Prevention of Termites in your Home

Are you frustrated with your house being eaten away by termites?  If yes, then read further and get to know some interesting facts about these wood eating insects. Termites are nothing but wood destroying insects which will eat away your home and building. Usually termites are considered as white ants. But the truth is termites are nearer to the cockroach family.

Termites’ mainly feed on Wood.  Their food also includes wood products, grass, tree barks and any material containing cellulose. Termites need protein and carbohydrates in their food, and this is obviously provided by the decayed wood. Termites love to live in complete darkness and it is not easy to find termites and you may see them after most of the damages are done.

Termites are the biggest disaster for wood based buildings. Even People who do not live in wooden houses also face termites’ problem. Guess how. Since Termites are fond of Wood, they eat away the furniture at home. So, wherever we are, in whichever country we live, termite infestation is possible.

So how to prevent this termite infestation

• Keep your home under check.  Though we check our home for infestations, only a professional can give assurance. Every home and building needs a professional check for the infestations at least once in a year.
• Termites cannot live without moisture. Like other creatures, they depend on water for survival. So do not leave any sort of moisture in your building. The broken pipes and other moist areas provide them a perfect environment to grow.
• Ensure that the attic and other isolated areas are clean and dry without moisture. And good ventilation does not favor the termites easily.
• No more holes or cracks in the building. This provides them an easy way to enter the building and eat away your place. So, repair all the cracks and gaps in the building.
• Soil and wood are highly important for the termites for migrating into a building. Reduce the contact between soil and wood. No more old wooden logs in your garden and attic.
• Have some space between your garden and home. Thick bushes close to your house are easy targets for these creatures.

Signs of termites in your home

• When you tap the wood, if it sounds hollow, there is a possibility that the termites would have eaten away the wood from inside. The reason is usually termites prefer darker places which are not easily seen by us.
• Mud tubes on the wall and other surface, which is clearly seen by human. The purpose of these mud tubes is protection and also to maintain the temperature suitable for them.
• If a building is infested by termites, audible noise is can be heard particularly in the night time.  This is caused by the termites giving signal to the other termites in the colony
• Small big mounts can be found in many places like stairs, walls, windows and doors.

If you find any of the above symptoms in your place, it is high time to take the following steps.

• Contact a professional Pest Control Company who is licensed to do anti termite treatment.
• Get your house inspected for termite infestations with most modern equipments like Termatrac T3i.
• Adopt a warranted Termite treatment for your house/property if infested as a curative method and if not infested as a preventive method.

How to prevent mold in your home?

A mold is a kind of fungus in which the nature break organic matter down so new life can emerge. It can grow in any place such as on carpet, clothing, food, paper, backside of drywall, areas inside walls around leaking or condensing pipes, and above ceiling tiles. Moisture is the main reason behind the mold. It cannot be destroyed, but it can be prevented. Following are some of the ways in which mold can be prevented from growing in your home.

Prevent Moisture to Prevent Mold
Moisture is the main food for mold to grow. Therefore, always try to avoid moisture in your home.

Prevent Water Leaks to Prevent Mold
Many things of which water leakage is one of them that causes moisture in the home. Leaking roofs or walls, leaking pipes and leaking taps or a leaking shower lead to growth of mold in your home. So always, fix the leakages immediately to prevent the mold.

Prevent Condensation to Prevent Mold
You can prevent mold by preventing the formation of condensation on metal pipes, concrete walls, water tanks, and windows. When water vapor in the air-cools and becomes liquid, condensation is formed which causes moisture leading to mold. You can prevent the formation of condensation by keeping the rooms at warmer temperature or keeping the humidity low.

Prevent Mold by increasing airflow in your home
The one best way to prevent mold is to keep the humidity in rooms at lower levels. The humidity in rooms can be lowered through ventilation. When it is hot outside always open the windows, as the humidity will be lower outside. When it is raining always, close the windows to avoid formation of moisture in the rooms. Another way to reduce humidity especially in the kitchen and bathroom is to use exhaust fans.

Prevent Mold by drying your clothes
Another way to prevent the formation of mold is to dry your clothes immediately after washing it. Wet clothes will cause moisture if left for a long time. So always, dry your clothes outside on a clothesline or in clothes dryer inside your home. However, make sure that in either case the room where you are drying your clothes is well ventilated.

Prevent Mold by keeping mold off household plants
The household plants are beautiful and help to keep your indoor air clean. When you give water to the houseplants always try to add a bit of Taheebo tea, which is a medicinal tea with anti-fungal properties, to the water to prevent mold growth in the plant soil.

Thus, mold cannot be destroyed, but it can be prevented by the above-mentioned ways to some extend.

Solar Home Solutions

The ever increasing energy cost is pushing mankind in trouble. It is the time to go “Solar” and live a sustained life along with vast environmental benefits. Solar energy is massively distributed offering wide variety of solar solutions to small households to big industries. It offers state of art solutions which lower down electricity costs significantly.
Some solar solutions for homes are as follows:

Solar Water Heater

Solar water heaters are designed to use free and natural heat of sun to warm domestic hot water. Widely used in Australia, Austria, China, Cyprus, Greece, India, Israel, Japan and Turkey, the heating system involves mounting of a storage tank horizontally just above the solar collectors on the roof. In winters, a gas or electric booster is used to heat the water.Apart from commercial ones, one can also build solar water heating system at small scale level. In this regard, plans are available on the internet.

