Saturday, January 22, 2011

Injustice---Indian Rent Control Acts



This legal injustice has killed many people,made many seriously ill ,deprived many people of their properties,who are real owner of these properties.


Let us take look into an article published by Sheikh Pervez Hameed ... 27/07/05--------------- Amendments to Delhi Rent Control Act (1958) in 1997 (a piece of legislation violating the fundamental right of an individual to property rights) has once again been put back. Strong traders lobby (main beneficiaries of status quo) has successfully capitulated the Urban Development Ministry. The Ministry has decided to hold back the move of tabling it in the monsoon session of the Parliament. The bill has been pending in Rajya Sabha for 8 years. Many owners are stuck with non-paying tenants due to this Act. Sad and heart rending stories of how tenants moved in on nominal rents and have become the owners of the properties abound. This bill had been passed earlier by both sessions of Parliament and the President had given his assent. Due to pressure from powerful tenant lobbies of Connaught Place, Chandini Chowk and South Extension, the bill was notified ... a formality for the passed bill to become law. Common Cause, a NGO sought direction from the Delhi High Court to the Govt. for notification of the bill. A committee of Rajya Sabha, on the issue "Can the Executive delay the enforcement of enactment passed by Parliament and assented to by the President" considered it as setting a unhealthy precedent by the Govt. by deferring the enforcement. Tenants of these areas pay Rs. 5 to 10 per month rental where as the prevalent rent in these districts are as high as Rs. 450/- per Sq. Ft. In most of the cases, tenants are now taking advantage of the bullishness in the reality market to illegally lease out the properties of which they hold lease. The genuine owner is not being given his due. The method employed is ingenious - using the franchise route. Delhi Rent Control Act in its current form is the single reason why Delhi landlords prefer to give their places on rent to foreigners. Foreigners go back, Indians stay on and use the Act to exploit the owners. This is for properties where rents are lower than Rs. 3,500/- per month. Over Rs. 3,500/- the law is balanced but the sentiment of good owner-tenant relationship has been systematically destroyed over the past few decades by the use of this Act. Generous donations to the political parties election funds by the tenant trader's lobby ensures that Government continues to deny its citizens the basic right to own and dispose of properties. Issues like this are of concern to the big time real estate investors as there is a lack of clarity. Govt. speaks differently, acts differently. Mind you, these traders are not so big in numbers, just well connected and very voluble.


Here is the link,U can directly go there also.
http://www.swagatamindia.com/real_est...
Here is the link of this foolish act--Delhi Rent Control Act-1958
http://bareacts.legalcare.in/index-27...
Here is the link of the amended act of 1995,which could not be implemented
http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/delh...

6 महत्वपूर्ण प्रोपर्टी टिप्स


                             6 महत्वपूर्ण प्रोपर्टी टिप्स 

  1. कोई भी प्रोपर्टी  किराये पर लें या खरीदें , उसका बिजली का मीटर चैक करवा  लें, ताकि मीटर के साथ यदि कोई छेड़छाड़ की गयी हो तो उसका पता लग सके और पकड़े जाने पर हर्ज़ाना, जो कि लाखों  रूपए में हो सकता है, वो आपको न भुगतना पड़े. यह चेकिंग BSES  से ही  नाम मात्र खर्चे से करवा सकते हैं. अपने बिजली के मीटर को चैक करते रहें, कहीं किसी पड़ोसी ने जाने अनजाने आपके मीटर में अपनी तार न लगा रखी हो.
  2. किरायेदार की पुलिस जाँच ज़रूर करवाएं. यदि किराया 3500/- रु. मासिक से कम  है तो दिल्ली रेंट एक्ट में आने की वजह से मकान/ दुकान खाली करवाना बहुत मुश्किल होता है
  3.  रेंट एग्रीमेंट यदि 11 महीने से ऊपर का  है तो उसे रजिस्टर करवाना ज़रूरी है. ध्यान रखें, यदि किरायेदार से रेंट एग्रीमेंट  नहीं किया तो उस से मार्किट रेट का रेंट वसूल करना आप के लिए लगभग असंभव होगा .
  4. प्रोपर्टी  खरीदते समय कागज़ात ठीक हैं या नहीं, इस की जांच Authorities/ Registrar Office से ज़रूर करवाएं. नोट नकली छापे  जा सकते हैं तो कागजात क्यों नहीं?
  5.  ध्यान रखें,आपके मकान /दूकान की ग्रिल, ख़ास कर मकान /दूकान  के पीछे की तरफ से और ए. सी. के पीछे , घनी हो. चोरियां अक्सर ग्रिल तोड़ कर होती हैं .
  6.  ध्यान रखें, मकान/ दूकान के निर्माण कार्य में आपके अंदाज़े  से समय और धन, दोनों ज्यादा खर्च होंगें .

Either they can be friends---Or sales-persons.


