Coexistence between neighbours in a building

As it can be difficult to live with other people in the same house, it is also difficult to share a whole building with other people.

Even though it isn’t always the case that neighbours have trouble, or don’t get along, during the last years, there have been some situations of conflict between neighbours within a building.

The most common problems are: party wall issues, noises and filtration. The party wall issues are frequent both in buildings and between houses in a neighbourhood. When a neighbour builds (or destroys) part on the party wall and breaks something from our house, or its creeper invades our house, etc. this usually means trouble.

In relation to the noises, the new buildings these days usually have thin walls, so you can generally listen to everything your neighbour does or says, and so, if that neighbour likes hearing loud music and you don’t like it, there is going to be trouble.

And there are plenty of examples that we can mention that affect the coexistence of neighbours within a building, and there are some cases where people like seeing problems where there isn’t any.

The solution or the best way to prevent conflict between neighbours is to keep a good communication (always a respectful one). Likewise, it is important to have a code of conduct for the building inhabitants and to stick to them in order to avoid having problems.

Nowadays, there is a way of solving problems between neighbours in Buenos Aires (if the communication is not good) where mediation takes place, without the need of going to a court office. This service is provided by the Government and it is useful for those cases where the neighbours or its administration have some problem that they cannot solve alone.

Even though coexistence can be complicated, if each neighbour tries to be understanding and respect the rules, there shouldn’t be any trouble between the people living in the same building.

Cheap heating alternatives for winter season

Autumn season has already begun with cold weather, so probably the winter season will also be like this. Besides the low temperatures, winter will receive us with a rise raise on the prices, so we will all want to save as much as possible; still, we don't want to freeze in the process.

Nowadays, heaters that work with gas are not the cheapest heating alternative, and that is why many people are trying to look for other options to heat their homes without spending a fortune.

For starters, a cheaper alternative of heating are the heating panels that are of low consumption. The problem of these panels is that they aren't very efficient in big rooms, so I would suggest you ask a specialist before buying these types of panels for your house, and make sure they will heat properly (besides saving you a few bucks).

Another option that is being considered on those houses that are being built at the moment is the heating through the radiant floor panels. Currently, there are new technologies over this type of heating that allow you to save money and heat your house greatly. Moreover, this type of heating generally comes with a thermostat which allows you to control which rooms you want to heat and at what temperature. This helps you save money as well.

A downside of this type of heating is that its installation can be a bit expensive and complicated if the house is already prepared for some other type of heating system. Still, if you are constructing or making changes around the house, this is a good option to heat your house and save some money.

A good way of saving money a bit ago was to heat your house through the fireplace (if you had one) and use wood. Nowadays, wood is expensive so, this method is no longer an option. Moreover, it was only useful for small rooms, and not big ones.

Lastly, it is important to mention that besides looking for cheaper alternatives to heat your house, it is also important to isolate it so that the cold doesn't get in and the heat stays inside. A good isolation of the doors and windows will make you heating system more efficient, and you may not have to have your heating on all day long, so it will also make you save money.

Each house is different, so each house needs a different heating system, and it will depend on the size of the rooms and the type of heating you like. So, you should ask a specialist, do the math and see which type of heating system will work and make you save money this winter (and the ones to come).

Population per square meter in the City of Buenos Aires

During the last Census done in Argentina in 2010, results showed that the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires is the most populated city of Argentina. This means that the number of people per square meter in this City is much bigger than in other city of the country.

According to the results shown during the last census, the total population in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires is of 2,891,082 persons. This number has increased by 114,944 people in ten years. This means that the number of people per square kilometer in the City of Buenos Aires today is of 14,185 people; more specifically, this means that there are 14.5 citizens (approximately) per square meter within the City of Buenos Aires.

This number seems a bit high if you imagine what a square meter is and how much space a person can occupy. Although this number may seem illogical, the explanation of the big amount of people living in the City of Buenos Aires and the space that there is for that people is that there are many high buildings and houses with more than one floor, which allows more people to live inside the City of Buenos Aires. Still, the number of people that lives per square meter in the City of Buenos Aires is high.

