Thursday, July 9, 2020

How to safe your home during monsoon...?

The monsoon season is a time for home owners to make some changes in their homes, avoiding small / big losses. India is predicted to receive normal monsoon rains in 2020. However, as we cheer for the arrival of the monsoon, exposure to water and moisture should not show any laxity to protect our homes as it can be harmful. This is especially true for areas where heavy rains are likely.
 

1. Water proof exterior


Let us first start with the exterior of our house, as this is the part that is directly exposed to the rain and this is where potential seepages enter the house. During the rainy season, moisture stored in the ground may rise. Eventually, moisture leaks out from the exterior of the house and causes moist patches on the interior walls. Apart from the fact that these patches are actually affecting the health of your home, they will spoil the smell of the house, cool, moist and invite fungus.

You should first check for any cracks or damage that may appear in the exterior walls and fix it immediately. Another effective way to prevent seepage is to use water-proof paint on exterior walls. Over time, you will need to re-paint the exterior. Owners of large open spaces should also ensure that there is no obstruction of the drains in case of recession and that the rain water can drain freely.

2. Water proof terrace


The roof is as much exposed to the elements of nature as the exterior walls and plays an equally important role in protecting your home. Since most of the houses in India have flat roofs, it is important to ensure that rain water drains easily. The first step towards waterproofing your roof / roof will be to ensure that it is clean and water does not accumulate anywhere when it rains. To keep the roof relatively clean, trees should be trimmed nearby.

Another way to prevent seepage is to apply multiple layers of elastomeric coating to the roof. In addition to protecting it against water, this coating will also insulate it, preventing heat loss from inside the building.

3.  Fixed drainage box system


A proper drainage system is important, to ensure that there is no waterlogging in any area of ​​the house. In addition to ensuring that there are no obstructions with the drainage system of the house, also ensure that storm water drains outside the house are not blocked by silt or debris. Generally, the civil authorities in your area should take care of this. If this has not happened, file a complaint and complete the work on a priority basis.

4. Check Electrical wire system of you house


The majority of lightning accidents occur during the rainy season. Consequently, homeowners should ensure that power cables do not come into contact with water. This is where earth leakage circuit breakers come into the picture, as it avoids electrocution and electric shock.

Fix all your faulty electrical sockets and equipment on time. Note that circuit breakers, fuses, socket outlets, plugs and switches may malfunction when exposed to water and moisture. Try not to fix them on your own. It is not advisable to operate electric appliances in the rain.

5. Protect you furniture from moisture


All wood items in the home react adversely to moisture and humidity, which are specific to the rainy season. In addition to making their precious articles of furniture lose their shape and form, these conditions also make them vulnerable to termites and pests.

To protect furniture from moisture and moisture:


· Apply a fresh coat of varnish / lacquer to protect the wood from swelling.
· Keep wooden furniture away from the wall.
· Buy a humidifier to keep temperature and humidity in check.
· Do not use wet cloth to clean the furniture.

Monday, July 6, 2020

How to maintain your home tips that can help you save heavily on repairs

Buying a house is a costly affair for which you have to spend years of savings and take huge amount of loan. Therefore, you always want to be there with your family. But the cost of living in your home can increase if you have to incur major costs on repairs. While many of the expenses on home repairs are inevitable, some expenses can be eliminated by maintaining the roof, foundation and other important parts of your structure. In this write-up, we have shared some simple tips that you can reduce significantly on home repair and maintenance.

1) Test your sump pump to avoid flood


Basements and foundations require regular maintenance to avoid major damage due to climate effects and natural disasters. To increase the longevity of the foundation, you must take precautions that are the last line of protection against flooding, condensation construction and draining water. You should consider testing the sump pump every 6 months.

2) Maintain Plumbing


If you want the water to flow easily through the bathroom, kitchen and sink, then you should maintain good hygiene at these places. Toilets and sinks should be used regularly; otherwise, frozen and solid layers of calcium carbonate can cause obstruction in pipes and taps. In addition, you must prevent fat, oil, dirt, and hair to enter the drainage pipe. In the case of accidental spills of oil or fat down the drain, consider flowing hot water down your drain with some dishwashing liquid. To prevent hair from going into the water drains, you should use a hair strainer for the bathtub.

Although acids are helpful in cleaning the clogs in the pipe, you should not overuse it as it can cause considerable damage to your plumbing, including premature leakage.

3) Keep rodents and termites away


Mice and termites can cause slow but heavy damage to your property. Mice can build their nests in AC, wardrobes, electric wiring systems, bookshelves and garden machinery. They can damage household goods, eat groceries, and cause extensive damage to property.

Similar to rodents, termites can pose considerable exposure to wooden furniture. Termites are more likely to grow in moist areas where sunlight does not reach properly. So take special care of such area. If possible, spray anti-termite solution once a year in wooden doors and furniture units.

4) Paint the house every few years


Painting the house once every few years not only give the property a new look, but also allows you to detect sealant areas and cracks in the wall. You should apply primer before applying paint. Additionally, if there is a moisture issue in the wall, look for a waterproofing solution. If odor at home is an issue, consider adding a few drops of vanilla to your paint.

5) Maintain your roof


Taking care of roofing issues, you should stay away from costly repairs. You should look for leaks and vents due to water damage. It is best to inspect the roof professionally at least once a year.

Friday, July 3, 2020

Is it wise to invest in the Indian real estate market in 2020-2021?


Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2020-21 on 1 February. Highlights of the budget for the real estate sector are as follows:

Deductions on affordable housing were allowed on housing loans sanctioned on or before March 31, 2020. In order to ensure that more people take advantage of this benefit and to pursue affordable housing, the date of loan approval has been proposed to be extended by 1 year. To boost the supply of affordable homes in the country, a tax holiday is being provided on the profits earned by the developers of the affordable housing project till 31 March 2020.

Currently in real estate transactions, when taxing income from capital gains, business profits, and other sources, if the consideration value is less than the 5% circle rate, the difference is counted as income for both the buyer and seller. To reduce the difficulty in real estate transactions and provide relief to the sector, it has been proposed that the limit be increased from 5% to 10%.

An investment of Rs 100 crore will be made on infrastructure in the next 5 years in various sectors like housing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, educational institutions, transport, logistics and warehousing, irrigation projects etc.

The year 2019 was a period of many highs and lows for the Indian real estate market. The ongoing crisis resulted in a decrease in liquidity and a slower pace of sales improvement. However, on the positive end, the successful launch of India's first real estate investment trust (REIT) opened up new avenues for investment, while several positive government initiatives provided much needed relief to the sector. 

According to research, the housing sale price of India's top 9 listed players reached in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2019, an increase of 5%. 2019 saw a 4–5% annual increase in housing sales with over 2.58 lakh homes sold during the year. The new housing launches in 2019 saw 18-20% annual growth and developers are expecting sustained efforts of the central government such as additional cuts on loan interest, GST rate cuts, alternative investment funds for stalled projects and credit guarantee scheme changes in the sector will be strengthened.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Affordable Interior Decoration Ideas For Your Apartment


Buying your home in a vibrant city is like a dream come true. But as an amateur, turning your empty house into an inviting place can be misleading. You may have a rough idea of ​​what you want in your first apartment, but your wallet may not support your vision. Also, as you get limited space in an apartment, you may not fit into everything you wanted. While decorating your first apartment, you need to focus on meeting your essential needs while maintaining a decent attitude. As you have to stay indoors for the rest of your life, make sure that its decorative accents reflect your taste and personality. In this write-up, we have shared some simple tips for decorating your apartment.

1) Invest in multi-functional furniture units


As apartment spaces are limited, instead of decorating your home with bulky, luxurious furniture units, you should buy multifunctional fixtures. Furniture such as sofas-cum-beds, diwan beds, and coffee table cum bookshelves help you create a clutter-free minimalist interior. The practice of matching pieces of furniture for the living room and bedroom is more; you can also try odd pieces. But whatever furniture you choose should go well with the overall interior plan.

2) Opt for neutral wall colors


Instead of painting your home in dark and bright colors, you should paint the walls in a neutral shade, such as off-white, light pink, sky blue, or light green. The light colors of the wall paint reflect more light in the room and go well with both modern and traditional furniture units. In addition, it produces a more energetic feel.

3) Use vertical space smartly


When it comes to decorating a small apartment, the sky is the limit. But make sure you use the space properly. You should focus on creating a more functional space while maintaining a clutter-free approach. To give your apartment a minimalistic and clutter-free look, you should focus on using more vertical space and less floor area.

4) Use mirrors smartly


Hanging a mirror and using mirrored accessories is a great way to create a feeling of greater spaciousness. In addition, mirrors can be used excellently to diffuse more daylight in the home and create a luxurious aura. They are an excellent accessory for the dining room, living room and bedroom.

5) Option to look green, nature friendly


The main purpose of creating a green interior is to improve indoor air quality. According to Vastu Shastra, the color green is considered to invite balance and harmony in the house. To achieve this, you must use hardwood furniture as they last for years and also feel fresh. Also, avoid plastic and synthetic things at home. Instead of using synthetic carpets, use cotton carpets. Also, try to keep everything from curtains to walls, ceilings, green or blue curtains. Also, instead of placing miniature sculptures for decoration, you should choose indoor plants.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

The Impact of RERA On Real Estate Industry and Benefits


Due to various deregulation of business establishment processes and the ease of doing business of many foreign players and multinational companies are now getting attracted towards India. The current tempo of the luxury real estate market in India is expected to continue as demand for luxury houses is increasing. In North India, the growth of real estate market dominates in Delhi NCR, Gurgaon and Noida, especially in high-growth projects. After the implementation of RERA certified properties in India, the industry has experienced improvement in project execution and delivery in the residential segment. The provisions of the Act have compelled real estate companies to focus more on project delivery, resulting in being ready to buy apartments in number of cities as well as being available to home buyers in various parts of the country. The Act is capable of generating positive feedback from both developers and consumers. Talking about the future, RERA promises an organized industry as it is progressive legislation. It has the potential to create a real estate industry that is desired by all as the properties have now become RERA certified

Industry benefits

  • Governance and transparency
  • Project efficiency and robust project delivery
  • Standardization and quality
  • Enhance confidence of investors
  • Attract higher investments and PE funding
  • Regulated Environment

Developer Benefits

  • Common and best practices
  • Increase efficiency
  • Consolidation of sector
  • Corporate branding
  • Higher investment
  • Increase in organized funding

Buyer Benefits

  • Significant buyers protection
  • Quality products and timely delivery
  • Balanced agreements and treatment
  • Transparency – sale based on carpet area
  • Safety of money and transparency on utilization.

Agent Benefits

  • Consolidation of sector
  • Increased transparency
  • Increased efficiency
  • Minimum litigation by adopting best practices
.