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Luxury Homes in Calicut

How to find the right builder for your new home

When you are all set to make the biggest investment in life – Building your dream home, you will want to be sure you get it right. Before you start the question of how to find the right builder for your new home? comes to your mind. You need to select the right home builder for your needs and budget. Here are a few tips to start to your search.

  • Identify your needs: You should decide what type of home you want and need and how much you want to spend & search for builders who fit your requirement.
  • Consult the experts: Talk to the experts like Lenders, Real Estate Agents, Building Material Suppliers, Builders’ Associations etc. to get an insight on the builders in the area.
  • Look for quality: After getting a list of builders who match your criteria, visit their model homes and if possible, homes they have under construction. Pay close attention to the quality of workmanship and materials used in their homes.
  • Get it in writing: Ensure the builder is prepared to give costs, materials and other extras included in writing. Also draw up a contract with price and timings

Take your Time!

Take your time to decide as it is a major life decision and consider which Builder will really be the best fit for you. You’ll be living with that decision for years to come so give yourself time to ponder and evaluate.

 

August 17, 2017

Personality and Interior Design. How can design translate a person’s personality and mode of life?

How can personality & interior design be related? Just look around you & it is seen that many factors do underline this question. At first glance you can see the interior of your space can describe the personality of the owner inhabiting the design line.

Our existence gravitates around our relationships and our unique qualities, perspective, interpretation and dreams! All these are influenced by several thousands of parameters which are subdued to our personality that inner factor.

Our personality defines us and we involuntarily shape our life around it, submissive to it, it`s the mysterious force that attracts people or repels them. The personality commands everything indirectly, the pattern we will choose, the color we will prefer in different unknown situations, the texture that we consider fit, proper, and comfortable. We know what feels right & what fits us!

A quality interior design fits the owner’s needs & can be felt properly by the owner and attributed to him. It talks about the owner & makes a style statement for the owners.

The question is how can design translate a person’s personality and mode of life?

Let’s check out the different styles of Interior design

Minimalist Style

A style that describes an extremely organized and efficient person having a well-defined pattern in design! He is restrained to aesthetic values and this dominates the decision making, followed by material quality along with texture and efficiency. In effect we can describe the personality inhabiting the minimalist interior design would be perfectionist, methodical, efficient, determined and introverted.

Shabby Chic Interior Design

This type of interior design is defined by elegance more than anything at first glance. The inhabitant of such a space is definitely a happy, positive, friendly and social person. Light, airy, breezy and colourful interior designs are important for this person who can be described to be charismatic, highly social, artistic, fresh and in love with nature.

Vintage Interior design

In Vintage interior design is remarkable & different. All main furniture items like sofa, armchairs and an eventual desk is accessorized in a different manner. This type of interior design is complex and unique & always mirrors a highly unique inhabitant who already knows exactly what he wants.

All this points out a determined and motivated individual who could be characterised as highly complex, determined, motivated, well read and perfectionist.

Classic Interior Design

The classic interior design defines an inhabitant who respects timeless beauty. He is an elegant person interested in culture, politics and history & values comfort in limits of aesthetic values. He ensures anything that joins his scene must be as noble and elegant as him. The classic style describes a rather rigid & a highly complex personality who is noble, charming and ageless in style.

Pop Art Interior Design

Pop art is definitely cool & the interiors are highly stylish, elegant and really bold. The usage of bold colours and unconventional pieces of art is almost mandatory. The design line may define an individual with high interest in art, history and different unusual colours; he has a complex personality defined by his own perspective upon the world. An individual inhabiting such a design is complex, mysterious, different, elegant and fresh.

Our personality is shaped through time and it can greatly evolve but it never changes completely. And we can say the Interior design translates a person’s personality and mode of life. Definitely Personality & Interior design are interrelated!

July 4, 2017

Welcoming landscape offering areas of retreat, relaxation and congregation

It is human nature to desire a place to retreat, somewhere we can rest, unplug, and be at peace… a place of privacy and quiet so we can refuel and collect our thoughts or even luxuriate in keeping your mind blank!  As it happens the importance of relaxation in our increasingly challenging high-stress world cannot be overstated.  Many illnesses in fact can be linked back to stress & if we wait for our vacations to come around we could end up too stressed out to enjoy our daily lives! This is where the importance of a multi-purpose and welcoming landscape offering areas of retreat, relaxation and congregation becomes crucial.