Since the beginning of Argentina as an independent country (or at least with its own government), migration started from the countryside to the big cities. Even when Buenos Aires wasn't the capital city of Argentina, it was important, because of its harbor. So, many people came to Buenos Aires searching for a job and a better life. Plus, many immigrants from other countries arrive to Buenos Aires on boats and stayed in the city. For these reasons, the population in the City of Buenos Aires has increased and has never stopped increasing. Moreover, even though some people are moving from Buenos Aires and going to smaller cities in other provinces of Argentina, the number of people that keeps coming and staying in the City of Buenos Aires still surpasses this percentage.

Recyclable dust bins in buildings

Recycling is a hot issue that has been on the agenda for some time now. Nevertheless, Buenos Aires hasn't still made any rule or law when it comes recycling or reducing the amount of garbage its citizens make. Still, some buildings and houses are beginning to move the “recycling mind wheel” and they have started to separate their garbage.

There are many ways of separating (and classifying) the residues. For example, you can put different bins and separate the wet and the dry waste; or you can have more bins and separate papers and boxes, plastic waste, glass, etc.

A good way of classifying garbage for recycling in buildings is to put bins of different colors so people go and through each type of waste in the different bins (color tend to caught people’s attention and it’s a good reminder). This method can be complicated to introduce on a building and it could take time for people to adapt to it; still, it can be a really good option if the neighbors agree.

Moreover, a simpler method that is being used today is to put two bins: one for recyclable residues and one for non-recyclable waste. This way, many janitors of the buildings take out the non-recyclable waste out for the garbage trucks to take them, and give the recyclable waste to the people that gather boxes, paper and plastics. This way they are helping the people that gathers this type of residues (because they don’t have to be looking around the waste), and they help the environment too.

Even though the governments are beginning to raise awareness among people and they are trying to change the way the residues are treated in Buenos Aires, some buildings have already started making this residue classification. If everyone starts doing this division of the waste at home, within time we could start making a more detailed division and start helping the environment, so that the city, the country and the world can be cleaner.

Best pets to live in apartments

Many people know that pets are very lovable creatures that make us our lives happier. They are our travel buddies and our life companions as well… Nevertheless, if we live on small places, like a studio apartment or the like, having a pet might be complicated. For starters, every pet, and every human, need their space.

For this reason, we will now mention some of the pets that can easily adapt to living in an apartment, so that you and your pet can get along and have no trouble.

As we have seen in previous articles, cats are a good pet option for those who live in apartments. Nonetheless, as we have mentioned previously, there are some breeds that may adapt easier to living in an apartment. Same thing happens with some dog breeds who may adapt easier to living in an apartment. As the cat article, you may also find here an article on the dog breeds that adapt easier to living in an apartment.

Moreover, there are other pets that could be good if you live in apartments. For example, some people enjoy having hamsters as pets. These little animals live in cages, so it wouldn’t matter whether you live in an apartment or a house. Now, having a hamster as a pet means paying attention to it and taking care of it as any pet, although it could need more attention than a dog or a cat, since hamsters aren't able to look for us and ask for food (among other things).

Meanwhile, other people have adopted LIZZARDS or IGUANAS on their apartment. Many pet shops of Buenos Aires sell these animals as pets nowadays, and they have become really popular. These types of pets can be a good pet if you live in an apartment, but they may also need to be looked after more closely than other animals.

In general, the best pets to live in apartments are the smaller animals. Still, whether you choose a big or a small animal as a pet, you should always do some research on how to take good care of it. Once you've done that, it is only a matter of getting along, adapting to your pet and living happily in your apartment.  

Living on a house or an apartment?

Many people have tried to answer this question for some time now: Is it better to live in a house or an apartment? Of course, the answer is 100% subjective. Nevertheless, an analysis can be made in order to see the pros and cons of living in a house and in an apartment.

First point to consider when it comes to analyzing whether you prefer to live in a house or an apartment is maintenance. Generally, maintaining a house (whether big or small) tends to be more expensive than an apartment. One thing to have in mind is that in a building all the maintenance expenses tend to be shared among all the neighbors (although it can turn expensive too).

Secondly, another thing to consider when deciding to live in a house or in an apartment is the space/room. Even though the newest buildings now come with amenities like gardens and pools, these spaces are not the same as having them in your own house. In a house you have your own patio, or garden, or whatever it is that you own. Moreover, when talking about space in an apartment and a house, the new buildings now tend to have smaller rooms than the old buildings; meanwhile, the rooms of the houses tend to be bigger and wider.

