Protect Your House From The Rain

The monsoons bring beauty and greenery into the landscape. The weather is comfortable and relaxing. But the rains can prove to be a constant source of problems for your home. To protect yourself from these common troubles, take the following precautions:

1.     Get your roof checked for leaks and cracks to prevent seepage that will ruin not just the walls, but the furniture and other items in your house as well.

2.     Check your walls and ceiling for cracks and make sure they’ve been repaired and waterproofed to prevent water from entering and causing dampness.

3.     Clear and clean all pipes, gutters, and spouts of dead branches and leaves to prevent stagnancy of water and ensure free flow.

4.     Before the start of the rains, make sure that all electrical wiring and equipment is protected from water, to prevent short circuits from occurring.

5.     Ensure that all metal joints, doors and windows are painted with waterproof paint to prevent rusting.

6.     Get your exterior walls painted with waterproof paint as well, to protect the walls. A water sealant should also be used for added protection.

7.     If your wooden doors swell due to the rains, take them out, tighten the hinges and fix them back only after varnishing.

8.     Wax or polish your wooden furniture to prevent swelling and to protect your furnishings from water.

Following these eight simple steps will ensure that your home is safe from the brunt of the monsoons.

How to create an Eco-Friendly Home

It has come to a point where every action needs to be thought out carefully in terms of the environment. This transcends into the construction, designing, decoration and appliance usage within your homes. It is important to know how to go about creating an eco- friendly home.

·        When purchasing an appliance, always make sure of its efficiency so that no energy is wasted. Do not take too long to replace an old appliance.

·        Use incandescent bulbs and LED tube lights to increase efficiency, stop energy wastage and ensure long life.

·        Set up solar panels for all your heating needs.

·        Turn off computers, fans and lights when not in use, to save electricity.

·        Use non toxic eco-friendly paint within your homes to prevent lung problems and other disorders.

·        Replace all the taps and shower heads with high pressure, low flow faucets and close all them properly when not in use to ensure water conservation.

·        Put potted plants on your balcony and at specific points within the house to keep the air fresh.

·        Use natural products such as linen, bamboo and cotton in your household.

·        Separate your inorganic and organic waste. Create a composting zone to make your own fertilizer using organic waste.

·         Use biodegradable cleaning and polishing agents to maintain your home.

Read This Before Getting A Home Loan!

Home loans are a popular option for house buyers today, especially with the rise of the EMI method of payment. Many developers offer home loans and EMI by themselves to make the process that much easier. When a buyer applies for a home loan, the housing finance company/bank/developer will go through various stats, readings and general information of the applicant.

CIBIL stands for Credit Information Bureau Limited, which is India’s first company of its kind.  It procures and updates information for banks and the like on a monthly basis in reference to an individual’s monetary records such as credit card usage and loans. CIBIL also provides a CIBIL TransUnion score that shows an applicant’s credit and financial health. This information is used by banks to create Credit Information Reports (CIR) which when combined with CIBIL TransUnion scores, aids in deciding whether the applicant should be given a loan or not. Therefore, it is very important to score well in the Credit Information Report and the CIBIL TransUnion score.

A low credit score (below 700) will mean your application is not even considered, while a high score above 700 will mean your loan is sanctioned. A good score will mean better interest rates and relative ease in all the bank related procedures. It makes it that much simpler to procure a housing loan. As a precaution, get a credit report done in advance. If it is low, there are various agencies that help you improve it. Since the credit score reflects on payments and data from the past, it is important to ensure that you pay your bills on time. If there was a genuine reason for defaulting on a payment, you can contact CIBIL and get a fresh report.

Easy Ways To Decorate Your Home

The interior of your house says a lot about you. But as we get busier, it gets increasingly tougher to set aside time for home improvement. But giving your house the makeover you have always wanted to does not necessarily involve a big budget or complicated skills. Here are some easy tips to spruce up your apartment that wont put a dent in your savings.

• Highlighting just one element can also change the entire look of your room. Paint one wall a bright colour that complements your colour scheme. Invite your family over and make a day out of it!
• Placing a string of lights, candles or lamps around a bed gives the room a lovely, warm feel.
• Photos are a great decorating tool. Make a memory wall by hanging up strings of twinkly lights interspaced with all your favourite photos.
• Another way to use photos to decorate is to paste them in the shape of a heart instead of hanging up separate photo frames.
• Using old glass containers to grow tiny plants or as flower vases give your house a rustic, homey feel.
• The mango season is gone, but the wooden boxes they come in still remain. Hammer a few nails in to attach two of them together and place them against a wall to make a quirky book or shoe rack. 
• Colourful cushions or throws in funky prints are a great way to add colour to your rooms without having to undertake a painting expedition.
• Throw away those air fresheners! Setting out bowls of potpourri is a safe, natural way to keep your home looking great and smelling fresh.
• Frame your children's drawings and paintings to create unique photo frames.

Remember, using your personal creativity will make your house look more special than any fancy interior decorator ever will! What are your favourite house decorating tips? Tell us in the comments!

