MACJ-ABCHI, Author at Professional Home Inspection, India

UP RERA clear major backlogs through virtual hearings this year, despite the Covid-19 times

December 21, 2020

UP-RERA clears backlog by hearing over 24,000 cases online

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP-Rera) has been able to clear major backlogs through virtual hearings this year, despite the Covid-19 lockdown.

Of the 30,956 complaints registered so far, the regulator has already heard 24,026 cases till December 15. And of these, some 5,115 complaints were filed by buyers in Gautam Budh Nagar in 2020 and 1,454 have been disposed of this year itself. The new year is supposed to start with 6,930 pending cases to be heard from previous applications, officials said.

In fact, UP-Rera started hearing cases from September 4, 2018. At the end of that year, the regulator had registered 9,601 cases and disposed of 7,089 in 2019.

In 2019, the numbers increased exponentially. By mid-December 2019, UP-Rera had 21,848 total registered cases and had disposed of 14,876 cases. The regulator opened 2020 with 6,972 pending cases.

The Greater Noida office of the regulator formally started their online hearing process from May 18. “Since May 18, we have conducted hundreds of hearings online. Virtual hearings helped us speed our work and we have received positive feedback from applicants.,” Balvinder Kumar, member, UP-Rera, told TOI.

Source: https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/up-rera-clears-backlog-by-hearing-over-24000-cases-online/79790305

Looking for a permanent solution to issues like leakage, dampness, electrical faults in your home/property - Opt for Home inspection services.

December 19, 2020

Solution to Property Defects in India – Home Inspection Services

It is a monumental task to have a home in India. To maintain one is even more cumbersome. The quality of home that one has is often subject to wear and tear. The quality of materials, in a old property, will obviously be worse for the effects of time on it. In fact, some properties have hidden construction-stage issues that tend to surface later appearing as new problems. How to deal with them?

A) While buying a new house, get it checked by the professionals.

B) If you are living in a house for years, get it checked by the professionals!

Yes, there cannot be any other way to assure the quality of a home. Home inspection services are now a reality in India. You must avail of them to put an end to your home quality-related worries.

Home Inspectors perform the much-needed in-depth inspection of the places where one lives or works.

No Short Cut Please!

It is harder done than said. The idea of ‘jugaad’ is so popular that one avoids doing the necessary thing for one’s home also. One likes to save money & effort; and feel like resorting to conventional, low-cost or obvious solutions. For example, if the paint is seen peeling off the wall, instead of checking why it is happening, one tends to put fresh paint on that area only or go for a wallpaper. Worse, damp is seen in the ceiling of the ground floor; one simply puts white cement on the floor-wall joints of the bathroom/toilet on the first floor. These solutions only delay the inevitable and are superficial to the point that they are misleading.

If periodical maintenance or health check-up of any property is not carried out or problems are overlooked, then deterioration will occur and the issues will spread. It will adversely affect both the human health and property life. Taking care of the elements of any property will not only ensure smooth functioning but will also provide these elements a longer and healthy life.

A home/property is a sum of all elements that are part of it. However, there is a tendency to ignore the unit in totality and think of each defective element as a separate thing that in turn will solve the entire issue of property maintenance. In the long term, it will be nothing but one Band-Aid to a body suffering numerous blows. The body needs more than random single-use fix-ups.

Home Inspectors perform the much-needed in-depth inspection of the places where one lives or works. Sometimes, as in the case of a pandemic, both work and home merge into one place. The need to improve the quality of the home increases, as audio-visual representations (prepared for work) from home, get shared more in professional and personal contexts.

What is covered under a Home Inspection?

What all come under the purview of Home Inspection?

A home inspection is characterised by the following main features:

Examining basic elements like the type of material used in walls, floor, ceiling, staircase, etc
Assessing the current condition of the property
Analysing the safety of the elements that one has to deal with on a daily basis
Finding the source of an existing problem
Suggesting long term solutions to eliminate the problems that have arisen or may arise

Different types of properties inspected by MACJ - Home inspection company.

The types of properties inspected are:

New, Existing, Old, Heritage
Home
Big Residential Projects
Commercial:
- Offices
- Schools
- Hospitals and other healthcare buildings
- Shopping malls and multiplexes
- Standalone retail stores
- Factories
- Warehouses, etc etc

The Inspection typically involves non-invasive, visual examination of all accessible areas of the property.

Inspection typically involves non-invasive, visual examination of all accessible areas including:

The rooms – living and dining room, bedroom, study room, storeroom
Kitchen, Bathroom/toilet
Attached areas e.g., Balcony, roof, lobby
Attached structures – stairs, steps, handrails, ramp etc
Elements in each area – floor, ceiling, walls, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical
Add-on components – cabinets, counters, furniture pieces, faucets, sinks and basins, etc

In a nutshell, home inspection represented a complete value-chain with full integration.

One often forgets or rather takes for granted how many elements there are in each room and how interconnected they are. Home inspectors with their advanced tools provide the big picture of what is happening. More pressingly, how well the future would play out. The walls have to bear the load of the house – literally. It is not a question of just looking good, but also how durable it is for future generations. Otherwise, your home will start ageing fast and become uninhabitable within a few years.

So you should use the home inspection services to put your doubts at rest. How your house or office should be from a utilitarian angle should be left to the professionals. They have the technology, experience, tools and solutions and also the know-how to use them.

Benefits & advantages of opting for Home Inspection Services.