Another controversial topic when discussing life on a house and on an apartment is the neighbors. Many people think that living on an apartment means having to put up with annoying and loud neighbors. Nonetheless, even though some walls are too thin and you can listen to everything your neighbor says, building have rules of conduct, so people have to respect them in order to avoid having trouble. Moreover, some people who live in houses may have annoying neighbors who love listening loud music, or shout all day long. So, annoying neighbors can be found whether you live on a house or an apartment really.

Lastly, another topic to discuss referring to houses or apartment life is security. Even though the security issue is a problem that strikes everyone (both people living in apartments and in houses), it is believed that living on an apartment is safer than in a house, since the house is more exposed. Likewise, nowadays many building have chosen to hire a private security service within the building, which makes it safer.

So, the conclusion should be made by you, since as we have mentioned at the beginning deciding whether living in a house is better/worse than living in an apartment is totally up to you and your likes and dislikes.

Essential services and furniture for your new house

When the time of moving houses comes, especially for those who do it for the first time, one should organize and start searching for the essential items. Before moving, the person should check if he/she has all the basics. For those who are scare of forgetting something, we will enumerate the furniture and services that you must have before moving:

Let’s start with the basic services that you must have:

-    Electricity: Without electricity, you won’t be able to do much, especially at night. If you have an electric oven, you will be in even more trouble. Electricity is a must.

-    Gas: Besides using it for cooking (for those who have the burners and oven that works with gas), it is also necessary for having hot water at home.

-    Water: You will need to bathe, wash something and other basic needs for which water is of the essence, so you definitely need water before you move into a house.

-    Others: A telephone is something you can rescind of at first, especially if you have a mobile phone. Same thing happens with the Internet service, except you work from home, and then you will definitely need an Internet service provider ASAP. These two services and some other are not mandatory to have as soon as you move in… they can wait.

Now, let’s pass onto the furniture and appliances that you should have before moving:

-    Bed (or mattress): In order to have a good night sleep and survive the daily hustle and bustle, a good bed (or at least a good mattress) is a must.

-    Fridge: The fridge is an electrical appliance that you must have at home as soon as you move in, since most of the food we eat every day require refrigeration.

-    Table or coffee table or the like: Having a table, whether small, big, medium, or whatever you find at hand, is a good option. This will provide a place to eat. If you have a coffee table, you may find some cushions and sit on the floor (you won't even need chairs!)

-    Oven: The oven, as well as the fridge, is an item that we tend to use a lot. Whether you have an electric oven or one that run with gas, whether big or small, it won’t matter, but you will need one.

-    Others: If you already have a bed, a fridge and an oven, you will survive. The rest of the furniture as the couch, a good eating table with chairs, a TV (if you want one), a Computer (again, if you need one), closets, etc. will come with time…

So, now you know which furniture, services and electrical appliances you need to get before moving into a house. Of course that the more you have, the better it will be, but it is also nice to buy things you like little by little, so you can make out of your new house, a home.

How to maintain carpet floors

Keeping a clean carpet floor in not complicated, although if it is a very busy area it could need a bit more maintenance.

Currently, there are many ways and products available to keep your carpet floor clean and in good conditions.

Firstly, the key point to keep a clean carpet floor is by vacuuming at least three times a week. Carpets tend to accumulate dust and hair, so the more you vacuum, the less dirt you will accumulate, and the easier it would be to keep it in good conditions. Before you vacuum, remember to check that the vacuum cleaner is (indeed) clean and that it doesn’t have too much dust inside; if that is the case, you should clean it, otherwise it will not vacuum and it would be as if you didn't clean at all.

If you have some specific stains in your carpet, (for example if something falls on the floor), as we’ve mentioned, there are many products you can buy in order to clean the carpet floor: foams, liquid shampoos, and others. So, if you have a specific stain in your carpet, you should rub some of these products by following the steps mentioned in the packaging, and that’s it.

Now, going back to maintaining your carpet floor, besides vacuuming, it is recommended that every few months, you make a good, deep cleaning to the carpet floor. In order to do this, you may use of the aforementioned products, or you may call a professional service provider. Generally, the professionals use a special machine that soaks the carpet, and then absorbs the water. This way, the cleaning is very deep, since besides water, they generally use shampoo and antifungal products or the like. In some countries, you may rent these carpet cleaning machines, but before you do, make sure you know how to use it.

