5 Reasons why exclusive, independent floors are a sensible option for 3BHK home buyers in Hyderabad
5 reasons why exclusive, independent floors are a sensible option for 3BHK home buyers in Hyderabad An exclusive, independent floor 3 BHK or higher configuration means it is an apartment with ‘One apartment per floor’. This is like having your own sky-villa, with unbeatable privacy, and luxury of living in a home that’s got all 4-sides open with clear view of the skyline as well as the tranquil green cover! What’s more, Independent floors are perhaps the only configuration of apartments where the tenets of Vastu also apply perfectly well, to give you a harmonious living with nature and comfort for your family! This is simply because, unlike the cluster of multiple apartments tied-up on one floor, in an exclusive floor, all four sides (directions) are available to you with no common wall. With standalone buildings dominating the Hyderabad residential sector market, option of an exclusive-floor is now even more sensible for a home buyer in Hyderabad than ever before. Let’s further explore the reasons… 1. Luxurious, spacious homes offered at a much lower price point This is about owning a piece of your own personal deck with ‘one apartment per floor’ Hyderabad is known to have many 5 storey buildings on smaller plots (400 to 600 square yards) in less crowded yet renowned residential colonies. Some plot owners even demolish their existing independent homes, and use their plots for development purposes to make multi-storey apartments GHMC Hyderabad normally gives approval for a 5-storey building apartments for these plots With lot sizes in the range of 400 to 600 sq. yds. It is NOT very attractive for a builder to construct cluster apartments on 5 floor Considering the demand factor, builders find it prudent to construct one apartment per floor, and chase 5 home buyers in Hyderabad, rather than make smaller homes for more than 10 buyers Besides, providing 10 or more parking spaces to 10 apartments owners to park is a challenging task Hence, builders in Hyderabad are increasing to choosing to build spacious areas upwards of 2000+ sft of independent floors for 5 buyers within a RERA & GHMC approved project A low-rise exclusive floor in Sainikpuri, for instance, would cost approximate Rs 5200 to Rs 6000 per square foot. So, a 2200 sft exclusive floor would cost between Rs 1.1 Crore to Rs 1.25 Crore, which is very cost-effective 2. Low-density living in a standalone building at a superior location Low-density living means that you live in a locality that’s NOT crowded, and you get clean air, and lush-green surroundings Standalone buildings with independent floors is normally built on plots ranging between 400 to 600 square yards Additionally, the buyers who choose luxurious ‘one apartment on one floor’ also prefer to buy them in residential colonies whose location is excellent, and physically closer to micro-market they are located in This is why you find such exclusive floor apartments being made across Hyderabad is preferred micro-market localities like Jubilee Hills, Madhapur, Kukatpally, Mehdipatnam, Banjara Hills, Sainikpuri, Yapral, Defence colony, Tarnaka, Uppal and many more ‘Location’ is a definitive advantage in these localities. No wonder, people demolish their old homes to construct these 5 storey exclusive condominiums 3. Safer haven to live by avoiding pandemic-prone hazards, and pay for only ‘relevant amenities’ Pandemic has also taught us a new way to think and live SAFE Lesser the crowd around us, safer we are! With social-distancing there to stay in our lives, the pandemic-like hazards are also well avoided with lesser people frequenting your home This is good news, because unlike gated communities in high-density areas, where thousands of people live in one square kilometre of area, you lead a relatively safer life in low-density residential colonies The air you breathe is far cleaner, and you also get more greenery to yourself Plus, a BIG advantage is that you pay for only relevant amenities like power back-up, elevators, parking With large gated communities, the problem is two-fold- one, the location usually is not as attractive as standalone buildings two, you end-up paying for amenities like gymnasium, play areas, swimming-pool, open-parks etc…which are NOT used very frequently. COVID-19 has seen these facilities to be the first ones to be locked away! So, you actually end up paying a very high-price for your apartments, because the ‘cost of all these less used amenities is also baked-into your apartment price’ Effectively, when you buy an apartment in a gated-community with high rise buildings, you end up paying at least Rs 200 to Rs 500 per square foot additional towards these so-called extras, which may NOT be pragmatic in a post-pandemic world You would much rather buy more space inside the house with a stand-alone building apartment, rather than pay more for a smaller apartment that’s part of a gated-community 4. Better social infrastructure Smaller plots with exclusive floors range between Rs 5200 to Rs 10,000 per sft depending upon the locality in Hyderabad With many self-sufficient micro-markets around West, East, North, South and Central Hyderabad, the social infrastructure remains impeccable You get excellent access to your daily and general life needs- be it groceries, medical facilities, shopping