Either they can be friends or sales-persons
Generally people go for being sales-persons


And there is nothing wrong in being sales-persons
But every thing is wrong in being crooked persons
Hiding things from others or telling half truths
Or distorting the truths
Or adjusting the facts according to their own need and greed


That is why I say that “Sales-persons” are generally “Foes” disguised as “Friends”


Irony is that generally we all are sales-persons
Irony is that we detest the people who sell their bodies for sex to earn money
Irony is that we never see that generally we all are selling our integrity, our honesty, our conscience just to earn money


And that is far far far worse than selling bodies for sex.

Friday, January 21, 2011

From illegal to legal by MCD


Misuse DDA flat, pay fine & Get Regularisation


फ्लैटों में अब फेर बदल मुमकिन


DDA flat owners warned against encroaching


Pay Fine for tinkering with building plan and get Regularization - Hindustan Times

Fine for tinkering with building plan - Hindustan Times



Hindustan Times
New Delhi, January 21, 2011

This one is for those who built their houses on whims and fancies. If you installed a washbasin where it was not supposed to be or constructed a whole new wall just to get another room, the MCD will hunt you down soon and slap a fine. Finalising its budget estimates for 2011-12 at a special

meeting of the MCD's standing committee, the civic agency has decided to survey all properties in the city including posh approved colonies to find out if any unauthorised construction has been carried out.
Property owners who, after getting their building plan sanctioned, made certain deviations to the original plan by constructing an additional partition wall, a new wash basin, extended their balconies, etc., will be fined. The civic agency is hoping to earn R25 crore through this exercise.

"There are thousands of property owners who had got their building plans sanctioned many years back and have made many changes to their houses. Rather than demolishing those structures, we want them to get it regularised by paying a fine. A survey to ascertain the deviations made in those properties will be carried out this year," said Yogender Chandolia, chairman of MCD’s Standing Committee.

Officials said the fine can range between R5,000 to R1 lakh, depending on the deviations.

"There are a number of property owners whose plans were cleared when the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2001 was in place. But they carried out construction, which were not permissible under the MDP 2001 but are covered under the MPD 2021. These owners will now have to shell out lakhs of rupees to get their buildings regularised, otherwise the construction will be termed illegal and demolition action can be carried out there," said a senior MCD official.

Property owners in a number of posh colonies such as Greater Kailash I, II, Lajpat Nagar, East of Kailash, Jangpura, New Friends Colony, Saket, Malviya Nagar among others have constructed third floors. This is covered under the MPD 2021 but was not part of the building plans when sanctioned.

"They will have to pay a fine for getting the third floor regularised too," added the official.

7 ‘enemy properties’ sold for just Rs 5 lakh - Hindustan Times

7 ‘enemy properties’ sold for just Rs 5 lakh - Hindustan Times


New Delhi, January 19, 2011

It does not take much to own a property in a prime location in the city. Here’s how: first you find a property that belongs to a person who migrated to Pakistan during Partition and bribe some MCD officers to get the property mutated. In no time, and for a mere R5 lakh, you can be the proud owner

of a multi-crore property in Chandni Chowk.
Thanks to some corrupt officials in the MCD, seven ‘enemy properties’ (those left by families who migrated to Pakistan in 1947) whose sale and purchase is not allowed (as government is the sole custodian of these properties) were allegedly purchased illegally by two persons. The MCD’s property tax department carried out mutation of the property, too. A copy of the mutation papers are with HT.

All the seven properties—number 177, 183 to 188 on Church Mission Road, Fatehpuri have been purchased by two persons at a cost of just R5 lakh.

Each property is about 3,000 sq feet in area. As per the orders of the Lt. Governor and Delhi government, any sale or transaction of ‘listed’ Enemy property is void.

A complaint in this regard has been filed by Deepak Mehta, a tenant of one property which were illegally purchased by two men who are residents of Greater Kailash II and Yamuna Vihar.

“These properties have been declared ‘Enemy Property’ and are listed as such on the Delhi government’s Revenue department’s website. But they have been illegally purchased by two persons. I’ve been complaining about it but the MCD has not done anything till date. Also, the purchasers, in connivance with MCD officials, illegally got the property mutated in the name of the illegal purchaser in 2009 after offering bribe,” said Deepak Mehta, the complainant and occupier of property number 185, Church Mission Road.

MCD’s City zone office and the vigilance department confirmed receiving a complaint in this regard. “MCD undertakes property mutation on the basis of duly registered property sale deed(s). As the part of the mutation process, the chain of ownership is examined. If there’s a clear chain of title of ownership only then mutation is done. In this particular case also, MCD examined the documents pertaining to sale of property as per aforementioned procedure. We have received a complaint and will examine the mutation done by us,” said Deep Mathur, director, press and information, MCD.

Mehta said the deputy commissioner (central), Delhi through SDM (Daryaganj) Delhi had written a letter to the deputy assessor and collector of MCD’s house tax department in 1998 that all seven properties are ‘Enemy’ properties and thus immune from sale, seizure. “However, the officials of the house tax department removed the letter of the SDM from the file and illegally mutated the property. Strict action should be initiated against them,” said Mehta. A copy of this letter is also with HT.

