Miscellaneous
The cost of bureaucracy in Israel
Posted on 15. Jul, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
The bulk of bureaucracy involved in the process of issuing permits in the new construction sector makes up nearly six percent of the purchase price of a real estate in Israel, according to a study by the Israeli Contractors Association. Bureaucratic processes and delays in the approval of construction permits with which a contractor has to deal with, generates an additional cost of NIS 90,000 for the individual buyer to the price of an average four-room apartment at NIS 1,500,000.
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Understanding the Madad – Consumer Price Index
Posted on 14. Jul, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
The Madad, which is the Hebrew for Consumer Price Index (CPI) or rate of inflation, is followed very closely by Israelis since movements in the monthly index affect nearly every aspect in life from salaries, mortgages, housing, transportation costs or prices of fruit and vegetables, and other expenses. In brief, a number of very important income and other expense items of every household are linked fully or partially to monthly or quarterly inflation.
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National Association for Better Housing
Posted on 06. Jul, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
The National Association for Better Housing (Ha’aguda letarbut hadiyur) is a non-profit organization to protect tenants’ rights in apartment blocks. The association has legal advisers specialized in real estate and joint property law, whose services can be used by members in cases regarding tenants’ rights, dispute-resolving in joint property disputes, payment failure of joint building expenses, counseling opposite maintenance companies or opposite constructors and builders.
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Choosing the right type of kitchen countertop
Posted on 02. Jul, 2010 by DebbieG.
In recent years, an array of choices of countertops (collectively known as shayish) have become available in Israel, from granite, wood, engineered stone to glass. The majority of products are brands imported from major companies around the world, while some products are ‘home-grown”or manufactured in Israel. The types of countertops available for kitchen and bathroom tops, can be divided into six main groups which are granite, engineered stone, synthetic, wood, stainless steel and glass countertop products.
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Using Shabbat timers for operating lights and fans
Posted on 27. Jun, 2010 by buyitinisrael.
The Torah prohibits 39 activities on Shabbat. Included in these prohibitions are activities such as switching on or off lights, fans, air-conditioningand heating systems. A common practice today in Jewish homes in Israel and abroad is for the use of a Shabbat timer (shaon Shabbat) to perform these activities, where a timer is set before Shabbat and continues to operate on Shabbat without any human involvement.
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12 steps to take before building a basement
Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by buyitinisrael.
A common trend nowadays in Israel is to build a basement beneath a house. The addition of a basement to an existing property, can provide the owner with a large amount of additiona living area and can also add significantly to the value of the property. However, basement excavations and conversions, carry many regulations and permissions with them. They are each unique and very much depend upon the condition and structural ability of the existing property.
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The importance of burglar alarm systems in Israel
Posted on 04. Jun, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
In view of increasing numbers of burglaries around the country, today’s home in Israel has come to require a higher degree of security and safety as well as a growing need for users to be in control of and connected to their home, in particular if they are away from their home on a regular basis. Hence when renovating or building a new home in Israel, it has become a common feature to install an alarm system for deterrence.
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Shabbat elevators – a necessity in high-rise buildings
Posted on 25. May, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
With the operation of a Shabbat control mode, an elevator will stop automatically on a certain floor and its doors will open, hence allowing users to step in and out without having to press any buttons. Otherwise it would be prohibited to use an elevator on Shabbat because pressing the button to operate the elevator closes a circuit, which violates the prohibition of building on Shabbat, which is considered a form of labor.
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Exterminating your home – a necessary service to prevent entry of insect pests
Posted on 11. May, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
Living in and around cities in Israel in the summer often brings around to your home in Israel unwelcome guests from cockroaches to other insects. Cockroaches eat everything, love warmth and humidity and will usually be found near food (the kitchen, for example) or organic substances (in bathrooms, building sewages, etc). Now more and more homeowners in Israel are using the services of professional exterminators for prevention, which is recommended to order once a year during the spring months.
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A guide to building maintenance and management costs in Israel
Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Buy-It In Israel Staff.
When buying or renting a property in Israel it is important to find out if and how the building is maintained and the magnitude of the fees involved, before signing a contract. In Israel the maintenance or management of an apartment building is determined by a committee of homeowner representatives called Vaad Bayit or building committee.
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Stand your ground and choose the right floor
Posted on 11. Apr, 2010 by buyitinisrael.
One of the most important elements in the home, both functionally and visually, is the flooring. The two primary groups of flooring types are stone-based and wood-based. Most homes in Israel have traditionally been built with stone-based rather than wood-based flooring for a number of reasons: stone is more readily available here than wood; most homes are constructed with stone rather than wood-based material; and stone keeps the home cooler which is an advantage in a warm climate.
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