Points to Consider When Choosing a Real Estate Agent

For individuals who are looking forward to purchase or sell a home they are soon going to require the services of a real estate agent. Real estate agent can be a person or a company who helps out an individual to cracks the deal of purchase or sale of property. Choosing a real estate agent may look like an easy task, but such is not the case at all. It is quite an important decision to take hence one should think over this critically and then choose an agent. The facts about the agent must be examined carefully to make sure that right choice is made while selecting the agent.

Real estate agent is a person who represents you in all the deals, hence it is important to make sure that you chose a good representative for yourself who can put forward the facts properly and also take up a deal which is beneficial for you. While hiring the agent, keep your requirements in mind and find out someone who is competent enough to meet your needs and requirements.

Tips to Follow While Choosing a Real Estate Agent:

Here are certain tips that you need to follow while going to a real estate agent and seeking his/her assistance while buying a property.

Experience: Experience plays an important role, it is true that everyone has to start from somewhere but it is good if you can get someone experienced to help you carry out the task. There are more chances of an experienced agent to get luck in selling or buying home in comparison to an agent who is new to the field. One can also look real estate companies who have team of qualified experts to offer such services.

Take feedback from recent clients: Ask your agent to provide you list of clients with whom he had worked last year. You can contact the clients mentioned on his list and then take feedback about the agent from there. This feedback is quite useful and helpful to take a wise decision.

License: Check out if agent is having a license and this can be checked from the state board who along with license also gives you a brief if any complaints or actions are pending against the agent.

Choose agent with right credentials: There are various agents in the market; it is always recommendable to choose someone who has extra or right credentials along with his name. An agent who has gained some extra training in a specific area must be selected over a person who has not taken any training. Certificates like Certified residential specialist, accredited buyer’s specialist are some add on certificates which are the reason of expertise of an agent. Hence certified agents must be chosen in comparison to other agents available in the market.

Current listing: Listing of an agent can be checked online, his presence on internet is one of the biggest proofs that he is a high tech agent. Almost all the searches begin from internet; hence it is quite important for the agent to maintain a database which can be checked online. Users can thus find valuable information from internet to gain more knowledge about the agent.

Talk to them to inquire about surroundings: A good agent is always aware of the properties surrounded nearby his area which includes costing, area, amenities available at the site etc. A good agent will always have answer to your questions as he keeps inquiring about the properties regularly. He may also provide you relevant details about the neighbour hood which is of interest to you and will help you out to decide if you should buy/sell the property.

Ask where your agent lives: Ask your agent that where he lives, if he is living in a nearby area then he must have complete information about that area and hence seeking his guidance for buying or selling a property in that area is a good thing to do.

Research: How well known is an agent can only be known by conducting a research about him. This will help you know how good he is with his clients or with his competitors in the market.

5 important things that real-estate agents can help you with

Buying a house can lead to difficult circumstances. It can put you in a huge dilemma. There are very less solutions to the problems that you might be facing at the moment if you are planning to buy a property or sell it. Buying a house can make travel from different places and that is surely to impact your wallet and also that will surely put you behind on your work schedule. Also, if you are a loner, a single mother or a bachelor then you will face more trouble. Juggling between going out and checking for properties and meeting buyers can be a real mess. Therefore this can lead to a certain disruption of your daily, normal life routine. 

This is where you should consider getting help. Now where would you get help with selling, buying or renting your property? This seems to be a very odd, difficult task. Indeed it is. But since this has become a profession for some people and they are doing it with a professional precision and delivering very accurate results, people are actually opting of their services. They are known as real-estate agents and they are here to make your life all the more easy and your task of finding the right property, hassle-free and easy. But that is not all. Here we present you five important reasons why you should hire a real-estate agent for your property deals:

• In-depth knowledge of the properties available: The real-estate agents generally claim to have all the information about the market of properties that are present out there and they certainly do. It is a part of their profession and they do excel at it. In the view that they have perfect and proper access to the latest business information, these real-estate specialists have the capacity to give you counsel on reasonable buying and posted costs across many places in the city or town of your choice. In addition, they can furnish you with a report of tantamount homes available to be purchased and noteworthy market information, so you can guarantee you’re taking full advantage of your cash and not being left out of anything that you deserve.