Real Estate in Pune

Like most other Indian cities, InfrastructurePune is quickly developing at a very fast pace. The fact that it is still developing makes prices relatively reasonable compared to other large Indian cities. Most people look to invest in real estate as it is considered safe, valuable and capable of substantial returns. There has been a significant rise in recent years in the number of real estate development and construction companies, who have begun various new projects in and around the city. Investing in property in this growing city is bound to be rewarding, because of the pricing and the aforementioned developing stage of this part of the country.

The proximity to India’s financial capital Mumbai, along with the rise of the IT sector and the number of educational institutions has increased the value of real estate in Pune. In the last financial quarter, there has been a seven percent growth in the real estate market in this quickly developing city. It is thought to be one of the more popular investment choices within the country. The positioning of IT companies on the outskirts has caused widespread development of residential property in the surrounding areas.

The definite possibility of property rate appreciation is what drives many investors. Renting out a flat has never been easier with many takers in college students and newly employed workers in all sectors. Owning property in Pune has returns many times the investment, because of the demand for rental space, both residential and commercial.

Goel Ganga Group is one of the largest real estate development companies in India and particularly, Pune. With 35 years of experience in the field, this corporation has had a significant impact on real estate within the city and around it. Residential properties like the Ganga Glitz, Ganga Legend, Ganga Bhagyoday Towers,and Ganga Aashiyana have been positioned carefully and built with high quality materials. Investing in the structures made by this company is sure to bring you high rewards as well as financial security.

How Location Influences Real Estate Investment

Investing or buying real estate is not an easy task. There are numerous factors to keep in mind while trying to decide an ideal place to buy real estate. Price is obviously the number one factor but the next in line is- ‘Location’. Location is an extremely important determinant in choosing real estate.  Not just the neighbourhood but the services and amenities that would be available should also receive due consideration. These are the components that give true satisfaction once you are a resident of a particular area.

Educational facilities: Education is usually a big worry to parents and the moment they find a good school or college for their kids, it’s a big burden off their shoulders. Search for an area with renowned educational institutions that would guarantee your child a good education.

Community centre: Man is a social animal. Living in a society or complex, calls for a community centre where the residents can socialize or celebrate during festivals and events. 

Public transport: This is of prime importance especially when everyone is running around trying to get to their place of work on time. A plot which is close to the railway station or a bus stop is essential. An airport in your vicinity would be a plus point.

Health care facilities: Health is one of the most vital factors in today’s world. Clinics, hospitals and medical stores are indispensable and it would prove to be a boon if it were just around the corner.

Recreational facilities: We all long for a little peace and quiet away from our fast-paced world. After a long day at work, or an unpleasant day at school, a garden or park would be an ideal place to relax and take a break. Elderly people also enjoy passing their time at such places.

Restaurants/ Cafes: We all like hanging out with our friends at our favourite eateries and foodies love to gorge on their much-loved delicacies. A plot surrounded by restaurants and food joints makes the place even more desirable.

Proximity to city/ job: Travelling a long distance to your place of work daily can take a toll on you. Choose an area that is close to the city or your place of work is an additional blessing.

Local services: Facilities like groceries, shopping malls, police station or dentist may sometimes be taken for granted but it is better to cross-check and make sure that these services are easily available to you.

Sports facilities: All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Look out for an estate with sports facilities like a tennis court, a football field or a swimming pool. A fully- furnished gym would be a bonus for all those who like to work-out or for those waiting to get into shape.

Before buying, consider this!

Buying a new home or a plot of real estate is a big leap. It involves major thinking and taking this huge life changing decision can give you the jitters. But, when this huge leap is broken down into a number of simple steps, it makes the task much easier. As you proceed through this process you will grow confident that you have taken the right decision and are moving forward the right way.

Logical decision- Even if you may ‘feel’ like buying a new house when you are starting a family or trying to settle down, you must make sure it’s a logical, rational and well thought out decision keeping in mind financial factors and a long term plan for your life.

Get professional help- Since this is not your own field of expertise, find out and ask for realtors who have been in the business for a considerable amount of time and have gained repute and renown in their profession. They know the ins and outs about real estate with regard to pricing, marketing and would be able to negotiate on your behalf.

Check your account- Before you begin the actual house hunting, take a look at your account and get a guesstimate about how much you can spend and which mortgage or what loan you would afford. Consult a bank and keep in mind the loan that you would have to take.

Start scanning houses- You can now commence your house hunt. Keeping in mind your budget as well as arming yourself with a real estate agent is extremely wise and helpful. They can give you their professional opinion about houses with regard to multiple factors like location, budget, architecture, plumbing, electrical system, local facilities and amenities etc. The value of the house may keep changing but if it facilitates all your needs you are guaranteed a happy life.

Begin the funding- The cost of buying a house is much greater than the price of the house itself because it usually includes interest and taxes as well. Arm yourself with all the information needed to purchase the house you choose as well as keep the money ready according to the price of the house and the offer that you make.

Get insured- You wouldn’t buy a car without insurance, so do the same for your house. Get it insured so that you always have something to lean back onto incase of a disaster.

Buying real estate is not just an investment that gives good returns but it is also a source of support and assistance in your life.