How to Check the Construction Quality of Your Home

Living in an unsafe building is not what you would ever want to do. So, it is sensible to be on the safe side and do a quality check on the house you are planning to buy or have already bought.

If you are a little careful you will be able to notice things which tell you about the construction quality of a building. However, if you are not able to notice anything you still need to ensure that the house you are buying is newly constructed.

There should not be any seepage or peeling plaster from the ceiling or walls. You also need to check the elevators, fire system and if the building is earthquake resistant. Soil testing is done before the construction begins so you can ask for a copy of the test from your developer.

RERA and structural defect liability

Section 14 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, clearly lays down that it is the promoter’s responsibility to rectify any structural defect within a period of five years.

“A buyer can check the construction quality by looking at the paint and plastering on the walls, installation of tiles on the floors and walls, water fixtures, sanitary installations, doors and windows etc. He should check all these things before buying. Even if he has already bought the property, he can bring it to the builder’s notice,” says Praveen Jain, Vice Chairman, Naredco.

Here is a checklist for home buyers:

1.        Check the quality of the building material
2.        Good construction ensures the safety of a building
3.        Construction should be checked at the time of booking
4.        Get the wet areas checked like bathroom, kitchen etc
5.        Check for leakages and patches on walls
6.        If a nail does not enter a wall easily that means its good
7.        Check the slopes of floors so water flows into drains
8.        Rub the plaster from the walls to assess quality

A building should be built using good quality construction material for its sustainability and protection against damage due to water seepage.

Dr. PR Swarup, director general, Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) explains, “You do not get oven fresh units even in new buildings because by the time you get possession it is already old. Rusting sets in faster if the building is old, which is a dangerous thing for the structure. Just like a human body, the structure’s health should be diagnosed. If the construction is poor even a new building can collapse but where construction quality is good, then even old buildings can have a long life.”

Swarup further says “If a construction is ten years old the structure has already completed one third of its life. Check the previous projects by the builder for construction quality assessment that is the easiest thing that can be done as a buyer. Check for leakages on the exterior or interior areas. When you do a physical or visual inspection, you get some idea about the construction quality of the project.”

Apart from this, you also need to be aware of the nearby construction activities which may damage your building. Corrective measures can be taken on time to avoid future problems. It is important to ensure that wet areas do not have any seepage, leakages or water flowing into walls. Ignoring these signs may weaken your building’s quality and sustainability.

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Designer Lighting ideas for Your Dream Home

Your home is the sweet heaven for you where you come after a long day of hard work to spend some quality time with your lovely family.

However, you can make your home more relaxing and mesmerizing by playing with the different lighting options. By using designer lighting options in your home, you can create a luxurious home that you won’t ever want to leave.

So, if you want to tweak with the lighting of your home, then we some designer lighting ideas for your home which will completely turn out the appearance of your dream home.

        Use High Eye-Catchy Ceiling Lights

You can add bold ceiling lighting fixtures to attract the attention upwards and create more open space. The large hanging lights can create an illuminating and dramatic effect in your home and they will trick the eyes into believing that space is much larger.

But, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore the other lighting fixtures of the room because ceiling lights can brighten up the entire space only when they supported by other lighting sources. Single lighting won’t bring the right brightness to your home.

     Use Scones and Overhead Lighting

When you are selecting the lighting for your washroom, then you can use scones and overhead lighting options. This will be a very good designer lighting idea for your home washrooms or room with small space as overhead lighting with scones will bring natural lighting to your place.

This will create the open and inviting look as bright lights will make the place look smaller.

 Pick a Perfect Lampshade

The lampshades aren’t only decorative accents, they are a major source of lighting as well. So, you have to put some thoughts into selecting the right lampshade at your home.

The lighter lampshades will create a darker environment whereas darker shades will make the room bright and shiny. You need to make sure your lighting goals before selecting the lampshades.

Plus, you have to consider the area of your room before picking the lampshades as these days different types of lampshades are available.

     Think About the Intensity of the Lights

You have to think about the intensity of lighting fixtures before purchasing them. Like, if you are looking for the lights for your study room, then you should use blue lights as they suppress the melatonin which promotes sleep.

This way you can work activity. However, if you are looking for the soft and cozy lighting for your bedroom, then you can use incandescent light bulbs as they are lower on the Kelvin scale.

     Use Task Lighting

When choosing light fixtures, it's important to not only consider the overall brightness in the room but also to think about the areas of your home where you'll need focused light for a task, like reading at a desk.

You should add task lighting in the kitchen counter where you are going to perform the task of chopping or cooking. By putting the lighting under the kitchen cabinets, you will be able to see better while working in the kitchen.