hubs, educational institutions, entertainment spots, eateries, parks etc. The gated community apartments requiring large-land parcels, on the other hand, are located a little far away from these comparatively better localities 5. Most relevant amenities now available viz. power back-up, parking and elevators (lifts) Good news is that the builders are offering more luxury to discerning buyers These ‘one apartment per floor’ units are now loaded with ‘relevant amenities’ like power back-up, exclusive elevators (lifts), and adequate parking spaces for your cars and 2-wheelers This makes-up for a sensible and financial prudent decision, since you get more space inside the house, and get the luxury of lifts taking you to your own exclusive sky-villa So, exclusive independent floors means you get a perfect Villa-feel in the environs of your home that’s open from all sides, balconies, and additional spaces like a utility room, an extra study/exercise/entertainment
5 Reasons That Make Sainikpuri Area Worth Living: For 2BHK and 3 BHK Home Buyers In Hyderabad
5 Reasons that make Sainikpuri area worth living! Sainikpuri area is fast emerging as one of the most happening localities in the North Eastern part of Hyderabad. This is why it is gradually gaining lot of importance as a preferred destination home buyers to call it home! In this article let us take a glimpse of what makes Sainikpuri locality attractive! There area host of 3 BHK apartments in low-rise standalone plots with all the relevant amenities like lifts, power back-up, parking and more. The builders are offering luxurious build specifications for discerning home buyers for Rs 55 lac and upwards. Let’s explore…. 1. Well planned colonies with a distinctive green cover around Sainikpuri area 2. Excellent social infrastructure that makes Sainikpuri Area truly enviable 3. Upscale living amidst well-educated, good gentry in and around Sainikpuri 4. Adjoining Army area that will always remain clean, green and low-density College of Defense Management 5. Well-connected locality, well-established civic amenities, and a preferred destination The locality of Sainikpuri and Yapral is complete in every way! There is virtually nothing under the sun that’s not available within a distance of 4 to 5 kilometers in this area, which is a huge incentive for a new home buyer in Hyderabad looking for a 2/3 BHK apartment. ‘Find a beautiful place inside the nature and refresh yourself over there; how well you repose will mostly determine how far you can go in this universe!’ Mehmet Murat Ildan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To know more about “What makes standalone buildings particularly popular in areas like Sainikpuri & Yapral “.Click here
3 BHK flats in Hyderabad – Tips on evaluating QUALITY vs. PRICE- a ‘wise approach’ before booking Your Dream Home
3 BHK flats in Hyderabad – Tips on evaluating QUALITY vs. PRICE- a ‘wise approach’ before booking Your Dream Home A middle class home buyer in Hyderabad is price sensitive. Many home buyers may be looking at a range of Rs 55 lacs to 70 lacs for 3 BHK flats in Hyderabad admeasuring between 1500 to 1800 sft. Most of the home buyers in Hyderabad go for a ‘standalone building apartment’ to get a good, low-density location, and also save the extra bucks by NOT paying for amenities like gymnasium, swimming pool, club-house etc. Let us develop a clear approach while and NOT fall prey to a singular pursuit of lowest possible pricing. What we sometimes fail to understand is- QUALITY MATTERS….and that QUALITY COSTS!! Photo by Thirdman from Pexels Is Quality really important for 3 BHK flats? LOW PRICE should not be our only yardstick of purchase. Other factors related to specifications, grade and quality of construction matter more. A desire for a ‘lower per square foot price’ of an apartment means that we are consciously turning a blind eye to what we should ‘rightly desire’ ‘deserve’! Knowledge of specifications is important. We must equip ourselves to be able to identify ‘what kind of quality gives us what kind of a home’, and choose our home judiciously. ‘Low-price’ vs. ‘quality’ of 3 BHK flats How is an apartment put-together by a builder? Let’s understand a builder’s psychology. In real estate construction, an apartment is put together by a small builder based on two things- ‘Price wars’ of various builders within this ‘LOW-PRICE customer segment’ further worsens quality! For a low-aspiration budget-constrained home-buyer, PRICE becomes the only yardstick to purchase an apartment. This builder of this low-quality seeking customer segment ends up compromising heavily on specifications and construction materials. The building gets weak in the process, and does NOT stand the test of time. The resale value of such low grade buildings is also extremely poor after 5 or 10 years. In worse situations, such apartments just do NOT get re-sold after a few years, because the building looks so dilapidated ad run-down, that it scares away resale buyers! This results in a downward spiral where builders serving the middle-class segment go all out to out-do one another on a ‘price driven war’. Result is a solid competition on price, with little or no regard for what goes into the making of the apartment. Home buyer needs to realize how a builder achieve a low-price offering? To know more about “6 compelling reasons to go for a 3BHK flat in Hyderabad” Click here