Benefits of Home Inspection

Numerous – one being assessing the durability of the property components, as already stated above. Besides, other advantages of opting for home inspection services are:

Minimizing risks of accidents which may cause due to electrical or construction defects in the building
Getting freedom from dampness and gifting your family a microbe-free environment
Increasing the life of your beloved home
A pre-handover inspection while buying a property ensures your investment is worth it
Getting a realistic idea of the value of the property before selling
Finding salient and hidden defects of the home saves you from future repair and maintenance cost

And this is just a macro view. You really have to look at ‘home inspection’ as a service from different angles – a homeowner, a commercial property owner, a person buying a new house, a person intending to sell his old house, a person willing to renovate a heritage property, a builder/developer, an interior designer, a realtor and so on – to understand its scope and varied advantages. It is, in the true sense, a boon of a concept in the world of real estate.

You cannot keep on neglecting where you spend so much time and moreover where your name is attached. Having a home inspection might be inconvenient for that one day where you would have to be around when the inspector comes. It would surely save you a lot of potential losses and harassment in the future.

We often think that buying anything that looks shiny from outside or selling something that is defective is effective problem-solving. But this kind of approach is piecemeal and not holistic. We need to acknowledge the basic nature of our house and how much can it take in. A home inspection will be the means of getting that message across. You do not need to fret needlessly or be confused about the resources at hand.

Home Inspection Services is a Sunshine Industry which has a solution for Property Quality Issues.

Home Inspection Services in India: A Sunshine Industry Putting an End To Property Quality Issues

It is an exciting new phase in India’s real estate history. Home inspection as an industry has come and is growing, and how! Outside India, it is already an established industry. There are professional home inspection services in most of the major locations of the country. They ensure that you have a comprehensive health check-up for your home and still do not have to pay through your nose. After all, with the hard-earned money, no one wants to fall trap to the ‘penny-wise pound-foolish malady.’

Know about the major factors that are driving the growth of Home Inspection in India.

What are the major factors that are driving the growth of Home Inspection in India?

a. Changing homebuyer sentiment

Today’s home buyers are a much aware lot than before. They want to be doubly assured of the quality of the home/property they are putting their money in – whether it is a gadget or a property. Moreover, with the real estate prices escalating they want to protect what they already have in their hand. With this, awareness regarding healthy living is also increasing. People prefer to buy and live in a house that will nurture their health and not ruin it over the years. For that, they are not shying away from paying some extra money for a service that has long-term value.

b. Launch of the Real Estate Regulation & Development Act (RERA, India), 2016¹

This milestone Act provides for a five years free-of-cost guarantee from structural / workmanship defect or any other quality or provision of services or any other obligations of promoter as per the agreement for sale from the date of handing over possession. It shall be the duty of promoter to rectify such defects without further charge. In the event of promoter’s failure to rectify such defects within such time, the aggrieved allottees shall be entitled to receive appropriate compensation in the manner as provided under this Act.

The Government of India² has been serious about implementing this Act³ to the best of interest of the consumers, that is, the homebuyers. It is applicable PAN – India.

c. Real Estate Developers have also come to realise the important of a construction phase / pre-delivery check-up / inspection of the properties they are building. Senior management cannot always monitor construction & quality. Third party Home / Property Inspection Services ensures reduced dependency on contractors / floor managers, workers, assures quality and adds value to their project and credibility. Leading developers of metro cities have now started using the services of home inspectors / third party property auditors for the residential projects they are developing. India largest online property advisory services company MagicBricks.com has tied up with leading home inspection companies of India and started offering Home / Property Inspection Services under their platform – https://www.magicbricks.com/propertyservices/property-inspection-services⁴

d. Incorporation of the Home Inspection Association of India

The founder members of the leading names in the home inspection industry such as MACJ – A Buyers Choice Home Inspections, E-Ghar, Checkmyprop, HomeInspektor, Meazurement, etc came forward to form this association⁵ with the objective to have a common platform of growth, development and regulation of this new industry in India. They are also in touch with various RERA / Government authorities to enable incorporating third party inspection services under the RERA.

Home Inspection with a gamut of employment opportunities is here to stay and flourish. You may be unsure about opting for this new service now. This is a common tendency of any market towards any new service or product. But trust us, it already is a multi-billion US Dollars established industry in the USA, it will only spell benefits for your property. Most of us are unaware of the qualities that our home is endowed with. With the help of a professional home inspection team, unleash these qualities, say goodbye to problems like seepage/leakage, damp, improper earthing, etc and enhance the health and safety of your home manifold.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.zricks.com/Updates/Why-you-need-Professional-Home-Inspection-Services-in-India/4014
2. https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/govt-sets-up-central-advisory-council-for-effective-rera-implementation/62073929
3. http://mohua.gov.in/cms/rera.php
4. https://www.magicbricks.com/propertyservices/property-inspection-services
5. http://hiai.in/

RERA has been introduced to solve the problem of trust deficit between builders and home buyers.

December 14, 2020

RERA Act introduced to remove trust deficit between builders, homebuyers: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that there was a trust deficit between builders and home buyers, and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Act was introduced to remove this problem.

While inaugurating the construction of the Agra Metro project via video conferencing, Modi said, “People with wrong intentions brought disrepute to the entire real estate sector, upsetting our middle class.”

The prime minister said that there was a trust deficit between the builders and the home buyers, and the RERA law was introduced to remove this problem. He added that some recent reports showed that middle class homes were getting completed quickly after the introduction of this law.

He also said that all-round development, from modern public transport to housing, was going to make life easier in cities.

Noting that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was inaugurated from Agra, the prime minister said that more than one crore houses have been approved for the urban poor under this scheme.

Modi said help is being provided to middle class families of the city to buy houses for the first time. He said so far, more than 12 lakh urban families have been given help of about ₹28,000 crore to buy houses.

The prime minister said infrastructure like water and sewer are being upgraded in several cities under the AMRUT mission, and help is being given to local bodies to make public toilets better in cities and to implement a modern system of waste management.

