February 2019 | A blog about homes, trends, tips & life

Pulse February 28, 2019

WHERE DO YOU DREAM OF JETTING OFF TO THIS CHRISTMAS?

Reading Time: 3 minutes As winter rolls in and the temperatures drop, many are starting dream of escaping to warmer climates this Christmas. Why not spend the festive season sunning yourself on the beach in Mexico, snorkeling in Indonesia, or wandering the markets in Germany? We have compiled the top eight locations for winter getaways this Christmas. 1. Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia Still relatively unknown, the stunning Nusa Lembongan is one of a group of three islands making up the sub-regency of Klungkung, located southeast of Bali. Cookies are a must at Christmas in Indonesia, so if you want to escape the cold and enjoy some festive treats, Nusa Lembongan has a drier climate than Bali, but make sure you leave by January, when the rainy season begins. If you’re looking for adventure, spend your winter holiday snorkeling and diving among the aqua blue surf, and experience the abundance of marine life that the…

Pulse February 28, 2019

THE 5 MOST PROMISING START UP CITIES IN EMERGING MARKETS

Reading Time: 3 minutes When asked to name the world’s startup capitals, people normally think of Silicon Valley, London or New York. But with innovation on the march globally, the emerging markets have strong potential to become the next hotspots for entrepreneurs. According to World Bank data, there are now more than 90 tech hubs across Africa. Regions such as South East Asia have also caught the eye of both investors and intrepid entrepreneurs. The following five most promising tech cities in emerging markets have all the right ingredients to become future startup capitals. It may only be a few years before we see the next entrepreneurial hub emerge from Asia, Africa or Latin America. Medellin, Colombia Medellin – Colombia’s cultural capital city – was named 2012’s innovative city of the year by the Wall Street Journal Magazine and Citibank. The appearance of Colombia’s second biggest city has changed dramatically during the past 20…

Trends February 28, 2019

What Will Your House Look Like in 10 Years?

Reading Time: 2 minutes From the moment you wake up in the morning, the house reacts to your needs. The automated lights turn on slowly to wake you up at a scheduled time. From the comfort of your bed, you switch on your coffee machine so your morning cup is fresh and hot by the time you arrive downstairs for breakfast. You enter the bathroom and stand in front of your intelligent mirror. The mirror’s reflective surface springs to life with all the information you need to kick-start your day, including the weather and the morning’s top news. The device also plays your favorite music so you are always guaranteed to start the day in a good mood. After getting ready, you go to the kitchen for breakfast where your smart refrigerator alerts you that you are nearly out of milk. With the tap of a finger on the fridge’s touch screen, you can…

Tips February 28, 2019

WHAT USEFUL TOOLS CAN YOU KEEP AT HOME?

Reading Time: 2 minutes Doing craftsmanship yourself can save you a lot of money. Even if you do not know how it is done, the effort is not always as big as you might expect. The internet is full of ideas and guides on how to repair, renovate or install on your own. Without the right tools it can be difficult though. With that in mind, we have put together a list of tools everyone should have at home, so that you can avoid hiring someone every time you need a task to be done. Power Drill This handy tool can save you a lot of time and is an easy, quick way to drill holes in walls, tables or other piece of furniture. Since they are electrical, moving screws in and out is very easy. Cordless power drills are particularly practical; whilst they have less power than those with cables, you have more…

Pulse February 28, 2019

PROPERTIES OF THE MONTH – FEBRUARY 2019

Reading Time: 4 minutes Purchasing a property can take a considerable amount of time, maybe more than you had planned initially. You don’t want to rush into a decision that is going to cost you a fortune and will be the investment of your lifetime. If you are planning to buy an apartment any time soon, probably you are browsing through thousands of options and looking for the right one. To help you with the process, we have highlighted some of the best properties for investment in Dhaka. Take a look at our top picks. 2,200 Sq. Ft. Apartment at Gulshan 2 Gulshan 2 has always been a popular choice of residence for many years with better roads, traffic, and cleanliness; providing a peaceful life. It goes without saying that the area benefits of Gulshan 2 are certainly more desirable than that of most parts of Dhaka city. If you have similar needs, you can…

