Being a home owner can be as exciting as it is liberating and stressful. Which is why it is important to ask yourself some key questions when buying a home. As someone who has been lucky enough to purchase two homes on two different continents. I can tell you first hand that the luxury of owning a home can often times be overshadowed by the realities that come with home ownership. From burst geysers, to faulty electrical systems. In both homes that I have owned thus far. I didn’t and couldn’t really know what I was getting myself into. Because whilst some faults and issues are obvious; others creep up on you and others just happen do to the properties old age. Which is why I al sharing some of my key things to consider before buying a home;.

1.  Could you afford your home if you changed jobs? – This may seem obvious but hear me out. When my husband and I bought our first home we were faced with a dilemma many young professional first time home owners are faced with. And that is whether to buy a house that reflected our current joint income. Or one that was a little more modest. We decided on something more modest and in return were able to pay a large part of the deposit upfront, This also meant that we were able to  pay off the rest of the home in two years. And when both our financial situations changed we could still afford to live in our home.
2. Have you done your due diligence – I’ll be the first to admit to signing on the dotted line and feeling pressure from estate agent’s that if I did not make an offer immediately I would lose my dream home. But after making this mistake the first time around. And realizing later that our dream home had many issues which could have helped lower the price had we bothered to check meant that we had lots of unseen costs to cover. So speak to plumbers, architects and any other home specialists to come give a report on the house. Not only does it mean you know what you are buying. But you can also negotiate accordingly.
3. Know the market and your expectations – When buying anywhere it is crucial to know the market and the price of other homes in the area. This helps to ensure you are buying the property at a fair price. Furthermore, if you know or have an idea of what your plans are. You can decide if it is worth buying in that area or at that price or not. For instance, with out first home, my husband and I knew it  would not be our forever home. And that our careers and aspirations may take us elsewhere. Which they did a meer two years after purchasing our home. Which is why we bought our home in a neighborhood that was known for rental properties and was close to universities. This meant that when we were forced to leave at the drop of a hat. We were able to easily rent our house out. Also because we didn’t pay too much for the house as the area is still up and coming. We were well aware of the fact that it would be some years before we ever were able to sell it at a large profit. Which is why renting it out for now is the best bet.

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As I’ve gotten older, I have a new sense of appreciation for tidy and clean spaces. With a toddler that runs around and chews on anything she can put her hands on, the need to have a clean and tidy household has risen twice fold. But of all the things that we all often do to keep our homes clean and tidy. There are a few that I know I sometimes overlook. And even forget altogether.

1. Washing pillows and duvet: Whilst I am adamant about washing my sheets every week. Washing pillows and duvets is a thing I sometimes forget to do. Given that they absorb sweat, dead skin cells and such. It makes sense that they get a good clean every now and then. Which is why I like to clean mine every few months. To do this I like to either leave them outside hanging in the sun. Or actually put them in the washing machine.
2. Replacing toilet brushes: I cannot tell you how often I have been to friends houses and found toilet brushes that have been there for years still hanging around. With the toilet being one of the dirtiest places. It only makes sense that the toilet brush has some of the worst germs. Which is why it is important to replace yours every few mons.
3.  Tooth brushes: I know many of us who are guilt of using our tooth brushes for longer than we should. Experts suggest changing out your tooth brush every three months as the bristles get worn and they can even start to stink.
4. Cleaning tools: As a mom to a toddler, I am often cleaning, sweeping, vacuuming and just generally tidying up. Which means in a week, I tend to use my cleaning tools at least three times. Recently however, after a routine cleanup I noticed that my broom had a ton of hair on it. And my once white duster was an awful grey. Whilst these are relatively new purchases, seeing them in this state reminded me that I need to clean my cleaning tools. Not only does this ensure easier and quicker clean up. But it is also more hygienic.

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As a mom to a little one, I know full well how difficult it is to keep any space tidy for longer than five minutes. With our 10 month old, things tend to be thrown about the house more often than not. And the demands of being a working mom also plays its bit in ensuring that our home almost always looks like a bomb went off. Whether its dishes I’ve been meaning to get to. Or toys thrown around the house. The idea of keeping a clean house seems almost impossible at times. Which is why over the past ten months I have come up with a few ways to keep our home and space as tidy as possible. Whilst these tips and tricks are in no way fool proof. They do help keep things in check most of the time.

• Have baskets or boxes for toys: One of the first things I bought when I could was a set of baskets to store our daughters toys in. This has been a huge help when tidying up at the end of the day as I often just throw all her toys into one place and it makes the nightly clean up that much easier.
• Have a 20 toy rule: Whilst on the subject of toys. Having a 20 toy rule is a must when you have children. As any parent will tell you, most kids and babies play with anything and everything. Which is why keeping an edited number of toys is important. When loved ones and relatives buy toys, donate some that you little one barely uses to charity. When they are old enough, encourage them to come with you to donate. This will also teach them the importance of charity.
• Tidy up before bed: Whether you have children or not, it is important to tidy up for a few moments every night. Do the basics like putting dishes that are lying around in the sink or dish washer. If you have the time and energy give them a quick wash too. Put pillows back to where they belong and files, papers, and computers away. Get your whole family involved in the process and it will go much faster.
• Put things away as you go along: One way to ensure your nightly clean up goes faster is by putting things back as you go along. This means putting dishes in the washer or washing them. Juice back in the fridge. And any paperwork or office stuff in its rightful place.
• Make your bed in the morning: This may seem like an obvious one. But take it from someone who rarely makes the bed in the morning. When I do finish this little task, I find I can start my day off on a good foot. Not only that but nothing feels better than getting into a tidy put together bed at night.
• Open the windows every morning: This last one is not so much about keeping your space clean. But it is.a good way of ensuring that you breathe some new life into your home every morning. Personally I never did this until I met my husband who insisted on opening windows every morning even in the dead of winter. Getting that fresh burst of air helps to refresh the energy in your home and takes little effort. Just open your windows and doors for 15 minutes and voila. You have clean energy to live with throughout your day.

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