2 & 3 BHK flats in Hyderabad – 5 things home buyers need to get right apartment
5 things home buyers need to get right about 2 & 3 BHK flats In Hyderabad With the pandemic still hounding us, the scenario of how to select the right 2 or 3 BHK flats in Hyderabad needs to be a well-thought decision. Certain parameters that need special attention along with others are discussed in this article. There sure has been a psychological drift in the home buyers’ needs in Hyderabad. A home buyer seeks 2 and 3 BHK flats in Hyderabad for a comfortable living. The idea of ‘safety’ itself has been redefined COVID-19 in our lives. The social distancing norms, the importance of sanitization, prevention from contagious bacteria/viruses are some of the things a home buyer needs to consider before choosing an apartment. Pricing alone can no longer be the sole criteria for buying your 2 and 3 BHK flats in Hyderabad. Things which home buyers needs to get right 2 &3 bhk flats in hyderabad Clearly, the decision depends on personal preferences and thoughts of the home buyers. The best way to arrive at the right decision is to ask yourself- ‘what do I want from my 2 or 3 BHK flats in Hyderabad, and the building I might choose to live-in?’ 1. Common spaces in the apartments or gated community- what’s important, what’s not 2. Spacious staircases and elevators (lifts) 3. Presence of a utility room inside the apartment 4. Living in a high or low population density area 5. Social infrastructure around your chosen locality Conclusion- Buying a dream home is a very personal decision. Yet, the final choice of home now needs to be made in light of the new realities of pandemic and safety of your family. Besides other things, you need a pandemic ready home, which caters to all the basic needs to ensure a fine and safe living experience. This is possible with a balanced approach while trying to seek amenities, access to social infrastructure, extra space inside the home, and living in a safer low-density environment. Know more about “The good locations in Hyderabad for buying residential flats“. Click here!
Tips to identifying the best location in Hyderabad to buy your 3 BHK flat
Tips to identifying the best location in Hyderabad to buy your 3 BHK flat While considering buying your dream home in a city like Hyderabad, some home buyers are faced with the dilemma where to buy the apartment. We get to hear various stories about the confusion and constraint home buyers face while trying to freeze on the perfect location. In this article we shall focus on two important elements– 1. Which area do you really love in Hyderabad? OR What type of area would put a smile on your face? 2. Does the locality/area close to your heart allow you to meet your family demands? OR Does it make sense for you to choose a certain area given your family situation/issues? 4 Scenarios to help simplify finding the right location in Hyderabad for your 3 BHK flat or bigger apartment Let’s simplify this further by taking four scenarios– Scenario 1– Mr. ABC works in Madhapur area, but was born and brought-up in Mehdipatnam area. He feels good about Mehdipatnam, but his children are studying in school, and his daily commute to work at Madhapur is getting difficult. Plus, the children are also likely to get educated, and pick up jobs around Hi-Tech city, I.T. Hub. He wants to buy a home. What should he do? Scenario 2– Mr. DEF works in Banjara Hills, and was born and brought-up in another state, but fell in love with Hyderabad. The children are going to an International school, and love the vibe of the Jubilee Hills. They also love the lifestyle, eating joints and shopping hubs that are in easy reach. Right now they live in a rented house near Kondapur. If they have to buy a home, what should be their ideal location? Scenario 3– Ms. HIG works in Uppal area, and her husband also works around Tarnaka. The children are grown up, and work in a different city. They do not have a chance of coming back to live with their parents. They don’t like this area, and instead want to move further away from the hustle and bustle of the city. What is a good location for them? Scenario 4– Ms. KLM works in A.S Rao Nagar, and lives in Sainikpuri/Yapral belt. Husband owns a shop in Sainikpuri area. The children are settled, married and work USA. They visit parents once a year during Christmas, and hold citizenship of the foreign country. Which is the best location for them considering the scenario? The 4-blocker grid depicted above is self-explanatory. It makes it easy for one to decide and zero-in on the BEST location with a sensible and clear thought-process. Based on the gird above. Scenario 1 falls in Quadrant III of the grid- Mr ABC should make a practical choice and take a home near the IT hub, Gachobowli, Kutakpally, Nallagandla and adjoining areas Scenario 2 falls in Quadrant I of the grid- Mr DEF should buy a home around 5-7 Kms of Jubilee Hills on either side, depending on their social and lifestyle needs Scenario 3 falls in Quadrant IV of the grid, and could buy their home in areas like A.S.Rao Nagar, Sainikpuri, Yapral, Kukatpally, Nallagandla or similar places of their liking, and the kind of gentry they prefer Scenario 4 falls in Quadrant II of the grid, and could buy a home in Sainikpuri where they have been living for so long, and have their business in Learnings on picking the ‘Best location’ of 3 BHK unit in Hyderabad What we learn here is: 1. Location depends on your own preference and family situation you are in 2. Think long-term while buying your 3 BHK or bigger home 3. Factor in the implications of your location on your well-being, your children’s future, and take a practical decision 4. Be practical considering the ‘ageing factor’ of yourself, your parents and your children 5. What makes a location good or bad is YOU. No one else can decide this for you. Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay “It’s all about the quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family.” Philip Green ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To know more about “5 considerations for identifying a ‘good location’ in Hyderabad for a new home buyer” Click here
3 BHK Home In Hyderabad- 6 Essentials To Evaluate Before Purchasing Your Home
3 BHK Home In Hyderabad- 6 Essentials To Evaluate Before Purchasing Your Home Buying your dream home is one of the most important decisions in life. Having a spacious apartment in the beautiful city of Hyderabad, which you can call your own, is like a dream fulfilled. Before you choose that right 3 bhk home in hyderabad for yourself, you need to check these 6 parameters. 1. Location that gives you peace of mind, plus, ‘a happy & healthy living’ The locality you choose to live in matters! The location of your home needs to ‘add years’ to your and your family’s life and well-being. Factors that count are- Living in a good locality with good connectivity and amenities is very fulfilling in the long run for a superior lifestyle and peace of mind! Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay 2. Amenities and social infrastructure that’s relevant ‘Amenities’ that come with the home are meant for your ‘comfort and convenience’, and should be worth paying for! The social infrastructure is equally important. Although, fortunately, in Hyderabad, the social infrastructure is well spread out since the city has a vibrant population of over 80 lakh people. With a reasonably high ‘average per capita income’ in Hyderabad, you everything in close proximity across Hyderabad regardless of the location! 3. Investment angle, and bright future prospects of resale for 3 bhk home in hyderabad Whether you are purchasing an apartment or a ‘One apartment per floor’ residence, it must appreciate in monetary terms as time goes by. For that to happen, the builder should give you a high-quality home that would remain attractive and sturdy in the decades ahead. There is no point in compromising on the quality of construction. Saving a few lakhs only to lose in the long run. You would want your home to be viewed as an asset with time passing buy. That’s truly satisfying even if you do not plan on selling your home. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay You should be aware of the ‘add-ons’ that contribute to the ‘total price’ of a home. These add-ons come with the apartment, especially in gated-community apartments – The final cost is much lesser with a ‘standalone building apartment’. These apartments are built on smaller residential plots in Hyderabad admeasuring 400 sq. yds. to 2000 yds. With only relevant amenities like parking, power back-up, elevator, security, etc. the money you pay is primarily for the roof over your head. Consequently, the ‘add-ons’ are much lesser with these standalone building apartments. Hyderabad is a market where home buyers value this saving and are happier living in well-established residential colonies where you have plenty of options in this ‘standalone building’ segment. 4. Reputation and past performance of the builder Choosing the right builder is a prerequisite to your ‘peace of mind’. Credible real estate builders are the ones who follow the law (RERA and GHMC norms) in letter and in spirit. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 5. Home type, configuration (size), design element Home type is where you decide the area, the type (gated, standalone, duplex, ‘one apartment, one floor’ etc). This includes common areas such as lobby areas, staircases, etc. A home buyer needs to know what the ‘super-built-up area’ is and the ‘carpet area’ which you actually get. Always consider the carpet area while buying a 3 bhk home in hyderabad , and check if this meets your family’s needs, especially in a post-COVID era. 6. Payment plans Real estate developers sometimes offer different payment plans and schemes like subvention schemes, construction-linked plans, and possession-linked plans. Understand the financial and long-term implications of these before committing to a purchase. Homebuyers in Hyderabad are now demanding relevant amenities, high-end specifications, and more space inside the home rather than on amenities like swimming-pool or gymnasium, which are not put to effective use. As a home buyer, only you can decide what matters to you. So, think and weigh your priorities and needs and take a deliberate decision with this wisdom. ‘Trust your instincts, and make judgments on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.’ David Gemmell ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To know more about “What ‘extras’ do we get with a ‘ONE APARTMENT PER FLOOR’ 3 BHK luxury flat in Hyderabad?” Click Here
Is It Worth Buying an Apartment Or Property In Hyderabad?