• Dealing with people: An agent who deals with real-estates, whom you have recruited, can be very useful to you because he will arrange your meetings and previews of the house with potential purchasers and other interested people as well with you just sitting in your spot. This is exactly where your agent will prove to be very helpful and will help you follow up on your decisions and will let you know about the offers that you should receive. It is nobody but your estate agent who will be prove to be very useful if the potential purchaser is hard to deal with or is requesting more than what you have or want to offer.

• Getting in touch with people who matter: What your real-estate agent will do is that he will unite you with trusted accomplices who will show interest in your property if you’re willing to sell otherwise show interest in your deals if you are willing to buy something. So, as you plan to or finally purchase or offer a home or a property, you may need to contract extra expert administrations, including: overseers, legal advisers, packers and movers, or such organizations and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Who knows what you might have to do? Let your agent get in touch with all the prescribed individuals, especially the ones with a proper rapport with people in the surroundings.

• Finding you the right buyers: A land-agent’s routinely duty is that he makes sure to converse with different specialists. Verbal exchange is an amazingly powerful method for discovering purchasers and that too without you having to put in any effort at all.

• Closing the deal: Your broker will manage you and your dealings through to the very end of the process. At the point where you close your deal, your land-agent will be there ASAP with you to clarify every bit of printed material before you sign, just in order to make sure that you do not get into legal or similar trouble because of the paperwork. It will make you feel more acquainted and free with the methodology and will help you in more ways than one.

Buying a house for a family with toddlers? Here are tips

In India, most of the first-time home-buyers are of the age between 25-30. Amongst them, a lot are newly married and some having newborns and toddlers. Babies start crawling from the age of 7-8 months and roam around the house. They will start taking steps to walk as early as 9 months and if late, by 15-16 months. While buying a property, please keep this growing bundle of joy in mind and follow the steps below:

If you are lucky enough to buy from a builder who is willing to make small alterations, great. If that option isn't available or you are buying a home on resale, I recommend few alterations in the home.

1. Floor - Apart from cleanliness, you need to ensure that the floor is structurally smooth, with no protuberance which can hurt the baby's knees, palms or feet. Various types of flooring is offered by the builder which are sometimes optional too. Tiles, need to be fixed nicely and marble should be laid without any broken corners. Wooden floor quality should be of top quality and fixed evenly.

2. Electrical points - Preferably at a height where small children upto 5-6 years cannot reach. Plug points should not be left open and covered with holders available in the market. babies have small fingers and they tend to put their fingers inside these small holes. Switch points which are at lower level, like nest to bed, table lamp points should be covered with holders when unused & when in use, babies should not left unattended around those sockets.

3. Balcony railings - Designer railing look good and plenty have designs which are like straight steps where a child can easily climb like stairs! Please try to avoid such designs. If there's any vertical design which cannot be climbed upon, that's the best. Also notice if any sharp edges are there which can cut your child. These are mostly wrought iron and if cut by these your child will need immediate medical attention.

4. Grill - Better to be careful than sorry. Cover your balcony even if you are on first or second floor. Builders will generally have a standard design of grills for all occupants to make the building look good. Take help of their vendors to fix the same kind.

5. Window - Modern day apartment building has open windows with sliding shutters and is extremely risky for children who can push them open & peep. You may not always remember to lock it and even if you do, children will quickly learn how to open it too. Window grills are a must and if builder doesn't allow it on outer facade, fix them internally for your child's safety.

6. Planter box - Pen homes, Duplex, apartment with large patio or balcony will have provision of planter box which may be hanging out of the balcony or within the square-feet area. Firstly, choose plants which are child-health friendly. Chidren tend to put everything in their mouth. So, cactus with thorns or other poisonous/harmful plantation are a big no-no. Have tulsi, marigold, hibiscus etc. instead and drop rose even if it looks more pretty.