So, even though having a carpeted floor has its pros and cons, if you are considering installing one in your apartment, now you know how to keep it clean; it is not difficult!

Problems in the garbage recollection in Buenos Aires

Since mid2012, the recollection of garbage in the City of Buenos Aires has had its ups and downs. There have been some days when people woke up and found the bag of garbage that they had left the night before on the street, or when they went to take their bag to the special container, it was completely full.

This was because the employees of the Ceamse (company in charge of managing waste and developing national environment) had an uncertain future. By March 2013, the landfills where the waste of the whole city and surroundings is left would be full. This would bring unemployment to Ceamse’s people and of course a chaos in the City for the lack of garbage recollection.

For this reason, in 2012 there has been several months of uncertainty and many days where the garbage hasn’t been collected and it began to accumulate. In addition, there was a lack of communication between the government of the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires.

In order to keep updated and to try to see if there was a solution for this, the “Asociacion Gremial de Obreros Y Empleados de la CEAMSE (AGOEC)” [Ceamse’s Union] met the employees in several informative assemblies.

After several days of no recollection, the trucks went to collect the garbage of many days, but the system collapsed, so it took some days for it to go back to normal.

It is estimated that around 60 tons of garbage are gathered in the City of Buenos Aires and about 11,000 tons are collected in the surrounding localities, known as Gran Buenos Aires.

In relation to the solution, in January 2013, the government of the City of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri and the government of Gran Buenos Aires, Daniel Scioli, met during the opening of the new waste treatment factory in José León Suárez. This new factory and Mauricio Macri’s commitment to reduce the waste of the City of Buenos Aires in 78% should make the system work properly.

Currently, the waste recollection situation seems to be normal, although there have been some union problems that could bring new chaos to the city; let’s hope it doesn’t.

More spaces for bikes in the city of Buenos Aires

For some years now, the government of the City of Buenos Aires has been promoting a system of “sustainable mobility”. In order to accomplish that, it is promoting the use of bikes around the city. In order to motivate people to ride their bike to work, 25 Km of bike lanes have been constructed around the City of Buenos Aires and new rules are being implemented so that people have more space to park their bikes.

One of the regulations that the city’s government has implemented is that every parking has to have 8 spaces for bikes for every 50 car spaces they have. Moreover, the rule established that the price for leaving the bike in the parking must not exceed the 10% of the price for leaving a car.

Another way that the use of bike is being promoted is through agreements with private businesses. Many companies, especially banks in Buenos Aires have accepted to promote their employees to go to work by bike. The way of promoting the use of bikes in companies is by installing places for employees to leave their bikes, build lockers, showers and dressing areas, etc. This way of promotion of bike use in Buenos Aires is working really nicely, and more and more people are using their bikes every day.

Moreover, the government of the City of Buenos Aires is planning to install parking spaces for bikes in the Governmental buildings, for employees and neighbors.

In relation to private buildings, each administration is different, and there are still no rules or solutions to the bike parking there. Many people receive complains because they get on the elevator with a bike, or that they leave their bikes in the parking space and t is not allowed, etc.etc.etc… Despite these things, the system of sustainable mobility is expected to continue summing people and so building administrators and people can get to an arrangement.

The City of Buenos Aires seems to like moving on two wheels, and more citizens are adding to this idea each day.

Exotic pets living in apartments in Buenos Aires

It seems that as years went by, cats and dogs have stopped being funny and peculiar as they have always been; now, the exotic pets are ruling. Each day, more and more people in Buenos Aires choose to have exotic pets. Although the list is getting longer within the days, the most famous exotic pets at the moment are: lizards, snakes, parrots, spiders, guinea pigs, porcupines, turtles (although now they are not for sale), and even monkeys.

The variety is wide and the number of people who buys these pets increases each day. Even though these types of pets are not as loving as cats and dogs may be, exotic pets have their benefits.

Many people choose to have small animals, like lizards, spiders and guinea pigs because they are easy and cheaper to keep. For example, lizards do not smell and they eat small insects, so their food is not expensive.