Benefits
Free and natural hot water
Big savings on energy costs
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Very low maintenance costs

Solar Power Generator

 

Solar powered backup system offers instant, free and continuous supply of electrical power. It can produce up to 1800 watts of household electricity on demand. The sunlight collector along with photo voltaic cell capture large quantity of sunlight which is transformed into electricity.

Benefits
Viable, portable and cheaper
Perfect back up solution in emergency
Maximum power in minimum time
Offer multiple uses
Does not require maintenance and fuel
No noise and fumes

Solar UPS

Available at nominal prices, Solar UPS is ideal for small offices and homes.The battery is charged by solar panels or AC electric connection. The system is available in wide range and can be designed as per customer requirement. It can also be used for PCs in Cyber cafe, computer labs in school, colleges, training institutes, cad centers, etc

Benefits
Economical and maintenance free
Offer multiple uses
Noiseless in operation

Solar Inverter

 

Solar inverter converts variable direct current from solar panel into alternating current. Sometimes batteries are also used. It is available in extensive range suitable for both both residential home to multi megawatt power plant.

Benefits
Saves time
Easy to install
Cost effective
Environment friendly

Roof-top Solar Power Plant

 

Rooftop solar power plants aims to meet the domestic needs of the individuals. It is generally preferred by people who have fear of huge bill i.e who often use air conditioners, water-heaters and washing machines and other home appliances. The photovoltaic cells of the panel convert solar energy into direct current. A battery back up can be connected to the system to supply power in night.

Benefits
Saves time
Easy to install
Cost effective
Environment friendly

Solar Lantern

Solar Lanterns have replaced kerosene lamps with LED or CFL. LED Lanterns are rechargeable and very affordable. While CFL lanterns have inbuilt mobile charge option and have long life.

Benefits
Durable and cost effective
Low maintenance cost
Good back up

Solar Reading Lamp

Solar Ready lamps are wirelss, easy to use and carry. It can be used for multiple purposes. It requires 8-10 hours for charging.

Benefits
Highly durable
Require less maintenance

Solar Toys

Solar games and solar powered educational toys use small solar panels. Such toys are cheaper and engage children in learning.

Benefits
Easy to use and reliable
Increase creativity of the kids
Ensure optimum performance
Solar solutions make life simple and cost effective. Being one of the most environmentally friendly electric generation resources, solar power has wide range of applications. It just require and initial investment which lasts for over 10 years.

FAQs about converting leasehold property to freehold property

The owner of leasehold property in India can enjoy the right to use the property up to a certain period of time but cannot enjoy undisputed, unrestricted and absolute right of the property. Following are some of the important factors or questions you should ask before opting between a leasehold property and a freehold property.

Difference between a Freehold property and a Lease hold property.

Any property is neither a freehold nor leasehold, it is the nature of the rights and authorities enjoyed by a person over a property which makes it freehold or leasehold.

When a person enjoys undisputed, unrestricted and absolute right, title and interest in a property and such right, title and interest in the said property is not time bound then the said property is classified as freehold property. The owner of such property can transfer, sell, gift, convey the same right, title and interest to anybody as and when he / she desires to do so. Not only the land but any construction / structure over the land or anything attached thereto is also the sole property of the owner of a freehold property. Such ownership rights over a freehold property can be enjoyed by the owner forever or till he / she willingly relinquishes his / her rights in favor of any other person. Such relinquishment of ownership rights, title and interest may be either against a valid consideration (Sale) or without any consideration (Gift).

When a person enjoying absolute ownership rights, title and interest over a property authorizes some other person to use and utilize the said property for a predetermined period and purpose against a valid consideration then the person to whom such right and authority is conferred is called “Lessee” and for him the said property is a “Leasehold” property. In this case the ownership rights remain with the original owner who is also called “Lessor”. The lessee acquires only the right to use and utilize the property for the term of the lease and for specified purpose only. So in leasehold property the ownership rights are with the “Lessor” not the “Lessee” and right to use the property is restricted up to a certain period of time (the lease term) and for specified purpose(s) only.

Leasehold vs Freehold property-What ownership one should go for?

Ownership can be of freehold property only. The leasehold is not at all ownership, it is only the right and authority to use and utilize the property for a certain predetermined period and purpose which expires with the expiry of the term of lease. So obviously, if one has the option to choose between two, then he/she should go for freehold property.

For a buyer of immovable property nothing can be better than buying a freehold property. Other types of properties such as Leasehold, mortgaged, under acquisition and / or requisition, charged, under litigation etc. require a lot of attention and formalities and are riddled with apprehensions and uncertainties. Whereas buying of freehold property is absolutely and literally free of all these hassles and the buyer is in a better position to realize his dream, purpose and goal of such investment. This is the reason why a freehold property commands a higher price than all other categories of property.

