Be more vigilant of developers’ escrow accounts: UP RERA asks banks

Noida

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP RERA) said it has sent letters to the zonal heads of all 42 banks to be more vigilant of the escrow accounts of the promoters and developers.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to the director general of the Directorate of Institutional Finance, Government of Uttar Pradesh, UP RERA said in a statement.

The authority has asked banks for strict compliance of the provisions of Section-4 (2) (I) (D) of RERA Act, 2016, which warrants 70 per cent of amounts realised for real estate projects to be deposited in a separate account and to be maintained in a scheduled bank to cover the cost of construction and the land cost and shall be used only for limited purposes.

UP RERA Chairman Rajive Kumar said, “It has come to the notice of the Authority that some of the promoters are not complying with the statutory provisions of the law and withdrawing the amount from the designated account without submitting the requisite certificate. This is grave violation of the mandatory provisions of the Act.”

UP RERA Secretary Abrar Ahmed said the separate accounts related to 2,651 projects registered in RERA are being maintained in 962 branches, some of them are based out of Uttar Pradesh. “We have sent separate individual letters to all the 962 branches by speed post.”

It has also come to the notice of the Authority that some of the banks, especially the ones that have sanctioned loan to the promoter, arbitrarily adjust the entire amount deposited in the account against the outstanding loan of the promoter instead of transferring 70 per cent of the money collected to the escrow account for the purposes of construction and payment of the cost of land of the project, the statement said.

“The banks are requested to issue necessary instructions to all of the regional managers, deputy general managers, assistant general managers (and) branch managers to strictly comply with the provisions,” Ahmed said.

It is further clarified that if the banks do not adhere to the provisions of the Act, the matter will be brought to the notice of the chairman of the respective banks and the secretary of the banking department of the Government of India for appropriate action in the matter.

In total, there are 42 scheduled commercial banks — 21 each public sector and private sector lenders.

Source – www.realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/be-more-vigilant-of-developers-escrow-accounts-up-rera-asks-banks/68748179

RERA Turns 2

It’s been two years since the deployment of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) across India and the Centre’s aim of enforcing it in each state is gathering visible momentum. Even the north-eastern states including Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim – which earlier shied away from it – have agreed to officially notify RERA rules soon. West Bengal is the only state which notified its own real estate law under West Bengal Housing Industry Regulatory Authority (WBHIRA).

Rohit Poddar, Joint Secretary, NAREDCO West and Managing Director, Poddar Housing and Development Ltd. states, “RERA has been a huge success in Maharashtra, the trust gap between the developer and the seller has largely been bridged. RERA has been very quick to address the issues of the developers and giving judgments on the conflicts between the buyer and developers. Reconciliation process through arbitration cell has become faster and convenient for the customers in case of delay in possession, which has consolidated the confidence of the buyers in the market. MahaRERA is the best RERA in India.”

It may be recalled that RERA intended to cover developers as well as real estate agents seamlessly across the country. As it stands now, 22 states and 6 Union Territories have already notified their RERA rules, out of which 19 states have active online portals. West Bengal too has an active portal for its own real estate law.

Manju Yagnik, Vice Chairperson, Nahar Group & Vice President NAREDCO (MAHARASHTRA) – “One of the biggest and most important action in the industry was implementation of RERA. The challenge of bringing it in the ambit of regulation has been a journey that is still progressive in nature as many questions still do not have the answer. However the real estate machinery has changed with this development.”

Things are changing for the better. Generally, players are far more accountable and cannot easily get away with breaking the RERA rules.

“There are ample amount of reasons to celebrate the second year anniversary of the much needed RERA, the implementation of which was envisaged to bring in transparency in the industry, has definitely achieved what it was set out for. Developers today are committed more than ever on the delivery of the projects; it has also brought discipline in the usage of funds. All in all RERA has brought in some positive changes amongst the industry, along with increased accountability, transparency and efficiency.” Rahul Grover, President Sales and Operations at Sai Estate Consultants.