In the city of Buenos Aires, there are around 50 pet shops that sell exotic pets. For some years now, the lizards have become really popular. Some shop owners estimate that around 1000 lizards are sold within two or three months.

The problem of having exotic pets in apartments (in the middle of the city) is that this is far beyond their natural environment. Likewise, many people that have these exotic pets in their apartments don't always know how to take care of them and which are their special needs. Most of the exotic pets now living in Buenos Aires’ apartments are not that easy to look after. They generally cannot eat all types of food, even if they are vegetables or fruit.

Despite this, the apartments of Buenos Aires are filling with exotic pets, so don’t be frightened if you find a lizard in your kitchen one day… it could be the neighbor’s pet. And, on the other hand, if you choose to have an exotic (or not that exotic) pet, check what their needs are and how to look after it in order they have a healthy and long life… and please, don’t abandon them.

Best cats to live in apartments

Unlike dogs, cats are not usually considered “men best friends"; still, they are also good companions and caring if you give them the care they demand. According to some specialists, cats may be the best pet for those who live in apartments, but it should be a calm cat. Not all cats are the same, of course. For those who are considering having a cat in their apartment, we will mention which are considered the best cat breeds that adapt best to apartments. Still, you should bear in mind that not everything is black or white, so you may get a cat which should be of a calm breed, but he can still be full of energy... basically, it will all depend on the cat.

For starters, one of the breeds that are considered perfect to live in small places is the Siamese cat. Specialists say Siamese cats have some “dog” characteristics in relation to their relation with their owners, and they are perfect companions. The Siamese cats are playful, they adapt to change and they are always looking for something to do.

Another cat breed that is considered good for those who live in apartments is the Ragdoll cat. This breed is obedient and patient. As most cats, Ragdolls are independent, but also home-loving, since they don’t go out much - perfect for apartments!

Another breed that could be considered by people who live in apartments is the Persian Cat. Persian cats adapt easily to change, they are very calm and they almost never meow. One feature of the Persian cats is that they don’t tend to be curious, so they won’t go out in search of adventures, like other cats.

Even though there are breeds that tend to adapt better to smaller places, all cats tend to adapt in the end. If you are planning to have a cat in your apartment, you may consider adopting one. Adopted cats tend to be really grateful towards their owners, and they are usually great companions. If you train you cat to live in an apartment, they will get used to it, and if they don’t, you can try taking them for a stroll. The truth is that an adopted cat may be more loyal than any breed… Whatever cat you choose, as long as you play with it, and take care of it, it will always be there, waiting for you.

Apartment-friendly dog breeds

Dogs have always been considered a good company for men; they are loyal, friendly, and they are always willing to give love. Many people enjoy having a dog, even when they have to live all together in the smallest apartment ever.

Even though some people like big dogs, the truth is that in small apartments, having a big dog wouldn’t be good for either the dog or the person living there; the best option is to have small or medium-sized dogs.

Before mentioning some of the breeds of dogs that would adapt best to living in an apartment, it should be mentioned that even if you have a small dog, they always need to take fresh air, move, and do some exercise. It is not good for a dog to be locked all day anywhere.

Now, we will now mention some of the dogs that could get used to living in an apartment:

Pug: They are very small, good companions, although they can be a bit jealous.

English bulldog: This breed doesn’t need to do too much exercise, which makes them perfect for those living in an apartment. They are an easy breed to train, and they are really good companions.

French bulldog: This breed is loyal and friendly, and it generally adapts to its owner and not to the place they live in, which means they should adapt great to an apartment.

Maltese: Maltese dogs are quiet and sociable. Even though they enjoy the outdoors, they are a good option for those living in an apartment, since they spend a lot of time resting.

Poodle: This breed requires only little time in the outdoors, and they don’t usually smell, which is perfect if you are living in small places.

Cocker Spaniel: Besides being really cute, cockers usually adapt to the space that surrounds them, which means they are ideal for apartments (plus, they are small sized).

Pekingese dogs: The good thing about this breed is that they tend to be more independent that other dogs, and they don’t usually get on top of its owner and stick to him/her all day long; The dog will be happy by just having its owner near (in the same room).

The good thing about dogs, in comparison with cats, is that they generally care more about the owner than the place they live in, so they tend to adapt easier to small places. Still, you shouldn’t forget that they are living creatures and they have needs. So you should pay attention to them, play, take them out, etc… So if you are planning to have a dog in an apartment, you should at least take him out once or twice a day.

