Curb appeal can enhance a home’s value

15% increase in a home’s value if it is wellmaintained and landscaped ■ 88% faster sales when a home is staged for prospective buyers ■ 8 seconds for the buyer to decide whether they want to view the interior

First impressions matter and this could not be more true when it comes to viewing a home with a prospective buyer.

in the fast-paced Malaysian real estate market, properties are constantly competing for attention, often relying on their curb appeal to stand out.

Curb appeal is frequently overlooked but it can significantly influence a property’s market value and the speed at which it sells. Homes with strong curb appeal typically spend less time on the market.

When a potential buyer first sees a property in person – rather than through an airbrushed photo online – their reaction can go one of three ways: they may be impressed, left scratching their head or even horrified.

this initial, often subconscious, impression will heavily influence their decision to explore the interior or move on to the next listing.

studies show that buyers often make snap judgments about a property within seconds of viewing it. A home’s value can increase by up to 15% if it is well-maintained and landscaped.

A welcoming facade can instantly capture attention and create a positive first impression.

Conversely, an unkempt or neglected exterior can deter potential buyers and negatively affect the property’s perceived value.

What is Malaysia’s unique curb appeal?

Malaysia’s curb appeal is uniquely influenced by its rich cultural heritage and tropical climate. traditional Malay homes, adorned with intricately carved wooden details and vibrant colours, offer a charm that captures the essence of the region.

Chinese and indian architectural styles also contribute to this aesthetic diversity, creating a harmonious blend of influences.

in recent years, sleek, modern minimalist designs have gained popularity, often integrating natural elements and emphasising sustainability, reflecting a growing appreciation for both elegance and environmental consciousness.

regardless of the architectural style, maintaining an inviting exterior is essential in Malaysian culture. Lush greenery, clean lines and a sense of organised beauty are highly valued.

imagine a manicured lawn bordered by vibrant flower beds, with neatly trimmed hedges framing the property – this greatly enhances a home’s overall curb appeal.

Investing in exterior pays off

Landscaping is a crucial element of curb appeal. A well-maintained lawn serves as the foundation, providing a backdrop for colourful flowers, eye-catching shrubs and majestic trees that add both colour and texture to the landscape.

Mulching garden beds not only nourishes the soil but also creates a polished, tidy appearance, giving the home a well-cared-for look.

the choice of exterior paint is another important factor in a home’s aesthetic appeal.

selecting colours that complement the architectural style and blend with the neighbourhood can create a cohesive look.

timeless neutral tones like soft white, warm beige and muted grey evoke a sense of elegance and calm.

A fresh coat of paint, especially when details like window frames and doors are refreshed, can breathe new life into a home’s exterior.

Driveways and walkways, often overlooked, can also dramatically affect curb appeal.

An uneven or cracked driveway is an eyesore but resurfacing or repainting these areas can restore their charm.

regular cleaning and removing debris ensure a pristine appearance, while power washing can remove dirt and grime, bringing surfaces back to their original condition.

the front door is the focal point of a home’s exterior.

Choosing a bold colour or unique architectural design can make a striking first impression.

Upgrading the hardware or adding stylish lighting fixtures can further enhance the door’s appeal, drawing the eye and inviting curiosity.

Lighting is another critical component of curb appeal.

thoughtfully placed outdoor lighting can highlight the home’s best features, even after dark. illuminating walkways, gardens and the front door not only improves safety but also creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Finally, decluttering and organising exterior spaces is essential.

removing clutter from the front porch, driveway and garden fosters a clean and inviting environment that will impress potential buyers.

A well-maintained exterior reflects the care and attention given to the home, making it a truly appealing space.

Different property types, different jobs

For many Malaysians who live in condominiums, professional landscaping is typically managed by the property management in the common areas.

the landscaping needs of each condominium differ and professional landscapers provide unique solutions based on the property’s requirements.

Whether it’s planting pathways and installing lighting for safety, designing play areas for children, or creating relaxing spaces with shaded seating areas, their expertise ensures that the outdoor spaces meet the residents’ practical needs while also looking beautiful.