7. Kitchen - Open kitchen is a craze these days. It looks good and living dining area seems more specious, but responsibility increases. No sharp cutters like knife etc should be left on the floor or even on the kitchen-slab close to the child's reach, the waste bin should be covered hidden inside a closed cupboard, floor should be always clean. White goods like microwave, toasters, mixer should be stored at a height. Refrigerator should be locked, washing machine and dryer should not be front loading and switches of all these high-voltage gadgets should always be at a height and covered when unused. Design your kitchen accordingly.

8. Bathroom - Always keep the door closed. Keep the water closet covered, waste basket with a lid; hair dryer, shaving kit away, plug points at a height which are out of children's reach. Water buckets etc. not to be filled with water unnecessarily. Bathtub area closed with sliding glass door(shower curtain is not enough). Avoid auto-locks. A door with auto locks get locked if the baby pushes the door after getting in the bathroom. If bolts are used, should be at the top of the door and not near the handle where baby can also reach.

9. Wall paint - Emission of toxic materials from fresh paints inside the house could be harmful for babies. Try not to enter the home till the smell fades away. With some low-quality paints the smell never goes. Please check with your builder as to what quality paint is being used and if there's no choice to better it, pay additional amount to get a safe paint done.

10. Fan & Air-conditioner - Children bedrooms are not only about their floor, paint and furniture. Please make sure you don't place the bed right below the fan or directly under the blow of air-conditioner. Use good quality products which require lesser maintenance and consumes lesser electricity, makes no noise.....in a nutshell, the best quality. Even better than the master suite you will use.  

11. Staircase/internal lift - If you are buying a villa, row-house, penthouse, duplex or triplex there will definitely be internal staircase and sometimes a private lift. Be super-cautious. Fix small gate at the entrance of the stairs in lower floor as well as the higher floor to stop the baby from trying to crawl up or down. Spiral staircase is more risky(as there will be more gaps in between) than a three/two turn staircase with small landings. If you fix wooden planks, make sure it is fixed nicely without any uneven edges. Granites are generally more slippery, marble is extremely hard material and cold during winters. So, choose wisely.

At the end, being a responsible parent your focus should be more on safety measures than the beauty of the property you choose. A builder who is understanding and co-operating with your need should be chosen. Few large developers do not want to accommodate and they should also gradually get accustomed to the new-era "children/aged parents/pet friendly" homes as the requirement is changing. 'Beautiful' homes are no more the end of requirement.

Five reasons why developer`s reputation matters

Be it quality of the home or timely delivery of the home, the buyer is assured of peace of mind. Legal sanctions in place further ensure that there is no total loss of capital in future.

India’s economy is once again on a sure footing, and people across the country are now confident about buying homes. Purchasing a home is of course a huge investment, and therefore not something where there can be any margin for error – and yet, things can and often do go wrong.

One of the most common mistakes that many buyers of property commit is doing business with developers who lack established credentials. Dealing only with reputed real estate builders is the first line of defence against getting cheated out of one’s money, and being assured of buying a quality product.

How can one identify reputable, reliable developers from the huge number of builders constantly putting projects on the market? There are several defining factors:

1. Legal Sanctity Of The Project

Every residential and commercial building needs to get a variety of permissions from local and government bodies. Reputed developers will ensure that their projects have all the certificates and permissions required by the local authorities. Again, their reputation is at stake and they will not take such matters lightly.

All instances of illegal construction that one reads of in the papers today have one factor in common – these projects are by unscrupulous or inexperienced builders who either did not care to get their projects properly approved, or did not know of all the approvals and permissions that they need to obtain.

2. Timely Completion

In most cases, developers will offer their projects for sale before it has actually been completed. On purchasing a home in an under-construction project, the buyer is assured of a certain time-frame in which possession will be given.