In case of a leasehold property the ownership is out of the question. It’s a temporary arrangement (unless it’s a Govt. property on long term lease such as 99 years lease) by which the lessee acquires right and authority to use the property for a predetermined and specified period and purpose against a valid and agreed consideration. The ownership remains with the original owner the “Lessor.”

Should you convert the leasehold property to freehold property?

If there is an opportunity certainly yes. Such conversion is possible by outright purchase of the leasehold property from the owner of the same, if he is willing to do so. The option to choose for conversion of a leasehold property to freehold property is with the lessee only because it is he / she for whom the property is leasehold property. For the owner (lessor) the same property is a freehold property which is leased out for a certain period of time and after expiry of the lease term the lessee vacates the same and the owner repossesses it. There is no change in ownership status for the “Lessor.”

From the foregoing, it is quite clear that the need and / or option for conversion are for the lessee only. In a leasehold property, there is a lot of restrictions applicable to the lessee regarding mode of use, period up to which it can be used, maintenance, timely payment of consideration etc. If the lessee can acquire ownership of that property then he / she breaks free of all these restrictions and can utilize the property in his / her own way and will. Therefore, it is always ideal to get the leasehold property converted into freehold at the possible earliest if circumstances permit to do so. However, the willingness of the owner (Lessor) is of paramount importance because until the owner is willing to sell the property the lessee cannot buy that, hence the conversion of a leasehold property to freehold property is the priority of the “Lessee” but dependent upon the “Lessor”.

When is the best time for the conversion?

It depends upon the need and financial capacity to purchase the leasehold property. It also depends upon the willingness of the owner to sell the said property. The need for conversion of a leasehold property to freehold property, which can be done by purchase only, is that of the lessee but the lessor must be willing to part with the said property in favor of the lessee against a valid and agreed consideration. Hence, when the lessee is prepared to purchase the leased property he should immediately approach the owner with offer to buy the property.

If the owner readily agrees it’s fine but if he is unwilling to sell the property or wants improvement in consideration or terms then the matter needs to be dealt with accordingly. In any case, persuasion will have to be continued till the owner is ready to sell. The earlier the better, to avoid any glitch in the materialization of the deal.

Best practice to prevent dengue in your apartment neighborhood

As the saying goes “Prevention is better than cure”, people living in apartments need to take some precautions to prevent dengue in their neighborhood. Dengue fever is a life threatening virus infection. The Aedes mosquito carries the dengue virus. These mosquitoes breed in stagnant water easily found in and near your house. To prevent dengue, it is important to first prevent breeding of these mosquitoes.

Here are a few guidelines to prevent these mosquitoes from breeding in your home and neighborhood:

How to prevent mosquitoes in your Home?

• Turn over all vessels, water containers, pails and cups and store them under cover.
• Change water in the vases every alternate day. While watering, add sand granular insecticides.
• Remove water from pot plates and keep them clean.
• Install anti-mosquito valves in gully trap. Cover gully traps which are rarely used.
• Clear leaves and stagnant water clogging the drains and gutters. Put insecticide in them at least once a month.
• Do not put any tray beneath or on top of any air-conditioning unit. Clear any stagnant water in the unit.
• Keep toilet bowls covered.

Preventing mosquitoes in your Neighborhood

Water stored in tanks should be chlorinated to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. The lid should be tight to prevent mosquitoes from entering in the tank.
Garbage and discarded items should be collected and disposed of regularly, as any water collected amidst garbage may lead to mosquito breeding.
Plant such trees in the premises that emits natural gases and components which mosquitoes despise like Neem. These plants are also have beneficial effect on the environment.
Sewage and drainage system must be properly covered all the time.
Fogging is also an effective technique to get rid of mosquitoes and prevent their breeding in your home and neighborhood.
If there is any regular stagnant water structure in your neighborhood like a fountain, add sand granular insecticide to all such structures regularly.
Spread awareness among all the residents regarding the risk factors and preventive measures to be taken in their house and compound.

Prevent Mosquito Bites:

Apart from these precautions, it is important to prevent Mosquito Bites:
Wear full sleeves clothes, socks etc. to prevent mosquito from biting.
Use mosquito repellent cream on exposed body parts.
Use mosquito coils, electronic mats and nets in your home to prevent mosquitoes from entering.

How to manage your waste at home?

 

Waste is constantly generated in apartments, complexes and buildings. Like cleaning and hoovering, putting trash out is also considered a chore in daily routine. However, people living in apartments are finding themselves with high level of trash, owing to the increase in whole range of wrappers of food, product packages, food waste and other materials which they want to get rid of.
Managing domestic waste has become a necessity. Methods for reducing waste, reusing waste and recycling and composting waste are best options for managing your home waste. Following are some steps for best management of your home waste.

Reduce Trash When You Shop

Reducing household waste is a difficult task but by paying a little attention you can reduce it to some extent:

• Check the amount of packaging on the products you are buying.
• Choose packages that are recyclable.
• Purchase large packs instead of multiple small packets and bottles.
• Cook more at home and consume less of bottled drinking water.