A home’s curb appeal is a powerful tool that can significantly impact its market value and the speed of its sale.

By investing time and effort into landscaping, exterior paint, driveway and walkway maintenance, front door enhancements, lighting and decluttering, homeowners can create a lasting first impression that draws potential buyers.

in the diverse and vibrant landscape of Malaysian real estate, curb appeal is a key factor that differentiates properties and attracts discerning buyers.

By understanding the cultural nuances and architectural styles that define Malaysian homes, homeowners can enhance their property’s aesthetic appeal and create a welcoming environment.

Embracing the power of landscaping, exterior upgrades and thoughtful design ensures that a property stands out in the competitive real estate market.

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Managing your digital estate, Digital estate planning

 

How to safeguard online accounts, data in death

MOST PEOPLE have accumulated a pile of data – selfies, emails, videos and more – on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away, unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

APPLE

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “legacy contact” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up, you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system – iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on – including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

GOOGLE

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait – from three to 18 months – before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access – including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honour their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialise the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TIKTOK

The video-sharing platform says that, if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialise the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialised, it will be labelled ‘Remembering’. No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

X

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorised person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

PASSWORDS

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens, if not hundreds, of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, such as Keeper, Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

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Digital Estate Planning: Protecting Your Digital Assets

CAPITAL MARKETS: Maximising your unit trust returns

 

Unit trust is an investment vehicle that allows you to invest in a variety of asset classes, offering diversification benefits ■ It’s important to select the best of breed unit trust funds tailored to your asset class and target market to optimise your investment porfolio. when comparing investment options, look at both the investment fee and the overall ROI that the investment offers.

Unit trust is an investment vehicle that allows you to invest in a variety of asset classes, offering diversification benefits. However, to get the most out of them, it’s important to select the best of breed funds, diversify your investments globally and invest through channels with lower management fees.

■ When comparing investment options, look at both the investment management fee and the overall ROI that the investment offers

A COUPLE of weeks ago, I met with a middle-aged couple interested in getting serious about achieving financial freedom.

During our initial consultation, they mentioned that their current investments were in the form of unit trusts recommended by a friend, who is an agent.

However, when I inquired about the specific asset classes their unit trust funds were invested in, they struggled to answer and seemed confused.

This is not an uncommon scenario. Unit trust, one of the most popular investment types in Malaysia, is often misunderstood.

Its easy accessibility and affordability makes it a seemingly a friendlier option for beginners compared to more aggressive investments.

The fact remains, there are still many aspects that are misunderstood about unit trust funds. The ease of access masks the complexities.

So, in this article, we are going to reveal five truths about unit trusts that will help investors make better investment decisions.

Misconception 1: Unit trust is a type of investment

Truth 1: Unit trust is an investment vehicle

A common misconception among new investors is that a unit trust is a standalone investment that focuses on a single asset class, such as property, gold or shares.

In reality, unit trust is an investment vehicle that allows you to invest in a variety of asset classes, offering diversification benefits.

Think of it as a basket containing a mix of investments, like equities, bonds, or even real estate investment trusts. This differs from directly buying individual stocks, where you invest solely in the equity asset class.

For example, if you are looking to invest in Malaysia equities, one option is to directly purchase stocks from several Malaysian companies on the stock market.

Alternatively, you can also invest in a Malaysian equity-type unit trust fund. While the unit trust fund is managed by a fund manager, the asset class you are investing in remains essentially the same or similar.

The specific investment vehicle that you choose is not important. What is more important is the underlying asset classes that you choose to invest into, whether it is using unit trust, exchange-traded funds (ETFS), or other vehicles.

For instance, if you purchase

Malaysian equity unit trusts from three different fund houses, you may think that you are diversifying your investments.

But in reality, these Malaysian equity funds, despite being from different fund houses, still concentrate your exposure to a single market segment.

In essence, you are putting all your eggs into one basket, ultimately investing in a single asset class.

Misconception 2: Equity unit trust funds are as risky as other high-risk investments

Truth 2: Equity unit trust funds are much safer than other high-risk investments

Unit trust funds benefit from a third-party trustee structure, which acts as a safeguard by ensuring the fund’s assets are held on behalf of investors and invested according to the trust deed.

