PROPERTY NEWS - While trivial issues of whether the toilet seat stays up or down will always exist, there are several other, more important ways a home could be creating unnecessary tension in your relationships.
According to the regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, buyers who are looking to purchase a new home can avoid this by being careful about their purchasing decisions.
Location
The first factor he suggests for careful review is the location of the property in relation to their daily commutes. "Most South Africans work a forty-five-hour week. Spending just one additional hour in traffic on the way to and from work pushes this total up to fifty-five hours out of the 120 available hours in any given work week.
These long days increase moodiness and fatigue, which make couples more prone to arguments. Beyond this, with so little time left in the evenings to see to unavoidable household tasks, it also becomes near impossible for couples to connect during the week. The location of a property therefore plays a huge contributing factor in the happiness of a couple," Goslett explains.
Affordability
Homeowners should also consider the affordability of their home loan instalments and the corresponding monthly rates and taxes. "Financial pressure is often one of the leading causes for tension in relationships. If you are unable to afford the monthly expenses the property incurs, then it would be advisable to consider more affordable options," Goslett advises.
Keeping up with the Joneses
Finally, multiple studies indicate that most of us are prone to mimicking those we spend a lot of time around. Put more simply, "keeping up with the Joneses" is a real subconscious battle we all struggle with. "Allowing yourself to be influenced by those closest to you can cause couples to fight over things like unnecessary renovations or costly additions to the home. For homeowners who are particularly prone to this kind of pressure, I would advise that they carefully weigh up the value of the upgrade against the financial burden it will carry before going ahead with these projects," Goslett concludes.
