A home for keeps
By Joy Rojas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:34:00 10/11/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Before tying the knot last March, Jeffrey and Rhea Licup, former BPO employees and sweethearts for four years, saved up for their very own home. Gone were the coffee breaks and dining in fancy coffee shops and restaurants; instead, the young couple settled for DVD dates and fast food meals to save their hard-earned salaries for the down payment of their dream home in Avida Residences Santa Catalina in Dasmariñas, Cavite. “After we saw how peaceful and quiet the community was, we knew this was where we wanted to live so we decided we will work hard and save up for this home,” says Jeffrey.
Rhea, a help desk agent for Global Exchange, and Jeffrey, a tech support engineer at Oracle, are today proud homeowners. Both appreciate that they can dream about growing a family in an Avida community and enjoy the benefits associated with a development that is made by an Ayala Land company. Avida is the Ayala Land subsidiary focused on providing affordable homes. Like other Ayala Land companies, it aims to nurture communities—not just build homes—and attend to customer’s needs even long after the last lot in their neighborhood has been sold.
For Eddie and Patria Manglicmot, OFWs in Italy for the past 14 years, the quality of life offered by Avida Towers residential condominium units, their locations near malls and transportation lines, and consistent property management all add up to a secure investment. The couple has in fact invested in three condominium units in various Avida Towers locations in Metro Manila—Sucat, New Manila and Makati. As soon as each of their units are turned over to them, they will lease out the properties. They expect the income of these properties to take care of their needs even over the long term.
They shared, “We are working hard to build a better future for our son. Just five more years to go and we’re homebound. We want to retire and savor the fruits of our labor in our own country.”
According to Christopher Maglanoc, assistant vice president of Avida’s Project and Strategic Management Group, buying a home is a major milestone that requires serious and careful thought. “Many first time buyers tend to focus merely on the price of a home and the amenities that come with it rather than getting the best value for their money from a company with an unparallel track record,” he says. Thus, they open themselves to uncertainties like delayed completion and delivery dates, questionable titles, shoddy materials and workmanship, inadequate customer support.
Ricky Celis, Avida Marketing and Sales vice president says, “We aim to be our buyers’ partners. Most of them are first time buyers—either buying their first home or making their first investment.”
“The partnership begins when a prospective client walks into an Avida sales office. Sales personnel help him choose a home that will suit both his needs and budget. In Avida’s long experience, clients who earmark at least 30 percent of their budget to housing, show a better payment track record.
The partnership also extends to units that are the result of careful product development. We offer our buyers practically designed homes and provide essential amenities that will perform and function efficiently over time.
In addition, the company maintains a customer service unit to attend to homeowners needs. Avida provides a workmanship warranty of one year—11 months more than what most developers offer. Each Avida development is also assigned a community manager to oversee operations until the homeowners themselves have become adept at managing their community. The community continues to thrive with the many programs put in place by Avida that will promote a peaceful and orderly neighborhood and will make the residents proud of their community. One of these programs is the Project C.L.E.A.N. & G.R.E.E.N. which helps enhance quality of life in the communities through clean and healthy environment.
Buying a home, like any milestone in life, means you’ve finally come of age and that you’re ready to take on the responsibility of sustaining a long term investment and maintaining a property that you’ve spent years working hard and saving for. Make this moment a memorable event by doing your homework: looks and location are key, but do focus as well on the important matter of partnering with a reliable developer from the start, one who will, as Celis says, make moving into your very own home “a happy experience.”
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