Amit Ruparel, Managing Director, Ruparel Realty on RERA completing 2 years, shares “The Real Estate Regulation & Development Act (RERA) is a landmark legislation poised to catapult the sector into its next phase of growth, laid on the foundation of being transparent, competitive, hassle-free and consumer-centric, which certainly benefits corporate developers like us and most importantly the home buyers.”

Source: www.realtyplusmag.com/rera-turns-two

Interior/ Exterior areas – Need specific type of paint

Detect Issues

Interior grade paint used in the outside of windows in external wall.

Describe Issues

Interior grade paint applied in outside of window can’t sustain weathering action for long period. Paints formulated for exterior use contain additives that give them longevity in the elements – including resistance to cracking and dirt resistance, as well as protection from the damage ultraviolet (UV) rays cause. Also exterior paints are made to combat against fading and mildew.
Different paints have different properties, and are formulated for different purposes. Usage of interior grade paint for external surface can cause deterioration of surface, due to which there are chances of moisture seepage which will add to high repair cost and inconvenience.

Direct Solutions

We recommend upgrading the same with exterior grade paint.

Why Excess Moisture is a Threat to Your Home

Your home may not be as healthy as it looks from outside. Just like the human body, it is a multi-layered structure and there are a number of factors that determine its health. According to Jeffrey Toh (www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB_DC24966.pdf), a building materials and construction research scholar, all buildings start to deteriorate right from the moment they are completed. The most damaging of all the elements that lead to this deterioration is dampness, moisture, and humidity.

Moisture when contacts a cold surface condenses into water droplets. We may not be very conscious about the fact but all types of household activity- cooking, dishwashing, bathing, mopping, or washing clothes and drying them add moisture to the air filling our home. Even breathing, exhalation to be specific, by every living entity of the house adds moisture to the air! Now, the quantity of moisture that air can hold depends on its temperature. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. During monsoon or winter, when the walls, doors, and windows become cold, the indoor moisture comes up against them and condenses into water droplets.

You may say, “How is it possible that such minuscule amount of moisture added into the air through our everyday activities cause our home to deteriorate?

Well, things wouldn’t have been this complicated had above elements been the only sources of moisture in our house. But there are many other sources which eventually increase the moisture content above its normal level. It is this excess moisture that leads to the dampness of the house.

The other sources of moisture in a house include:

  • External/ environmental:
    • Humid air from outside condensing into water droplets on coming in contact with cold surfaces in a building
    • Rainwater making its way through cracks and crevices on the walls and roofs of buildings
    • Groundwater
  • Infrastructural:
    • Mostly happens due to plumbing failure. For example, leakage in water pipes and drainage pipes, etc.

How does moisture lead to dampness?

As the moisture content inside the building structure rises, it accelerates the conditions for the chemical degradation of the concrete. Soon, the walls become porous and permeable to water, a condition known as damp.

Faulty construction practices and failed waterproofing are the main reasons behind moisture getting inside the fabric of a building and deteriorating it over the years.

While you can visibly check the external leakage and cracks, you cannot have an idea about the hidden construction faults. So, most of the time, your attempts to repair leakage or damp-affected areas either go in vain or leave the problem only half-solved. Therefore, going by the saying, “prevention is better than cure,” it is crucial to identify the main moisture generating places in your home. Once you have identified, you must try to reduce the amount of moisture generated there and check the condensation that happens thereafter.

Bathroom: The den of moisture in a house

The Bathroom is one of the most frequently used spaces of the house and undoubtedly, one of the most important ones too. Yet, humidity due to condensation makes it a villain of sort for causing dampness all over the house. Even a quick shower in the bathroom releases moisture into the air.