You can design your home in multiple different ways by tweaking with the various designer lighting options. You just have to pick the perfect designer lighting ideas for your home and you will be able to bring the right ambiance to your space.

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UP-RERA to Auction Unsold Flats of Defaulting Builders to Refund Buyers

In a major relief to lakhs of aggrieved buyers who are forced to wait for possession of their homes for years, the Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP-RERA) has decided to auction unsold flats of defaulting builders to pay back investors seeking refund in delayed housing projects.

While RERA benches have taken several steps against defaulting builders across the country, this is perhaps the first time that such a move has been announced in India under the new real estate law.

Officials said UP-RERA will soon float a portal for the global e-auction of unsold properties of cash-strapped builders who have been issued recovery notes. A recovery note is a notice sent by Rera that seeks a refund of money owed by homebuyers.

“When a buyer approaches UP-RERA to seek a refund on their investment, we issue an order for a refund and the district administration is sent a recovery note to collect the money from the defaulting builder. But because most of the builders are cash-strapped, the notes are not honoured,” Balwinder Kumar, member of UP-RERA, told TOI.

“None of the 660 recovery notes sent to the builders through the district administration in Gautam Budh Nagar has been honoured by the defaulters. So, we have now decided to auction unsold inventories of such builders to return the money to the aggrieved buyers stuck in delayed projects, should they want it back,” he added. With this move, all builders against whom buyers have moved UP-RERA stand to lose their unsold inventory for refunding buyers who want to exit the delayed projects.

“There are two kinds of refunds — one where a builder has not been able to deliver the flat and the buyer wants to exit the project. The other one is where the builder has promised penalties for delay but has not paid any late fine to buyers. In both the cases, the money accrued from the auction will be used,” Kumar said.

Homebuyers have welcomed the decision by UP-RERA. “This would prove hugely beneficial for such buyers who do not want to stay invested in a delayed project,” said Abhishek Kumar, president, Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (Nefowa).

However, lawyer Kumar Mihir said, “Though UP-RERA has full authority to initiate such an auction, the auction of these unsold flats will only be successful if the reserved price is lower than the market price listed by the builder.”

“Secondly, the auction method can destabilise the market prices of apartments in the vicinity and the builders may object to this order. The reserve price can only be set after UP-RERA appoints a valuer for these unsold inventories. Anyway, the auction will not affect banks as banks fund full projects and buyers get bank loans for individual units.”

Ref by - https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/up-rera-to-auction-unsold-flats-of-defaulting-builders-to-refund-buyers/71211024

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Over 80 CWG flats to be sold by DDA to PSUs at lower rates

NEW DELHI: With Delhi Development Authority (DDA) unable to sell 84 flats at Commonwealth Games Village, government bodies and PSUs will now be able to purchase them at concessional rates.

In a meeting chaired by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, the authority on Tuesday approved 20% concession on the current rate of Rs 2.8 lakh per square metre for disposal of 84 CWG flats to government bodies, PSUs and central/state corporations.

"The revised rate for the flats is Rs 2.2 lakh per square metre for 2019-20. In addition to this reserved price, the conversion charges of Rs 1,130 per square metre and cost of two car parking lots of Rs 7 lakh per car parking are also chargeable," he said.

DDA has been unable to sell these flats in earlier auctions held in 2012 and 2015 due to high reserve price. The flats were originally built to accommodate foreign athletes arriving in Delhi for 2010 Commonwealth Games.

A proposal to auction plots for socio-cultural and religious purposes instead of direct allotment was also made.

The maximum size of the plot will be 1,000 square metres for the socio-cultural category, while it is 400 square metre for the religious category.

Ref. By - https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/over-80-cwg-flats-to-be-sold-by-dda-to-psus-at-lower-rates/71185077

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Government announces steps to boost housing, facilitate homebuyers

The government on Saturday announced a Rs 10,000 crore special window to provide last-mile funding for completion of ongoing housing projects which are not NPAs or facing bankruptcy proceedings under NCLT.

Announcing the measure, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will contribute Rs 10,000 crore for the special window and roughly the same amount is expected from outside investors. This window will help in completion of affordable and middle income housing projects. The fund will be managed by professionals, the Minister added.

Sitharaman also said the interest rate on housing building advance will be lowered and linked to the 10-year G-sec yields. “Government servants contribute to a major component of demand for houses. This will encourage more government servants to buy new houses,” she said.

External commercial borrowing (ECB) guidelines will also be relaxed to help housing developers obtain overseas funds. ECB guidelines will be relaxed to facilitate financing of homebuyers who are eligible under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, in consultation with the central bank.

Source By - https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/real-estate/government-announces-steps-to-boost-housing-facilitate-homebuyers/article29416835.ece

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