“Dreams of today’s new India are big (‘badhe’) and enormous (‘viraat’). But, visualizing the dreams is not enough, courage is needed to fulfil them. When you move ahead with courage and dedication, no obstacle can stop you. The youth of India and smaller cities are displaying this courage and dedication,” he said.

“The role played by metro cities in the 20th century is now being played by smaller cities like Agra,” the prime minister said.

He said that metro rail coaches are being made in India under the Make in India mission. When it comes to the matter of metro network, India is becoming self-reliant, he said, and added that Agra is the seventh city of Uttar Pradesh to have the metro rail facility.

“Agra has an age-old identity. Now, a new dimension of modernity is getting attached to it. The city which has treasured history of hundreds of years is all set to march in tune with the 21st century,” Modi said.

“In the past six years, the speed and scale with which work has been done on the metro network in UP and in the country, shows the identity (‘pehchaan’) and commitment of the government,” he asserted.

Modi also remarked that cities of western UP have everything, which is needed for self-reliance.

“The farmers here have a tremendous potential. In the matter of animal husbandry, this region is a leader in the country. There is a huge scope for the dairy and food processing industry here, and this region is also moving ahead in the service and manufacturing sector,” he said.

He added that with modern infrastructure and modern facilities, this potential of western UP is increasing.

The first Rapid Rail Transport System (RRTS) is being constructed between Delhi and Meerut, he said, adding that a 14-lane expressway between Delhi and Meerut will soon serve people.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/rera-act-introduced-to-remove-trust-deficit-between-builders-homebuyers-pm-modi-11607346808812.html

Winter and pandemic are not going to make the best pair. So, protect your family this winter during a pandemic with 15 simple tips.

December 12, 2020

Protect your Family this winter during the Pandemic: 15 Simple Tips

Winter is approaching. There is the much-awaited nip in the air but this year, it is a bit different. Winters are associated usually with cough, cold, sore throat and sometimes fever; but this year, our minds are occupied with the thought – “What if it is Coronavirus…?” It is extremely important that we take precautionary measures to protect ourselves and our families during this weather change amidst the pandemic of Covid-19. A few precautionary measures will be beneficial for maintaining good health during this pandemic. Apart from the basic protocols of Covid-19, we must add a few more regular habits to our daily life to ensure the safety of our family.

Here are a few tips to protect your family and household during winters from the Covid-19 infection:

1. Stay Indoors

One of the most basic safety and precautionary steps to stop the spread of Covid-19 is to stay indoors. Do not go out unnecessarily. Outside, the temperatures will be low compared to indoors. Cold wind blowing during the months of December and January may lead to you catching a cold and fever. In a warm country like India, a lot of people are highly susceptible to cold weather. Catching a cold unnecessarily should be avoided. In case you are going outdoors, make sure you are wearing adequate warm clothes and a two or three-ply MASK – properly! And as soon as you reach home, sanitize yourself and your belongings.

2. More Safety Rules When Out

Try to avoid public transport as much as possible. Walk or cycle short distances as that will keep you healthy and fit as well. As far as winter protection is concerned, cover your head and throat with a scarf as that cuts off on exposure to cold air. You may find yourself excuses for not wearing warm clothes as the temperature in most parts of India is, usually, moderately less cold. But this year, take no chances. If you catch even common flu that may make you extra susceptible to Coronavirus infection.

3. Maintain Social Distancing Protocols

Make it mandatory to maintain a distance of at least 5-6 feet in a public place. Even while receiving online packages at home, maintain proper social distance with the delivery agent. Try making cashless payments to avoid contact with anyone. Sanitize parcels which reach your home. If anyone comes to your home from outside, insist that they wash their hands and sanitize first. They should also sanitize their belongings, if any.

4. Keep Surface Clean

This is basically a part of homecare only; in fact, a crucial one, for, surfaces act as the main bearer of germs and droplets. Depending upon the surface type, dust, vacuum clean or wash and then sanitize it properly to keep 99% of germs away. This should be done daily. Not sure why sanitization is necessary? Read this¹.

5. Develop Good Eating Habits

Good eating habits are a must for boosting your immunity. Eat a lot of healthy vegetables and seasonal fruits. Drink sufficient quantities of water and juices. Make sure the meals are properly balanced. Adequate protein intake should be emphasized. Try cutting down on processed, high salt content and high sugar content food. Plan your diet mostly on good fats, lean proteins, whole grains, vegetable and fruits. Try to take in food rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidants as they are proven immunity boosters. Magnesium-rich foods like legumes, nuts, whole grains, and leafy vegetables will help reduce stress and you will feel calmer. Food rich in zinc like egg yolk, meat, mussels, etc is known to have virus-fighting properties. Spices are known to increase immunity power as well.

For your health, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.

6. Do Some Form of Physical Exercise Daily

Join a gym, go cycling with your gears on; if that is not possible, do some freehand exercise or practise some simple yoga postures at home. You should also take a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily. Stretch, twist, turn – do whatever that relaxes your body and mind. Just remember – you have to increase your mobility and keep your immune system alert and ready to combat any microbial infection.

Play indoor games to ensure stress-free mind.

7. Focus on Mental Health

Ever since the pandemic started, people are locked up in their homes. Though the ‘unlock’ procedure has begun, people are still largely at home because schools and colleges are operating in the online mode, many offices are asking their employees to continue working remotely. This can not only be boring but extremely exhausting for your mental health. Make sure that your family members are not unhappy or stressed. Plan out activities at home. Be extra careful with children, teenager and the old ones. Make sure that they are getting enough care and time. Play indoor games like chess, ludo, etc. Lawns and courtyards could be used for playing games like badminton, tennis, cricket etc.