The problem becomes bigger whenever you take a hot shower because there is a lot of steam rising from the water. The steam mists up mirrors and glass panels or condenses on the walls. This keeps happening every day and that too, multiple times a day! If the place is not ventilated properly, or the wet surfaces are not wiped dry after each shower or wash, and/or there is no exhaust fan in the bathroom, this regular addition of moisture into the air can lead to severe dampness. The situation becomes worse if there is any of the below problems:

  • Loose bathroom faucet knob/handle
  • Dripping water tap
  • Leakage in the bathroom basin pipe
  • Poorly sealed joints between water taps and the walls
  • Internal leakage in the building water system
  • Damage geyser part/leaky pipe
  • Leaking hand-held shower hose/toilet jet spray
  • Damaged toilet flush valve
  • Water seepage

The continuous water loss from these damaged bathroom fittings adds to the moisture content of the house. Soon, signs of damp start showing up on the walls and ceilings in the form of dark, mouldy patches, flaky wall paint, and popped-up tiles. And this does not happen inside the bathroom only; the other parts of the building are affected too in varying intensity.

Why excess moisture is a threat?

It is not only the aesthetics of a building that is compromised due to damp. Left unresolved, it exposes us to bigger risks such as:

  • Extensive leakage & internal flooding leading to permanent dampness
  • Crumbling plaster & detachment from the lath
  • Compromised structural integrity of the building
  • Electrocution in the concealed electrical wiring system

Health risks of high indoor humidity

Experts opine that the optimal relative humidity level conducive to healthy living is between 35 and 60 percent. Beyond 60 percent, a place becomes excessively humid and a favourite breeding ground of harmful microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Staying in such a place for long hours can expose you to potential health risks.

Growth of allergens

According to an Environmental Health Perspectives report, excess indoor moisture also leads to higher levels of dust mites, moulds, and fungi. Moulds begin to grow on wet surfaces in relative humidity levels above 75 percent, in as little as 24 hours. Once the moulds germinate, they begin to flourish rapidly producing spores and mycotoxins. Exposure to these mycotoxins causes allergies and respiratory inflammation in the inmates of the house. Ingesting certain mycotoxins can also lead to severe intestinal complications.

Mould spores are also potential allergens and are very difficult to eliminate. They lie dormant in a place for years and as soon as moisture content of that place rises, they start to flourish. Eliminating mould spores is virtually impossible unless their growing conditions are altered drastically.

Release of airborne chemical contaminants

Micro-organisms and allergens aren’t the only things that proliferate under excess humidity; airborne chemicals also increase as the indoor moisture level goes up.

Everyday indoor décor items like wood furniture pieces and carpets release noxious chemicals like formaldehyde, a process known as “off-gassing.” Exposure to even low levels of these chemicals can make you experience red, itchy skin, eye and throat irritation, and respiratory discomfort. The musty smell that fills the air in a damp house is mostly due to these airborne chemical contaminants.

How to eliminate excess moisture from home?

The first step to eliminating excess moisture is to ensure that the source of it is removed for good, and that is best done through waterproofing or damp-proofing.

By waterproofing or damp-proofing you can seal the unwanted water and prevent its further ingress. Then, with the onset of the dry season, the existing moisture content slowly decreases and your home springs back to life.

There are many advantages of waterproofing. Firstly, it enhances the value of your real estate property. And secondly, it sets the cornerstone on which you and your family can build a better quality of life.

However, detecting leakage or seepage that requires waterproofing isn’t an easy task. It is advisable to rely on professionals /home inspectors to do the job for you. They detect building-structure damps using advanced thermal imaging technology devices. Once detected with precision, you can proceed to do curing/waterproofing of only those areas. Otherwise, you may run the risk of making unnecessary expenses that may go up to as high as Rupees 50,000 to Rs. 100,000 approximately for a standard 1000 sq ft area space.

How to check condensation in the bathroom?

To reduce excess humidity in the house it is also crucial to check condensation in the bathroom because as explained earlier, it is the place where the maximum amount of moisture is generated.

The first step to check condensation in the bathroom is to address all plumbing-related issues. A timely repair of damaged bathroom fittings can save you big money on damp-proofing and/or waterproofing.