Compared to many other investment schemes, unit trusts are indeed much safer.

Why is that? To illustrate this, let’s take a look at the accompanying diagram.

There are three parties involved in a unit trust fund in Malaysia. The first party is the unit holder, which is you.

Let’s say you invest RM100,000 capital through your fund manager. The money does not actually go into the fund manager’s bank account; it goes into a trustee account, which duty is to hold and protect your capital.

The fund manager is responsible for identifying which equities to allocate the capital to, while the trustee buys and holds the shares according to the fund manager’s instructions.

The beauty of this unit trust model is that it protects your investment.

Even if the fund manager hypothetically goes bankrupt, and has to close its business, your capital is still safe.

This is because the trustee, not the fund management house, holds your money.

Therefore, when you invest in a unit trust fund, you not only getting a return on investment (ROI), but also a return of investment – the return of your capital that you had initially put in.

Misconception 3: Investing in one or two super-performing unit trust funds can grow our serious money effectively

Truth 3: To grow your wealth effectively, you need to diversify globally

The quest for the “best” unit trust fund is a common one, but is it the right approach?

Many investors believe that investing in a single unit trust is effective enough to grow their money in the long run.

The truth is, the way to ensure the growth of your portfolio is by diversifying your asset classes globally.

Take, for example, the impressive performance of the global equities, which have shown an upward trend over the past 30 years.

Several key factors contributed to this phenomenon, including a rising global population and advancements in technology that fuel global demand and productivity.

As many businesses worldwide experience growth and increase their profit, this translates into a rise in global equities.

In contrast, if you were to invest in a share or one fund that focuses on one sector or country, the growth would be unpredictable and less sustainable in the long run.

Therefore, to achieve sustainable growth in your unit trust ROI, ensure that you are diversifying your unit trust funds globally to optimise your growth.

Misconception 4: Unit trust funds are expensive

Truth 4: Unit trust funds can be either expensive or cheap, depending on the channel and market you invest in

One crucial cost to consider for unit trust investors is the sales charge, also known as a front-end fee, applied when purchasing from your chosen fund manager.

When investing in unit trusts through traditional channels, the fees can sometimes go as high as 5%.

It’s important to scrutinise these fees, as high fees can significantly eat into your portfolio’s performance.

For example, suppose your unit trust generates an 8% return in the first year. If the front-end fee charged by your fund house is 5%, your actual return becomes only 3%.

Fortunately, with the online investment platform options and corporate unit trust advisor channel available today, there are many platforms where you can find front-end fees as low as 2% or even lower.

This makes choosing the right channel crucial, as it significantly impacts the fees you pay.

When comparing management fees of your different investments side by side, it is also important to take into account not just the percentage of the fees, but the overall returns of each type of investment and the markets that you invest in.

For example, investors often compare unit trusts to ETFS. ETFS typically boast lower average annual management fees compared to unit trusts.

Due to these lower fees, ETFS might appear to have the potential for higher returns compared to unit trusts.

On the surface, ETF may seem like a better investment option. However, this is not true for all markets.

For example, the investment environment and opportunities in developing markets are vastly different from the developed markets.

In such cases, some unit trust funds managed by experienced professionals have a higher chance of outperforming ETFS despite the higher fund management fees.

Therefore, when comparing investment options, consider the bigger picture.

Look at both the investment management fee and the overall ROI that the investment offers.

Misconception 5: Any unit trust fund salesperson can help you access to the best of breed unit trust funds from the whole market

Truth 5: Only selected qualified advisors can help you access the best of breed unit trust funds from the open market

To optimise your investment portfolio, consider investing in the best of breed unit trust funds tailored to your asset class and target market.

This means that if you are looking to invest in an equity fund in the local market, you should ensure that you pick the best quality fund among all the Malaysian equity funds.

But how do you identify the “best” unit trust fund for your needs? It’s not as straightforward as it seems.

The reality is that many investors rely on bankers or unit trust agents to recommend funds for them to invest in.