Kadha is a herbal concoction that may help increase the immunity of your body.

8. Boost Your Immune System With Home Remedies

The internet is flooded with home remedies that would boost up your immunity. Try some of the logical ones to strengthen your immune power. Get some sun. Basking in the winter sun is one of the best things about winters in India. This would increase the production of vitamin D in your body which in turn increases the immunity of your body. Add turmeric to your curries, milk and meat. Turmeric is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties which will keep you strong and will help fight any normal flu or cold.

Another wonder drink that you must include in your daily diet is ‘Kadha.’ It is nothing but a powerful concoction of raw haldi(the turmeric stem), black pepper, ginger, clove, and honey – all added to water, boiled and strained and sipped slowly while still hot.

Avoid the vacation this winter to keep yourself safe from pandemic.

9. Try Avoiding Vacations

Usually, during winters the tourist activities increase manifold but skipping vacation for a year will not cause you any harm. It is absolutely not safe to travel large distances during the pandemic. It is advisable to find other recreational alternatives instead of venturing out for a vacation. Vacations are associated with interaction with a lot of unknown individuals which might be a threat during the pandemic. We can possibly hope that the vaccines soon arrive and you can then venture out for long lazy vacations.

Get enough sleep as it is extremely important for health.

10. Get Enough Sleep

It is extremely important that one gets enough sleep. It is extremely important for your health. Weak health and the immune system are more prone to virus attack. Get enough sleep so that you are fresh and active throughout the day.

11. Dry Your Hair

When you wash your hair, make sure you dry your hair properly – either using a towel or with the help of a hairdryer. Wet hair and scalp can cause you cough and cold. It is better to avoid any activity which will cause you to cough.

Do not walk barefoot on the ground during winters.

12. Do Not Walk Barefoot

Do not walk barefoot on the ground. During winter the ground gets extremely cold which can be harmful to your health. Feet are also exposed to bacteria and fungi which can cause harmful diseases. Kids should be restricted from playing in the garden or lawn bare feet.

13. In Case Of Cold, Cough Or Fever, Isolate Yourself

In case of cold, cough and fever immediately isolate yourself. Follow the same for other members of the house. Make sure the sick person’s belongings do not come in contact with a healthy member. The sick person’s body fluids should be strictly avoided. If the cold, cough or fever persists. the person should get themselves tested immediately. Thereafter the rules and procedures as issued by the government should be followed.

Take care of your home this Winter to keep yourself safe. Make sure you are ventilating your home well.

14. Take Care of Your Home – Ventilate It Properly

Your home should be your haven of safety, good health and happiness. And that starts with making the place airy and full of sunshine and good vibes. Make sure you are ventilating your home well. This will improve air circulation in the house. Let the winter sun not only peep through your blinds but also flood your rooms; keep them warm and fresh all the time. There are a few things that you should know about ventilating air-conditioned spaces². Follow the tips and stay as safe as possible during this pandemic.

Moreover, there are a thousand ways to give your home a ‘green makeover.’ Explore the ideas and make your home environmental-friendly this winter.

If you have been noticing any damp areas or other signs of moisture in your home, find the source and repair it fast. Dampness worsens interior air quality by acting as catalysts to microbial growth. Result? – Allergic sneezing, runny nose, redness of the eye and so on. With the pandemic fear still looming large, it will be unwise to take chances with the health of your family members.

The home also needs special care in winter because a gap here in the balcony door frame and a loose window lock there may let in cold air at night making you fall sick. Get all these small defects examined thoroughly by a professional and repair them without delay. Warm winter evenings are better spent at home with a coffee mug and a good book in hand, not with a thermometer under your tongue!

If any family member is coming home after a long time from a distant location make sure that he or she is compulsorily quarantining.

15. Mandatory Quarantining

If any of your family members are coming home after a long time from a distant location make sure that he or she is compulsorily quarantining for 10-14 days. Any symptoms which might be associated with Covid-19 should be immediately bought to the notice of the authorities. Keep their laundry, food and dishes separate from the rest of the family members. They should also ideally use a separate bathroom/toilet while on isolation. Follow the guidelines for home-based care of Novel Coronavirus patients³ set by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to manage the disease effectively at home.

The Covid-19 pandemic is serious. It has taught us the lesson that our health should be our top priority come what may. During these challenging times, it is extremely important that we keep the calm of our minds. We should categorically avoid 3 C’s – Closed (space), Crowd, and Close Contacts. Keeping ourselves and our families safe should be prioritised. And as they say – all good things like charity must begin at home. Follow these simple tips to improve the health of your family and stick to the Covid-19 safety protocols to have a safe and happy winter ahead.

Reference links used:
1. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/basics-of-handling-cleaner-sanitizer-disinfectant/
2. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/ventilate-confined-air-conditioned-spaces/
3. https://ncdc.gov.in/showfile.php?lid=462

RERA Karnataka has warned promoters to immediately put up quarterly updates on its website, failing which they would be penalized.

December 7, 2020

RERA warns builders to put up quarterly updates on website

The Real Estate Regulatory Authority – Karnataka (RERA-K) has cautioned 1,437 promoters to immediately put up quarterly updates on its website, failing which they would be penalized.

An official release on Monday said that despite repeated notices being issued to the promoters in this connection, they had failed to do so, and urged the defaulters to do it before December 31.

RERA-K Chairperson K S Latha Kumari told TNIE, “All the companies which have registered with us need to update their financial status and physical progress of work done on their respective projects every three months. It has not been done by 1,437 promoters, who have registered with us on various dates over the past three years. A good number of them have not put up even one quarterly update, despite repeatedly stressing on the need for it and issuing notices.”