Segregation of Waste:

It is very important to segregate waste before disposing of it. Segregating waste reduces the waste you put out and makes it simpler to recycle and compost. Waste can be segregated as-

• Dry waste: keep separate plastic for dry waste like flowers, papers, plastic, glass and metal as they can be reused and recycled.
• Wet waste: wet waste like vegetables, kitchen waste, fruit peels, tea leaves, egg shells and fish scales etc. should be kept in separate plastic as they can be used as compost.
• Hazardous waste: Hazardous waste includes e-waste i.e. batteries, wires, electronic toys, remotes, bulbs, tube lights; toxic waste i.e paints, insecticides, their containers; and biomedical waste i.e expired medicines, tubes, used cosmetics, thermometer and used syringes. These should be disposed of daily.

 

 

Reduce the amount of waste you create

Reducing waste you throw away has a direct impact, apart from Segregation of waste following can also be done to reduce the amount of waste

• Repair the usable items instead of throwing them away.
• Don’t throw away the things you don’t want anymore. Give it to someone in need or sell it.
• Buy products that are durable and have long life and reduce turnover of clothes and other products.
• Avoid unnecessary purchases of products, clothes and other appliances.

Reusing The Reusable:

• Instead of throwing away everything, you should reuse whatever you can. You can reuse the following:
• Plastic and paper bags can be reused while shopping.
• Plastic bottles and containers can be reused in the kitchen.
• Papers can be used for making creative things.

Recycling And Composting:

Home composting is simple. Put all the wet waste kept separately in a compost bin and let nature take care of it. This compost can be used for your plants and garden to make them healthy. Also many farmers, farming companies and community gardens interested in organic compost, so compost waste can be sold to interested parties. Recyclable materials can be collected by the council or by private waste collection companies for their use. You just have to inform them about it.

Collective Efforts:

All the residents should take collective actions for reducing and managing the waste generated in their apartment. All residents should segregate their waste. There should be separate waste collection bins for different waste. There should be a common compost bin for all residents. The association should create awareness among residents regarding proper waste management.

5 Creative ways to make your small bathroom look bigger

Having a small bathroom can be a woeful experience. In this day and age of expensive real estate not many people can afford huge spacious bathrooms. The key is to maximize the bathroom space intelligently to offer better and more obstruction-free interior design. Here are five ways you can use to make your small bathroom look bigger and more intelligently designed.

Use Open Lower Section Cabinets: If you have a small bathroom, intelligent use of cabinets is the key to design it to offer optimum space maximization. Rather than having heavy two-shelved cabinets, it is recommended that you buy a single tall cabinet and optimize the empty space below for storage, laundry and other works. The advantage of higher cabinets is that the under sink area can be cleaned regularly offering a more hygienic and intelligently designed spacious bathroom.

Mix Glass Tiles with Bathroom Tiles: Using various glass tiles amid the regular bathroom tiles is one of the best ways to offer a spacious design for a small bathroom. Glass tiles can be used as a design to offer bathroom walls with a wonderful décor while simultaneously increasing the space perception in the bathroom. Glass tiles are available in various designs and colors and using them could be one of the best ways to offer space maximization without any major expenditure.

Use Pedestal Sink: The use of pedestal sinks can make even a small bathroom look highly elegant. In order to enhance the pedestal sinks, one can use a skylight that opens right above the pedestal sink making it a more prominent feature in the bathroom design.

Streamline Storage: Storage is one of the most challenging aspects especially for smaller bathroom. If storage is not done in a proper way, the bathroom can look like a clutter and too small for comfort. The best way to get the perfect storage solution for smaller bathrooms is to streamline the storage process. Using taller panels with more than one shelf can be used to stack various toiletries and other essentials. Locating the storage panels next to the walls makes the storage panels offer greater space efficiency.

Use Glass Door Instead of Shower Compartment: Shower compartments make the bathroom look smaller. Hence, using it in small bathrooms is not recommended at all. Even using a shower curtain may not necessarily offer an illusion of space maximization. The solution is to use a simple glass door for the shower area. The use of glass will add a beauty quotient in the bathroom space while offering more refraction of light, making the bathroom appear bigger and wider.

How to Prevent Termites in your House ?

Are you frustrated with your house being eaten away by termites?  If yes, then read further and get to know some interesting facts about these wood eating insects. Termites are nothing but wood destroying insects which will eat away your home and building. Usually termites are considered as white ants. But the truth is termites are nearer to the cockroach family.

Termites’ mainly feed on Wood.  Their food also includes wood products, grass, tree barks and any material containing cellulose. Termites need protein and carbohydrates in their food, and this is obviously provided by the decayed wood. Termites love to live in complete darkness and it is not easy to find termites and you may see them after most of the damages are done.

Termites are the biggest disaster for wood based buildings. Even People who do not live in wooden houses also face termites’ problem. Guess how. Since Termites are fond of Wood, they eat away the furniture at home. So, wherever we are, in whichever country we live, termite infestation is possible.