Few 3-bedroom units in the City of Buenos Aires

Prior to 2012, the trend over the construction world seemed to be heading this way: many construction authorizations where made for 1 or 2-bedroom apartments, unlike other years where the 3-bedroom apartments were at the top.

There are 2 main reasons that stand out when explaining why there are fewer 3-bedroom apartments in Buenos Aires: first, people now look to invest in smaller places, since they are cheaper and easier to rent. And, second, the construction businesses want to build more units in a certain space (generally a small one); generally, in the most popular neighborhoods (where the land is more expensive).

Since the beginning of the construction boom in the City of Buenos Aires, the construction businesses have looked for investors that could put the money before the construction began. Since the installments for a 1 or 2-bedroom unit are cheaper than the ones for bigger units, like the 3-bedroom units, the construction businesses went to the easiest and more safety place: smaller apartments.

So, currently, all the building that are about to be finished are smaller and have no more than 2 bedrooms. Decades ago, the trend was the other way around: the 3-bedroom units were ahead on the list, and people used to rent or buy bigger apartments. Nowadays, as we said previously, this has changed and 3-bedroom units or bigger apartments are not so popular, since they are more complicated to sell or rent, since they are harder and more expensive than smaller apartments when it comes to maintenance.

Increase on taxes for the City of Buenos Aires

Before the arrival of 2013, many citizens of Buenos Aires received a not-so-pleasant present: the “ABL”¹ bill. In an attempt to calm the negative reaction that the increase on the Lighting and Cleaning tax created, the chief of government, Mauricio Macri explained the reason of said increase and apologized for it.

According to Macri, the rise on the ABL in the City of Buenos Aires is due to the inflation that the country is having. According to the Chief of the Government of the City, there is a current 25% of inflation that affects everything: salaries, services, fuel, etc. The increase would round a 23%; nevertheless, many people received an increase that exceeded the 23% and got up to 100% or more. According to what Macri explained, “The idea is to take the tax rate up to 1% of the commercial value of each house; so if a property is worth 1,000,000 pesos, the owner will have to pay 10,000 pesos of tax.

Since many of the new increases still don’t cover that 1% of the total value on some houses, during the next years the prices on ABL will continue to rise until they reach that percentage.

The increase on the ABL in the City of Buenos Aires wasn’t well received by the citizens specially after having suffered some troubles weeks ago, where the garbage on the streets hadn't been gathered; there were also some electricity shut downs and flooding in many areas of the city.

Many citizens of Buenos Aires have made their claims to the “Asociación de Defensa de Usuarios y Consumidores de la Argentina (Adecua)" [in charge of defending consumer’s rights]. This association is investigating the cases, although it states that the increase on the ABL is supported by the Law no. 4040”, which was approved in 2011, and which allows the executive power of the City of Buenos Aires to update the tax rate once a year.

The reason why the increase was so big in some cases is because this tax has never been automatically updated, so, for many years many people have paid too little, and now the updating came and the change is too big. The overall problem and discontent of the citizens of Buenos Aires is due to the fact that the tax seems too high for the services that are being provided.

Ideas to organize your storage room

Storage rooms are generally the place to put all those things that don't fit in your house and you don't used on a daily basis. The problem begins when you have too many things in there and you can’t go into the storage room; or when you want to get something but you can't find it due to the mess; or if you find it, you are afraid of moving it, because it might be holding other things.

The first piece of advice when trying to arrange your storage room is the following: if you haven't used the object for some time now, throw it or give it away. If the element is in good shape, you might give it away, but if it’s broken, just throw it, don’t keep it thinking you might fix it; you will not use it, or if you need it you will probably don’t remember where it is or you won’t know how to fix it, and you will end up buying a new one.

Once you have thrown all the unnecessary objects, it is time to start organizing your storage room. One idea that might be useful is that you keep things in boxes. Still, don’t put everything in boxes at random; since you are cleaning and organizing, do it right and in a useful way. The best way to keep things in order in the long run is to know what you have in each box, so you don’t have to open each box every time you need something. In order to do this, you may want to put all the objects according to the place they belong; for example, things that go in the kitchen; things that go in the living room, the bedroom, etc. etc. etc. The ideal thing is that you make a list of the things you might find in each box, and put a number to each box and the place of the house they belong. This way you can look for things easily. You check the list, see in which box it should be, and that’s it.