The need to put up updates is mandatory under various provisions of the RERA Act, the chairperson said. “Only if the firms release the updates would RERA be in a position to assess their progress, as well as check if the amounts paid by flat purchasers are being utilised for the intended purpose,” she added. Promoters are expected to create a separate account for it and deposit 70 per cent of the amount collected into it.

RERA was also keen on redressing the problem of promoters, Kumari said. A webinar will be held by the Authority with CREDAI, other builder organisations and promoters on December 9 to understand and sort out the problems faced by builders, she added.

Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/dec/01/rera-warns-builders-to-put-up-quarterly-updates-on-website-2230218.html

December 5, 2020

Make Your Home Eco-Friendly in 12 Easy Ways

The rapid changes in environment and climate make it an absolute necessity to be alarmed for the future. Global warming is the root cause of climatic pattern disturbances, which is in turn caused by man-made pollution. Making changes in your lifestyle is a necessity. Developing your home into an eco-friendly one is an ordeal but it is definitely worth it. Try out our simple tips for turning your home into an eco-friendly one.

1. Reduce Use Of Plastic At Home
2. Use Recycled Products
3. Use Energy-efficient Lighting
4. Switch Off Appliances When Not In Use
5. Buy Low-Energy Appliances
6. Choose Your Paint With Care
7. Make Your Own Compost For Your Potted Green Friends
8. Use Natural Cleansing Products
9. Hang Your Clothes In the Sun to Dry
10. Watch Your Water Usage
11. Rainwater Harvesting
12. Manage waste at home

Changing life patterns, increased pollution, urban as well as rural industrialization has taken a toll over the environment. We have destroyed thousands of hectares of forests, polluted the water bodies, disrupted the natural habitat for millions of organisms just to fulfil our own needs. The environment we are living in is degrading every single day. It is our responsibility to save the environment and natural resources. After all, we all are living and breathing in the laps of mother nature. It only takes a bit of conscious effort to change our lifestyle to an eco-friendly one. We will also be able to save some of the existing natural resources. Sustainability is not a concept, it is a way of living. Our responsibility starts with changing our habits at home. We should strive towards changing our homes into an eco-friendly space.

Here are a few ways to make your home eco-friendly:

Try to reduce use of plastic at home. The lesser the plastic usage, the lesser is the production of non-biodegradable waste from house.

1. Reduce Use of Plastic At Home

Replace all the plastic containers in the kitchen with steel or glass containers. Use glass bottles for drinking water instead of plastic once. The lesser the plastic usage, the lesser is the production of non-biodegradable waste from our house. Try to avoid fibre utensils. Try sticking to aluminium, steel, and iron utensils for cooking. Reduce the use of polythene bags and instead use cloth or jute bags for shopping. Do not use plastic plates or cups during gatherings. Indian markets have plenty of alternatives to this like the disposable plates made of leaves. Try packing food in aluminium foils¹ instead of plastic boxes.

Use recycled products to reduce energy consumption and dependency on raw materials.

2. Use Recycled Products

Recycling products help reducing energy consumption and dependency on raw materials. It reduces water pollution, soil pollution and to a certain extent air pollution also. There is no need for a landfill for disposing of the old items. There is no need for waste disposal. You can refurbish your furniture, paint them and give them a new makeover. Paints or polish coating is good for the long go. In case you need to buy glass containers, consider reusing empty coffee or candy jars. Empty boxes of biscuits and cakes can be used for storing small miscellaneous items.

Clean your home the greener way. Use old, discarded t-shirts or towels for making rags. Use them for dusting and mopping instead of paper and follow the 3R – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-philosophy, literally at the ground.

Use energy efficient lighting to reduce energy consumption.

3. Use Energy-efficient Lighting

Replace all your traditional bulbs with CFLs and LEDs. Traditional lights have a higher energy consumption in comparison to the CFLs and LEDs. Traditional lights also give out 90% of their energy as heat. This raises the temperature of your house and surroundings. In a country like India with extreme summer temperatures, it is advisable to opt for LEDs and CFLs. They are a bit expensive compared to the traditional bulbs yet are much more eco-friendly.

We should switch off appliances when they are not in use.

4. Switch Off Appliances When Not In Use

We should be extra careful that we do not waste electricity which in turn is the waste of natural resources. The production of electricity is dependent on natural resources. We should switch off appliances when they are not in use. We should make sure that we switch off fans and lights before we leave our rooms, once we finish charging our phones we must not forget to unplug the charger. These practices also save you from mishaps and accidents.

5. Buy Low-Energy Appliances

Using low energy appliances are an excellent step towards an eco-friendly home. BEE-labelled or eco-star labelled appliances² will cause less wastage of energy. They are also pocket friendly in the long run. They minimize the electricity bill. When you buy washing machines, air-conditioners, refrigerators, try and invest in one with more number of eco-stars ensuring maximum energy efficiency.

There are other ways to make your home energy-efficient. To start with:

Switch off all lights, fans and other appliances when not in use.
Replace traditional glowing lights that convert almost 90% of energy into heat with LED spotlights.
Run the AC, not below 24- 25 degree Celsius.
Weatherise your home.
Service your appliances at regular intervals and replace them when they’re old.
Don’t keep your laptop on charge continuously. Once charged, unplug it.
Unplug all battery chargers when the gadget is fully charged.

Becoming energy-efficient starts with making little changes in your lifestyle and perspective. Take the first step and you will feel happy about making a small positive change in your surroundings.

Choose your paint with low or zero VOC to keep home safe from its harmful vapours.

6. Choose Your Paint With Care

If you are noticing a rising incidence of allergies and asthma in your family, chances are that either your house is damp Or your wall paint contains high levels of VOC (volatile organic compound). Consider giving your home a makeover. Choose environmentally safe water-based paints with low or zero VOC and give a fresh lease of life to your beloved home.