Besides, you must also ensure the below conditions to keep your bathroom dry and squeaky clean:

  • 1. Proper ventilation
  • 2. Wiping wet and fogged-up surfaces after each shower
  • 3. Using a dehumidifier
  • 4. Warming up the walls: Installing a bathroom heater can keep your bathroom warm without heating up the rest of your home wastefully.
  • 5. Using exhaust fan
  • 6. Incorporating design changes:
    • Surfaces that normally come in contact with water should be covered with tiles and/or glass so that water from splashing is prevented from being spread onto the adjacent surfaces.
    • The tiled surface on a wall should be high enough to block water from the shower.
    • Concrete walls made of porous material should be left un-tiled only in the upper parts and ceilings.
    • Provision should be kept for roof ventilators/windows to allow natural daylight in.
    • Non-slip tiles should be used to seal the surface below the floor from moisture.
    • The tiles must be grouted properly.
    • Bathroom walls should be coated with anti-condensation paint.

Moulds in the bathroom are difficult to remove. Don’t let this very important space in your home become a large petri dish for growing moulds. Get down to removing it at the very first sign of accumulation. You can use a baking soda-bleach-water solution or vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to clean the mould-affected areas. Regular use of the solution will give you better results.

Consult a home inspection expert for a long-term solution

Not all moisture related problems are DIY types. Some require complex solutions and hence, expert intervention.

Seek the help of a home inspection service provider like MACJ – A Buyers Choice. They will thoroughly diagnose your home using advanced, non-destructive testing methods and pinpoint the source of areas affected by excess moisture or damp. Based on their detailed report and suggestions, you can plan your next line of action.

Moisture is an important component of home atmosphere but when present in excess, it can severely hamper the quality of life. Don’t let the moisture take over your happiness. Get your home checked professionally the moment you smell it and live a healthy life in a damp-free house for the years to come.

Additional Notes for Information

Types of damp:

  • Construction damp: Happens due to poor construction practices. Sometimes, excess water that is added to the concrete mixture during construction bleeds out leaving behind capillary tracts in the wall. Water from the environment then makes its way through these tracts resulting in dampness.
  • Shrinkage is another commonly encountered problem in every cement-based construction. After completion, loss of moisture leads to the contraction in the total mass of a building leaving behind gaps. Later on, water from outside penetrates into these gaps resulting in (penetrating) damp.
  • Another form of penetration damp results when rain penetrates through the masonry due to poorly installed tiles or cracks on the wall.
  • Rising damp: Happens when moisture level rises up from the ground through the masonry to the height of about one metre of the building.
  • Condensation dampness: Results when a property is unable to deal with its normal moisture content due to the lack of proper insulation, ventilation or heating, or a combination of all of these things.

Founder of a Leading Real Estate Company Regrob, is our Happy Customer

Testimonial from Mr. Ashish Kaushik, Founder Regrob, a Leading Delhi based Real Estate Company. Regrob has offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and other leading cities in India. The Company’s objective is to make the buying and selling experience of real estate easier & seamless for their customers.

RERA Act completing 2 years and its influence on the real estate industry

One of the biggest, and arguably the most called for, reforms in real estate industry in India was the implementation of RERA nearly 2 years ago. While the debate had been on for nearly a decade on regulating the highly opaque industry, the challenges of bringing it within the ambit of regulation were multi-fold. Let alone the reluctance on part of the key players, the overall machinery to manage the process was fraught with numerous challenges.

In the backdrop of a regime change at the centre in 2014, which placed its bets on ‘Housing for All’, among other things like urbanization-themed ‘Smart Cities Mission’, it became imperative for the industry to bring itself under the ambit of regulation. Moreover, it had long been understood that unless there was proper consumer protection and close monitoring of processes and practices, it was not possible for organised funding to take deeper positions in the industry.