Buying an Apartment in Hyderabad: Complete Guide | Avisun Properties There are two parts to this question: first, buying an apartment or property , and second, buying it in Hyderabad. The overarching question to ponder is: ‘whether or not Hyderabad is a good destination to own a home or for investing in real estate’. To get a balanced perspective, we need to explore all the relevant facets that make any city a good choice for investment. Here, a home buyer must draw a parallel with the questions that a corporate house may ask while evaluating Hyderabad as a prospective investment-destination: ‘General environment’ comprises of factors that are ‘external’ to the firm viz. political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental and legal. With this framework, let us dwell further to gauge how Hyderabad fares on having a good ‘general environment’. Real estate in Hyderabad: dependent on a positive & robust ‘general environment’ With the above frame of reference, it is evident that the question of investing in real-estate in Hyderabad cannot be asked in isolation. What a home buyer should look for also must be similar to what any firm may seek, and evaluate the ‘general environment’ of Hyderabad as a city. The ultimate goal of any business house would be to park themselves in a place (city) where business can thrive in the long run! A home buyer should also tread on a similar path of due-diligence and risk-assessment, and explore whether or not buying an apartment in Hyderabad is a good destination from a real estate perspective. In this article, we shall look at the relevant factors that make-up this ‘general environment’ in Hyderabad. Should we find the ingredients ‘in order’, then Hyderabad as a real estate destination would also get the brownie points. Economic reward for a home buyer or investor comes with capital appreciation of the property, and rental returns over a period of time. A good return on real estate can be secured only if the city consistently maintains its status as a preferred location to live, work and do business. Plus, the real-estate related demand and supply factors also play a role alongside. Let’s answer a simple question: Is Hyderabad a happening city basis social, economic, infra and other parameters? We shall begin with exploring some facts to assess if Hyderabad is on a stable and sustained growth path as a city. Here we need to look at the economic, political, socio-cultural and technological reasons of the ‘general environment’. Buying an apartment or property in Hyderabad – Economic factors at play The pointers mentioned below are an indicator of what Hyderabad means for an investing business house, and how the city has been faring thus far: Socio-Economic factors propelling growth in Hyderabad The pointers related to the overall Socio-Economic momentum of Hyderabad are equally important for a business house while assessing the suitability of the city: Administrative (Political) commitment to making Hyderabad a truly-desirable, most-livable city [Source:www.deccanchronicle.com] The civic bodies in the State Government have been making relentless efforts in Hyderabad to bring Economic prosperity into the city by trying to gain the confidence of global business firms and the resident public. Let us briefly get to know these civic bodies, and the role they are playing in the development and growth of Hyderabad as a smart-city: Government initiatives in Hyderabad impact real estate With the on-going thrust on Metro rail connectivity, underpasses and flyovers, T-iPass, development of the 5 zones of GHMC, and development-centered policies of the State Government, the real estate sector in Hyderabad will continue to receive a positive upswing in the decades to come. The State Government in Telangana, regardless of the political party in power, has been making concerted efforts to focus on: Hyderabad- the fast emerging, high growth technology hub Hyderabad has been giving stiff competition to Bengaluru as the newly emerged Information Technology hub with exports of IT products crossing over USD 15 Billion in 2019. More than 6 lakh employees are working in the IT and IT-enabled-Services with about 1500 companies in Hyderabad (2020). The main areas where companies are concentrated are Gachibowli, Madhapur, Kondapur, and Uppal. The Government commitment to improving overall infrastructure, and the availability of qualified technology talent has resulted in the HITEC city expanding in Western zone of