Make Your Walls More Interesting (Part – 1)

Our ideas have kept flowing on how to make your home look elegant. As part of this effort we thought if we could discuss about walls while being built, can be made more attractive and after being built, how pretty they can be designed or painted. Keep your Chennai Flat promoters in loop before you ask for some structural changes in the wall during the building stage.

While Building the walls

1) In the living room select the wall that is going to be the highlight of the room. Ensure this wall is free from anything like an unplanned electrical fitting in the middle that hangs out, a concrete slab, any unwanted perforation in the wall etc. The wall can be either plastered or left unplastered. As we have seen in our earlier post on living room interiors, the unplastered living room highlight wall can be colored to give a rugged appearance.

2) Highlight walls can also be tiled with rugged stones or ethnic tiles to give an elegant look.

3) All electrical fittings should be properly concealed inside the wall and plastered.

4) In the Kitchen, ensure the walls are given perforation outlet for exhaust fans or exhaust pipes of electrical chimneys in the construction stage itself. These perforations can preferably be on to one side instead of occupying the middle section of the wall.

5) The wall area between the kitchen slab that houses the cooking range and the kitchen cabinet has to be preferably tiled with ceramic tiles.

6) The walls in the bathroom have to be given adequate perforation for fixing exhaust fans and are more often plastered with ceramic designer tiles. The wall area surrounding the wash basin also has to be tiled for rich look.

Decorating the walls

1) The highlight wall of the living room can be decorated by hanging some artworks. The artworks can be illuminated by light fixtures that are fixed on top. While selecting the artwork for the living space, one has to keep in mind the right size of it to ensure it goes well with the dimension of the highlight wall.

2) Any slab on the wall can be painted in matt white color for it to stand out elegantly. Placing ceramic wares as part of the interiors adds beauty to the wall. The ceramic ware with an indoor creeper plant adds a natural touch to the surrounding.

3) In the Kitchen stainless steel railings can be fixed in the walls to house extra cookery items.

4) In general, walls if plastered can be either painted with array of colors available in the market or can be fixed for wall papers. Wide varieties of wall papers are available.

 

Further Details: Apartments in Chennai 

 

 

 

 

 

Constructing your dream home at budget cost (Part-2)

In our last post we saw how we can reduce the cost of construction in building the basement and walls. In our second and final post, we shall discuss other general things we need to keep in mind while we try to reduce the cost while you construct your dream home.

Touch base with contractors: Contractors or maistries who can tell you approximately what the cost of your dream house would be. All you need to give them as input is the details like square foot area, what amenities you would like the house to have etc. Well experienced contractors, Chennai home builders also would get into the details of what materials / brands you would want to use thereby telling you the near cost of the entire finished structure.

Compare: The best way to go forward while calculating the cost is to study the market. Check what price a newly built individual house is being sold by Chennai home builders. The price of such example homes can give us an idea of what our dream home should ideally cost. By simply subtracting the land price, we can get the cost of the home. Now divide this amount with the built up area in square foot and we can arrive at per square foot cost.

Decide the features: One always has to remember the fact that addition of more features means addition of cost. Hence it is imperative that to have an inclusive cost equation, decide prior what features have to be present and what not given the budget constraints. If you love to have certain features done in a later stage but cannot now due to cost constraints, the ideal thing to do is to give provision to include the feature in a later stage.

Shape of your dream home: By and large if you keep the shape of the rooms in your dream home either rectangular or any box shape with not much angles, the cost works cheaper.

Change in Plans: Beware of change in plans as such changes whether they might be desirable or undesirable is sure to hike the cost. So before embarking on changing a set plan, think twice. If the change is inevitable and you are ok for the extra cost, you can go ahead with the change.

Fluctuating cost of certain materials: This certainly is a factor on which no one has any control. So check the inflation of the material cost and always give room for a reasonable price hike in the course of construction and include this speculative price rise in your budget. So in this way you are ready to face any price hike while the construction is on.

Further Details : Flat Builders in Chennai

Constructing your dream home at budget cost (Part-1)

When we decide to build our dream home, many a times we would want to get theconstruction done at budget rates. Sometimes we think we can handle the cost by simply going in for second quality construction items. But rather using bricks and sand that are available and produced nearer to your place can immensely contribute to lowering the cost.

Ways and means of reducing the construction cost:

The cost of construction can be because of two general factors viz., cost of constructionmaterials and cost of labor. By procuring construction materials produced nearer to theconstruction site, material cost can be reduced and by properly planning the construction / work schedule the labor cost can be significantly reduced.

An important point which most of us do not really think over is proper planning. Anyconstruction activity if properly planned can result in substantial cost saving. The more emphasis on beautifying the construction activity, the more is the spending. Rather if we can restrict ourselves to need based construction, cost can be controlled.

