would lead to escalating costs later on. Similarly, the type of pipes and internal connectors all have an adverse effect in the upkeep of the home. Avoid counterfeits and stick to the manufacturer’s recommended fixtures, as a dollar saved today will be a hundredfold later on to rectify. Once you have assigned a budget for your backbone, the
remaining balance can then be used for the aesthetics of the house. And the selection of such items will be determined by personal appreciation and use. I would however always think of the shelf-life of your selection, and to remember that what looks nice today may change within a year or even sooner.
03 What is the Shelf-Life of the
Various Components? In a weird way, there is satisfaction is knowing
that nothing lasts forever. Once you have accepted this, your expectation of what to buy is reduced, and you can then appreciate and use your things more. For example, do not assume that just because you don’t use something that it would never get spoilt; in reality, the less we use an item, the more likely for it to deteriorate over time. Consider cabinetry works - lack of maintenance would result in a high collection of dust and moisture in the cabinet, causing peeling, odour and discolouration. However, excessive use may cause accelerated wear and tear, so when building cabinetry, it is not only important to preserve the aesthetics but even more important to ensure the mechanisms are designed to ensure a long shelf-life. Similarly, with the selection of finishes such as sanitary ware and fixtures, a good rule of thumb is to avoid coated items such as chrome, and instead, select stainless steel items. While stainless steel may have a higher initial cost, its maintenance and replacement costs will offer higher benefits in the long run. In addition, consider the brand name items, as not everything is built equally. Not only
www.fswmag.com JUNE 2014 | F ENGSHUIWORLD 73
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