Reputed developers will not push the possession timeline beyond a rational limit, firstly because they are adequately funded and secondly because they will under no circumstances jeopardize their credibility on the market. Most of the instances of irrationally delayed project completions involve new, under-capitalized and often struggling builders. Reputed developers can and will always stick to the schedule.

3. Zero-defect Homes

For reputed developers, credibility is the key to their brand recognition – it is their primary competitive advantage in the market. They will never offer a homes that have construction defects like bad electrical fittings/wiring, faulty plumbing, water seepage, bad drainage, etc. Quality construction also includes the right size and shape of rooms that are in sync with the overall project design.

4. Project's Structural Integrity

Quality control is an important part of every building construction being undertaken by a reputable developer. Their engineers will check and monitor every aspect of the construction process, including soil compactness, proper cement / sand ratio, slump testing, drainage engineering and earthquake resistance of the building.

This ensures that the project will not suffer from construction-related defects in the future. Choice-based remodeling aside, buyers will not have to pay for structural repairs in the future.

5. Adequate Amenities

Reputed developers know that it takes more than four walls to make a home, and will always strive to offer a good lifestyle to their customers. They will always provide facilities like proper parking spaces, adequate security, internal access roads, playgrounds, clubhouses and aesthetically landscaped open spaces in their projects.

Fly-by-night developers, on the other hand, will look to provide only the barest essentials in order to keep their prices as low as possible, since their main aim is to attract non-discerning, budget-strung buyers who do not look beyond their financial restrictions.

It goes without saying that a home in a project by a reputable, credible developer will cost more than the threadbare offerings of anonymous local builders, but it is always worth it. If one chooses to patronize smaller, inexperienced developers, the only attraction will lie in the price – but the price one pays is actually much bigger than the one in the agreement.

Problems related to construction legality, lack of security and spurious engineering quality can result in massive future costs and in the case of outright illegal buildings even a total financial loss. Additional amount paid to a reputable, trustworthy developer is an investment one makes into security, peace of mind and a high-quality environment for the family.

The Truth About Being a Real Estate Agent

There are lots of different ways to find out the truth of being a real estate agent. So, we’ve gathered 15 real estate info graphics that show the unglamorous truth of being a real estate agent. Most agents will tell you that they truly enjoy being a real estate agent, but they may not tell you all of the things that they have to deal with to maintain this career they love to do every day. Let’s take a look at these info graphics to better understand what they have to do.

• What Does It Cost to Be a Real Estate Agent: Here is a look at the unfortunate costs of being a real estate agent. It’s not all money coming in; there are business expenses that need to be paid as well.
• 10 Customer Service Skills for Real Estate: This real estate info graphic discusses the necessities of good customer service skills that a real estate agent must have to be successful. It’s a LOT of dealing with people.
• Real Estate Agents and Social Media: Some people just want to use social media to connect with friends. Real estate professionals know that using social media to promote their profession can be tiresome but incredibly beneficial.
• 12 Real Estate Agent Expenses: Real estate agents have lots of expenses that they have to manage on the job.
• Rich Real Estate Agent, Poor Real Estate Agent: A rich real estate agent is a lot different from a poor real estate agent. The main difference is their thoughts and attitudes toward their outlook on their profession. Successful real estate agents know that this career requires work to be put into it.
• Top 10 Real Estate Agent Safety Tips: This real estate info graphic discusses real estate agent safety tips. Many agents forget to always stay safe when working with unknown clients for the first time, which adds some stress to this profession.
• How to Budget Commission: Aside from expenses, real estate agents need to understand how they should budget their commission to stay afloat between selling homes.
• 5 Warning Signs of Difficult Real Estate Clients: Difficult clients can be hard to deal with, but real estate agents know ways of working with them. This real estate info graphic shows the consequences of working with difficult clients and how agents can learn to work with them.
• The Effect of Election Years on House Prices: Real estate agents need to worry about more than just who is going to be the next president; they have to deal with the positive and negative effects on housing prices that come with an election year.
• What Does a Real Estate Agent Do Every Day: What a real estate agent does every day defines their life and career. Here is a look at some things that may seem tedious but are incredibly crucial to be a successful agent.
• The Price is Right: How real estate agents work, earn, and spend, is all factored into the job. Take a look here to understand how a real estate agent should manage these very important factors.
• Top 5 Threats to the Housing Market in 2015: Threats to the housing market can be a scary thing for real estate agents.
• Realtor Fees – Why So Much?: Real estate agent fees are a constant occurrence in the real estate business. Whether it is to their brokerage or office space monthly costs, real estate agents know the fees that come with selling homes.
• The Formula for Success: Real estate agents understand that to make the amount of money they want to make in a year, they are going to have to sell a certain amount of homes. Depending on how much they want to make in real estate, the number of homes that they sell may be higher the average agent.
• Top 5 Qualities in a Real Estate Agent: Real estate agents also need to understand how they can be the best agent possible. This real estate infographic shows what it takes to become a super real estate agent and be motivated to bring in lots of clients to work with.