These ideas might seem a bit weird or that it might take too long to put things in order, but if you think about it, if you organize the storage room this way, and if you keep it like this, you will never have to organize it ever again. If you keep it organized and in order, you won't be touching and opening the boxes you don't need, so they will stay there, organized. Try it. Keeping your storage room organized is simpler than it sounds.

Ideas to decorate the balcony with plants

Nowadays, buildings have taken over the city and even though many of them have a common garden, we all like spending some time in a natural environment on our own, and rest.

For this reason, whether you have a big balcony or a small one, it is always nice to decorate it with plants and small elements that make your balcony look nice and you enjoy being there and spending your summer/spring afternoons.

Firstly, an idea to decorate a balcony is to do it with the plants and colors you like. Before start filling your balcony, you should think about the color you would like to have in it; which pots you want to use for the plants; the types of flower you like; etc. Moreover, you should bear in mind that most plants are seasonal, which means that you will not have them all year long. For this reason, you should consider having some perennial plants (which will be green all year long).

Those who have space on the wall of their balcony might be interested in putting a creeper plant, like the jasmine or the bougainvillea. Those who don’t have a wall on their balcony may put a plant that hangs from their balconies, to make it look bigger.

Those who enjoy having a minimalistic décor, or don't have much room and would like to keep it simple, may buy mini cactus or bonsai plants. This would add life to your balcony, it will look nice and it will let you move around it. You may also have space for a small table and a chair if you'd like.

If you want flowers and plants in your balcony but you don't have much space, you might consider putting your pots vertically. You may do this by hanging pots on the wall, or hanging them in the balcony rails. Nowadays there are also some metal structures (like bars), where you can hang your pots, so they don't take up too much space from your balcony, and still you have flowers and plants that give life to it.

There are thousands of ways and ideas to decorate your balcony with plants, it is a matter of choosing which plants you like, the pots you want, and just filling your balcony with plants and flowers. This way, your balcony will be full of life and color, and you may have a new place to relax and rest around the “wild” in the middle of the city.

 

Requirements for renting an apartment in the City of Buenos Aires

When it comes to renting an apartment in the City of Buenos Aires, you should have in mind that there are some requirements you need to comply with in order to do it. For this reason, we will now mention some steps to follow when you rent an apartment in the City of Buenos Aires. Still, you should know that some owners may ask you for other stuff too.

Firstly, every person that wants to rent an apartment must be of age (i.e., at least 18 years) and must have a valid ID or passport (its validity must last at least until the end of the contract).

Besides these two things, when it comes to renting an apartment in Buenos Aires, you will need to have a solvent warrantor. The warranty is something all owners ask for, since it works as a security of payment, should you not pay your rent. The warrantor generally signs the tenancy agreement as well as the tenant.

Another thing you need to have in mind in order to rent an apartment in Buenos Aires is that you will probably need to make a deposit. This deposit will be returned to you once the contract ends; nonetheless, the landlord will keep the deposit if you have some debt with him or if the apartment is not in the same conditions as it had been given when you moved in. Usually, the amount of the deposit equals a month of rent, or two, depending on the owner. If it is a furnished apartment, they could ask for a two-month’s deposit.

Moreover, if you want to rent an apartment in the City of Buenos Aires, you will have to prove you have sufficient incomes in order to pay each month.

In the City of Buenos Aires, the minimum term for signing a tenancy agreement is of 2 years (unless it is a temporary rental). After 6 months, the tenant may rescind the contract, and he/she should warn the landlord with 60 days in advance, and he/she will have to pay compensation.

In addition, when signing the tenancy contract, it is not compulsory to do it in front of a notary public; still, many people choose to do it, in order the notary checks that the law is being complied with and everything is in order. If you don’t want to have a notary when signing, it is advised that you verify that the landlord is actually the owner of the property, that the contract has all the covenants in order, that you understand everything, etc.

Last, you should make it a requirement to know your rights and duties, in order to defend yourself, should you have any problem.

How to get a credit to buy a house in Buenos Aires

Nowadays, the government of the city of Buenos Aires and the National Government are granting credits for people to buy a house. For this reason, many people have been looking for the requirements to apply in order to get the credit.