Eventually, Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act 2016 took shape paving the way for establishing regulators at the centre, and subsequently at all state levels. Undoubtedly, it is work-in-process, with the states currently placed across the spectrum of RERA implementation. On the one hand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have taken the lead and are markedly ahead, while Haryana and Bengal on the other, have still to catch up.

In the very brief history of RERA, it is worth taking a quick glimpse of what RERA has achieved by itself, and what its collateral impact has been.

A quick look at the rulings given by Maha RERA, arguably the most advanced state in implementing RERA, at the end of 2018, tells us that nearly 5,000 complaints were received and over 3,100 orders passed. Just till the end-2017, 79% rulings were in the favour of buyers. That should give us an estimate of the speed and the extent of buyer-protection that RERA offers. It is evident that as various states establish the authorities; and as these state authorities come to function at optimal efficiencies, real estate will be a radically transformed industry.

At the same time, it is imperative to check RERA’s collateral impact. We asses how prices – the best indication of the state of markets –behaved through implementation of RERA.

It is evident that while the prices had been in a steady decline between 2013 and 2016, the cycle turned negative in the period immediately following the implementation of RERA. Evidently, the sales dipped, and projects began to struggle to cope with the rigorous requirements of the now regulated industry. It is well-known that residential real estate creation was historically dependent on customer advances. As customers booked homes, the initial capital flowed in. Stage-wise payments from customers ensured that the construction process remained a customer-funded activity.

Often, in the absence of a transparent mechanism and due to lack of disclosure mechanisms, the payments thus received were deployed in other projects as well. One of the fundamental changes brought about by RERA was a halt to this practice of diversion of funds to other projects or land purchases. 75% of the funding received for a certain project, was to be deposited in escrow and full disclosures were required. This did create a grind for the developers, who could no more use customer advances for any activity other than what it was meant for.

It should be remembered that this period of negative growth in prices coincides with, and is closely linked to, some other remarkable events, namely, demonetisation, temporary ban on construction in Mumbai, implementation of GST, and a little later, the liquidity crisis of 2018. All of these, along with RERA, contributed to the slowdown in the industry, leading to falling sales every successive half-year as well as negative price growth. GST implementation, the other structural change apart from RERA, can be said to have contributed significantly to the ways of doing business in residential real estate.

The downward movement in prices has been increasingly arrested in 2018 and continues along the upward path. It can be understood that while the flurry of reforms and various policy measures sent successive shock-waves in the real estate industry, the eventual acceptance of the new reality is sinking in. The supply side has clearly begun learning the dynamics of this ‘changed’ environment, and has been redrawing its business models.

In the years pre-dating RERA, customer grievances were addressed in the courts, for which buyers were usually neither capable nor had the sustenance for long-drawn cases. RERA has definitely eased life for them. But, this is just one part of the benefit. People do not buy houses to fight cases. Homes are for living and usually bought once in a lifetime, with the savings of a lifetime. Such a purchase needs greater scrutiny as well as protection.

The greatest protection for demand side comes in the form of much higher transparency and an assurance on proper deployment of funds by builders. Similarly, alterations to promised layouts or designs are not possible anymore, at least under normal circumstances. RERA seeks to establish information symmetry, and as it is implemented across the country, we should have a market which is open to scrutiny and is transparent.

It has been vigorously argued on numerous platforms whether these changes, of which RERA happened to be the first link in the chain, have been worth the pain. However, it is evident that RERA is the need of the hour and is here to stay. The two years since it was born, have been turbulent, arguably making it look bigger than it is. There is little doubt, nonetheless, that it has altered an industry that was often opaque at best, or, notoriously oblivious to customer interests at worst.

Source: www.thepropertytimes.in/rera-act-completing-2-years-influence-real-estate-industry

Unfilled gaps can be a source for moisture

Detect Issues

Gap noted in between rainwater outlet pipe & roof flooring.

