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

Don’t go for temporary solution, choose permanent one

Detect Issues

Door frame & wall junction sealed with putty filler.

Describe Issues

Both materials, i.e. door frame and wall, being different have different thermal movements. Putty being a rigid filler material, will peel off during operation of frame. This will create a moisture path, hence affecting the associated areas in long run. If not taken care at right time can generate a problem for occupants.

Direct Solutions

We recommend gap around frame along wall junction to be uniformly sealed with silicone sealant in dry condition as per manufacturer’s specification.

8 Safety measures you need to take in your Homes

Be Safe Be Alert

1. Buy (deadbolt and chain) Locks

For added safety, consider installing a deadbolt and chain lock if your door doesn’t already have them. A deadbolt is more secure and difficult to pick than a standard doorknob lock, because the deadbolt only opens by rotating the lock cylinder, whereas a spring bolt lock can be withdrawn by applying force to the bolt itself. Additionally, a chain lock provides an extra layer of security when opening your door, allowing you to open your door to an extent only to talk to a stranger or ask for identification, before opening up completely.

2. Lighting in the apartment

An apartment with lots of lights is rarely at risk. One can have an entryway and the sideways flooded with lights which will make it easier for anyone to recognise strangers.

3. Buy Good Blinds / Curtains

This will prevent robbers from looking inside your home and being tempted by all the valuables they see. Install blinds / curtains that completely block the view from outside, and make sure to close them when you go out. That way, you’ll keep the wandering eyes from scanning your valuables and reduce your risk of break-ins.

4. Use a Safe

A safe can be a last line of defense to protect your most valuable possessions. Items such as jewelry, cash and sensitive documents can be locked away in a fireproof case. Find a safe that fits your budget and needs, and talk to your carpenter about bolting it to a floor or wall, so a burglar can’t pick it up and take it.

5. Install a Security System

CCTV cameras have become a must nowadays. Have them installed in strategic positions which will cover the key areas of your home. And needless to say install the app in your phone also. In that way you can keep an eye even in your absence. Work to make sure your residence is secure, and take personal steps to keep it that way.

6. Keep a written schedule or reminders of events

If you’re expecting a package through a company jot down the estimated date of arrival. Schedule all appointments, such as cable / internet company, electric, equipment servicing or other necessary needs at a specific date and time. Be sure that you get identification prior to allowing them in, even if it’s having them slide a badge under the door if there isn’t a peephole available.

7. Be careful on how and whom you notify when leaving your apartment

Never, under any circumstances, leave short notes on your doors for others that reside with you. You will never know who is around while you’re gone. Always give the intended party a short call or text message letting them know your whereabouts, even if it’s a short trip to the store. Always contact nearby family and friends when planning on leaving for a longer time duration.

8. Neighbors make a huge difference in the quality of life

We should have some amount of rapport with our neighbours and other residents. It’ll give us a sense of security of knowing those living around us. Offer a hand to your elderly neighbors, such as carrying groceries from their car. Living in a complex may gives us a chance to befriend each other and create a healthy bond. By this, we can be of help to each other. Treat their packages left outside like your own and leave it by their doorstep instead of ignoring it as you pass by.

Throughout the year, the facility manager or the person in charge is required to check the maintenance of the overall building and your own apartment, such as proper lighting, smoke detectors, and apartment inspections. Usually a note to all residents will be posted somewhere near the main entrance or mailboxes prior to the intended date. They may also need a secondary person to assist with assignments, so thoroughly read any notices to be aware of the situation.

Keep your home healthy – Protect it from Concealed Damp / Seepage – A Silent Killer

Worried about the Health Condition of your Loved Ones? Are they falling Sick? Your home’s hidden damp / seepage / leakage issues can be a reason it can also lead to bigger health problems.

Health issues: Health concerns around mold include infections, allergenic or immunological illness, and non-allergic illness. Asthma is also triggered by the sensitization of dust mites accruing humid, wet regions of a structure. Another health effect associated with structural dampness is the presence of bacteria in an indoor environment. Bacteria require water to grow and multiply. Bacteria are a source for the transmission of diseases, therefore putting occupants’ health at risk by water intrusion into the indoor environment. Water removal and drying of wet building materials at the earliest will likely prevent mold and bacteria growth, therefore reducing occupants’ vulnerability to disease.

Common health hazards include:

  • Upper respiratory (nasal and throat) symptoms
  • Asthma symptoms in sensitized persons with asthma
  • Cough
  • Wheeze
  • Allergies
    Skin Diseases.

It is important to find and resolve the sources of moisture / leakage. As per our understanding there are sources of moisture / leakage that needs to be taken care of and solutions to be determined.