Hyderabad. HITEC City, a 150+ acres of area has fallen short to accommodate the stupendous growth, and adjoining areas of Gachibowli, Financial District (Nanakramguda), Kondapur, Tellapur, Miyapur and Kukatpally are also fast expanding to provide office and residential spaces. With tremendous focus on IT in West and East Hyderabad zone, the planning and improvisations is also far easier to meet the needs of the industries. With affordable pricing of office spaces in IT corridors (almost 15-20% lesser than Bengaluru), affordable living, and an excellent infrastructure, Hyderabad is a safe bet for investment by large global firms in Technology driven industries. With all these facilities and corporate incentives, Hyderabad takes pride in hosting leading companies like Microsoft, TCS, Wipro, Delloitte, Amazon, Oracle, Google, IBM, Motorola, Cognizant, Dell, Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard, Franklin Templeton, Capegimini, Genpact, KPMG and Infosys among others. The city is known for beautifully landscaped spaces and IT parks such as Vanenburg IT park, L&T Infocity, TCS Synergy park, Mindspace, DLF IT SEZ, Cyberabad SEZ etc. that are made to suit the needs of several global technology firms. Hyderabad has the rare distinction of housing the highest number of ‘Special Economic Zones’ amongst the cities in India. The State government also has left no stones unturned to incentivize setting-up of technology firms in Telangana, particularly in Hyderabad. Besides providing and allocating land, the approvals are given to corporates through a single window system. The companies setting-up office are given reimbursements for starting operations in Hyderabad, duties & taxes are either exempted or subsidized. Hyderabad had been designated as the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR), and is being continually promoted jointly by the State and Central government. This ITIR project had been envisaged to replicate the Shenzhen
Anti Termite Treatment – Is Your Dream Home Protected By a Rigorous Anti Termite Treatment?
Anti-Termite Treatment Before Construction: What to Know | Avisun Properties Is Your Dream Home Protected By a Rigorous Anti Termite Treatment? Regardless of how plush and enviable an apartment is, it all that turns into a horror story should you find an army of termites eating into your cupboards, your books, and your shelves! It’s scary to think about sharing the roof with thousands or even millions of these ‘white ants’ who are happily feasting on your living abode! Termites damage both your physical health and peace of mind. You feel acute distress, anguish and despair to that know your home is under siege by termites. You suffer immensely, courtesy a major folly by the builder that cannot be undone or forgiven easily. It truly wrecks a havoc on the residents of an apartment when a builder conveniently overlooks or undermines the importance of taking adequate anti-termite treatment measures at every step of the building’s construction. If you are new home buyer, having a checklist of ‘critical questions to ask’ before buying your dwelling unit is extremely important. Your checklist must go beyond just location or the blueprint of the rooms. It needs to address issues that secure long term safety and avoidance of uninvited pains like being invaded by termites, having leakages, dealing with seepages, and a witnessing a continually degrading or weakening structure! In this blog, we are focusing on anti-termite treatment at a pre-construction stage. Well! For a new home buyer, the panacea to all the woes of owning a termite infested home is a pre-construction anti-termite treatment rigour undertaken by the builder. Closing the entrance gates on these mighty mites early on with a sound pre-construction rigour is a better than taking reactionary measures later. To put it simply, what meets the eye is only skin deep, and a new home buyer must NOT blindly trust builders. New home buyer must be able to cite evidence of proper treatment being done by the builder layer upon layer right upto the plinth level…and more. Read on to stay safe… Termites- what are we dealing with here? Termites feast on anything with a cellulose base, be it furniture made of wood or plywood, or clothing, books & stationery, and scores of household items. With more than 2700 species of termites living on Earth, India is home to over 350 species of these wood eating, building weakening termites. For ease of understanding, termites