Describe Issues

Rainwater outlet is duct wall mounted. Gap noted in between rainwater outlet pipe & roof flooring. This will cause rainwater to seep in through the gap between rainwater outlet pipe & roof flooring. If gap not uniformly sealed at right time, water will spread in attached/ associated areas below roof and cause severe damage in the long run. Thereby hassle residents in future with high repair cost and unhealthy living conditions.

Direct Solutions

We recommend floor outlet to be cleaned by wire brushing & uniform grouting with ’tile grout’/ non-shrink grout by professional plumber.

5 Reasons: An NRI must Opt for a 360-degree Property Care Service

NRI investment in India’s real estate property market has risen over the last three years. Post implementation of the Real Estate Act (RERA) in 2016, things are finally looking up. Now, there is regained price stability in the residential property market. Further, backed by lucrative rentals and somewhat flexible lending policies, investments are again back on the track. However, if you already own a property in India, you would know that managing the property while living in a different part of the world / city is not an easy task!

Until recently, NRI homeowners would entrust the duty of managing their properties in India with traditional brokers. The brokers with little knowledge about homecare would only repair or repaint a house when the homeowners’ return date was near. They never bothered to look beyond the superficial damages of the house. As a result, the condition of the property would deteriorate forcing homeowners to make a hurried comeback to sell it off. Mounting legal issues related to tenancy and other outside factors would also wait for them whenever they made a homecoming plan.

Nowadays, there is a shift in practice. NRIs are now seeking the expertise of professional homecare management companies to take complete care of their properties. They are now realizing that homecare is not just about supervising and superficially repairing the damages in a building. It includes a whole set of services that allow the inmates of the house to live safely in it. Home and property care, in a true sense, can be the key to achieving a better quality of life in terms of safety, security and health.

Here are five good reasons why as an NRI you too must opt for a complete property management solution for your India home instead of engaging a broker or a liaison:

1. Onsite, dedicated property management

Owning a property and taking good care of it are two different stories. There are a thousand hassles to deal with on a day-to-day basis. You have plumbing problems to solve, broken roof and leaky ceilings to repair, flaky walls to re-plaster, weeds to remove from the terrace and adjoining areas, rent to collect from the tenants, taxes to pay on time, and so on! It is impossible for you to do all that while living in a different country altogether.

Gone are the times when you could entrust the duties on a friend or a relative. That person would visit your house at regular intervals and do the chores for you. Today, everyone is busy and it is not possible for anyone to take care of someone else’s property in a dedicated manner. Also, you cannot bank on that person’s knowledge level of property care.

For instance, you cannot expect him to know that a mouldy, wet patch on a wall is due to a deeper and more serious problem like damp. There can be leakage/seepage inside the fabric of the building which may need an urgent waterproofing. But since it cannot be diagnosed from outside, it remains largely unresolved. Every year, during monsoon, the situation keeps worsening leading to huge financial loss at a later stage.

Engaging a property / home inspection company can address such a gross lack of care. They send their team of experts to our house. The experts conduct in-depth damp/seepage assessment periodically, using advanced technologies like thermal imaging and share detailed reports and images with you via email. Based on their assessment and suggestions, you can get the required repairing and waterproofing done in a timely manner.

The inspection can cover all the elements of your house including the wall, ceiling, floor, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical, etc. Besides, you can also highlight concerns on any specific issue regarding the property and the home inspectors will pay attention to it.

2. Prompt handling of tenancy and encroachment problems

Leaving a property vacant and unattended for long can give rise to several problems. Some damages can go unnoticed for days, valuable items can go missing, and fines may be levied on your bills due to the delayed payment. In worst cases, squatters may move in pretending to be your tenants or new owners! To save your property from any such damage and miscreants it is better to rent it out to people matching your criteria.

By hiring a property management company, you can easily get in touch with interested parties matching your criteria. The company advertises your property, helps you to shortlist tenants, and also provides you with drafting assistance for standard rent agreement. Once rented out, the company collects the rent on your behalf and manages renewals from time to time.