7. Make Your Own Compost For Your Potted Green Friends

Make use of compost instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for your potted green plants.

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are harmful to the soil and plants in the long run. They can lead to various plant diseases and acidification of soil. They also contaminate the groundwater reservoirs. Compost can be made by using non-toxic biodegradable waste from your home like the vegetable peels, dry leaves, garden waste along with mud. It works as a natural fertilizer for your plants and helps them grow. It also replenishes nutrients in the soil. It restores moisture in the soil. Moreover, your biodegradable waste is used up at your home itself.

Use natural cleansing products to ensure an eco-friendly home.

8. Use Natural Cleansing Products

Chemical-based or synthetic cleansers are another threat to water bodies. When we clean our house with these cleansers, the chemicals enter the water transport system and make it unfit for drinking. They are also harmful to our health and sometimes may cause rashes and skin burns. We should switch to natural cleaners like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, etc. these are non-toxic, majorly non-allergic.

Drying our clothes in the sun instead of dryer cuts down our dependency on electricity.

9. Hang Your Clothes In the Sun to Dry

This is a great way to save electricity. Drying your clothes in the sun instead of dryer cuts down our dependency on electricity and instead, we use solar energy. It is also good for checking bacterial infection and growth. The UV rays of the sun are powerful against microbial growth. The clothes which are dried in the sun generally smell much fresher as compared to the ones dried using electric dryers. Clothes are warmer and the fabric – happier too!

10. Watch Your Water Usage

Keeping a track of your water usage and checking water wastage is a great step towards an eco-friendly home. There should be no wastage of water. Do not leave the tap on while brushing. Wash your dishes with closed tap and sink. In case of any water leakage or seepage make sure it is repaired at the earliest possible.

Replace your old showerhead with a modern low-flow showerhead. Such showerheads are designed to check the amount of water wasted. So, if you take shorter showers and use one of these fittings, you can surely save a lot of water. The idea is to avoid water wastage in every possible way.

RO waste water uses can be for household chores, watering plants, washing car etc.

Coming to the other uses of water for household purposes, switch to Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifier as that would be a good investment for many reasons³. The wastewater generated by the purifier can be used for:

Watering your plants (after diluting, since total dissolved solid content is too high).
Cleaning various items and surfaces.
Cleaning sewage pipes.
In the bathroom for flushing & cleaning.
Washing your car – avoid using a hosepipe; instead, use a wet sponge. It cleans better and saves water.
Filling your water cooler.
Bathing your pets.

To learn more about reuse of wastewater generated by RO water purifier, read RO waste water uses – 6 Simple Ways.

11. Rainwater Harvesting

Storing rainwater for later usage during scarcity, is rainwater harvesting. The rainwater is collected in a cistern or a large tank for future usage. It is a great step towards an eco-friendly lifestyle. Pollution has caused enough damage to freshwater bodies. Rainwater after treatment can be used for a lot of purposes ranging from cleaning to gardening. Rainwater harvesting mitigates the water scarcity during periods of drought and reduces dependency on groundwater resources. Another advantage of using rainwater is that most of the times it is free of chemicals. The only thing we need to be careful about is acid rain.

A man standing with two bins of segregated waste labelled paper and organic respectively.

12. Care to manage waste at home?

Segregate your household waste before disposal. Put wet and bio-degradable wastes like food leftovers and vegetable peel into one bin and non-biodegradable wastes like plastic packets into a separate bin. This will help you to do waste management right in your home.

Conclusion

Now that we have discussed these possible ways to make our home eco-friendly, we should actually put in the effort to change our lifestyle. Step by step we can contribute towards saving our environment for the upcoming generations, in our little small way. Recycling, Refurbishing, Unplugging will not cost us massive lump of money, but will definitely help us save the environment. Few of these tips will help you to even save money. The renovation cost of eco-friendly homes is lesser than in normal homes. You can do DIY stuff before you want to pursue it.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/07/story-of-plastic-sticky-problem-of-plastic-wrap/
2. https://beeindia.gov.in/content/star-labelled-appliances
3. https://www.kent.co.in/blog/ro-water-purifiers-what-makes-it-a-necessity-for-every-home/

November 30, 2020

Simultaneous proceedings a relief for homebuyers

Homebuyers have been subjected to excessive delays under the justice delivery system because construction projects have long gestation periods. From a mere contractual dispute to instances of fraud and delays in handing over the property, homebuyers face a lot of challenges. So remedies under one particular legislation may not be sufficient to cover all the offences and problems. Consequently, there is a need to give expansive remedies to them under different Acts.

In case of any dispute, they can now approach three possible forums under three different Acts: The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, as a consumer; Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA Act) as an allottee; and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, as a financial creditor.

The new Consumer Protection Act, 2019, has been a relief in more ways than one and has wide-ranging provisions with respect to both defining the offence under the Act and dispute resolution. It is also not specific to resolution like the Insolvency Code. Therefore, it is important to understand that the remedies should be simultaneous and not mutually exclusive.

The fact that the RERA Act contains a ‘bar of jurisdiction’ clause has not stopped the courts from providing the homebuyers with simultaneous remedy under the Consumer Protection Act for issues that go beyond the RERA Act. This has been for various reasons. The Punjab and Haryana HC has held in two judgments—Experion Developers Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Haryana and Ors., and Janta Land Promoters Private Limited v. Union of India and Ors—that remedies under RERA are in addition to and not in derogation of the other laws in force, taking recourse to Section 88 of the Real Estate Act.