Verify your tenant or face arrest


Court allows connections to houses with power dues


प्रोपर्टी के मालिकाना हक़ की सर्च रिपोर्ट


होम लोन में हिडेन कास्ट


कैसे रखें प्रोपर्टी गिरवी



सांसदों के अवैध कब्जे


ब्रोकर अच्छा या बुरा


प्रोपर्टी की मार्केट वैल्यू : काम की बातें


बैंक की गड्डी दोनों और से गिनें


सुनारों की ठग्गी


जायदाद में हक--अब बेटियों का भी



एक ही प्रोपर्टी की कई वैल्यू


15 Great Tips For Buying Property


            "15 Great Tips For Buying Property "



These are my personal tips that you should consider when buying a property. By no stretch of the imagination are these wise words from an expert, although an expert may share some general consensus on a few of the tips.
1) Research is the key
Always do research. You can never do enough research. A lot of people dive into the property market head first and blind folded, and that’s when people make bad purchases. If you like a property, find out about the surrounding area; find out the local crime rate, find out how much properties in the area recently sold for. Find out EVERYTHING. There are tonnes of websites out there that will give you all these details at no cost.
2) Prepare yourself financially
Financially prepare yourself before you make any offers- get financially sorted. Make sure you can afford the property. Make sure you have taken every cost into consideration, like conveyancing solicitors, stamp duty, survery fees, Estate Agent  fees etc. Most importantly, make sure you can get the financial backing you need.
3) Structural Survey
Always get a structural survey done. With the newer homes, the basic or mid-ranged survey is fine. But with older properties, definitely get the higher-level inspection. Sure this may add expenses onto your limited budget, but it could potentially save you thousands. Regardless, most Mortgage lenders will insist on a structural survey, as they won’t want to help you finance a house that’s about to fall apart.
4) Property fittings
Make sure you ask what comes with the property before you make an offer. A lot of houses are presented beautifully, especially with fitted bathrooms and kitchens. You may get a nasty shock when you move in only to find the previous owners took the fittings with them.
5) Stay away from the asking price
Never offer the asking price, even if you’re in love with a particular property. Sellers/Estate Agents usually add on a few lakhs from the actual value of the property, because they expect offers to always be below asking price. Be risky, and make a cheeky offer- you maybe surprised.
6) The Property Market
Find out how long a property has been on the market for from your Estate Agent. If a property you’re in love with has been on the market for a long period of time, ask yourself why; be suspicious. If the property is legit, and for some odd reason it’s not selling, then make a low offer.
7) Control your emotions
Never act overly keen to either the seller or your Estate Agent. The Estate Agent and seller both have one thing in common- they want the buyer to spend as much as possible. Remember, the Estate Agent is working for the seller, not the buyer. If you act overly keen, they will make you spend more money than necessary. Buying property is like playing a game of poker- you need to play the game with a face of stone.
8.) Be patient
Don’t let your patience get the better of you. Never rush into buying a property; buying a house is a big deal and will effect your life. There is an art to buying property, and patience is a big part of it. Impatience leads to expensive and inadequate purchases. If your patience is the direct reason of losing out on a deal, don’t worry, properties come and go on the market. On the other hand, your impatience could be the direct reason of making a bad purchase, and consequently throwing your money down the drain.
9) The future is important
Think about the unforeseeable future. The property market is a very uncertain area. Interest rates can increase at any time, and that will have direct impact on your monthly mortgage repayments. You may be out of work for a period of time, would you still be able to afford the monthly mortgage payments?
10) An empty property looks so much different
Imagine the property is empty- do not be fooled by props a seller has strategically planned. Once a house is stripped from all it’s wrapping, you maybe surprised how different she, I mean, IT, looks. Check behind and under the furniture, because you never know what surprises maybe hidden away- peeling wallpaper, stained carpets etc.
11) Don’t forget your neigbourhood
Are you looking for a peaceful area? Remember, an Estate Agent is working with the seller to get a maximum sale value- they will arrange viewings at optimum times. When you view a property, the surrounding area may be quiet and peaceful. Consider what the noise maybe like at times you haven’t been there.
12) Damp properties
Smell for dampness. Touch the walls; feel if they’re damp. Always be suspicious if a home is overly heated and sprayed with overpowering fragrances.
13) The roof can be costly to fix
Check the tiles on the roof. A lot of people neglect the roof when inspecting a house, and that’s exactly where a lot of people have to shell out a lot of expenses. This especially applies to older properties.
14) Location is just as important as the property
Finding the dream house is always great. But what about your dream location? Does it contain all your essentials, like a local groceries, schools etc. Don’t just focus on the property; focus on the bigger picture. Make sure the local area is equipped for your requirements.
15) Shop around for property
You can never find the right property after one viewing; even if you think otherwise. Make sure you take your time looking at several difference properties. Don’t just look in one area, be a little open minded and open yourself to possibilities. You’ll get a better idea of what your hard earned cash can actually get you.

