After several years of declining property value in the Malaysian real estate market, sales are finally seeing an upward trend,
with a .6% increase in volume of sales and a .3% increase in property
value. Residential properties account for the majority of unsold
properties in Malaysia, and setting your home apart from the rest is the
best way to ensure making a sale and getting the most for your home.
Buyers begin making judgments about your home as soon as they first see
its exterior. By taking simple steps to improve your home’s kerb appeal,
you can make a positive first impression and set the tone for the entire showing of your home.
Clean Your Homes Exterior
Cleanliness,
both inside and outside your home, is something potential buyers
prioritize highly; but, according to Real Estate Cleavlnd, only about
10% of sellers keep their homes clean enough to meet buyers
expectations. One of the easiest ways to improve kerb appeal is to
deeply clean your windows, gutters, ceiling, shutters and siding. Just
as you go to great lengths to stage the interior of your property and
have it as clean as possible before a showing, it is equally important
to give the outside of your home the same attention. Windows are one of a
home’s most important features, as they impact energy efficiency,
natural light exposure and both the interior and exterior style of your
home. If you’ve invested a lot in your windows, they should be
emphasized to garner buyer’s attention, and keeping them as clean as possible is
the best way to showcase this feature. Dirty exterior paint and siding
will also signal negligence and diminishes the visual appeal of the
beautiful colors you’ve carefully selected for your home. Power washing
the exterior of your home will make it appear bright and fresh, which is
crucial for appealing to your buyer’s snap judgment.
Beautify Your Door and Entranceway
The
front entrance of your home sets the stage for your buyer’s
expectations. If you live in a building, the door to your flat may be
the only aspect of curb appeal you can customize. Investing in a bucket
of paint is a relatively low-cost upgrade, and adding a splash of color to your door can
make it appear more inviting. You can also spruce up your door by
choosing a new, stylish doorknob, knocker and doorbell, Adding a few
potted plants and a welcome mat will give you a chance to show buyer’s
more of the personality and style they can expect once they enter your
home. Also make sure that your house number is prominently displayed
near your entranceway, and carefully select a font style that matches
the rest of your home’s exterior.
A Little Landscaping Goes a Long Way
Landscaping can improve the value of
your home by up to 20%, and while it may not be in your budget to
undergo a massive landscaping project, it’s worth it to invest some time
in lawn maintenance. Landscaping may take some planning ahead, so begin
focusing on your yard as soon as you make the decision to sell. Be sure
to remove dead branches, weeds and debris from your front lawn, and
keep your grass trimmed and manicured. Add splashes of color with
flowers and plants, and lay fresh mulch to keep your garden fertilized
and healthy.
Making
a good first impression is crucial when it comes to selling your
property. Buyers will make a judgment within 30 seconds of viewing your
home, and will carry that judgment with them throughout the rest of
their viewing. Taking on a few small projects to improve your home’s
kerb appeal can be your key to getting a sale in today’s competitive
market.
Over
one billion dollars was paid in credit card interest and fees over the
last year, an 11% increase over the previous year. Additionally, people
often neglect to go over the breakdown of their bank’s fees, and
consequently stand to lose a lot of money. Both of these financial habits could easily be avoided by
using a credit card as a debit card, and paying off the balance each
month, increasing credit score, and reaping the rewards of the credit
card point program. Instead of being chewed up by the system, it is
possible to responsibly work the system by paying careful attention to
insurance policies, banking conditions and prices.
Do Some Healthy Math
Medical
insurance often seems confusing. Most people hunt for the policy that
has the lowest premium. Yet there are other factors to consider when
choosing the right policy. They should all be picked apart and
calculated as a whole whenever you are choosing a policy. Picking the
wrong policy could result in your out of pocket expenses being much higher. Avoid setting up your policy on auto-renew, and always keep an eye out for a better deal and shop around.
If you find a better policy elsewhere, then switch. The agent or broker
you talk to will likely work with you and answer all your questions.
Just make sure you are asking the right questions to negotiate and
secure the most savings.