can be categorized into 2 types: Eventually, both Subterranean and drywood termites are hazardous for the building as well as human health. They find their way into your apartment from under the ground by making mud tunnels. They could travel inside an apartments through any tube-like gaps (conduits) or spaces like masonry work or brick walls. Anti termite treatment: deterrence at work The objective of Anti-termite treatment is long lasting protection of your property and health. Technical preparedness: an important aspect A well-integrated approach to anti termite treatment is important to avoid all potential possibilities of termites making their way through the gaps in treatment. No ‘unprotected gaps’ can be left to chance resulting in an entry-point for termites. Work needs to be accomplished with the highest level of technical competency in accordance with Bureaus of Indian Standards. A thorough ‘site-preparation’ rigour needs to be applied while undertaking anti termite treatment. This includes removal of all roots, stumps, vegetation and trees etc. from the path of the treatment. Besides, this, a host of Soil-testing result based activities may be required at the construction site, which include removal of all construction related debris, concrete, water (incase of water-logging), moistening of soil (if the soil is sandy), and making the penetration of soils compatible with anti-termite treatment materials and so on. In a nutshell, the actual ground-work needs to be in order. The actual site must be made compatible and prepared for anti termite treatment to take effect. Chemicals like Chloropyrifos, Heptachlor, Chlordane, Lindane and others are used during the process. A termite proof barrier is created at a DPC level, where DPC (damp-proof course) acts as a barrier meant to prevent moisture rising by way of capillary action causing ‘rising damp’. The DPC soaks the anti-termite chemicals to create a barrier in the plinth wall against the termites. This ensures that Subterranean termites are unable to penetrate through the voids in the walls, and are prevented from entering the superstructure. Besides, the sides of the foundation trenches are treated after the foundation to create yet another anti-termite barrier to entry. Hence, all the masonary foundations and basements are well treated to ensure that the earth in contact with these surfaces stand guard entry like an impregnable fortress for decades to come. Critical entry points neglected causing termites’ invasion Three other entry points for termites that need a thorough treatment are: Anti termite treatment stages- a summary The treatment activities can be segregated into five stages as prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards: Stage 1: Trenches of foundation (bottom + sides) Stage 2: Foundation (backfill in contact) Stage 3: Intersection of Wall & Floor (to secure vertical continuity of chemicals) Stage 4: Surface of Plinth Stage 5: External perimeter of the structure (to create an effective chemical barrier) Lack of awareness among new home buyers Perhaps, more than technical reasons, it’s the all-pervasive lack of interest and knowledge amongst the new home buyers on the ‘things to check’. What meets the eye alone is not enough! One needs to literally dig under the ground, and question the builders about what all has gone ‘inside’ or ‘behind the scenes’ while bringing a flashy façade to life! A property constructed by overlooking critical pre-construction measures results in multiple issues like termites, cracking, dampness, seepages, cracking of walls and more, which you can ill-afford! Even the best of materials cannot compensate for the right actions that need to be taken by the builders at the beginning stages. Unless questioned and watched, some builders may overlook or compromise on the quality
Soil Test Rigour By The Builder:A Key Element Of a Vigilant Home Buyer’s Checklist
Soil Test Rigour By The Builder:A Key Element Of a Vigilant Home Buyer’s Checklist It is horrifying to see cracks develop in your home after a few years, to see the structure slowly deteriorate, get a rundown look, and worse still to see the structure tilt or collapse! The preventive solution lies in an uncompromising pre-construction rigour that helps alleviate all the threatening and negative possibilities. One such critical activity that a builder must undertake is a thorough Soil testing, and take construction decisions based on the wisdom of soil testing results.