4 Diplomatic House Buying Tips


The tumultuous path of buying a house is nothing short of a nightmare. All the hurdles and vagaries in the trail of buying a house can leave a buyer feel burdened & strenuous. So, it is quite essential to plan wisely for buying home in order to be relieved of all the obstructions coming in the path.
Some Handy Tips To Make Road To Your Dream Home Easier:
 Tip 1
Never let the seller know that you are very much interested in buying the property. If you show too much interest in the property, the buyer will get an idea that you are ready to pay any amount to buy the property. So, you are expected to play the game well. You need to be tactful and a diplomat. Where on one hand, you are not expected to show too much interest, on the other hand, you are also expected to not let go the property. Act as if you have many options and the property is not only the one.
 Tip 2
If you wish, you can quote a low offer, but never expect the seller to agree on that particular offer. As per the market value & requirement, the seller will finalize the deal. Changes in price are possible, if you negotiate well. You need to be really careful while transacting. Even if your real estate agent tells you that the price being quoted is low, then also he has to take that offer to the vendor as per law.
 Tip 3
This is a godfather rule that the person standing next to you shouldn’t have an idea about what’s going in your mind? Don’t even let your agent or seller know that what is the highest price that you are willing to pay for a particular piece of property? Keep everything to yourself. Don’t fall in trap. This factor makes a major difference in house buying.
 Tip 4
Don’t neglect other offers. Keep track of all other properties available. It is possible that you get to strike a better deal for a better property.
Hence, these are the main points that must be kept in mind while starting the search of a house. Apart from this, avoid making hasty decisions in the matters of property.

Fire Safety Measures for Home


    ‘Precaution is better than cure’ this saying holds a lot of importance in everybody’s life. People should be aware as well as equipped with necessary measures to safeguard themselves and the people around from accidents. Fire accidents are the most common ones that cause huge damage to life and property. These can be curbed to a great extent following certain simple measures. We in this write up offer you measures to prevent fire accidents that can take place at your home.


Causes:


Before taking any safety measure against fire, it is important to identify its possible causes. The following are the few reasons that may become a cause of fire at your home:


Absence of fire alarm
Alcohol is a possible cause of fire. About 40% of fire accidents at home are caused by alcohol.
Delayed actions: Most of the fire victims die because of inhaling toxic smoke and poisonous gases for a long time rather than dying of burns
Most of the fire accidents take place in the kitchen owing to wrong handling of gas cylinders, non-switched off stoves etc
Smoking is one of the major causes of fire accidents
Short-circuiting
Preventive Measures:


The following are the safety measures that you must observe at your home, which will protect you and your family from the threats of fire accidents:


√ Install fire alarms at all the proper places at your home such as near bed rooms, kitchen and fire places.
√ Install proper system of fire extinguisher and make sure that each member of the home knows how to operate it.
√ Keep the hazardous objects such as match sticks, lighters, stoves and flammable chemicals out of the reach of children.
√ Keep the non-cooking objects such as towels, plastic utensils away from the gas stove.
√ Make sure that the cigarette butts are completely extinguished before disposing them.
√ Avoid fireworks inside the premises.
√ Make provision for emergency exit in the home.
√ Provide proper training to children regarding how to safeguard themselves in case of a fire breakout.
√ Turn off the gas stove before leaving the home and before going to sleep each night.
√ The electrical appliances shall be properly operated.
√ Gas cylinders should be kept in safe places and should be operated with care.
√ The wiring of the house should be checked on regular basis in order to avoid short circuiting.
What to do in case of a fire breakout?




In case fire takes places in your home, observe the following rules to reduce the damages caused due to it:


Close down all the doors and windows of the home once everybody is out of the house. This will stop the oxygen supply and thus stop the fire from spreading further.
In case your clothes catch fire, lie down on the floor and start rolling to put the fire to an end.
Switch-off the electrical appliances in case of fire.
Thus, by following a few simple measures you can avoid fire related accidents and thus safeguard your family and your home from any kind of fire threats.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Ten Tips For First Time Home Buyers


                    Ten Tips For First Time Home Buyers


Are you like most Indians? If so, chances are that you have never bought a home before, i.e., you are a first time buyer. Buying a home is going to be the biggest investment that you will make in your life. No wonder this process is financially and emotionally draining. These tips will help you during your home buying experience.


1. Don’t budge from your budget


There is too much choice in the real estate market in India – you must understand what is your budget so that you can narrow your search into a manageable process. Otherwise, your real estate broker will spin you around. Give the broker your budget and tell them that its not movable. Don’t believe them when they say your budget is too low. There are properties of all types available in India today.


The budget is not just the cost of the property – it must include numerous non-obvious costs such as broker fees, lawyers fees, stamp duty, registration fees and home insurance premium. All these payments will come out of your pocket.