The Hint Of A Haggle
Many
major companies don’t advertise it, but will offer price matching,
frequently even with their own websites. So if you are buying something
and the price on the shelf says one price, check the price online, and
if it’s less on their website, then that’s the price they’ll give you.
You can always go for the returned item or the one with damaged
packaging and negotiate a lower price as well. Most employees are fully equipped and ready to work with you.
How To Save Money At The Gas Pump
Not only do drivers squander over 2 billion dollars by
putting premium fuel in their car when the engine doesn’t require it,
but they also didn’t take advantage of the obvious savings that were
available to them. A gas station is not typically a place where the
haggle is possible, which is why they attempt to lure you with their
incentives. Switching to a hybrid car is no longer as unaffordable as it
used to be. The first Prius was introduced fifteen years ago, and
several used models are now quite affordable. Getting 45-55 mpg, one
could easily get about 220 miles out of one tank. A conventional car of
the same vintage would be three to four times the cost in gas. So
combining all those gas savings at once one could easily save thousands
of dollars a year.
It’s
all about shifting your mindset. Start looking for savings in one
place, and you’ll see them in others. It’s about being proactive versus
reactive. Being frugal and fiscally responsible will allow you to
accumulate those savings and allocate those conserved funds to a higher
purpose. It is the first step to switching from working for your money
to your money working for you.
In late 2018, Malaysia announced their plans to begin enacting regulation of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum. This most recent announcement comes as part of Malaysia’s ongoing project to regulate domestically-based cryptocurrency and to weave them into the economy, hoping to gain a foothold of control over the relatively new currency.
With the international and online nature of cryptocurrencies, as well as the somewhat unstable future they already have, plans and attempts to add regulation will have profound alterations and effects on the market.
Who Regulates What?
Under the new regulations, which went into effect January 15th, all transactions using cryptocurrency will need to be authorized, falling under the jurisdiction of the Malaysian Securities Commission.
Now branded as securities rather than as currency or assets, failure to have them authorized means that usage of them is fully illegal until such authorization is carried out. The punishment for illegal trading and usage of cryptoassets can be a decade of jail time, to say nothing of the extraordinarily expensive fines.
The Effects
As one might expect, traders are the most affected by the new regulations. Those that have spent time honing skills in dealing with cryptocurrency will
still have plenty of room and time to operate. However, it will mean
that transactions take longer to occur, seeing as one needs to achieve approval from the central bank of Bank Negara Malaysia.
One can also expect this to have an effect on the value of most cryptocurrencies, especially given the recent crash of prices experienced toward the end of 2018. Seeing as the waiting period and process of achieving approval under the new regulation rules will tamper down on the rapid change the volatile currency often experiences, swift spending and investing will become more difficult.
This could be expected to have impacts on stock markets as well, with hefty effects on the Malaysian economy.
Positive Outlooks
Lim Guan Eng, the Malaysian finance minister, sees a positive outlook for cryptocurrency under new regulations. Cryptocurrency and the blockchain technology used to track and catalog transactions are fully capable of bringing about true innovation across the economy and industry. As legalization was one of the largest hurdles to overcome, the crossing of it and into regulation signals great things for the currency.
Overall, it could be a revolutionary way to handle finances, including fundraising, donating, generating income, and helping the Malaysian economy in general. While the regulations might seem intense, especially when one considers the decade of incarceration an infraction can carry, they are more likely to keep things clear, clean, and concise than to draw back or hurt the popularity of the rapidly growing market of cryptocurrencies.
Ultimately,
regulation will likely make cryptocurrency a stronger option for
everyone as it’s interwoven into the economy. Drops in prices will be
natural, but will just as soon rise again. Cryptocurrency is probable to
become just as valid of an option as traditional currency, and
regulation is more likely to be helpful in this regard than a hindrance.
The aging population in Malaysia is expected to increase by 210% by 2020, making it so important to find ways to allow this portion of the population to age gracefully and comfortably. As the population continues to age, their growing needs are being felt by a property market that is just now beginning to cater to them.
If you’re considering investing in property in Malaysia or currently have one that is hard to let to aging renters, the key to increasing its rentability and long-term profitability lies in making the home more accessible.