Most of us can’t afford the time or expense to travel and stay at a luxury hotel more often. What if we can use open spaces & create a relaxing retreat out of it? With the right kind of designs, you can even transform your backyard into a private retreat. After a long day cooped up in the busy office it can be your private haven to unwind peacefully in the fresh air!

Or maybe you can go on vacation in your own backyard by creating a complete outdoor living oasis with everything you would need for hours of outdoor activity. You can start by taking into account the needs and desires of your family to determine the right design approach for your personal retreat. If children are involved then consider their friends as well as an entertaining space for the adults. Once the scale and scope of the project are determined, let’s consider the elements that will have to be included.

Earth

Define your theme or concept, and then pick your organic and inorganic earth elements to successfully achieve your goals. Your backyard retreat need not be restricted by the style of your homes architecture or the neighborhood. If you want a tropical or Mediterranean feel in your landscape, use your ‘Earth’ element choices to achieve your goals. For example, choose plants with large, loose, colorful and informal foliage & unique paving stones to complete the style. Large pots and urns filled with exotic oversized annuals can be used throughout.

Fire

An outdoor fireplace will create a gathering location and define a significant architectural element in your retreat. Be it for the warmth on a chilly evening, a meal on the grill, or the visual attraction of flames and glowing coals, a fire is bound to enrich your space. Designs & products have vastly expanded the opportunities and characteristic of fire elements in the landscape.  Creative stand alone fire pits and unique gas flame features have become the recent trends. A built in fireplace or a portable fire pit – the choices are extensive!

Water

Water has many possibilities in design. A bubbling fountain, a naturalistic pond or a swimming pool can add to the charm of your space. If it is a stand-alone fountain you prefer there are innumerable possibilities -From old world European to modern contemporary style, they can become a sculptural accent in any open space! A naturalistic pond with waterfalls reminiscent of a country creek with fish and water plantings of all sorts is also an option to make your retreat more beautiful. As for a swimming pool, it can provide an attractive and active central water feature to build your entire backyard retreat around. Design your pool to accommodate both your practical uses and style preferences. A pool can also serve as a place for your family & friends togather.

June 29, 2017

How to utilize the Space in our Dream Home?

As the saying goes there’s no place like home. It’s the place where your family spends time together & it’s your sanctuary from the rest of the world & where you feel most comfortable and relaxed. The question, How to utilize the Space in our Dream Home? taxes your brain more often – Just sit back & relax…

Your home is the place you live your life. But when it’s cluttered it feels chaotic and stressful. Loads of items to sort, and things to clean up can be truly overwhelming.

But not to worry!

You can get back your space and turn your house into a home of your dreams!  You can utilise the precious space in your home & create a welcoming space reflecting your personality & style filled only with the things that give you joy and fulfill your needs.

Here’s a rundown on how you jump start the process!

Clean out the clutter & look around your home. Check out your hobbies & see if you can manage spaces to accommodate them. If you do love to entertain, your home needs to have space for hosting and lots of space to sit down. Try going for an extendable table. If you are a family of readers, try to bring in a small library area and a reading corner where you can enjoy all our books.

For some families, a dedicated space the choices may be different! For a chef or an avid baker, a house with a well-stocked kitchen might be the thing. A space for sewing or crafting could be the need, or they might just want a nice place to relax and watch movies. Perhaps they need the space for inspiration to create art or music.

It’s the time to reflect on how you use your space now and what you really value about your home’s layout and arrangement & make changes accordingly. Try to make good use of spaces under the staircase or staircase landings. Build customized storage units to store your hobby knick knacks.

As you go about reorganizing and uncluttering your home, think about the purpose of each room, and the job of each and every item within each room. Just follow the rule, have nothing in your houses that you don’t know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

Generally speaking, while you may envision a grand layout for your home, with grand furniture and décor consider the needs of your children and pets & your busy schedule. Instead of a formal décor arranging rooms so they’re comfortable and functional is key to transforming your house into the best home possible for you and your family.