If you are buying a new home, you will also need furniture, fittings and gadgets for the home. Alternatively, if you are getting an old home, there might be renovation or redecoration costs involved. In either case, these are upfront costs that many people ignore during the home buying process but should be factored in.


2. Affordability – “I have a great home, but no money to eat”


There is no point in searching for the house of your dreams if you cannot afford to live there - you must also think about whether you have enough cash flow to support your lifestyle, after you have paid for the property.


Do not stretch yourself and take a personal loan to fund the down payment towards the property. This will only increase your risk exposure. Rather, you should ensure that you can naturally afford the down payment through your savings.


Additionally, don’t stretch your budget to get a more expensive home because that will mean stretching your EMI payments. Remember to keep your EMI manageable so that you can continue to afford the lifestyle that you are accustomed to and to pay other bills that you will incur.


3. Location, Location and Location – the three most important rules of real estate


Location is key. It will affect the quality of life that you have in and around your home. Additionally, a better located property will get a much better resale value if you decide to sell.


Before you put in your life’s saving into buying a property, you might want to consider renting in your desired location for a few months. It will give you a good flavour of what life could be like in the area.


When thinking of location you must consider the following: proximity of schools, your commuting time to and from work, modes of transport around the property, local amenities and shopping convenience, proximity to family, friends and your community, noise levels around the area and avoiding undesirable irritants (such as the proximity of garbage dumps, electrical sub-stations, sewage canals).


Finally, if you are viewing the property on a weekend, the traffic and noise situation might often be very different from the weekdays, so do check the desirability of the location at different days and times of day.


4. Define your specifications – “I want a mansion, overlooking the hills, with mango orchard around me”


Prioritize what is important to you. If you are married, collectively agree with your spouse on what you are willing to compromise on. Otherwise, smooth talking real estate salesmen will take advantage of you by showing you too many different properties on criteria that will not be important to you.


Is a large kitchen important to you? Do you need an attached bathroom to every room? Do you want lots of storage capacity? Do you need a study for your home office? Do you need a terrace or garden for the kids to play in? Do you want to buy an old home which might have old construction and aged plumbing, or you will only look at new homes which will be modern but you will pay a premium for the freshness?


5. Be patient – resist the urge to get angry and break things around you


The home buying process can be time consuming and complicated. If something can go wrong, it will. But, if you are mentally prepared for it, then you will not be surprised when delays happen. Budget at least 3 to 6 months for the process, especially keeping in mind the timing of when you absolutely need to move into the new home.


Do not get frustrated if you do not feel fully in control of the process. Remember, that you are going to be at the mercy of the real estate brokers, the developer, the home loan lenders, lawyers and other intermediaries. Money, documents, contracts and agreements need to move around all these different players in the process. Things will not always move at your pace, but at the pace that these intermediaries choose.


Just remember to keep smiling through the process - think about how much you are going to enjoy living in your own house when you finally can call it home.


6. Viewings – if you like it, see it twice!


Of course you are not going to buy a property without seeing it. But, don’t make the mistake of taking your entire family with you the first time around. If they get over excited, the real estate broker is going to sense this, and then will exploit this to his/her advantage.


You must also visit the property at least a few times. After all, this is a big decision for you. You are going to be spending the next few years of your life here. Go to the property 2-3 times, at different times of day. Note how you instinctively feel about the property. Why do you feel this way? Can you really call this place home? Maybe at your second or third visit you can take the extended family with you to get their reactions as well.


Maintain a viewing checklist on which you can rank the different properties you are visiting on the criteria that you have prioritized. Remember, you do not want to regret that you were forced into a decision to buy under pressure from a real estate broker or because you had very little time to view the property.


7. Jadoo – learn how square footage can magically disappear


Get familiar with the language and conventions used in real estate. When some one gives you an area for the property, always ask them what definition of area they are using. Here is why this is important.


Typically, the area that you pay for is higher than the area that you actually get. For instance, you will pay for a 2,000 square feet flat, but your usable area might only be 1,500 square feet. You will face a reduction in the area. In this example its 25%, but it could even be more in actual cases.


No need to worry, you have not been defrauded. The square footage that you have lost is your share of the communal facilities on the floor like walls, corridors, lifts etc.). But, you will have to pay for the entire area, including the area that is lost.


Always ask what is the carpet area that you will get, i.e., the area over which you can actually spread carpet across the entire floor if you so wanted to do it. This, effectively, is the area that you will have for your end use.


8. Show me the money - review your financing options simultaneously


Just finding the right home is of no use to you if the deal falls through because you have not organized your funding. Often you will need to demonstrate that you have access to the funds to finance your purchase. Therefore, organize your funds before you need them.


If you are self-funding your purchase, ensure that you have enough funds that you can access at short notice if your deal comes through and you are required to pay immediately.


If you will need a home loan, file an application with your chosen lender and get approved for the loan. You can get approved even if you have not yet identified the property. This will save you time and emotional hassles later on in the process. Typically, such approvals last for 6 months which should give you sufficient time to identify a property.


