Property Buying Tips

Buying property? There is more to it than getting the finance and picking a reputed builder. Here is a quick run through of common sense tips. You already know it all, but the best of us, forget the best of things at times.

1. The Real Reason: Why do you want to buy the property? To have your ‘own’ home, for investment purpose only, a holiday home, a place to retire to, or to relocate? Once you know the reason, you will be more clear on what type of property to zero in on. This is especially important if you are buying a home outside of your city or even country.
2.  Research: This is very important. Before you set out, read up, browse through several websites, talk to people, use your network to know more.  And, yes... prepare a checklist of what you want.
3. Visit: Of course, you must pay a visit and check out the property or properties, as the case maybe. Go along with someone -- a relative, a friend, or better still, someone from the town/ country! This is because, that person may bring in a fresher perspective and probably see what you don’t! Ask questions. Click photographs and go through your checklist!
4. Repeat Visits: Try visiting the property several times before you pay up, and visit the place at different times of the day.
5. Facilities & Amenities: Look for what the builder-developer is offering you vis-a-vis the price you are paying. Also, its important to know how far the nearest medical care unit, school, railway station, airport, shopping mall, etc., are located.    
6. Language: In case you are relocating to another city or country, you must be prepared to learn the local language as also about the culture of that place.
7. Time: Be prepared to invest time into the project. You cannot expect to find your dream home the first time around!
8.  Insurance: Go through the due diligence bit and get home insurance done. It’s really a must!
9.  Solicitors: Pick someone you know. Avoid solicitors who have been recommended by agents. Find an independent one of repute.
10. Survey: Get a property survey done by a professional -- someone who is familiar with local construction processes and materials.

All this apart, enjoy the process. The journey is always more important than the destination.

Trinidad & Tobago -- The Indian Link!

Trinidad & Tobago -- The Indian Link!

With the First Lady of Trinidad & Tobago visiting India, the media is full of news about Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Indian roots and her attachment to our nation. Do the similarities between T&T and India end there?
Let’s dig deeper...





CUSTOMS & CULTURE
Apparently, people in T&T love to dance to Bollywood music. There’s more! Just like in India, there is always something to celebrate in Trinidad. Different ethnic groups have settled in these Caribbean twin islands, over generations, creating a rich mix of dance, music, art, cuisine and festivals. Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and vigour, just as Eid-Ul-Fitr is.

May 30, celebrated as Arrival Day, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers to Trinidad from India in 1845. The Indians brought a wide range of festivals, spices and food into the country, To this day, the influence of these early immigrants can be seen in the language, music, dance and customs of Trinidad and Tobago.
During the month of March, the colourful fest of Holi is celebrated to the tunes of folk songs and the sounds of the Dholak!



LANGUAGE
Interestingly, Trinidad, a multilingual region, has its inhabitants, speaking in Urdu and Bhojpuri, apart from English and Spanish! Language used in Tobago, is mainly English!

FOOD
Food is one way to trace the roots of any culture. A typical Trinidadian meal always has a generous portion of rice, curry, potatoes and Chick peas, as well as rotis (Indian Flatbread).

FUTURE CONNECT
The T&T PM seems to be thoroughly taken in by what she saw at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, held at Jaipur. Like India, Trinidad and Tobago too have a rich and divers cultural heritage. This may form the basis of connect between the two countries for investment opportunities, as well as knowledge sharing.

We now need to wait and watch to see the growth in both countries through mutual benefit and exchange.

GIFT -- Will this be the best gift to India’s growth?

GIFT - The Hi-Tech city project in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is all set to catapult India onto the global realty map. Experts analyse that this may shape the future of Urban India.

GIFT -- Gujarat International Finance Tech-City is slated to be India’s test-bed for future cities. It is said to be the city for the next generation

Apparently, the new concepts tried out in GIFT, maybe widely used in smart cities of the future. Let’s find out more!

Salient Features of GIFT

* It is an international financial centre, which is developing near Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

* Area: 3.85 Sq Km

* Investments: Rs 78, 000- crore planned on infrastructure and buildings.

* Will use state of art technologies in IT, energy, waste management and other areas.

* Command and control centre: to monitor all buildigns and optimise use of energy as well as to respond automatically to emergencies and faults.

* District Cooling: Use of chilled water for cooling, This can be used easily with renewable energy and also requires less maintenance than cooling. This is already being tried in a few places like Toronto and Abu Dhabi. Its proponents say that this technology consumes 90% less energy compared with traditional air-conditioning.

* Automated Waste Collection: In this system, garbage is sorted out and then sucked away at high speed through underground tubes to a central location. It is currently being used in London, Montreal, Stockholm and Barcelona. No Indian city has these technologies yet. Automated waste collection can be combined with biomass energy generation systems, so GIFT will burn waste to generate energy.

Points to ponder

Work on the project has already begun and the project is expected to complete phase one in three and a half years’ time.

The stock exchanges of London, Tokyo and Singapore, as well as several Indian banks, have shown interest in setting up offices in GIFT.

State-of-the-art connectivity, infrastructure and transportation access have been integrated into the design of the city.