Now that you have ideas as to how to utilize the Space in our Dream Home, what are you waiting for? Just get going!

June 27, 2017

RAINING HERE! HAVE YOU INSULATED YOUR HOME AGAINST “WET” YET?

Now the monsoons have come & rains have started. The question arises Have you insulated your home against “wet” yet? 

Rains bring with them moisture to our homes,  much to our discomfort. Moisture exists in the air around us which makes it easy for many molds & mites to thrive. Normally a 50 percent level of indoor humidity is usually considered a healthy level as it is comfortable for humans and it also discourages the growth of mites & molds in that environment. But what happens when your moisture levels cross that level?
Some moisture is essential in the air you breathe, but too much moisture in your home can cause problems. It can even lead to damage of the building. Structural wood may rot and drywall can swell.  If moisture gets into your insulation, the insulation will not work as well as it should, and your heating and cooling bills will increase.

Moisture enters your home through rain, either falling on a leaky roof, wind-driven against a poorly-sealed wall, or collecting against (and eventually leaking through) the walls of your basement. The most noticeable are Roof leaks which must be repaired immediately. But rain coming through a wall is less visible, especially if it is a relatively small leak and the water remains inside the wall cavity. These leaks may occur around window or door frame, & can be repaired by replacing any missing or cracked caulking. Sump pumps may be used to handle rain seeping through the ground into your basement which may appear as damp, moldy walls. When moisture condenses inside a wall, mold and mildew grow in moist areas, causing allergic reactions and damaging buildings.

Roofing panels are made of polyurethane foam (PUF) sandwiched between layers of waterproof and non-corrosive material can be used to insulate the ceilings of houses.  These pre-fabricated roofing panels are designed to withstand the forces of nature and the passage of time. They also effectively restrict the transmission of heat by 5-6 degrees, and absorb as well as reduce the noise of rain. These roofing panels are aesthetically designed, sound-proof and weather-resistant. Being corrosion-free, these panels require low maintenance and durable in nature, making them a cost-effective roofing solution.

Insulation boards help to keep floors, external walls insulated from heat/moisture ingress. They ensure an even temperature across the interiors. This insulation system is perfectly suitable for varying Indian climatic conditions.

So now no more waiting! Just go ahead & insulate your house against wet! Happy Monsoons…

June 20, 2017
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What’s So Important About The Kitchen Anyway?

When a couple buys or builds a home, they always seem to pay a lot of attention to the kitchen.  With most couples, there’s usually one person who loves to cook; most often it’s the women.  For everyone, male or female, young or old, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house.  The kitchen is often the hub of the home, the center of activity.  Someone spends time preparing food, creating something fun, or trying a new recipe in it.  People tend to gather where there’s food.  So don’t miss this:  Kitchens are important!

Men sometimes underestimate the importance of this room.  We love our garages, grills, decks, and patios.  But the kitchen?  We can completely miss it’s importance.

It’s important to remember when you are designing a home to consider the resale value and design accordingly.  A well-designed and functional kitchen not only makes the cook happy, it also ensures a greater resale value.

A person who loves to cook or create culinary masterpieces for family and friends absolutely needs a spacious and well-appointed kitchen.  On the other hand, if a cook wants to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen, then your design and layout can be simpler.

When selecting kitchen cabinets, look for quality.  This is not the place to be overly consumed with trying to save money.  Well-made cabinets will provide lasting pleasure and functionality for decades.  Drawers (as opposed to cabinets with doors) are more useful and efficient even compared to cabinets with pullout drawers.  In addition, choose hard surface, durable, and high quality counter tops.  There are a variety of colors and selections available.  Granite is an ideal counter surface for the most important room in the house.

What about appliances?  Don’t skimp here, either.  You don’t have to purchase the absolute top of the line, but good quality appliances help sell homes.  Today it’s becoming very popular to have two dishwashers.  Often the cost of an additional dishwasher is only slightly more than the cost of the additional cabinetry it replaces.