It has held that the appropriate forum may be approached under the Consumer Protection Act in case of remedies that may not be available under RERA. This has been furthered by a recent Supreme Court judgment on the same issue in the case of M/S Imperial Structures Ltd v. Anil Patni. In the said case, the project had not been completed even after substantial booking amounts had been paid by the allottees. In 2017, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) was approached under the Consumer Protection Act 1986 (now amended to Consumer Protection Act, 2019); it ordered refund of the amount paid with 9% interest per annum and costs to the tune of Rs 50,000.

The NCDRC also dismissed the claim of the builder that it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate on that particular issue as the project was approved by RERA and therefore, the Regulatory Authority under the Real Estate Act was the appropriate forum. Consequently, an appeal was filed by the builder in the Supreme Court. The Division Bench at the apex court held that there was no bar in approaching the NCDRC under the provisions of RERA. This was because of two distinct reasons.

First, the court relied on its decision in Malay Kumar Ganguli v. Dr Sukumar Mukherjee, where it has been held that the NCDRC is not to be treated as a civil court as defined under the Civil Procedure Code; and Section 79 of RERA, which deals with bar on jurisdiction of other courts, will thus not cover the NCDRC. Second, that Section 71 deals with the authority’s power to adjudicate and the proviso to Section 71(1) states that the complainant under RERA may withdraw a complaint that is pending before any of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions after taking permission from such forum or authority and then file a complaint under the Real Estate Act.

This clearly indicates at a legislative intent of giving an option to the complainant to either proceed simultaneously or in any of the forums distinctly, rather than mandatory withdrawal of a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act to file a complaint under RERA. These judgments are a much-needed respite to homebuyers as the remedies under the specialised Acts are very selective and may also limit the cause of action. The three reasons given above can offer an opportunity to the homebuyers to make complaints under the preferred Act or expand their rights by making simultaneous complaints in order to get exhaustive remedies.

However, while these are protective legislations, the courts shall endeavour to prevent any overlaps if the homebuyers choose to pursue simultaneous remedies. For instance, Section 12 of RERA penalises the promoter for misleading advertisements in the context of layout, plan or model of the building. Such penal consequences for misleading advertisements are also available under the Consumer Protection Act under Sections 2(28) and 10(1) more generally, which relate to any aspect of the false and misleading advertisement. Therefore, the compensation awarded will have to prevent any overlaps in these areas; otherwise, it will lead to unjust enrichment of the complainant, which is not the purpose of these Acts.

Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2020/nov/27/simultaneous-proceedings-a-relief-for-homebuyers-2228667.html

How to eliminate smell from bathroom? Read the article for 10 effective ways

November 28, 2020

How to Eliminate Smell from Bathroom? 10 Simple Ways

Bathrooms are a multi-purpose area. From brushing your teeth to bathing, from relaxing in your tub to freshening up – all of it is associated with your own private space, your bathroom. The last thing you would want the space that refreshes you to be smelling foul. Unpleasant odour and unhygienic conditions in your bathroom are definitely not welcome. Bathroom cleanliness and hygiene is of prime importance for a healthy lifestyle and good quality living. So, follow these simple and amazing tips to freshen up your home by driving away all bad odour from your bathroom.

Hang on! Before we share the tips with you, let us tell you two ways to go about it. First, you can identify the exact source of the odour and clean that spot only and you are done. Second, make toilet cleaning a part of your daily routine – the end result you get is a sparkling clean bathroom fresh smelling as new!

Here are the tips directed towards the second approach:

More the moisture in bathroom more will be growth of microbes. Turn off shower properly, clean a mirror with a piece of cloth.

1. Get rid of moisture!

More the moisture in your bathroom more will be the growth of microbes. This will lead to a discomforting smell inside the bathroom. After you have used the bathroom, wipe extra water off the floor, turn off the shower properly so that it doesn’t continue to drip, clean the mirror with a piece of cloth, and don’t forget to take the wet towels out to dry in the sun. In addition to these daily little things, keep a check on your fittings for any leakage / seepage. If you come across any loose faucet or leaky pipe, repair or replace it immediately. Seepage / Leakage can lead to damp & moisture related problems and to a persistent stuffy smell.

Use exhaust fan & dehumidifier for removing excess moisture & humidity.

2. Ventilate your Bathroom

Ventilation helps in the removal of trapped air and moisture from the bathroom. There is a constant movement of air which helps in freshening up the area. Any trapped foul smell escapes and a gush of fresh air rushes in. Removal of humid air checks the growth of microbes in the area. Algae and fungi are also less likely to develop in a well-ventilated space. With ventilation, humid air escapes. This causes lesser condensation on bathroom walls and other equipment leading to a clean and more hygienic environment.

One of the commonest ways to ventilate a bathroom or toilet is to install an exhaust fan at a height.

Exhaust fans or dehumidifiers in the bathrooms are primarily set up to remove hot air, excess moisture & humidity from the bathroom. It is significantly important as it is instrumental in the elimination of bad odour as well from your bathroom. An exhaust fan helps to dehumidify the air circulating in the bathroom thereby reducing damp and microbial growth.

Indoor plants in bathroom will help reduce foul odour.

3. Place potted Indoor Plants

By indoor plants, we usually think of plants that thrive in the kitchen, bedroom and living rooms, but there are plants for your bathroom too. The right bathroom plants will help reduce foul odour from your bathroom, absorb moisture and also make your bathroom aesthetically beautiful. Plants which prefer a misty environment are perfect for your bathroom like ferns, orchids¹, mosses and air plants. These plants will get natural environment and bloom happily inside your bathroom. They will help in recreating a waterfall-like picturesque inside your bathroom.

Air fresheners and activated charcoal are an effective way that help in removing bad odour from bathroom.