Understanding Vastu Shastra: Easing the Dilemma of a Home Buyer [Part I]
Understanding Vastu Shastra: Easing the Dilemma of a Home Buyer [Part I] This is part 1 of the series of 9 articles presented on Vastu Shastra. A home buyer, at times, begins the journey of owning a home with a single point agenda of ‘Vastu compliance’. The journey is not an easy one, and is riddled with many roadblocks and confusions. These articles are meant to ease the confusion, or perhaps, bridge the lack of a balanced perspective around Vastu while: i) planning on buying and/or constructing a home, and ii) to assist the home buyer to zero-in on the most sensible choice of an apartment. For a clearer perspective on Vastu Shastra, it is recommended that all the 9 parts of this series on Vastu Shastra be read. Home buyers’ thoughts around Vastu Shastra: Turbulence & Tranquillity For many home buyers, Vastu compliance, sometimes tops the priority list while narrowing down on a particular choice of apartment. Sometimes the Vastu factor becomes so critical that other considerations like size, budget, and even the location become totally irrelevant, should the apartment fail on a few Vastu parameters. Usually, it is the fear of misery, bad-luck or discord befalling upon the family which makes the home buyer seek only a Vastu-friendly home. However, should the reader be in a hurry, it is recommended to at least go through the ‘4 steps to understanding & demystifying Vastu’ and the ‘conclusion’ in part 9 of the series. This will hopefully impart a well-rounded balanced perspective on Vastu Shastra, its implications and its applicability. Above all else, it help us shape (or choose) our overall demeanour and approach in dealing with the dilemmas posed by Vastu Shastra effectively. Vastu compliance takes precedence over design factors regardless of the functional benefits and utility an apartment may offer. A Vastu non-compliant property is a strict NO for certain home buyers. We frequently witness that Vastu diktats like opting for an ‘East or North facing apartment’ being the first choice gets carved into the minds of home buyers. The question is: how do we deal with ‘Vastu’ as a home buyer? What sort of thought process do we nurture on ‘Vastu’? Should being ‘Vastu-compliance’ be carved in stone in our brains? Or, do we have some flexibility in choosing our dream home? Photo by Terry Magallanes from Pexels Well, we do have competing or conflicting arguments on the importance, relevance and applicability of Vastu Shastra in the modern world. The non-believers of Vastu accuse the fear-mongering Vastu pundits of killing the soul of good architectural designs under the garb of ‘Vastu Dosha’ (a Vastu defect that shall bring ill-effects). The believers of Vastu, on the other hand, want to adopt the culturally approved tenets of Vastu smitten by an unshakeable belief that Vastu offers panacea to all the problems of our lives. Vastu pundits, consultants or experts propagate fixed (rigid) tenets, directives, or ‘alternatives/options’ to choose from. The options either made very limited, or are sequenced in ‘order of preferences’ (a hierarchical construct) from ‘most beneficial’ option (higher order) to ‘least beneficial’ option (lower order). The ‘higher order’ options offer maximum benefits and are considered most-suitable, and the benefits start diminishing as we move down the hierarchy to ‘lower order’ options that are most-unsuitable. With such a backdrop and conviction-driven mass-following, a home buyer starts believing that moving into a Vastu-friendly flat begets a pre-ordained blessing. Hence, Vastu-friendliness becomes an overriding decision-criteria in ‘acceptance or rejection’ of a new apartment. Clearly, a home buyer would want to play safe, and is inclined to buying peace of mind. As far as builders are concerned, selling Vastu compliant flats is easier due to high acceptance by the home buyer. The extent of utility or functionality they offer takes a back seat with mass (mob) belief in the overriding criteria established thousands of years ago. The builders too are more than pleased to use Vastu to their advantage. Builders simply go with the flowing tide, and propagate the ideology of Vastu to quickly get rid of their stock of unsold apartments, and to ease their cash-flows. For the builder community, Vastu compliance becomes akin to an ‘oligopolistic factor of pricing’ that you cannot do without; this means that even a builder who is a non-believer of Vastu also considers it a business-compulsion, else they end up suffering an ‘inventory overhang’! ‘Inventory overhang’ means that a seller is unable to find a buyer, and Vastu serves as their rescue-mechanism and a sales-booster. Builders, in fact, compete amongst themselves to design and offer comparatively more Vastu friendly apartments. When a home buyer asks a question: “Are your flats built as per Vastu?”…the builder better reply with a big YES, else buyer walks away without batting an eyelid! Home buyers view being Vastu-compliant as a benefit in itself which can take precedence over functional efficiency and utility an apartment is meant to offer! Home buyers’ doubts and confusions around Vastu Shastra A home buyer wonders about the extent to which one must be adamant Vastu compliance. Even the relatively younger home buyers (the millennials- those born after 1997) don’t want to displease their elders, or face their disapproval on grounds of Vastu. But Vastu guidelines does not come easy. It’s complicated, especially while trying to find the right guidance on multi-storey apartments. What makes things more confusing for the home buyer is the multiplicity of versions on Vastu, threatening consequences on Vastu non-conformity, suggestions from various sources, and the long lists of do’s & don’ts on Vastu guidelines. With so many confusing, conflicting, un-implementable recommendations on Vastu, we get puzzled about ‘which criteria or decision-rules to adopt’ while taking the final call. To further complicate matter, there are prioritization on preferences, for example, ‘what facing’ an apartment should be, guidelines on location of different spaces like bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, stairs, shape & slope of plot, area left open or utilized, placement of furniture & heavy objects and so on. There are many more permutations and