Laying the Basement: Laying concrete pillars that are 3-4 feet and 6 inches in thickness may cost 10-15% of the total construction cost. Instead laying a basement with gravel and red soil, and with granite stone basement that are 2 feet in depth can substantially reduce the cost. By using appropriate soil in the basement, cost can be reduced to a minimum of 15-20%. Concrete can be used around 6” and not more than that. This optimum usage of concrete results in substantial cost saving.

Building Wall: Instead of building wall that are 23 cm in width, 15 cm wall can be chosen. This gives twin benefits of not only reducing the cost but also can end up giving more floor space. Instead of traditional bricks, hollow bricks can be used. Aluminum panel windows with glasses can be used instead of wood which has become very costly these days due to non availability of wood.

Generally the outer wall should be built for 9 inches and the inner walls inside the home can be built not more than 4 inches. This thumb rule can result in lower cost. The bricks that are used for constructing need to be soaked in water for 24 hours.

This effectively reduces the need for more water used for curing the wall. In other words, only limited quantity of water is required for curing purpose. This measure not only reduced cost but also has a positive impact on the environment.

 

Home Loans & Mortgage Loans Better Understood (Part-2)

In our last post we discussed different terminologies and definitions that are used in Home Loans / Mortgage loans. In this post we shall discuss in details the different type of interest rates available with various financiers while they provide Home loans. Primarily there are two types of interest rates, one is the “floating rate” and the other is the “fixed rate”Floating Interest Rate

Floating interest rate, also known as “Variable Interest Rate” or “Adjustable Interest Rate” refers to any type of interest rate that is not fixed and keeps varying over its tenure typically using a base rate. In India the base rate is fixed by RBI and the general nomenclature for this is Prime Lending Rate or simply PLR. The actual floating rate of interest paid by borrowers is generally a margin rate added on to the PLR. Very rarely we come across situations where the floating rate is lesser than the base rate.

It is to be noted that Home loans / Mortgage loans in most countries are floating rate loans. In India very unfortunately borrowers predominantly do not understand the concept of floating rate and often mistake that the tenure of the loan is sacrosanct and that it does not change. This can be attributed to the fact that very few borrowers essentially understand the terms and conditions before they sigh the mortgage documents.

Typically, floating rate loans will cost less than fixed rate loans, depending in part on the yield curve. In return for paying a lower loan rate, the borrower takes the interest rate risk: the risk that rates will go up in future. In cases where the yield curve is inverted yield curve, the cost of borrowing at floating rates may actually be higher; in most cases, however, lenders require higher rates for longer-term fixed-rate loans, because they are bearing the interest rate risk.

Fixed Interest Rate

Fixed interest loans are interest rates that typically do not fluctuate at all over their tenure. The borrower in this case can know for sure what is their future payments as it is largely not changed. Generally fixed rates are higher than the floating rates and people generally do not prefer either due to ignorance about floating rate or due to the fact the floating rates are typically lower and can offer lesser EMI in the immediate time frame.

A fixed interest rate is based on the lender’s assumptions about the average discount rate over the fixed rate period. For example, when the discount rate is historically low, fixed rates are normally higher than variable rates because interest rates are more likely to rise during the fixed rate period. Conversely, when interest rates are historically high, lenders normally offer a discount to borrowers to fix their interest rate over time, as rates are more likely to fallduring the fixed rate period.

Further Details : Apartments for Sale in Chennai

 

Home Loans & Mortgage Loans Better Understood (Part-1)

In our first post on the above series, we shall be looking at Home Loans and Mortgage loans more from the Indian perspective, understand a bit of different interests rates available in the market and how banks service

Mortgage Loan – Definition

Mortgage loan generally refers to the loan secured by pledging an already existing home for financial needs. This definition is purely in Indian context. In India Home loans are for purchasing a new home where the disbursement of the loan amount is made in full by the financier / banks or for constructing new home where the disbursement is released in stages by the financier / banks vis-à-vis the progress made in the construction.

Typically in western countries Mortgage loan generally refers to all types of Home loans. According to Anglo-American property law, a mortgage occurs when an owner pledges his or her rights to the property, as a collateral to the loan.

As like any other loans, mortgage loans and / or home loans comes with interest rate and the payment is by generally EMI as per the amortization schedule spread over a repayment period ranging from 20 years to 30 years depending on the policies of the financier / bank that provides with the loan.

Now let us see some popular terminologies used in the financial circle when dealing with mortgage or home loans;

Property: The physical residence being financed in question here refers the property.

Borrower: The person borrowing the loan in exchange to mortgaging his / her interest on the property who in other words is either having or is creating an ownership interest in the property is called a Borrower.

Lender: Usually a bank or other financial institution qualifies to be called a Lender. Typically In India, lenders can also be individuals who lend money. In America, lenders may also be investors who own an interest in the mortgage through a mortgage-backed security. In such a situation, the initial lender is known as the mortgage originator, which then packages and sells the loan to investors. The payments from the borrower are thereafter collected by a loan servicer.

Principal: The original size of the loan, which may or may not include certain other cost refers to the Principal Amount. As and when principal amount is repaid in parts, the principal will go down in size and the loan interest is calculated for the remaining Principal amount only.