Trends February 27, 2019

EXPORTS RISE 13.6% IN FEBRUARY

Reading Time: 2 minutes A significant surge in exports was recorded in Bangladesh for the most part, due to garment sales. $2.85 billion is the current value of clothing exports, a major source of income for the country. Total exports for the eight months that ran from July to February totaled $22.12 billion, which was an increase of 8.9%. This is a very positive bellwether for the greater economy. Bangladesh is now the second largest exporter of apparels in the world, close behind China. So what effect will this have on the macro economy? Prices to rent Currently the price to rent ratio is 27.33 in the city center according to the latest statistics from Numbeo.com, outside of the city center that drops to 21.76. That is very high for the region. An average one bedroom apartment to rent is around $157 per month, with that dropping to $96 outside of the city center.…

Trends February 27, 2019

5 AMAZING GADGETS EVERY REALTOR SHOULD HAVE

Reading Time: 2 minutes Technology can make your life easier across the board. As a real estate professional you should have a bag of tools that ensure clients can reach you whenever they need. Gadgetry has gotten very sophisticated. If you consider yourself a real estate agent that is ahead of the game, you need to have these in your locker. DJI Phantom 2 V2 + GoPro HERO 4 Black ($399) The DJI Phantom 2 V2 is now even better and will allow you to take sublime aerial shots of your properties. The quadrocopter is worth trying out and is very simple to use. The Wi-Fi reaches a distance of over 300 meters and that can be extended with a Wi-Fi Range Extender. The price is not too bad considering you will be controlling your very own drone. In terms of the camera, a GoPro will suit well. The Hero4 Black will take your…

Trends February 27, 2019

Things to do in March

Reading Time: 5 minutes So, the month of Independence has arrived. While March has a lot of significance in our nation’s history, this year it comes along bearing many other exciting events. If you thought February had a fair amount of action-packed programs, then you will not be disappointed this month! Whether you’re thinking of going to these events with your friends or looking for spending some quality time with your family, these events are perfect for an evening out. Below is our list of things you can do in March and the events in March you can’t miss out on. Bioscope 3 Children’s Photography Fest 2019 Date: March 15 – 17, 2019 Time: 3 – 8 PM Venue: Shilpakala Academy Bangladesh ‘Shishuder Jonno Foundation’ has yet again arranged one of the largest children’s photography festival in Bangladesh. Children of ages between 13-18 are in one group and the other group consists of people…

Trends February 27, 2019

WILL THE REAL ESTATE AGENT OF THE FUTURE BE A ROBOT?

Reading Time: 2 minutes Is there a time and a place for robotics? We have all seen the videos online of robots doing incredible human-like activities, but with increased efficiency; so should we mortal humans be afraid? We take a look at the impact robots will have on real estate. Robotics is the trending topic in technology at the moment, many of the large corporations like Microsoft are trailblazing artificial intelligence (AI) research. The bounty for the first company to really make a dent could be worth a billion dollars. Like with every big advancement in technology, there lie proponents on both sides of the fence. On the plus side, as Barack Obama recently signed a memorandum about, you have the mesmerizing progressions that will be made possible in healthcare technology. They are now talking about a moonshot to cure cancer; this being made possible big quantum leaps in how data and trends can…

Trends February 27, 2019

OUTRAGEOUS PLASTIC HOUSES THAT CAN’T BE REAL!

Reading Time: 2 minutes The average consumer by the time he reaches the age of eighty leaves behind a minimum of 14,400 plastic bottles in his wake. This has devastating effects on the environment. Plastic takes hundreds of years to erode and will never actually fully disappear. The plastic waste often ends up in the stomachs of fish and birds, resulting in undue harm. The Plastic Bottle Village might be a way to curb this wanton destruction of our environment. Such villages are designed to be built in harmony with nature. At the forefront of this movement is Colon Island, the main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in Panama. With over 150,000 tourists visiting each year, the plastic village is a response to the increasing waste left by visitors to the beautiful island. Environmentally friendly A typical 100 square meter house is built using 14,000 recycled plastic bottles. The reuse of…