It's
been more than a year since the country was placed under lockdowns, leaving
most of us to spend the majority of our time inside our homes. While the
government has been trying to ease quarantine guidelines and COVID-19 vaccines
become available in the country, observing the strictest measures at home,
especially inside condominiums,
should still be our priority as we continue to overcome this pandemic.
Living in condominiums and other multi-family residential developments with shared facilities and closed spaces can increase the risk of tenants and their families getting infected with COVID-19. There are a lot of people living in one building and sharing common spaces like hallways, lobby, and elevators can be daunting.
While strict health protocols are being implemented, exposure to other people is unavoidable especially in these common areas and shared amenities.
You might be feeling distressed now living in a condominium where you share the building with other people. You might also be feeling dejected having to stay inside a small space for weeks or even months due to quarantine. However, when you think about it, there are a lot of factors that make condo living more convenient and safer amidst the pandemic.
We have listed some of the advantages of condo living, especially in times of quarantine.
Property Management
The role of property management groups has been vital during this health crisis. Property managers were able to adapt quickly and develop COVID-19 policies and guidelines to keep everything in place while ensuring the safety of condo residents from the virus.
Living in a community within a community, real estate developers and their property management groups have implemented their respective set of guidelines for the health and safety of their condo residents.
With the goal of protecting the health and safety of the residents, both developers and property managers have initiated internal protocols and community responses. Many are not allowing visitors to enter the premises. The use of amenities such as pools and gyms are also limited to avoid crowding. Condo residents are also encouraged to limit the time spent outdoors and avoid touching surfaces on common areas.
Information dissemination
Aside from managing the cleanliness of the condo building, condo administration also provides important announcements and up-to-date health information in order to address panic or fear amongst residents. These include the latest news about the pandemic, emergency hotline numbers, and disinfecting schedules, among others.
Strict Health Protocols and Constant Health Reminders
The idea of isolation is quite difficult for individuals and families living in small and enclosed spaces. But condo residents are constantly being reminded about health guidelines and safety protocols which include arranging furniture to observe physical distancing, strictly following standard health protocol to avoid spreading the virus such as frequent hand washing and taking a bath after going outdoors, having a designated disinfection area for those coming home, regularly disinfecting surfaces and floors, taking turns in eating alone in common dining areas, labeling plates, utensils, and glasses and using separate dish sponges to clean them, posting reminders about bringing a mask and face shield if leaving the house and doing laundry separately and avoiding sharing of soaps.
Safety protocols on common areas and amenities are also being implemented, which include avoiding crowded places, limiting leaving the unit for non-essential errands, practicing social distancing in common areas and shared amenities, practicing regular disinfection of hands, and strictly following the guidelines set by the property management team.
Ideal Location
One of the advantages of condo living is the location. Most condominiums are located in strategic locations with easy access to grocery stores, shopping malls, and other business and lifestyle establishments.
This means that you don’t have to travel far to go to the grocery stores, banks, and even hospitals. You can simply walk a couple of blocks to reach these places, which means that replenishing food or medicine supply and withdrawing or depositing cash during the quarantine is a lot easier.
Readily Available Service Providers & Suppliers
Most condominium developments have a list of service providers and suppliers that you can contact anytime. This includes electricity, water, and internet connection.
With this, you do not have to worry about the service disruption because the condo administration will take care of it if there’s any problem or concern.
Common area maintenance
While there are a lot of people living in condominiums, common areas are expected to be properly maintained by the administration. This also includes cleaning and disinfecting common areas such as hallways, lobby areas, and elevators. Additionally, you can also expect other disinfecting measures done in the condominium to minimize the chances of infection within the building.
Online Communities
In most condominiums, you will find an online group or conversation thread by, for, and with the residents. Through this, you can easily converse with your fellow residents without the need to go out of your condo unit. You can also talk to each other about any common issues about the property, voice out your concerns, and even share some suggestions on particular issues.
You can also take advantage of these online communities to earn by promoting your business or supplying your fellow residents with food or services. You can easily connect with other individuals and promote whatever it is that you are selling for free.
One of the most common practices in condo communities is the “pasabuy” where residents can consolidate their orders, buy the products altogether and divide the shipping fees among themselves. This helps in preventing the residents from going out to purchase items, especially if they are not really essential.
Strict Security
As you may know, one of the benefits of condo living is 24/7 security and being able to live in gated communities. Aside from this, the property management team also requires security guards to regularly monitor each floor and patrol common areas and all common spaces are also equipped with CCTVs to ensure the safety and security of the condo residents.