9. Black, white and grey areas - buying directly from the developer vs. the investor


These are boom times for real estate development in India. Developers are coming up with new projects all the time. Many investors have bought many properties for investing purposes. You need to understand that there is a difference in buying directly from the builder versus from the investor in a property.


If you buy property directly from a developer in a project that is under construction or nearing completion, its likely that you will not have to pay any cash component, and the entire payment can be in cheque.


On the other hand, if you buy from an existing owner of the property (even if its under-construction), the owner will expect to earn a return on his/her investment, and might expect a large part of the payment in cash. You need to be aware whether you are capable of making cash payments. This is a reality in India and in many cases you will not be able to avoid it.


10. You are going to live long – your current purchase doesn’t mean “game over”


As your you and your family grow, so will your needs. You might get married, have kids, your parents might move in with you. Some unplanned events might also occur; for instance, you might get transferred to a new city.


Don’t see your current purchase as a dead end. You can upgrade to a different property in a few years. Maximise what you need to fulfill over the next few years. Nobody has seen the future - you will not be able to ascertain whether this property will suitable for your 10 years from now. Remember, you can always sell this property and use the sale proceeds to get another property.


You might feel nervous about your first home purchase. With a little bit of attention to detail and awareness, you can become more confident even before you start the process. And of course when the deal finally closes, savour the positive emotions. There is absolutely no substitute for the joy and pride that you will experience at your first home purchase.

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent

                Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent


With so much information readily available online, clients sometimes ask me, "Why should we hire a real estate agent?" They wonder, and rightfully so, if they couldn't buy or sell a home through the Internet or through regular marketing and advertising channels without representation, without a a real estate agent. Some do OK, many don't. So if you've wondered the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent.


1. Education & Experience
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. The trick is to find the right person. For the most part, they all cost about the same. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We're all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time.


2. Agents are Buffers
Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you're a buyer of new homes, your agent will whip out her sword and keep the builder's agents at bay, preventing them from biting or nipping at your heels. If you're a seller, your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie loos and try to induce serious buyers to immediately write an offer.


3. Neighborhood Knowledge
Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where to find the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. 


4. Price Guidance
Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves.


5. Market Conditions Information
Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do.


6. Professional Networking
Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection.


7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality
Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. It's part of their job description. Good agents are not messengers, delivering buyer's offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.


8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork
Today's purchase agreements run many pages or more. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands. In some states, lawyers handle the disclosures, thank goodness!


9. Answer Questions After Closing
Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don't leave you in the dust to fend for yourself.


10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
The basis for an agent's success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.


HOUSE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICAL GUIDANCE



     PLANNING BEFORE CONSTRUCTION


1. Do a lot of labor on paper work before doing actual work. It is said that Taj Mahal was built twice- First on the paper and then on the earth. Lack of due diligence will cost you very high.

2. It will always take more money and time, what you have estimated, in constructing or renovating your property.

3. If you will hire the person on daily wages basis, he will make the work linger on; he will do the work too much slowly.

4. If you will hand over the job to the person on contract basis, he will make too much haste. And haste makes waste.

5. Always remember if a responsible person is not supervising, even the single nail   will not be stricken in the right manner by the artisan.

6. Before construction, measure the space of your house (or future house) inch by inch and now measure the dimensions of your furniture inch by inch. This measurement of space and furniture will save a lot of problems.

7.  If you can not design your home yourself according to your needs and furniture, it is better to hire an interior decorator.



MASONRY

1.  If you need more space in your building, wherever possible get the walls of 4 inches instead of 9 inches. If possible you can cut the existing 9 inches wall to 4 inches, but do not compromise with the strength of the building.

2.   Thinks of the option of having of shelves, as many as possible, for increasing space in the house

3.  Thick skirting of floorings wastes space, get it slimmer.

4.   Avoid using the stones of small cut pieces because after grinding different pieces will show different colors and patterns .So always opt for stones of single sheet.

5.   Please note that while fitting tiles or stones the gap between them should be the minimum. All the stones/ tiles should be in proper lines. While fitting the tiles design of the tiles should be in an order, masons often spoil the order of the tiles.

6. The mason should start fixing the tiles on walls from Upside and on floors from entrance. Thus the odd sizes of the tiles may be hidden from the eyes of the visitors as they will be either on the lowest/last line on the wall or floor respectively.

7.  Get the tiles fitted in kitchen and toilet up to the ceiling because if you will fit exhaust fan near the ceiling where no tiles are fitted, a use of exhaust fan for a few days only will make that area dirty. Afterwards it becomes very difficult to clean it.

8.  To check that whether the tiles or stones have been fitted rightly on your floors and walls, tap them lightly with something hard. If there is not proper material behind the stones and tiles they will sound like a hollow thing and if there is proper material behind the stones or tiles they will not sound like a hollow thing.