So how to prevent this termite infestation

• Keep your home under check.  Though we check our home for infestations, only a professional can give assurance. Every home and building needs a professional check for the infestations at least once in a year.
• Termites cannot live without moisture. Like other creatures, they depend on water for survival. So do not leave any sort of moisture in your building. The broken pipes and other moist areas provide them a perfect environment to grow.
• Ensure that the attic and other isolated areas are clean and dry without moisture. And good ventilation does not favor the termites easily.
• No more holes or cracks in the building. This provides them an easy way to enter the building and eat away your place. So, repair all the cracks and gaps in the building.
• Soil and wood are highly important for the termites for migrating into a building. Reduce the contact between soil and wood. No more old wooden logs in your garden and attic.
• Have some space between your garden and home. Thick bushes close to your house are easy targets for these creatures.

Signs of termites in your home

• When you tap the wood, if it sounds hollow, there is a possibility that the termites would have eaten away the wood from inside. The reason is usually termites prefer darker places which are not easily seen by us.
• Mud tubes on the wall and other surface, which is clearly seen by human. The purpose of these mud tubes is protection and also to maintain the temperature suitable for them.
• If a building is infested by termites, audible noise is can be heard particularly in the night time.  This is caused by the termites giving signal to the other termites in the colony
• Small big mounts can be found in many places like stairs, walls, windows and doors.

If you find any of the above symptoms in your place, it is high time to take the following steps.

• Contact a professional Pest Control Company who is licensed to do anti termite treatment.
• Get your house inspected for termite infestations with most modern equipments like Termatrac T3i.
• Adopt a warranted Termite treatment for your house/property if infested as a curative method and if not infested as a preventive method.

Rainwater Harvesting-Do it yourself

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is the act of capturing rainwater and either storing it for use or recharging it into the ground. In Apartments, water from clean catchments (roof) can be routed properly through suitable conduits into a filter. Filtered water can be stored in storage structures for subsequent use. Surface run off can be used to recharge the ground water. This is achieved by recharge wells and/or direct tube-well recharge. The following strategy has been found most suitable for rainwater harvesting implementation.

• Storage of rainwater for direct use: Priority is given to capture as much of the run-off rainwater in storage such as sumps, on-ground tanks or tanks on terraces at intermediate levels (e.g.: sit outs / balconies). However for such a strategy, the run-off only from clean areas can be tapped. It is important that these catchment areas be free from any form of chemical or other toxic contamination and dust content is as low as possible. Typically roof areas qualify well for such a strategy. The water from this run-off is first rain separated, filtered and then let into the storage. The water can be used for all household purposes such as bathing, washing, cleaning, gardening etc directly and can even be used for potable purposes if subsequently it is passed through filters to deal with bacteriological contamination (E.g.: aquaguard filters, boiling etc).

• Groundwater recharge: Excess run-off from above mentioned clean surfaces, run-off from other surfaces such as roads, garden area etc can then is redirected for groundwater recharge. The most effective recharge structure has been found to be a recharge well whose depth is a minimum of around 20 feet. These recharge wells recharge the shallow aquifer. Water needs to be distilled adequately before allowing the water into recharge wells. The location of the recharge wells need to be chosen strategically – both where significant run-off water passes through the recharge well location and which is close to existing bore wells. Recharge wells, over time will help replenish groundwater. If the ground water table rises above the bottom of the recharge well, the recharge well can be used as a withdrawal well. The diagram below illustrates the principle of recharge.

Components of Rainwater Harvesting

1. Conduit/ Pipes
2. Filtration
3. Storage Structures
4. Recharge Structures

• Conduit/ Pipes: Rainwater pipes/conduits carry water from the roof top to the ground. These pipes have to be connected and drawn to the required location by providing sufficient slope so that the water flows with gravity and no water is stored in the pipes after rain stops. The pipes can also be laid underground but sufficient care has to be taken in order to avoid damage to the pipe because of the vehicular movement. The cost of piping depends on various factors like quality of pipe and length of piping works to be done and many other site conditions.

• Filtration: Rainwater has to be filtered for silt and suspended impurities before allowing into any of the storage structures in order to store it for a longer time. Some of the filtration methods can be implemented.

1. First rain separator: It is a mechanism where in first few minutes of rain which carries most of the impurities from the roof are not allowed to pass into the filter or storage structures. It reduces the amount of silt / debris flowing into the filter or storage structures. This in turn reduces maintenance of filter and cleaning of the storage structure.
2. Filter: Rainwater from the roof carries dust and suspended particles from the roof top. These impurities have to be filtered before allowing the water for storage. This can be achieved by passing the rain water through a chamber having layers of graded aggregates and a layer of charcoal. The suspended particles get trapped in the aggregate bed and charcoal adsorbs gases and odor if any. Filter also reduces the velocity of water and hence helps in sedimentation of fine particles in the filter.
3. Underground / Subsurface Filters: In case it is not possible to provide filters over the ground, underground filters can be constructed. The principle of filtration remains the same but the filter will have 2 chambers with the filter media and the water flows through the filter media and moves to the second chamber through the underground pipe.

• Storage Structures: Rainwater can also be stored in HDPE tanks for secondary uses. This procedure involves construction of a small pedestal and placing the HDPE Tank on the Pedestal and connecting the rainwater pipe to the Tank after First rain Separation unit. The water stored in the rain barrel can only be used for non potable purposes like gardening, car washing etc. Proper overflow pipe should be provided in order to avoid water logging near the rain barrel.