In order to make the most important room in your house spectacular, consider adding some of these other features: warming drawers, double ovens, convection microwaves, pot fillers, espresso and coffee bars, hidden pantries, elevated dishwashers for easy access, vegetable sinks in the island, and purified water faucets.

When you design your home, be sure the kitchen is given special consideration and that its relationship to other rooms, functions, and features are the best you can provide.  It will make a difference for years to come.

May 10, 2017
Builders in Calicut, Top builder in Calicut, List of builders in Calicut

How To Find The Right Builder For Your New Home

 

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Choosing the right home building firm for your needs is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your home-buying process. Fortunately, there are some proven ways to speed up the process as you research and select a quality builder.

  1. Define your needs: What size, type and price range of home do you need?
  2. Experience counts: Every home building firm once built their first home. And many new home building firms were started by experienced veterans of other builders. Don’t overly discount a new firm – especially if their team includes seasoned pros – but do look for strong experience overall and in the type of home you seek.
  3. Consult with Past Home Buyers: Check for references from past home buyers of the firm. Are they satisfied?
  4. Verify the builder is licensed: Make sure you’re working with a licensed and insured builder to ensure that you are covered during the building process.
  5. View Their Portfolio: it’s likely you already have a style for your new home in mind. Make sure your builder has a portfolio that includes at least a few examples of the style of home you want. For example, a builder whose portfolio consists entirely of traditional homes may not be the best fit for the contemporary home you’re dreaming of.
  6. Resale Value:Good reputations follow good builders, among homeowners and Realtors. Look for builders whose homes tend to hold or maintain their value. Look for Realtor ads that specifically mention the name of a builder for a home for sale that’s now five or seven years old. That Realtor clearly sees the builder’s brand name as a big plus.
  7. Look for signs of quality:Look for signs of quality construction and attention to detail when you visit the homes above. Also consider the building products that a builder uses. Are they brands with well-earned reputations for quality? What about the homes under construction you passed on the way to the completed model home? Were there signs of care and attention there, as well?

Last, look for the quality of people who work for the builder: Did the builder’s employees show sincere interest in you and your needs? Did they listen carefully? Did they provide good answers to your questions? Were they courteous, prompt and professional in your interactions with them in the model home, sales centre or builder’s office?

March 22, 2017
Builders in Calicut, Top builder in Calicut, List of builders in Calicut

Important points that you must keep in mind while giving your property on rent….!!!

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Giving a house on rent is a Herculean task. From finding the right tenant to deciding on the rent, there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind while renting out your property. To make this process easier, we have put together some points to help you rent out your property

Prepare the house 

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Before looking for a tenant, every landlord has to prepare their house. Make sure you clean the house thoroughly and check all appliances are in a working condition. Address potential problem areas including roof leaks, clogged gutters, leaky faucets or pipes, electrical outlets etc. Make sure the floors, windows, and blinds are all well cleaned.

DECIDING RENT

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Once you prepared your house the next step is to ascertain the correct rent amount. It is crucial because in such a competitive market you can’t ask for more than the market rate. Doing so will put off potential tenants. However, if your house is better maintained and furnished than that of others, you can charge a premium. Therefore, the main factors that decide the rent are capital value, amenities provided, location and demand.

 

PREPARATION OF LEASE AGREEMENT

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A rental agreement is a legal document that binds the tenant and the landlord to comply with mutually agreed terms and condition. Utmost care needs to be taken while drafting a rental agreement and it should state all the terms and conditions clearly. Here are some of the points you need to consider while finalizing the agreement:

  1. Rent and Deposit
  2. Maintenance, Electricity and Water Charges
  3. Damages, Repairs and Alterations
  4. Tenant’s Responsibilities and Tasks
  5. Owner’s Responsibilities and Tasks
  6. Lease Termination or Extension
  7. Miscellaneous clauses, including the notice period and any other specific condition both parties have agreed on.

REGISTER THE LEASE

After preparing the lease agreement, the most important task is to get it registered, as per Section 17 of the Registration Act 1908, it is compulsory to get the agreement registered only if the lease period is more than 11 months. For registration, stamp duty and registration fee have to be paid.