However, if you want to keep your house vacant but secured from encroachment, you can also opt for fencing or any other safety measure. The property management service provider makes the necessary arrangements.

3. Buying/ selling/ advertising assistance for your property

One of the recent The Hindu BusinessLine report noted, “They (NRIs) are not coming home as much as buying homes.”

NRI investment in India’s real estate sector stands around 30-35 per cent of the total NRI remittances. According to a World Bank report, the country received US$80 billion in remittances in 2018, out of which nearly US$13 billion worth of investments were in the real estate sector.

So, it totally makes sense of you to be in the big league of NRI real estate market investors. But, are you aware of the nitty-gritty of buying a property in India? Or, if you are wearing the hat of a seller, do you know how to go about selling a property as an NRI?

Buying or selling properties requires a huge amount of research and paperwork. It is impossible for you to manage everything from abroad. If you hire a home / property care management service it provides you with a 360-degree solution for your property buying / selling needs.

4. Supervision during construction is critical

While buying an under-construction property it always helps if you are able to visit the site in person. But if you are an NRI you cannot do that. In that case, the property management companies fill the gap.

The property managers get down to guiding you from the very start of the building construction. They visit the site and keep updating you about the progress at each phase. They also send you photos and video clips for your ready reference from time to time. They constantly coordinate with the developer for any ongoing rectification and take proactive participation in property financing and legal matters and any kind of documentation.

Additionally, some renowned property care management brands such as MACJ also provide you with references of interior decorators and other vendors. You can check them and plan your next steps conveniently.

5. Ensuring if your property is ready for moving in

Trust deficit with builders is a big issue in case of NRI property investors. If you are not knowledgeable enough about construction, chances are that you will be cheated by your builder before the handover and you will not know! You will only start to discover the faults once you have moved in and that will add to your cost and frustration. To avoid that, it is important that you get your property thoroughly checked by a team of professionals.

The property inspection company inspects the completed property, reports any visual defect to the developer as well as to you and gets it repaired before handover. After that, you can safely move in to enjoy a peaceful stay at your new home.

Owning a property in your home country is a great thing. The property not only serves as a good source of income by grossing decent returns but also gives you a sense of security for the later years of life. However, if you cannot manage it properly, you end up losing more than you gain. So, catch up with the changing trends. Do not let time and ill-maintenance erode your asset’s value. Go, opt for a complete property care management solution and enjoy a stress-free homecoming every year.

For details you can also refer to www.macj-abuyerschoice.com/complete-property-care-for-nris-cccs

MACJ – A Buyer’s Choice opens a brand new avenue for skill development and employment opportunities

Unlike the multi-billion dollar real estate industry in the US where every eight of ten homes for sale/rent/bank mortgage requires clearance from a home inspection audit team, professional home inspection and certification is a new concept in India. Essentially, home inspectors check out commercial and residential properties to determine if they satisfy global safety and quality codes, certify electrical/plumbing systems, and flag systemic faults for repair so that purchasers (and their financiers) are fully informed before sales contracts are finalised.

With India emerging as a favoured property investment destination of non-resident Indians, and an increasing number of savvy home buyers demanding sound construction practices and titles before investing their life’s savings in a property, home inspection companies, firms and consultancies have mushroomed. Notable among them are MACJ — A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (Kolkata); Homeinspektor (Bangalore); E-ghar (Ghaziabad); Meazurement Home Services (Mumbai) and CheckMyProp (Pune). Moreover, the recently legislated Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA), 2016, whose prime objective is to protect home purchasers, has given the business of independent, third-party property inspections and certification a big boost.

Study programmes. Arts/science/commerce/civil engineering/electrical engineering graduates are eligible to enroll for short-term certificate/diploma courses covering real estate principles and practices offered by the Mumbai-based Real Estate Management Institute (REMI) or the Pune-based India Institute of Real Estate (IIRA), among a few others. Ideally, this diploma programme needs to be supplemented by the online home inspection certification programme offered by InterNachi — the world’s largest association of property inspectors based in the US — or Inspection Certifications Associates (ICA), also US-based.