• Recharge Structures: Ground water can be recharged using recharge wells. Ground water recharge helps in reviving the underground water level and can act as an additional source of water if recharged consistently. Recharge wells are constructed by digging the earth, placing concrete rings and packing the outer space of the ring using boulders.

Major Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting

• A well planned RWH system can reduce up to 30% of the water requirement from other conventional sources like bore well or municipal supply.

• Rainwater Harvesting provides reliable supply of water in rainy season.

• Can be a major source of drinking water if the other available sources of water are not fit for drinking.

• Reduces the electrical power consumption as pumping water from deeper bore wells is reduced.

• Reduces the consumption of municipal water hence reduces the stress on centralized water supply board.

• Reduces chocking or flooding of the storm water drains as most of the water is captured at the household level.

• Replenishes the groundwater and secures the availability of water for dry seasons.

This article is contributed by “Mr. Kiram Rao, From Hinren Technologies Pvt Ltd“. Thanks to Mr. Kiram Rao & Hinren Technologies for contributing this article to Mahalwalas Realty

How to identify the right property market?

Although the Indian Real Estate market is skyrocketing; constant fluctuations in property prices seem to be inevitable. The value of property in India has grown three folds as compared to yester years. Perhaps it so happens that most of the buyers are ignorant of the actual market value of a property and are compelled to go ahead with the prevailing market prices.

It is important that an investor considers buying a property at an appropriate price; be it an investment or a long term plan. However, in order to do this, an investor has to be aware of the prevailing present market condition, the market before and the future forecast.

How can a buyer keep track of the prevailing market conditions?

The key market triggers to keep in mind are:

- The prevailing infrastructural readiness

- The set timelines for the infrastructure projects

- The demand growth for the commercial/residential space in realty market

- The prevailing price trends and the development of the social infrastructure

Which are the prevailing top cities for investment?

With the current market trends in effect, the following cities are appropriate for commercial/residential investment.

- Bangalore

- Hyderabad

- Noida

- Navi Mumbai

- Chennai

- Pune

The factors responsible for the growth in these cities have been quite visible and the current commercial real estate trend has been reflecting the expansion and growth of the commercial units.

Cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Bangalore have been witnessing a great demand in Grade A commercial spaces wherein the demand has been exceeding the supply schedule of the near and long-term future. 

Other cities like Noida and Navi Mumbai have market drivers above the job creation at play which is the advanced infrastructure and affordability. These cities are also witnessing an investor demand from other cities like Delhi and Mumbai with affordability being the key driving factor for investors. There are also increased chances of investment potential in areas like Kharghar, Kalamboli and Ulwe with Noida Expressway and Noida extension in Noida.

The coming years will see an increased demand for residential properties due to the massive job creation. Job creation has always been a key trigger for increased residential property demand. The core buyers of residential apartments are the employees from the IT/ITES and BFSI industries.

Talking about the present absorption of the residential apartments in cities like Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai, there has been a great demand from the IT/ITES and the BFSI employees.

With an easy access to the mortgages and a desire to own an independent home, the residential realty market has been witnessing a great change. Apartments being the need of hour are offered by developers within a price range of Rs. 40 lakh-1 crore.

Henceforth, a property buyer should be aware of the prevailing market dynamics, rate of supply of the residential stock, the price trends and the rental yields. The perfect period over which one should invest is over 4-5 years as this sort of an investment will avoid risks and fetches greater property appreciations despite the short-to-medium term market situations.

How to prevent cockroaches entering your home?

Cockroaches are one of the oldest and dangerous pest insects that are found in almost warm humid areas. They crawl over all over the dirtiest places carrying gems with them, which makes you sick. These pest insects reproduce faster than any other reproduces and are very good at hiding. These insects can enter into building in many ways through groceries, on our clothes, cardboard boxes, doors, cracks, holes, windows etc. This pest insect feed on human food and leave “scent trails” to attract others cockroaches. Therefore, it is very important to maintain cleanliness regularly to prevent cockroaches from entering or re-entering your house. Following are some of the basic home tips that can be followed to avoid these pests entering into the house.

• Always keep food material in an airtight container as any open lying food can easily attract cockroaches.
• Always keep all the shelves, drawers, and cabinets in your house painted and clean, as unclean places or cabinets are the favorite places for pests and cockroaches.
• Use tightly covered containers for garbage and always place them outside.
• Always clean the stovetop, tables, cabinets, drawers, plates etc.
• Always avoid keeping unwanted and unused clothes or furniture pieces at home.
• Avoid keeping utensils in the kitchen sink overnight. If possible, wash or rinse them right away before going to bed.
• Always clean and cover tightly the drains in kitchen sinks and bathroom.
• Always add phenoyl to water before swabbing the floor, as it will help to avoid pest like cockroaches, mosquitoes, and housefly.
• Immediately seal off any cracks in the bathroom pipes.
• Always wipe and clean your house, specially the corners of every room and spills immediately
• Discard old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard as this is one of the hiding places for cockroaches.
• Fix peeling wallpaper.
• Always clean the boxes and containers in your house and keep them free of dirt.

