Friday, 7 August 2015

Points that should not be overlooked while buying an apartment!



Indians are known to overlook aspects which are considered important by people worldwide. For example, while buying a car in India safety and quality takes the back seat while mileage and pricing takes the front seat! We are indeed a practical group of people but some important factors have to be considered while buying something that stays with us for a long time. And when it comes to long term investments, buying a home is the most important purchase of all.
In this article, we try to cover some of the points which are generally overlooked by us but should actually be considered as important as the price and location of the house we buy.

Better safe than sorry – Home Protection
Be it a rural area, town or a metropolitan like Chennai or Mumbai, buying property should always consider the safety aspect of the home. If you are purchasing a plot make sure that the locality has a police station, fire service center and also opt for a gated community for added security.
If it is an apartment make sure that the doors and windows and the locks provided by the builder have grilled reinforcements and upgrade them to better quality gear if needed. If your purchase is a retirement solution, make sure that there is help readily available in the form of an association that is helpful.

Legal opinions and second opinions!
Never jump in blindly going by the tags ‘Clear Title’, ‘100% Documents’ and such. Those are commonly used marketing jargons that are in no way validated by anyone. Get the copy of the documents from the builder / developer / promoter and get a legal opinion of it.
Don’t shy away from getting a second opinion if not confident enough. Also, if the property ownership is going to be joint ownership, get the legalities out of the way first up without rushing into it at the last moment.

Surroundings matter
It not just how the house is on the inside, but the approach and surroundings also matter. Often builders lay out a lawn, a pool surrounded by a jogging track and greenery to attract buyers. But if the project is nearby to a waste land or a swamp it is going to be a tricky place to live in!
In the same way, if the approach roads are not well laid or if there are slums nearby, if will be a problem in the longer run. Residential apartments near to industries that pollute are highly not recommended. Research around and see and ask opinions about the locality.

Builder History
There is nothing wrong in trusting a new builder but it is always a safe bet to invest your hard earnt money with a property developer who is well established in the real estate market. With experience comes better quality. Also, visit old projects to see how the construction holds up. Do check on how long the builder supports maintenance for the building after handing over for occupation. The longer the warranty, the more confidence the builder has on his own project!

Atul Joshi is an environmental activist who closely monitors the Green Moment of Indian real estate. He loves sharing the information he holds to the public and he reaches out through IndiaProperty.com

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