We lived in a flat(for the first time in our lives) and were comfortable with it. However, the need for companionship (meaning a dog) and the attitude of the house owner in our first flat got us to think of owning our own house.
After months of searching and checking backgrounds, we zeroed in on what we thought was a decent house for a high amount (given the locality) in a gated community. We booked the site in advance before it went for approval. Then, the long wait started. Given the state elections in 2011, approval got delayed and we waited. Finally, after changes in the layout from initial design, the approval came through late 2012.
January, 2013 we finally did the 'Bhoomi Pooja' (paying respects to Mother Earth and getting her blessings to build a house) - just the two of us with the Pujari and his assistant. For the two of us who are firm believers in a higher power but not so much in the rituals, the pooja was a simple one. The pooja was by itself not uneventful as the pujari's arrived late as do VIPs, to my utter disbelief. I was told by my family to follow one rule and that is as you know, do it in the good time (nalla neram) and not in the bad time (rahu kalam). My sister was on the phone convincing me to cool down and keep smiling and not get upset and angry. My thoughts - they who know and believe in it arrived 10 minutes before timeout and lit the lamp just in time. Further, they convinced me that you need to start it in good time - that is more important. They had their valid reasons too - the day being auspicious, the events at the temple took longer than expected. Reasonable reason - you cannot abandon one and go to another carrying godliness. So, it left me reasoning out with myself about what it all meant - whether 'choru unnu' (first meal) for kids carried precedent over 'bhoomi pooja - answer was a firm 'yes'. With that the matter was settled in my head.
For the two of us, it signaled the start of a journey and hopes.
Lessons learnt :
1. Pre-approval. If you book a house wherein approval is not yet received you are taking a big risk. The money is locked in and you might be left waiting for approval to come. The latter is dependent on a lot of factors which are independent of you.
2. Post approval. So, if you are looking at a house within a time frame, book a house that has got approval and construction is going on. In such a case, cost maybe higher but tradeoff is time.
3. Check the soil. Certain soil has the capacity that over a period of time, houses sink. It is better to be knowledgeable and check whether the foundation planned suits the same.
4. Site Selection. When given an option of selecting a site (like in a flat or layout) look at multiple factors.
i. Vaastu, especially if you are a believer.
ii. If it is a flat, pick one which does not have a door opposite you - in terms of vaastu as well as comfort (as you can never have your door open without compromising your privacy). Pick one where the balcony looks out to the garden. Check the direction of wind and see if you have windows that will enable air flow. Else, your flat will never have fresh air given that most flats have common walls. Pick a flat away from the park if you are someone who likes quiet as kids will be noisy when they play and you may not have the heart to ask them to quieten down.
iii. If it is an individual house, then look at the placing of the house, closeness to the house next door, privacy with relation to other houses. Check what will be built on all sides of the house in the future. I remember my husband's cousin complaining about the noise that came from the club house next to their house which housed various events for the community. You can change the window and door position to suit ventilation needs but not the things that are coming around your house.
5. Size. How big a house you need is based on the size of your family. We wanted a house having only a ground floor with two bed rooms. Deciding on your own is possible when you build by yourself, but in communities, the builder has basic types and you need to pick from it.
Shall continue in the next post.........
After months of searching and checking backgrounds, we zeroed in on what we thought was a decent house for a high amount (given the locality) in a gated community. We booked the site in advance before it went for approval. Then, the long wait started. Given the state elections in 2011, approval got delayed and we waited. Finally, after changes in the layout from initial design, the approval came through late 2012.
January, 2013 we finally did the 'Bhoomi Pooja' (paying respects to Mother Earth and getting her blessings to build a house) - just the two of us with the Pujari and his assistant. For the two of us who are firm believers in a higher power but not so much in the rituals, the pooja was a simple one. The pooja was by itself not uneventful as the pujari's arrived late as do VIPs, to my utter disbelief. I was told by my family to follow one rule and that is as you know, do it in the good time (nalla neram) and not in the bad time (rahu kalam). My sister was on the phone convincing me to cool down and keep smiling and not get upset and angry. My thoughts - they who know and believe in it arrived 10 minutes before timeout and lit the lamp just in time. Further, they convinced me that you need to start it in good time - that is more important. They had their valid reasons too - the day being auspicious, the events at the temple took longer than expected. Reasonable reason - you cannot abandon one and go to another carrying godliness. So, it left me reasoning out with myself about what it all meant - whether 'choru unnu' (first meal) for kids carried precedent over 'bhoomi pooja - answer was a firm 'yes'. With that the matter was settled in my head.
For the two of us, it signaled the start of a journey and hopes.
Lessons learnt :
1. Pre-approval. If you book a house wherein approval is not yet received you are taking a big risk. The money is locked in and you might be left waiting for approval to come. The latter is dependent on a lot of factors which are independent of you.
2. Post approval. So, if you are looking at a house within a time frame, book a house that has got approval and construction is going on. In such a case, cost maybe higher but tradeoff is time.
3. Check the soil. Certain soil has the capacity that over a period of time, houses sink. It is better to be knowledgeable and check whether the foundation planned suits the same.
4. Site Selection. When given an option of selecting a site (like in a flat or layout) look at multiple factors.
i. Vaastu, especially if you are a believer.
ii. If it is a flat, pick one which does not have a door opposite you - in terms of vaastu as well as comfort (as you can never have your door open without compromising your privacy). Pick one where the balcony looks out to the garden. Check the direction of wind and see if you have windows that will enable air flow. Else, your flat will never have fresh air given that most flats have common walls. Pick a flat away from the park if you are someone who likes quiet as kids will be noisy when they play and you may not have the heart to ask them to quieten down.
iii. If it is an individual house, then look at the placing of the house, closeness to the house next door, privacy with relation to other houses. Check what will be built on all sides of the house in the future. I remember my husband's cousin complaining about the noise that came from the club house next to their house which housed various events for the community. You can change the window and door position to suit ventilation needs but not the things that are coming around your house.
5. Size. How big a house you need is based on the size of your family. We wanted a house having only a ground floor with two bed rooms. Deciding on your own is possible when you build by yourself, but in communities, the builder has basic types and you need to pick from it.
Shall continue in the next post.........