You can also use some non-toxic natural ways to prevent the cockroaches or kill them. Some of them are as follows:

• Mix baking soda with sugar in the same ratio and place water in a bottle cap near to the mixture, which gives out cockroach gas that will kill them by bursting their stomachs.
• Keep lemon grass in all your cupboards and self as these insects do not like its smell.
• Keeping bay leaves in cupboards and self will also keep cockroaches away.
• Another way is to make small pellets by mixing boric acid with flour and sugar along with water and placing them near the places where cockroaches are sighted. The boric acid is considered as a best way to kill cockroaches as they attack the nervous system of the insects and make them paralys by burning them inside like an acid. This method is also safe as this is a non- toxic natural ways, which is safe near food and food preparation area.

Always keep in mind that these insects are attracted towards three things namely; darkness, water and food. So always, color light paint in the kitchen cabinets to remove darkness, clear all water spot areas, and keep foods in airtight containers. When these three things are removed, you will automatically get rid off these insects visiting your house.

Reverse Mortgage: A new concept in Indian real estate

What is reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage is opposite of a home loan and is available to the senior citizens. In home loan or any typical mortgage, one borrows money and then pays it back over a period in the form of Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs). While in reverse mortgage, the owner of the house gets the money from the financier on their home. It is important that the home on which the senior citizens are looking forward to get the reverse mortgage should be in their own name and has no existing loan on their home. In this process, one gets a series of cash flow for a fixed tenure from the bank, this can also be thought of as reverse EMI’s.

All the senior citizens above the age of 62 years can go for the reverse mortgage on their property for tenure of 15 years. After 15 years, the money will stop coming but the owner of the house and their spouse can continue to keep living in the house until their death without paying a single penny as rent.

In case the old couple thinks of moving out of the property or after their death, the home serves as security against the money, the home is supposed to be sold in order to pay back the mortgage.  In some cases, the heirs of the owner have the option of retaining the property by paying back the loan amount.

 

The benefit of Reverse Mortgage:

For the people who have born in 1940’s and 1950’s, they have spent their lifetime saving in buying a home. The value of their property has appreciated but, at this stage of their life, they have no liquidity as all their money is locked up in a non-liquid asset.

According to a survey, an urban male in India lives to the age of 82. In general, the retirement age in India is 58. So, one typically lives 24 years after the retirement. With rising inflation, it becomes difficult to get required funds at this stage of life. Considering this the concept of reverse mortgage has the potential to meet the need of funds of the senior citizens in India.

The draft guidelines of reverse mortgage in India prepared by RBI have the following salient features:

• Any house owner over 60 years of age is eligible for a reverse mortgage.
• The maximum loan is up to 60% of the value of residential property.
• The maximum period of property mortgage is 15 years with a bank or HFC.
• The borrower can opt for a monthly, quarterly, annual or lump sum payments at any point, as per his discretion.
• The revaluation of the property has to be undertaken by the Bank or HFC once every 5 years.
• The amount received through reverse mortgage is considered as loan and not income; hence, the same will not attract any tax liability.
• Reverse mortgage rates can be fixed or floating and hence will vary according to market conditions depending on the interest rate regime chosen by the borrower.

All about Rain Water Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is the act of capturing rainwater and either storing it for use or recharging it into the ground. In Apartments, water from clean catchments (roof) can be routed properly through suitable conduits into a filter. Filtered water can be stored in storage structures for subsequent use.

 

Surface run off can be used to recharge the ground water. This is achieved by recharge wells and/or direct tube-well recharge. Following are important Components of Rainwater Harvesting system.

1. Conduit / Pipes
2. Filtration
3. Storage Structures
4. Recharge Structures

Conduits/Pipes

Rainwater pipes/conduits carry water from the roof top to the ground. These pipes have to be connected and drawn to the required location by providing sufficient slope so that the water flows with gravity and no water is stored in the pipes after rain stops. The pipes can also be laid underground but sufficient care has to be taken in order to avoid damage to the pipe because of the vehicular movement. The cost of piping depends on various factors like quality of pipe and length of piping works to be done and many other site conditions.

Filtration

Rainwater has to be filtered for silt and suspended impurities before allowing into any of the storage structures in order to store it for a longer time.
Below are some of the filtration methods which can be implemented.

• First Rain Separator: First rain separator is a mechanism where in first few minutes of rain which carries most of the impurities from the roof are not allowed to pass into the filter or storage structures. First rain separators play a major role in rainwater harvesting structures by reducing the amount of silt / debris flowing into the filter or storage structures. This in turn reduces maintenance of filter and cleaning of the storage structure. First rain separators can also act as bypass arrangement if the rain water is not to be collected.

Design: Provide a capacity of 0.2 to 0.3 Litres per square meter of the roof area in case the roof is maintained clean.

• First Rain separator by using Y Joints in the Conduit: This can be designed by providing a Y joint for the rainwater pipes at about 8 – 10 feet height and closing the end of the down flow pipe using and threaded end cap. The Other end of the Y joint can be connected to the Filter or storage Structure. First few minutes of rain collects in the pipe till the water level rises to the Y joint level once the water starts flowing to the filter or storage structure. The silt and dirt in the water collects at the bottom of the pipe which has to be cleaned by opening the end cap at least once in a week. A drain hole has to be provided on the cap which ensures that the pipe gets emptied after every rain.