However, relying on these recommendations might not be the best approach, as their choices are often limited to the funds offered by their own companies or fund houses.

Therefore, the best recommendation they can make may not be the best fund for you to invest in.

Let’s take the example of several Malaysia equity funds under a single fund house.

The best performing fund within the single fund house, Fund A has achieved an ROI of just under 60% over a five-year period, which is quite impressive.

However, when we broaden our horizons and compare Fund A’s performance to options available in the open market, we are faced with the truth that the fund we initially thought was the best performer (Fund A) ranks lower when compared to other Malaysian equity funds in the open market.

Even more striking, the actual top performer in the open market delivered nearly double the ROI!

In other words, by choosing the seemingly “best” fund within one company only, you could have missed out on potential gains of an additional 60% of ROI. That’s a significant difference!

To ensure that you’re not missing out on potentially better options, consider consulting with independent financial advisors who operate under corporate unit trust advisor company.

They can advise and recommend a wider range of unit trust funds in the open market, not just limited to options within a single fund house.

From the points that I shared above, you’re now equipped with a better understanding of the ins and outs of unit trusts.

Unit trust funds can be a valuable tool to effectively grow your money.

However, to get the most out of them, it’s important to select the best of breed funds, diversify your investments globally and invest through channels with lower management fees.

By following these steps, you can build a sturdy portfolio that will grow steadily in the long run and provide you the financial growth that you seek.

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“Many investors believe that investing in a single unit trust is effective enough to grow their money in the long run. The truth is, the way to ensure the growth of your portfolio is by diversifying your asset classes globally.”

New crew joins Tiangong space station

Out of this world: (From right) Astronauts Cai, Song and Wang waving to the crowd during a departure ceremony ahead of the launch of the Shenzhou-19 space mission in the Gobi desert, northwest China. — AFP

Three Chinese astronauts including the country’s only woman spaceflight engineer entered the Tiangong space station on Wednesday following an early morning launch into orbit.

The Shenzhou-19 mission took off with its trio of space explorers at 4.27am local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Xinhua and state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Among the crew is Wang Haoze, 34, China’s only woman spaceflight engineer, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

She is the third Chinese woman to take part in a crewed mission.

The crew arrived around 12.51pm local time and met with the astronauts from the previous Shenzhou-18 mission, “starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover”, state news agency Xinhua said.

The new Tiangong team will carry out experiments with an eye to the space programme’s goal of placing astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and eventually constructing a lunar base.

“Like everyone else, I dream of going to the space station to have a look,” Wang told a media gathering on Tuesday alongside her fellow crew members.

The space agency deemed the launch a “complete success”, Xinhua said, adding that about 10 minutes after taking off, the spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit.

Xinhua later said the spaceship had “made a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the front port of the space station’s core module Tianhe at 11am (local time)”, and that the trio would then enter the module.

Headed by Cai Xuzhe, the team will return to Earth in late April or early May next year, CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang said at a separate press event ahead of the launch.

Cai, a 48-year-old former air force pilot, brings experience from a previous stint aboard Tiangong as part of the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022.

“Having been selected for the new crew, taking on a new role, facing new tasks and new challenges, I feel the honour of my mission with a great responsibility,” said Cai.

Completing the astronaut lineup is 34-year-old Song Lingdong.

The new and old crew will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work, the CMSA said, according to Xinhua.

The Shenzhou-18 crew is scheduled to return to Earth on Monday, it added.

China has ramped up plans to achieve its “space dream” under President Xi Jinping.

The Shenzhou-19 crew’s time aboard Tiangong will see them carry out various experiments, including some involving “bricks” made from components imitating lunar soil, CCTV reported.

Crewed by teams of three astronauts that are rotated every six months, the Tiangong space station is the programme’s crown jewel. — AFP

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China's space endeavor witnesses openness and self-reliance: Global Times editorial

China will continue to promote international space exchanges and cooperation in various forms with an open mind, share development achievements with other countries, improve outer space governance, and make space scientific and technological achievements more beneficial to mankind, so that the wisdom of mankind with a shared future will be ventured into the vast expanse of space.