Even though each bank has its own requirements in order to grant a credit, we will now mention some key things that are quite similar in most cases. Nonetheless, remember to find out which particular things you need in each case and bank.

For starters, some banks have different minimums and maximums of age in order to apply for a credit, which can be for people over 18 or 21, up to the 65 years old approximately. The same happens with the minimum monthly income, which these days rounds the 2000 and 2500 Argentine Pesos, and you have the chance of summing your partner’s wage.

Moreover, each bank has a different a minimum amount of seniority at work.

In relation to the documentation you need to submit in order to apply for a credit, you will need: the Argentine ID (called DNI, LC or LE), a utility bill in your name, the CUIT or CUIL (identification number for workers), and according to your marital status, your marriage certificate, your divorce certificate, your certificate of cohabitation and/or birth certificate of your children, and a judicial sentence of separation.

In order to prove your working status, you may have to submit:

- If you are an employee: the last wage receipts (the amount of receipts depends on the bank), and an employment certificate done by the employer.

- If you are self-employed: professional registration, degree title, or municipal authorization, a certificate that proves the beginning of activity in the AFIP (institution in charge of taxes in Argentina), the affidavit of income, and its corresponding receipt of payment.

In relation to the property you want to acquire, you may need to submit some of the following documents:

- For already built houses: a photocopy of the title deed, and a receipt of the property or municipal tax that shows the “nomenclatura catastral" (identification of the house and its location). In case of apartments or horizontal properties, the cohabitation rules must be submitted as well.

- For houses to be built: the approved municipal planning.

As we have mentioned at the beginning, each bank will ask to submit different documents. Remember to keep all your documentation together and to make a copy of every document; Do not submit any original document, only a copy (still, you may have to show the originals, but do not submit those).

Buenos Aires’ neighborhoods with the best access to public transportation

The City of Buenos Aires has a great number of options when it comes to moving around the city. Even though there are some hours with too much traffic, and you may get some place in more or less time, public transport in Buenos Aires gets you anywhere.

Starting with the subways, the metros in Buenos Aires are not as long as in other cities of the world, but they do connect some neighborhoods of the city. Likewise, some trains are perfect for crossing the city from one side to the other in a few minutes. Nevertheless, the most importat way of moving in Buenos Aires which has the greatest amount of lines and routes is the bus (called "colectivos"). Buses move around the city, and they will take you anywhere, although if there's too much traffic, it could take you longer than going by train or subway.

The neighborhoods of the City of Buenos Aires which have the best access to the different means of transports are:

- Belgrano: The neighborhood of Belgrano has many means of transports, such as the line D of the metro in the Av. Santa Fe, which takes you to the downtown area, and it passes along Palermo, Tribunales, and other areas of the city. Moreover, there are a great number of buses that take you around the city and the outer areas of Buenos Aires. Also, the train communicates Belgrano with the neighborhood of Retiro, so you can be in the downtown area in a few minutes. The train lines are Belgrano Norte and Mitre.

- Palermo: Even though Palermo is big and there are some areas which are not as connected as other areas, if you walk some blocks you will find something that takes you around the city. The neighborhood of Palermo has the line D of the metro in Av. Santa Fe, and if you are closer to Av. Cordoba, you can walk towards Av. Corrientes and take the line B of the metro. Moreover, if you wish to go to the west-south areas of the city and province of Buenos Aires, you may take the train. The San Martin line also takes you north, to the neighborhood of Retiro. Of course, there are many buses that take you anywhere you want.

- Retiro: Retiro neighborhood is where the business area of Buenos Aires is, and many big companies have their offices there. There, you will find many train lines that end and start there, and they travel many places around the city and the province. Moreover, this is where the line C of the metro begins, which takes you to Constitución (to the southern area of the city), and connect you with other metro lines.

- Downtown area: In the downtown area of Buenos Aires (which is not the geographical center) is where many lines finish their routes, so you will be able to move around in these lines.

Caballito: The neighborhood of Caballito is a residential area, with many shops, and means of transport. In this neighborhood (located in the center area of Buenos Aires), you will find many buses lines, and the metro line C, which take you to the downtown area.

These are the main neighborhoods which offer a great variety of means of transport to move around the city.