9.  A Flooring built with a mixture of plain stones and stone- chips, in contrast colors looks very good. It looks better than flooring which is built altogether of stones or marbles chips.

10.  It is better to use general stones than tiles because if the tiles get broken afterwards it becomes almost impossible to find the tile of same color and design again, and even if you succeed in getting one, you will have to buy a whole box containing nine to twelve tiles, whereas it is easier and cheaper to replace an ordinary stone.

11. If, while having a lintel, your shuttering is not proper or if faulty and imbalanced Ballies are used or if mixture of material is thrown forcefully on the roof, the whole lintel may fall down and cause a major accident.

12. Use the white cement very carefully because it becomes very difficult to remove the extra cement afterwards. Avoid the application of white cement as much as possible. It gets dirty, stained, and discolored very soon

13. If Harpic (a toilet cleaner) is used with tooth brush on the extra cement, you might be successful in removing it.

14. Adhesive solutions used in wood work should also be applied very carefully. It is also very difficult to remove the extra adhesive afterwards. We got success in removing the extra adhesive from the wood by using hot iron and thinner on it.

15. Application of P.O.P is a must because masons generally do not plaster the surfaces evenly. But if the plaster of your walls and roofs are almost even you can go for small applications of P.O.P on the uneven area only and avoid the expenditure of getting POP on all the surfaces.

16. Use special jaalies on drainage holes of kitchen/ toilet through which no cockroaches/rats can pass.

17.  If you are to have some holes in walls for wiring or any other purposes, get small pieces of the plastic pipes fitted in those holes and mouths of those pipes be covered with iron jallies.

18. Only the toilet seats, with bigger openings should be used. The ones with small openings are not suitable to all.

19. The gap between the doors and the floor should be the minimum. It will prevent the entry of the insects, lizards and mice etc. Toilet door fitted in this manner will not allow the unwanted water out of the toilet.

20. If possible do not take the building material by rickshaws, get the material in bulk by truck, it will cost you very less.

21. Use only the branded cement.

22. Try to have a separate store room in your home. Store room is as much important as kitchen room/ toilet room. This store room should be on the same floor where you are living. A store room constructed on the roof or on some other floor is neither safer nor useful as much compared to the one built on the living floor.


IRON WORKS


1.  Please note that all the iron grills should be dense but the welders generally cheat in density of iron grilling. They also cheat on density of iron sheets and rods. You can use a screw gauge or Vernier Calipers for calculating the thickness of iron sheets or rods. Please take care that the welders might not skip grinding the welded spots, which they do many times.

2.  Iron net should be also dense one. Tiger brand is a good one.

3.  Ask your welder to fit the removable iron nets in your grills.

4.  Wherever you fit the A.C, have a dense iron grill behind it for safety purpose.

5.  You must have exhaust fans in kitchen and toilet and there must be iron grills and iron nets on these exhaust fan holes.

6.  Try to have the inter-locks and all the other locks, of Godrej company only. But get these locks fitted by Godrej company only. Local welders generally fail in doing this work properly. Harrison is the second best.

7.   Interlocks are available for even the doors with two parts.

8.  Shutter locks (With hardened rods) are better than pad locks.



ELECTRIC WORKS


1.  The pipes used for underground electric wiring should not be of secondary plastic.   Use only the best quality of pipes for this purpose.

2.  Screws should be driven only with screw drivers, never be hammered.

3.   If possible the main wire of cooler, exhaust fan, geyser should be fitted underground. Not plug and socket system should be used for such objects.

4.  Modular electric fitting is better than ordinary one. These fitting look more beautiful and are safer than others. Even if a child will touch the socket of a modular fitting he will not be electrocuted.

5.   Instead of using switches, use MCB’s for coolers, geysers and AC’s etc.

6.  Have bigger sheets for electric switch/socket fittings, for future enhancements.

7.   Apart from getting proper MCB,s fitted, ask your Electrician to give proper earthing in the whole premises, it can save electric shock problem.

8.   Electric switches and the sockets fitted on sheets should be in a special order, switches of the toilet light should be towards the toilet, and switches of the kitchen light should be towards the kitchen, sockets should be fitted towards the side from where the plug is to come.

9.   The switch of room light should be nearest to the entry,

10. If particular things are to be fitted on four screws, the mechanic would try to fit these on two screws only and many times those two screws would not even match with each others. So take care that the things which are to be fitted on two/four screws should be fitted on two/four screws and all those screws should be matching with each other.

11. To prevent the family members from electric shocks, check that your house must be having proper earthing.

12.  Try to have a designer door bell if possible; it will enhance the look of your house. You can opt for the wireless bells also. They are compact ones and no need of wiring is there for them. Even their push button is better looking than that of the ordinary ones.

13.  Never fit straight bulb holders on the walls, straight bulb holders are made for ceilings only and angle bulb holders are especially made for walls.

14.  A.C should be fitted near the ceiling because it emits the cool air which is heavier than the normal air; it will come automatically downwards and will make the whole room cooler.