Take a security deposit

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A security deposit provides monetary security to the landlord, in case of any damage to the property. The tenant receives the deposit back at the end of the lease, minus any deductions for repairs/restoration. The amount to be collected as security deposit varies from city to city. In Chennai, a recent ruling by the court limits the security deposit to one month’s advance rent.

 

March 15, 2017
list of builders in calicut

How to take care of your wooden furniture

Wooden furniture is the most commonly found accessory around your home and whether it is the antique furniture in your living room or that gorgeous dining table that you feast on, all of them require care.

furniture

Here are a few tips to help keep that gloss and shine on your wooden furniture last much longer than usual. Here’s how to take care of furniture, the right way.

  1. To clean the finish on your wood furniture just use warm water and mild dish soap. Cleaning furniture with water won’t hurt it — just be careful not to soak it. Use an old toothbrush for hard-to-get areas. Wipe the dirt off the surface with soft cloths or paper towels until they come up fairly clean. Then dry off any residual moisture with a soft cloth.
  2. After a good cleaning, the best way to protect the finish is to use a good-quality soft paste wax. Apply a thin coat as directed on the label. Wait five minutes and buff lightly with a soft (shoe) brush or cloth. Wait another 30 to 60 minutes and buff/brush again with a bit more vigor. You’ll see a beautiful shine return to the finish that will last for many months.
  3. Keep your furniture out of the sun. The temperature of the summer sun coming through a window can go above 140 degrees. It will cook fine finishes, fading and destroying them over time, and dry out and shrink the wood, which will cause cracks.
  4. For a quick-fix touch up, use the appropriate colour shoe polish on scratches and chips, especially to make them less visible on the feet of furniture. Carefully using a matching-colour felt-tip marker first will hide it even better.
  5. When polishing metal hardware, take it off the furniture first. Take your time and make a note to remember what piece goes back where. Use a quality metal polish to get it shining again. Once it’s buffed, put it back on, being careful not to scratch the wood surfaces. I recommend that you don’t try to do this all at one time. It can be a lot of work, so take a few days, doing a few pieces at a time, instead of getting tired and frustrated with trying to do too much.
  6. There are several ways to remove the white hazy ring or spot that the hot coffee mug or hot pizza box made on your table. The least invasive way is to rub it with a mild abrasive, such as non-gel toothpaste mixed with baking soda or cooking oil mixed with ashes. You can rub it in a small spot with your finger or use a soft cloth on larger areas.

 

February 21, 2017
luxury homes in calicut

How to Build Your Dream Home!!!!

How to Build Your Dream Home!!!!1. GET REAL ABOUT YOUR BUDGET.

The primary source of conflict and melodrama in the building process is budget. Set your number, and then listen. If you have a reputable builder or contractor, trust him or her to tell you what things cost. And don’t get stuck on the cost-per-square-foot metric.

Contact your builder and architect walk you through your options and explain how real-time costs are established.

2. CONSIDER YOUR HOME NEEDS.
Check on your lifestyle. What do you do and what do you need in your home in order to live comfortably in it? Do you need your own recreation area? Or a home library? Or a pool? List down what you want to have and what you truly need for a home. This can be a good guide for you in designing your dream house.

3.  SELECT YOUR TEAM.

In a perfect world, you would have your builder, architect, designer, landscape architect. Your team will take things like sun orientation, zoning, setbacks, area-coverage restrictions, and height restrictions into consideration while you’re going on and on about how “pretty” the views are.

4.  COMMUNICATE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Utilize technology—many builders have special websites or apps that outline the plan and keep track of progress. Text and e-mail your builder as necessary; it’s great for quick decisions and creates a record of your interaction. Insist on transparency. Look at the invoices and keep track of costs.

5. MOVE IN AND ENJOY.
After months of building your home, you will be able to occupy it. Do not forget to work on the permit to occupy your home. Move in your home and enjoy your stay in your dream house. Add in some decorations if you want to in order to complete to your homes look.

February 1, 2017