Dos and don’ts for relocating a house

May 2019

Shifting from one home to another, can be a tedious process. We look at some simple ways in which home owners can make the relocation process stress-free 

People often relocate to different locations, to pursue lucrative job opportunities. This is especially true of today’s millennials, who live in rental homes and shift within the same city or different cities. Hence, one has to ensure that the process of packing and moving, remains stress-free and smooth. Deepu Chandran, co-founder and CEO of Pikkol, a technology-centric relocation service provider, points out that renting and co-living trends are on the rise, with millennials moving into a new home every 11 or 12 months. “They have no qualms about moving into a new location or a new city, if they perceive certain advantages to their lifestyle or career. With the growth of the residential real estate sector, the options for property seekers in metropolitan and tier-2 cities, have increased exponentially, boosting mobility,” adds Chandran.

Credits : freepik.com

How to plan for a relocation when living on rent

Priyanka Mullick, an account executive, who came to Mumbai from Kolkata with only a few bags, maintains that packing and moving requires planning, in advance. “When I started working in Mumbai, I shifted along with my roommate, without taking any professional help. Now, I have mastered the art of packing. One has to pack wisely. For example, I even use the pressure cooker, to keep things in it. Simply fill the insides of all spaces, with something smaller. Always use good quality boxes to carry stuff and ensure that each box is not very heavy. Also, if one lives on rent, it is better to collect as few things as possible, to reduce the load when shifting. I am now a cautious buyer and believe in de-cluttering and getting rid of things that are not required,” Mullick explains.

​The advantage of selecting a professional relocation service provider

Although there are many online platforms offering packers and movers’ services, a lion’s share of them are lead-sharing platforms or are based on the marketplace model, where the requirement is ultimately fulfilled by a local vendor. “An individual faces many issues when it comes to moving to a new city, starting from packing and moving, to unpacking and getting settled into the new home. Professional relocation service providers are, ideally, those who can be your ‘companion’, ensuring that when someone moves to a new city, they are not just packing and unpacking their household goods. Hence, there is an increasing demand, for relocation services globally,” says Aakanksha Bhargava, CEO PM Relocations Pvt Ltd (PMR).

How to choose a credible, professional mover and packer

The choice of a professional mover, should only be done after a thorough research. “The major deciding factor, when choosing a professional relocation company, should always be the quality of the service, instead of the cost alone,” adds Bhargava. Before finalising a mover, check the credibility of their service, by reading online reviews or talking to their previous customers.

“One can spot a good service provider, by gauging the level of detail they take for the inventory. If a detailed inventory is being collected, it could mean that they care about the safety of each and every item that needs to be moved. Their online presence should be independent and not through lead-sharing platforms or marketplaces. Ensure that they provide extra services like carpenters, plumbers and other technicians, to avoid a last-minute rush, to find vendors for the same. Ensure that the price quoted for the service is final and there will not be any additions, later. The availability of online payment as an option, rather than cash, could also be a sign of transparent and reliable operations. Essentials like insurance, after-service support and a reliable customer care system, are also indicators of a trustworthy packer and mover. With a professional packer, one does not have to worry about procuring packing materials. A professional service provider will also offer options, vis-à-vis dates for relocation, additional services that may be needed while moving and transparent pricing with convenient mode of booking, payments and billing, etc.,” states Chandran.

Supervise the packing

It is advisable to be present when your belongings are being packed, loaded and unloaded. “Supervise the packing team and do not let them pack things in your absence. This will help you to organise things at the destination and also check if something is missing. In case you are hiring a professional, they will carry out this activity but do keep a copy for yourself, as well,” adds Bhargava. Once all the stuff is packed, make sure you have minimal essentials and things to eat at both, the origin and destination. If one is moving a pet along, make sure that the pet is trained to stay in a crate. If you are relocating overseas, ensure that you have all immigration and other formalities in place.

Tips, to make relocation a smooth process

• Pack things that are not needed every day, well in advance.
• When packing, label the boxes clearly, room-wise, so you know its contents.
• Pack the basic essentials that you need separately, like medicines, mobile chargers, mugs, plates, kettle, some snacks, a pair of clothes, etc.
• Always carry valuables (like bank papers, documents such as Aadhaar card, birth certificates, credit cards, passports, jewellery, etc.) yourself.
• Bubble wrap fragile things. You may need multiple layers of packing, to ensure safety from impact, moisture and static, in the case of appliances, especially for inter-city relocation.
• On the day you shift into the new house, make a prior appointment with an electrician or carpenter, to fix your gadgets and furniture in the new house.