Career progression. The remuneration packages of home inspectors vary depending on individual skills, size of projects and number of inspections conducted. Starting salary is in the range of Rs.30,000-40,000 per month. However, a senior/lead home inspector with three-five years experience can expect to earn Rs.60,000-100,000.

“The real estate industry whose annual revenue is set to touch $180 billion (Rs.12.3 lakh crore) by 2020, is one of the largest contributors to the country’s GDP, providing livelihood to 52 million people. The industry is experiencing a fundamental shift towards professionalism, credibility, and transparency. It is also adopting international standards and cutting-edge technologies to change age-old practices. In the new-age real estate industry, home inspection, which is critical for ensuring buyer satisfaction, has emerged as an important function. Youth aspiring to explore this new vocation must be ready and willing to work long hours on sites, and develop the virtues of patience, time management and communication capability,” says Yamini Sureka, founder-director of the Kolkata-based MACJ — A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections Pvt. Ltd, and India’s first InterNachi certified home inspector.

An English postgraduate of Rajasthan University who moved to Kolkata after her marriage, Sureka began her career in home inspection services after co-promoting MACJ with her husband Mahendra in 2015. Several months prior, she completed the real estate inspection certification programmes of InterNachi and ICA, USA. Currently, she is a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, USA and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

“We are the first company in India to offer professional home inspection services in collaboration with A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections, a premier American multinational with offices in 19 countries. Over the past three years, we have successfully expanded our footprint and set up offices in Pune, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.

Moreover, partnering with an established global brand has enabled us to employ modern tools and technologies in home inspection and become acquainted with global best practices,” says Sureka, who has thus far completed 750 property inspections.

Sureka predicts a great future for home inspectors in India. “Given the imminent boom in real estate and rising awareness of the importance of best construction practices which ensure buyer protection and satisfaction, the demand for home inspectors is set to grow exponentially, providing bright career opportunities for youth,” she says.

Source: www.educationworld.co/Magazines/EWIssueSection.aspx?Issue=June_2018&Section=Career_Focus

by MACJ-ABCHI News

Home buyers to pay in accordance with a project’s progress: MP-RERA

Bhopal

Government boards and authorities involved in housing projects cannot charge money from buyers in a fixed date linked schedule — a practice common in Madhya Pradesh till now. Boards and authorities will now charge money on the basis of the completion stages of a project or in construction-linked payment module.

After coming across several complaints related to housing projects by government organisations, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) observed that the money charged by government agencies was not connected with the actual construction while, ideally, people should be asked to pay in accordance with the progress of a project, RERA observed.

RERA has requested the state government to correct its price charging structure after which the government recently issued circular to all boards and authorities to do the needful.

So far, irrespective of a project that has started or been completed, the government boards and authorities would charge money in a fixed slot of three-month, six-month and on yearly instalments. The buyers would be fined if they do not pay the instalment on the fixed date.

Government boards and corporations often roll out major real estate projects in a city. In Bhopal, the most prestigious housing projects are of the housing board and Bhopal Development Authority.

RERA chairman Antony de Sa said a government agency — be it a board or authority — can charge money in a dated schedule only if the project is complete. But if a project has been announced or is an on-going one, the money demanded from buyers has to be linked with construction, he added.

RERA has received around 40 complaints with regard to impractical payment structures by the government agencies. Housing projects by government agencies would also have to mention delivery date. It is not mentioned in the projects yet.

Similarly, the government agencies would also not be able to do cost escalation of land in a project on a yearly basis. It would be restricted only till the due date of project completion.

If a property was due for completion in the year 2015, the agencies, in case of delay, cannot charge yearly cost escalation on land, the officials added.

Source – www.realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/home-buyers-to-pay-in-accordance-with-a-projects-progress-mp-rera/68625447