• Filter: Rainwater from the roof carries dust and suspended particles from the roof top. These impurities have to be filtered before allowing the water for storage. This can be achieved by passing the rain water through a chamber having layers of graded aggregates and a layer of charcoal. The suspended particles get trapped in the aggregate bed and charcoal adsorbs gases and odour if any. Filter also reduces the velocity of water and hence helps in sedimentation of fine particles in the filter.

Design: The size of the filter depends on the roof area and the cleanliness of the roof. The filter can be designed to a capacity of 0.5 to 0.8 Liters per square meter of the roof area.

Typical filter constructed at site

 

• Underground / Subsurface Filters: In case it is not possible to provide filters over the ground, underground filters can be constructed. The principle of filtration remains the same but the filter will have 2 chambers. The water flows through the filter media and moves to the second chamber through the underground pipe.

Typical Subsurface filter installed at site

Storage Structures

There are various options available for the construction of these tanks with respect to the shape, size and the material of construction.
Design of Underground Sump: If a new underground sump has to be constructed for the above capacity the size of the sump would be 1.5 M x 1.5 M x 1.2 M or 4 feet x 5 feet x 5 feet (Every Cubic feet holds approximately 28 Ltrs of water). Underground sumps up to 20,000 Litres can be constructed of brick or solid concrete masonry. If the required volume is higher the sump must be constructed of RCC with proper design.

Note: In most cases additional infrastructure like Sumps or recharge wells may not be required. Existing tanks can easily be used to store rainwater.

• Cost of Construction of a New Sump: A new underground sump constructed out of brick masonry will cost approximately Rs. 11 per liter and RCC sump costs approximately Rs. 14 per liter. For the given tank capacity, the cost of construction in Brick Masonry will be 2700 x 11 = Rs. 29,700.

The cost of Construction in RCC would be 2700 x 14 = Rs. 37,800

• Storage in Rain Barrels: Rainwater can also be stored in HDPE tanks for secondary uses. This procedure involves construction of a small pedestal and placing the HDPE Tank on the Pedestal and connecting the rainwater pipe to the Tank after First rain Separation unit. The water stored in the rain barrel can only be used for non potable purposes like gardening, car washing etc… Proper overflow pipe should be provided in order to avoid water logging near the rain barrel.

Typical Rain barrel installed at site

Approximate Cost of Rain barrel Installation

Recharge Structures

Ground water can be recharged using recharge wells. Ground water recharge helps in reviving the underground water level and can act as an additional source of water if recharged consistently.

• Recharge well: Recharge wells are constructed by digging the earth, placing concrete rings and packing the outer space of the ring using boulders.

Recharge Wells constructed at site

Below table can guide you to decide on the size and depth of the recharge well for the required capacity.


Note: The Cost mentioned is approximate and varies on many factors like the soil condition, ground water level, presence of rocks etc.

This article is contributed by “Mr. Kiram Rao, From Hinren Technologies Pvt Ltd“. Thanks to Mr. Kiram Rao & Hinren Technologies for contributing this article to Mahalwalas Realty

Vastu for Dining Room

The Dining room is one of the most important areas of any house acting as a transit point of various energy sources. While making your house Vastu compliant, it is very important to consider the dining areas, as this area is a key activity area of all homes, especially, as a gathering place where the entire family sits together. There should be ample positive energy flowing through this space to keep high positive energy levels for the residents.

Direction: The west direction is the most ideally suited for a dining room or dining hall. While direction plays a significant role in determining the overall impact of the positive energies prevalent in the dining areas, spaces of the dining area must be vastu complaint to achieve a harmonious atmosphere perfect for meals for the entire family.

Seating: The seating arrangement around a dining table is of paramount importance. East is designated as the preferred location for the head of the family. While other members of the family can be seated facing north, west or eastern directions, the head of the family must always be seated facing the eastern side. The southern side is considered to be a negative direction and must be avoided to avoid unnecessary conflicts and bad digestion.

Number of Chairs: The number of dining chairs must also be an even number. In any chair is broken or missing, it is advised to get it replaced as soon as possible. Having an odd set of chairs around the dining room leads to conflicts and fights between the family members.

Shape of the Table: The shape of the dining table plays a significant role in enhancing the flow of positivity in the area. According to vastu principles, a dining table must be either square or rectangular in shape and must always be placed at a distance from the wall from any of its edges.

Color Combination: The color combination of the furniture and walls of the dining area needs to be in harmony to offer perfect energy balance. Colors of light green, orange, pink and pastel shades are recommended in the dining room walls. Pure white or black colors are best avoided as they can bring a set of unilateral energy in the household.

Others: As an important recommendation, the entrance door of the dining room must not be exactly opposite of pooja room and toilet. The placement of nice and soothing paintings and portraits along the walls of the dining room create an atmosphere of harmony amongst the family members. Avoid placing pictures with negative emotions or distraught in the dining room area.

Keeping all these Vastu factors apart, a warm painting, ample lighting and free flow of air inside the dining room enhances the positive energy of the spaces and makes the time spent there more appealing.