4. Use Air Fresheners

A huge variety of air fresheners are available in the market. Try using natural fragranced air fresheners. There are various air fresheners which contain toxic substances. Try to avoid these, as they are harmful in the long run. You can make natural air fresheners yourself by rubbing alcohol and essential oils for a fragrance like the lavender, rose, peppermint, lemon, etc.

Activated charcoal is another effective way that can help you keep foul odours at bay. However, it is an air purifier (non-electric) and not just an air freshener because, unlike the latter, it has no overpowering scent. When kept at any corner of the room, the bag of activated charcoal conceals the bad odour silently by absorbing excess moisture, micro-pollutants and allergens from the surrounding air.

Regular cleaning and sanitising of bathroom is very important

5. Regularly Clean and Sanitise

Overall cleaning: Regular cleaning of your bathroom is extremely important. The chronic foul smell of the bathroom can only be dealt with a thorough cleaning. Use a strong but safe toilet cleaner. Clean and disinfect each and every component like the washbasin, water closet, etc once in a week. You also need to wash the wall surfaces and accessories used in toilet / bathroom and wipe them dry after it has been used by everyone in the family on a particular day.

Make sure your bathroom has no fungal growth. They tend to give out a repulsive smell as well as can be infectious. Powerful cleaners may remove them but their pungent odour may be dangerous for you to inhale. Using vinegar, instead, for removing fungal growth will be far more effective and safer.

Floor cleaning: We rarely notice but the tile joints or the grout tend to wear off with time. In its place, gaps are formed where dirt begins to settle and fungal growth happens. This also gives off an unpleasant smell which refuses to go away easily. To get rid of floor stains and dirt, you must do deep cleaning of your bathroom / toilet at regular intervals. Regrouting once in two or three years depending on the condition can further address the issue effectively.

Unclogging the outlets and drains: This is a significant step in bathroom sanitization and hygiene. Bathroom and surrounding drains when clogged tend to give out the foul smell and become breeding places for insects like mosquitoes and flies which are vectors of harmful microbes which cause serious diseases. Drains have hair, dead skin, wrappers, thick soap scum deposited in them which clog the drain giving out the obnoxious odour. This clogging also causes backflow of water in it. Unclog the drain with the help of a vacuum. For more ways, click here².

Be careful about cleanliness of the toilet bowl, as it is main reason behind unpleasant odour in bathroom.

6. Be extra careful about the cleanliness of the toilet bowl

The toilet bowl is the main reason behind the unpleasant odours in most of the cases. So it is of utmost importance to keep it sparkling clean, both for both hygiene and aesthetic purpose as well as for removing bathroom odours. Apply a readymade cleaner on the inside walls of the toilet bowl, leave it for ten to fifteen minutes, and then scrub with a brush and flush. Make sure to scrub the underside of the toilet seat, before downing the flush for they hide the filthiest of dirt. For cleaning the external part of the bowl, use paper towels and antibacterial spray. Don’t forget to reach the back areas and the bottom of the commode / water closet to complete the cleaning process.

Painting your bathroom after damp removal can be really effective in doing way with bad odour.

7. Put fresh paint after damp removal

Painting your bathroom walls after removal of dampness can be really effective in doing away with the soggy bathroom odour. Bathroom paints should be strong and durable. This will not only make your bathroom look graceful but also repel insects and microbes.

Empty the toilet trash bin daily to eliminate bad odour.

8. Empty toilet trash bins daily

This is a must. No matter how insignificant the amount of trash is, vacate the bin every day and place a fresh trash bag inside it. Once in a week, disinfect the bin to eliminate any chances of pest infestation and fungal growth that may become a potential cause of bad odours.

Use air purifier to remove foul odour from bathroom.

9. Invest in an air purifier

Markets presently are flooded with air purifiers of various brands and price ranges. These appliances help in the removal of any foul odour from your bathroom. Further, they trap pollens, dust and other allergens which might be harmful to you. Air purifiers have multipurpose usage. You can check online stores for budget-friendly options.

10. Other nitty-gritty of toilet odour removal

Your habits go a long way in determining how hygienic your bathroom / toilet will be. Try to be careful about changing the bath supplements like sponges and loofahs every now and then. Replacing the old items with new ones will not only give your bathroom a fresh look, but will also prevent bacteria and other odour-forming microbes from growing on them. Besides, hand, face and bath towels should also be changed from time to time to keep your bathroom smelling fresh as new, always.

Bathrooms, as said earlier, is a place for relaxation and refreshment. Any bad odour there, will definitely disturb your peace of mind. The foul smell attached to your bathroom can make you feel fatigued. Also, foul odour in your bathroom grows with time. You need to become alert as soon as it starts to turn smelly. In general, regular cleaning practices help in the maintenance of good hygiene and health. Try to focus on natural methods for cleaning instead of chemical-based products.

Reference links used:
1. https://showerjungle.com/best-fragrant-plants-to-get-rid-of-bad-bathroom-smells/
2. https://www.wisebread.com/10-really-easy-ways-to-unclog-drains

November 25, 2020

Certificate of Recognition – Startup India

MACJ – A Buyers Choice Home Inspections recognized as a Start-up by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

MACJ - A Buyers’ Choice performing Property & Home inspection services during the ongoing Pandemic

November 23, 2020

MACJ – A Buyers’ Choice performing Inspections during the ongoing Pandemic

We, MACJ – A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections are providing all our services during this coronavirus pandemic.

As the pandemic is still ongoing, our team takes all safety measures & precautions while inspecting a home / property.

We do complete health and safety check-ups of your home / property. We identify the issues, their exact source / reason and provide long term solution.

The health and safety of our customers and our team remain our priority.

Author: MACJ-ABCHI