15.  The Coolers can be easily fitted on iron grill without the stand.

16.  Never buy an A.C with heater. Hot air is lighter than the normal one, it will automatically go upwards. So heat convector kept on the ground is the best option for winters. Why to pay Rs.4,000/--5,000/- for A.C with heater, while with an expense of Rs.700/--800/-a better effect can be gotten.

17.  Do not live in under lights as most of we Indians do. Have ample lights every where in your home.

18.  If possible have celebrative lights through out the year.
     
19.  Keep a wooden stick in bathroom to switch on/off the switches.

20. Exhaust fans are very useful in expelling the moisture of the bathrooms.



TOILET WORKS/ PLUMBING


1.   Try to have a urinal pot in the toilet of your house as the ones used in public toilets.

2.   Curing seepage:----
          Tiles, paints, waterproofs-------------------No/No
          Plumbing & masonry ------------------------Yes/Yes

3.   Use the modern taps, having jaalies fitted in their mouths instead of the ordinary ones. Water passing through modern taps does not strike back.

4.   The tab fitted for the washbasin should be little a bit higher than the ordinary one only then you will be able to wash your hand properly, without striking with the tab.

5.   Except flush cistern, have the arrangement of warm water everywhere in the house, other wise you will feel trouble in winters.
     
6.   Space below washbasins and sinks can be used easily. You can have shelves of acrylic or toughened glass under the wash basins or sinks. It will look better if you will cover the opening with aluminum and fiber fitting.

7.   Color of the buckets, mugs should be matching with the color of your kitchen or toilet. Either uses the entire bucket and the mugs of plastic or steel only. Some people use mixtures of steel and plastic accessories. It does not look good. Either go for steel or go for plastic only.

8.   During each use of the toilet, get the exhaust fan switched on for a few minutes. It will not only expel the bad odors but the extra moisture also, which can make the tiles and whole toilet moist and wet. This is more needed in winters.



PAINTS


1.   Get the previous paints removed as much as possible before application of a new paint and to make the surfaces even use P.O.P (Plaster of Paris).This advice is applicable only, if you are not getting a complete POP surfacing in the house.

2.  Have a good color sense. We have used cream, brown and mustard shades only.

3.  Every room consists of four walls and one roof. Each of these five surfaces can be painted with different colors and textures.

4.  The walls which are to be in more usage should be painted in dark colors and other ones should be painted in lighter shades.

     
5.   Royal Play/ Textured paint are good option other than plain paints. You can get front wall painted in Royal play, the opposite one painted in Rustic texture, the other two and ceiling spray dotted. (Just suggestions, to give you an imagination).
     
6.   Apart from the area which is to be painted, painters spoil a lot of adjoining area by scattering the paints. It becomes a troublesome job afterwards to remove 0these stains. Instruct the painter in the very beginning to use waste newspapers or use some other methods so this problem may not arise.

7.   If you have got some thing of iron that is looking very bad due to rust, apply aluminum paint on it to make it look good.

8.   If possible save all the paints applied in your house for “touching” purposes. You should also save some tiles and some pieces of stones used in your home.




SPECIAL TIPS—HOUSE TO HOME


1. Have letter box and name/number plate on the entrance   of  your home.


2. Get a magnetic stopper or rubber stopper fitted on the rear of the door to avoid the BANG BANG of the door while striking with the wall.

3.  After fastening the door fasteners beat the bolts in such a way that it may become almost impossible to unscrew them.

4.  Aluminum doors/ windows -----------no/ no
     Wooden doors/ windows -------------yes/yes

5. Designer/Picture glasses can also be used to enhance beauty of the house.

6.  Have ample cupboards and slabs to decorate and store the house hold goods.

    7.  Have Acrylic sheets fitted for longer life of paints of walls, especially on those areas where paints are prone to be damaged easily.

8.  Try to use walls as much as possible but let not the whole house look like a museum or a shop.

9. Getting your pictures laminated is better than getting them fitted in glass. 


10. Before getting a scenery hanged in your office or home. Check the theme of the scenery. It should be suitable to environment. For example a picture showing breasts of a female will not be suitable for office. Similarly pictures of violence, preying and gaming are not good for any place.


11. If there are some holes in wooden furniture’s and door etc. Use particles of wood mixed with Fevicol instead of chalk soil.

12. Cockroaches, especially small kitchen cockroaches and other insects prove a very irritating nuisance. In the market you can easily find some powders which prove very effective in getting rid of this problem. A paste of this powder is to be applied on the different places of your home. Laxman Rekha is also very effective. If these steps do not solve the problem then you can go for the proper pest control.

13. Keep the dustbins where ever possible, in drawing room, kitchen, and toilet etc.


14. Carpet is very useful in winter but have in mind    that most of visitors will come    with shoes on them.

16. Having a portable aluminum staircase in home is good idea.

17. Remove stickers and remaining of gums of the stickers from your house hold goods.