Checklist for buying your dream home
Lately with sky rocketing prices of land in India, plotted units have become luxury and most people are encouraged to purchase builder’s built floor or flats. In today’s consumer market flats are sold by SMS marketing and inbox are filled with property promotional messages. An aware buyer can make most out of this full of choices market. Though your dream house may have a much bigger wish list, these are few ‘should not compromise basics’ from the eye of a sustainable development enthusiast while one negotiates for more important equations like available finances/ date of possession versus maximum built up area or resale value etc. Here is the list:
Location: A builder may try selling you flat in jungle saying that sooner there will be a train/bus station for your rescue, only if you survive till then. Please consider the fact that man being social animal needs a connection with others and you may not always depend on privately owned vehicles. Consider proximity to public transport and day to day amenities.
Parking space: There should be adequate parking available for the residents and for the visitors, at what cost you get it, is secondary though. No column should come in between your dream of parking sedan.
Open spaces in the complex: humans have a strong relationship with the environment around. It is important to have greenery and park to walk your kids and dogs. If the property you are buying is planned to be constructed in phases, please monitor the future construction proposal for park not converting into parking later.
Waste disposal / Sewage treatment plant: Think where and how your building’s waste is disposed. Why?? It may be piled in front of your balcony, your street and places related to you, harming your environment. For example, in Pimpri Chinchwad area of Pune, a housing society was planned to have Sewage treatment plant, but the plan was out with builder moving out. Solid waste management became a huge problem for the residents later in the society. Better be cautious than being surrounded by our own waste. And if your waste can be put to some good use after recycling / treating etc.. Why should it not?
Power backup for service area/ preferably renewable energy based: If one wishfully buys a flat on sixth floor and is ready to do without elevator for good health, this may be ignored. Otherwise it is must to have all the lift cores functioning on power backup. Why renewable energy is being stressed on?? One it helps building decrease its environmental impact and other, diesel power is much more expensive in comparison and is eventually to be borne by the occupant. To everyone’s amazement, during the power failure earlier this year, commonwealth games village lifts were working when whole northern region was dark for 3 days since they had back up from solar PV.
Proper and uninterrupted supply of water / Rain water harvesting: Nothing can be worse than waiting for water when you have an important work to tackle with. Ensure regular water supply and check for municipality supply with neighbours. Trusting and respecting wisdom of our ancestors and scientists today, rain water harvesting is not just the mean of storing water for our current needs but also recharging the earth for future to come.
Well lit and ventilated rooms: All the rooms in the house receive their share of sunlight to see shining bright faces of your family. Air circulation in the house is equally valued for good health and prosperity in all sciences whether it be Indian Vastu Shastra or Chinese feng shui.
Observe orientation of your living areas: The room you consider well lit may prove to be an oven. Do check which wall receives maximum heat during harsh summers. Have they been protected with shade or covered with buffer spaces like toilets?? This may significantly impact air conditioning load of that room. Sincere suggestion is to survey the flat at different times of a day.
Electricity is metered adequately: Electricity meters are provided and you are not paying for the neighbour’s bill. A well designed space as mentioned in above stated two points will help you reduce the electricity bills in any case. Be more careful if you are opting for topmost floor. Cost and technique of the finishing on the roof will be inversely proportional to electricity bill you pay in summers.
Electrical Appliances if provided by the builder: Check for the appliances to be BEE star labelled. More stars, better efficiency and lesser operational cost.
No VOCs are used in interiors: paints and polishes used in the house should be free of VOCs as their presence may negatively impact health of occupants specially kids.
Operation and maintenance: Last but not the least, nothing works as planned if not maintained. Ask who will maintain the services and for how long?
If we go in depth, the list goes even bigger. The other way of ticking checklist is to confirm that the building you are planning to occupy is GRIHA compliant. Building committing to sustainability through GRIHA means they will not just comply with above stated concerns but much beyond it. It is important to understand that when ecologically sustainable habitat is talked about, one is talking about both living and non-living components of the habitat. This implies cautious use of the resources being utilized to construct and operate building and provide maximum comfort to the occupants. So either one may check, and still forget or compromise many of the basics listed or alternately opt for GRIHA complaint building.To read more about how you may check comfort parameters yourself, follow our blogs.