Universal Design Increases Mobility & Value
Following the “Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asia-Pacific Region” that was signed into effect in 1994, Malaysia has invested time and resources into developing initiatives that ensure all people can access spaces.
These initiatives rely heavily on the idea of universal design. By incorporating universal design into your home, you can easily include these features to increase its value and accessibility without foregoing style. For example, microwaves can be built into a drawer or center island so they’re at waist level, kitchen and bath cabinets can feature roll-out drawers to make it easier to reach items in the back.
As a landlord, including these features into an investment property, is a simple way to ensure that it can be accessed and enjoyed by anybody while also adding to its appeal in the event that you need to sell it later down the road.
Smart Home Tech for In-Home Assistance
What the aging population really needs, apart from home design that allows for increased mobility, is daily assistance that still provides them with their independence. Other property markets reveal valuable insights into this type of assistance and in-home smart technology with statistics that show 81% of current smart-home device owners say they would be more willing to buy a home with connected tech already built in.
With the use of motion sensors and remote controls, lights and electronic appliances can be turned on or off without having to physically get up and control the switches, making the devices ideal for people in wheelchairs or with little mobility.
Installing a smart lock and door camera are also great ways to increase accessibility as anybody will be able to see who is at the door and unlock it from their smartphone.
Investing in this type of technology in Malaysia’s current property market will not only ensure that your properties are tech-ready for the coming years but also that they’re accessible for an aging audience that you need to attract in order to increase your investment’s value.
What the aging population really needs, apart from home design that allows for increased mobility, is daily assistance that still provides them with their independence. Other property markets reveal valuable insights into this type of assistance and in-home smart technology with statistics that show 81% of current smart-home device owners say they would be more willing to buy a home with connected tech already built in.
With the use of motion sensors and remote controls, lights and electronic appliances can be turned on or off without having to physically get up and control the switches, making the devices ideal for people in wheelchairs or with little mobility.
Installing a smart lock and door camera are also great ways to increase accessibility as anybody will be able to see who is at the door and unlock it from their smartphone.
Investing in this type of technology in Malaysia’s current property market will not only ensure that your properties are tech-ready for the coming years but also that they’re accessible for an aging audience that you need to attract in order to increase your investment’s value.
Increasing Comfort & Value for Potential Renters
Your job as a landlord and investment property owner is to cater to the market in which you find yourself in. Seeing as Malaysia’s current population is increasingly dominated more and more by an aging population, you’ll want to craft attractive properties that fit their needs.
It doesn’t cost much to ensure your home is accessible to all, and simple investments will ensure that your home is high-tech, safe and easy to access for you and your guests.
For you guys who still don’t have a clue about what is DuitNow is all about. Maybe you can try to think DuitNow as PayPal. Do you remember what is your PayPal account number?
No rite, Paypal does not have any account number, they just use email. Same with DuitNow, using MyKad number or phone number.
But if you ask me my Maybank account number, I can give it to you anytime . I just love money and number 🙂
As I mentioned in my article before, DuitNow makes payment easier and instant. Now I just want to show how easy to transfer money using DuitNow via Maybank App.
But first you have to get your recipients’ DuitNow ID to start sending money using via Maybank2u.
DuitNow Transfer via Maybank app
Login to Maybank app
Click ‘Transfer’
Select ‘Transfer via DuitNow’
Choose your debiting account
Tap on ‘New Transfer’ and key in your DuitNow ID details e.g. DuitNow ID number and select ‘Continue’
Enter transfer amount and recipient reference and select ‘Continue’
Confirm the transfer details before requesting for Authentication.
Your transfer is successful, you may save the DuitNow ID as favourite or share your transfer receipt
DuitNow Transfer via Maybank2u Web
Login to Maybank2u
Click ‘Pay and Transfer’
Select ‘Transfer To: DuitNow’
Click ‘New Transfer’ and choose recipients’ DuitNow ID type
Key in your DuitNow ID details e.g. DuitNow ID number, amount, recipient reference.