Also read: Home Buyer's Checklist

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How to buy a home that delivers long-term ROI

May 2019

The decision to buy a property, should be based purely on the needs of the individual and the inherent value of the unit. We look at how home buyers can ascertain this, to choose a property that provides good returns on investment

With the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) coming into force, as well as various other policy initiatives such as the Benami Transactions Act and the government’s push to affordable housing, we are seeing increased activity in the residential property market in the larger cities. After the dampener of demonetisation in 2016, the positive buyer sentiment visible now is especially significant. Consequently, builders are determined to capitalise on it, via increased marketing efforts. Given that there is already a lot of supply in the residential market – a lot of it for ready possession – fresh launches have been curtailed, so that the existing inventory can be absorbed. Much of the intensified marketing efforts are centered around special deals and offers.

Credits : freepik.com

How to ascertain the real value of a home

While this may be advantageous for property buyers, they should be judicious while evaluating offers and schemes and base their purchase decisions solely on the real value of the home. Freebies such as gold, cars and household goods, have an undeniable attraction but they are fundamentally frivolous in nature and do not add to the value of the home.

The price of a home is obviously an important consideration for middle-class property buyers. However, the strategy of looking for the cheapest options on the market, does not make much sense because it is quality that determines value. In the case of residential property, the quality of an offering depends on three aspects:

• 1. The quality of the location.
• 2. The brand value of the builder.
• 3. The availability and quality of facilities and amenities in the project and in individual units.

​The importance of location in a property’s value

Central locations are traditionally the costliest, as they offer great access to many important parts of the city , such as the CBD (central business district) and SBD (secondary business district). These areas tend to host the offices of high-profile companies and offer a vast cross-section of jobs, from highly-paid management to more modestly-paid support staff jobs. Even the second category of jobs is attractive, because the growth prospects in high-profile companies, are usually very good. This is what makes living in central locations very desirable and from a real estate pricing perspective, very expensive.

In India, this mantra held true for a very long time, until the advent of the infotech culture. The IT/ITeS industry, tends to offer very good salary packages but is not focused on high-value locations. Quite to the contrary, such firms prefer to set up shop in peripheral locations, so as to save on the real estate costs. As a result, many cities’ outskirts have become very desirable places for home buyers and they are far less expensive.

For IT professionals and industrial employees, as well as property investors, buying a home in a peripheral location that connects to an IT hub and/or manufacturing belt, makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, such locations attract all kinds of developers – from those who have a reputation for creating true lifestyle value offerings, to those who specialise in constricted, ‘pigeon-hole’ homes. This is where the brand value of a developer plays a significant role.

Correlation between brand value and quality

With a lot of housing supply available in the new growth corridors, buyers are spoilt for choice. The cost of a flat is obviously important but one still only gets what one pays for. Ultimately, a home is not just an asset but one which performs the very critical functions of offering refuge, comfort and security. Buyers must look for options, which offer them these three advantages to a satisfactory level. Branded builders provide these as part of their standard value offering, because their reputation demands it.

Facilities and amenities that add value to a property

Urban life today, places a lot of stress and demands on us. Consequently, our homes cannot be mere places of refuge but must also provide healing and rejuvenation. A clubhouse, swimming pool and children’s park, are no longer luxuries but the bare minimum that Indian home buyers can and should expect. Nevertheless, even projects without such offerings will find buyers because of their lower prices. While short-listing prospects for home purchase, it is important to ensure that the final selection provides a decent lifestyle and not just an abode.

If one looks at the supply in the residential property market from this perspective, the choice of options automatically narrows down to a more manageable and comprehensive level. Buying the right home is not just about present and future comfort, but also about investment growth. Homes in good locations, built by reputed developers with a good saturation of amenities and facilities, will always yield better capital appreciation, as well as potential rental income for property investors.

Also read: Dos and don’ts for buying a property to earn rental income

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Source: housing.com