Interest: A financial charge for use of the lender’s money is referred as Interest. There are many different varieties of Interests employed by bankers. We shall discuss them elaborately in our next post.

Foreclosure or Repossession: The possibility that the lender has to foreclose, repossess or seize the property after paying the principal along with the applicable interest and other charges if any is essential to any mortgage loan.

Land Marvel Construct Athanthra

Land Marvel Construct Athanthra

The plot is located at Indira Nagar, adyar in South Chennaai in a calm and serene atmosphere, pollution free, shaded trees, cool and quiet. This project has basement, Ground + Two floors and completed in 2007.

 

Land Marvel Construct Sai Kripa

Land Marvel Construct Sai Kripa

 

The Plot area located at First Cross street, Indira Nagar, Adyar, Chennai – 600020. This Project has Stilt + Two floors located in a posh area well connected with all places and completed in 2007.

 

Land Marvel Construct Meena Marvel

Land Marvel Construct  Meena Marvel

 Located at IInd Cross street, Indira Nagar, Adyar, Chennai – 20 peaceful and calm area in south Chennai with access to all important places in Chennai, a residential multistoreyed building has Ground + Two floors and completed in 2007.

 

 

Land Marvel Construct Ecstasy

Land Marvel Construct Ecstasy

 

The site is located at 12^th Cross Street, Indira Nagar, Adyar, Chennai – 20 amidst residential complex, free from pollution with access to all important places including IT corridor and the Airport. This project has Stilt + Four floors and completed in 2006.

 

 

Land Marvel Construct Chetpet

Land Marvel Construct Chetpet

 

The site is located at Jaganathapuram, Chetpet, adjacent to chetpet railway station, Kilpauk Medical college and Hospital off the Bangalore Highway in West Chennai, having easy access to IT corridor, Airport, Colleges and other places in the city, Sterling Road, Haddows Road, College Road, Harrington Road, etc. This project has Ground, Mezzanine + First floor and completed in 2002.

 

Land Marvel Contsruct Purasai

Land Marvel Contsruct  Purasai

 Located at Padavattamman Koil street, Purasawakkam, Chennai in a thickly and dense populated area in West Chennai, well connected to all places in the city. This project has ground, Mezzanine + First floor and completed in 2002.

 

 

 

 

Land Marvel Construct Brindavan

Land Marvel Construct  Brindavan

 

Located at Moorthy street, West Mambalam, Chennai – 33 in an ideal and pollution free area in west Chennai, the area is surrounded by residential flats with easy access to all important places in the city. This project has Ground + Three floors and completed in 1998.

 

Land Marvel Construct Ashoka

Land Marvel Construct  Ashoka

 

This Project is located at 86^th Street, Ashok Nagar, Chennai – 600081. This is a TNHB complex with Ground + Three floors located in West Chennai having access to all places in the city and completed in 2001.

 

Land Marvel Construct Marutham

Land Marvel Construct Marutham

 

The project is located at Sadayappa Mudali street, Mandaveli, Chennai, in a thickly populated area in Mylapore near to kabaleeshwarar temple, This project has Ground + Three floors and completed in 2000.

 

 

Apartments for sale in chennai

In this post let us have a look at some of the ways in which the drainage is disposed in a more environmentally sound method. In this method, all a Chennai builder has to do is to construct septic tanks or leech pits in which the drainage system is drained. The excess water in the drainage is absorbed by the soil around. The water seeps through the soil slowly by which time the fine soil materials acts as a filter before the water percolates the ground water table. The solid waste is left behind to compost and in this process good garden manure is also left as a by-product.

A slight innovation in the above said method is the use of Eco-san toilets. In rural India, eco-san toilets are increasingly promoted by many NGO. But this system has not been introduced to the urban areas. Chennai builders can cash in on this lovely environmentally sustainable model of sewage disposal as this system does not require extensive pipes, drains or even water.

The common goal of any environmentally sound sewage disposal that needs to be taken note by any Chennai builder who wish to employ this method in their apartment complex and innovate are the systems needs to prevent infection thereby health conscious, it needs to protect the environment by not polluting and wasting water, the system needs to recycle back to the soil what has been taken. One another system is collection of grey-water which is the water collected from kitchen sinks, wash basins, bath tub etc. This grey-water collected is used for flushing toilets. In this ingenious but simple method more than 65% water can be saved. Builders in Chennai need to take note of the fact and can include this method as a USP in their upcoming projects. Raindrops Promoters, a renowned Chennai builder has taken a note of this point and may be employing this method in their upcoming projects.

Chennai builders can also contribute to creating a green future by constructing Flats in Chennai which lets out the collected grey-water in a small man made pond like structure near which a garden can be grown. This can enhance the greenery in the project area. Plants like Canna Indica (Kalvaazhai in Tamil), having the ability to absorb hard polluting elements in the waste, can be grown in the immediate vicinity of the grey-water mini-pond.