During this health crisis, the security team has also been working hand in hand with the condo administration personnel regarding the strict implementation of health protocols and safety measures in the building such as taking the temperature of everyone who goes in and out of the buildings, health monitoring and recording, and reminding condo residents to always wear their masks in and out of the premises.
With these strict security measures in place, you can worry less about safety and security issues. You can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that you are living in a safe and secure environment.
Lower Utility Costs
Unlike a typical house and lot, condominiums have smaller floor areas, which can help you enjoy lower utility bills and living expenses. Since you only have a small space to live in, you do not have to spend so much on areas that are not used frequently.
During this health crisis when having extra money is crucial, you will appreciate the benefits of condo living. You can spare yourself from the additional costs, and be able to access the essential items easily and quickly.
If you want to enjoy these benefits then, maybe it’s time that you consider investing in a condominium. And if you are looking to invest in a condominium, you may want to look at the various condominium projects of top property developer, Vista Residences.
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., which offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila and Quezon City that are strategically located within inner-city areas, in close proximity to premium universities and developed business districts.
At Vista Residences, unit owners can take advantage of the property’s centrality. The properties of Vista Residences are strategically located near the country’s premium universities and CBDs, making them an attractive investment for both local and foreign investors.
Living in Vista Residences enables you to enjoy convenience, where everything is pretty much within walking distance or a few minutes away from the property; comfort because the project features and amenities are made to deliver comfort at all times and a one-of-a-kind condo design, which makes condo living a worthy investment; security that is 24/7 and CCTV monitoring, which makes the residents safe and secure within the property.
In line with Vista Residences’ thrust to offer convenience among its residents, it also features an AllDay Convenience Store and Coffee Project in all its projects.
Meanwhile, the ready for occupancy condo projects of Vista Residences that you may consider investing into are Pine Crest, The Symphony Towers, and Wil Tower.
Pine Crest
Pine Crest is a condominium development that offers the luxury of living in a serene, green, and secure community while still having access to the comforts of the metro.
It features three mid to low-rise towers in a Swiss-inspired enclave tucked in the serene neighborhood of New Manila in Quezon City. Towers 1 and 2 consist of 5-storeys while Tower 3 is a 15-storey structure. Each of the towers is named after the famous Swiss cities Geneva, Zurich, and Lucerne.
The units in Pine Crest are fitted with a balcony, which offers a serene view of the verdant landscape surrounding the area. At Pine Crest, you can enjoy the fresh and crisp morning air with your cup of coffee or have a glass of wine, feeling the cool nighttime breeze as you wind down from your busy day.
Nestled along main thoroughfares – Aurora Boulevard and Gilmore and E. Rodriguez Avenues, Pine Crest is very accessible as it is just a 5-minute walk from Betty Go-Belmonte and Gilmore LRT stations, which makes it an easy train ride away from Metro Manila’s University Belt.
Pine Crest sits right beside Robinsons Magnolia and is also just a few minutes away from Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Business Center, and Tomas Morato, where a whole range of lifestyle activities as well as a multitude of retail and dining establishments are located. Pine Crest is also in close proximity to educational institutions such as St. Paul University Quezon City and University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. as well as premier medical facilities such as St. Luke’s Medical Center and Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
The Symphony Towers
Bringing a whole new groove and beat to city living is The Symphony Towers which is located along Sgt. Esguerra avenue corner Timog avenue in Quezon City.
The Symphony Towers is a two-tower condominium development that offers exclusive residences as well as commercial and business establishments. Two floors in each tower are dedicated to offices while the remaining floors are allotted for residences complete with amenities and a roof deck that offers the best view of the city.
As it sits in the middle of Quezon City, The Symphony Towers is just a few minutes away from the country’s largest TV networks such as GMA 7 and ABS-CBN, transport hubs such as GMA-Kamuning MRT station and some of the most prominent schools in the metro such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and Miriam College, among others.
Wil Tower
Located a few minutes away from The Symphony Towers and just across ABS-CBN, along Eugenio Lopez Drive, Diliman is Wil Tower, a 42-storey condominium development that offers an ideal urban sanctuary in the city.
Wil Tower offers well-thought out features and amenities as well as exclusive residential units that will let you experience comfort and style in urban living. At Wil Tower, you can lounge in the pool, enjoy sauna, try al fresco dining, shop for amazing home décor at AllHome or simply hit the gym – all without leaving the comforts of your own condo unit.
Vista Residences also offers leasing services that would benefit both end-users and investors who aspire to turn their purchases into working investments.
Vista Residences is part of Vista Land’s roster of vertical housing brands that cater to millennials and young professionals. The other vertical brands include Camella Manors, COHO, and Crown Asia.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