Chennai in list of top 12 realty investment destinations

CHENNAI: Strong English speaking skills and a wide mix of industries that promotes cross pollination of work culture has made Chennai one of the top 12 cities in the world for real estate investments. This is the first global recognition the city has received; it is also the lone Indian city on the list.

The Candy GPS Report, published on Friday, identifies 12 cities around the globe with the potential to show strong residential property price growth in the next few years. The report — produced by Candy & Candy, Savills World Research and Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management — said, “Prices in these rising cities are generally much lower than in the world cities, which make them more accessible and attractive to yield seeking real estate investors.” The list ranges from well established cities such as Melbourne, Australia, to centres in developing economies such as Jakarta and Chennai, that have a high number of ultra-high-net-worth residents, it said.

“While all of us acknowledge Chennai as an English speaking work zone, it is also a traditional banking domain speciality location driving inbound BFSI (banking financial services and insurance) businesses, which is a key differentiator to Bangalore and Hyderabad. Apart from these, Chennai has tremendous strengths in high quality healthcare and education systems, a key ingredient for future growth,” S Ramaswamy, chief consultant RECS Group, a real estate consultancy said.

Yolande Barnes, Director, Savills World Research, who conducted the analysis said: “As prime real estate in many premier cities has become more fully valued, emboldened investors are now spreading their wings and looking for high yielding secondary properties in those cities and (properties) in second-tier cities in countries with strengthening economies.”

For example, a two bedroom apartment in prime selling areas is priced at $1.60 lakh or Rs 96 lakh and in secondary ones they sell at $40,000 or nearly Rs 24 lakh.”This more adventurous approach is likely to not only provide higher income returns but also an opportunity for significant capital growth. Real estate values will grow as new cities all over the globe rise on fortune’s wheel. Property rents and values will rise in line with new and growing economic strength,” the report said.

Real estate developers in Chennai offer around 20% internal rate of return or IRR for equity investments in residential projects. While, commercial properties yield about 8-10% rental returns. Residential rental returns are 3 to 5% in the city.

“Chennai is typically an end user market which has a great mix of businesses. Its top tier medical facilities add zing to the city as an investment destination. More importantly, it is not seen as a luxury market like Mumbai, which means there exists tremendous scope for improvement of city skyline,” S Neelakantan, senior partner, CNGSN, a firm which has actively structured real estate investments said.

Reasons why OMR’s Real Estate Prospects continue to Flourish

Land in Chennai in the Central Business District may be a challenge. And even if it is available, prices are afforded only by the affluent. Pricing is one of the precise reasons why demand for both residential and commercial properties is pushed to the city’s peripheral and suburban regions.

 OMR is one of the earliest locations of Chennai that faced the first phases of Chennai’s real estate growth. It continues to be the most favorable location when it comes to real estate investment. There are many kinds of posh properties in OMR. The most modern flats in Chennai, opulent villas, beautiful farmhouses and state-of-the-art commercial structures can be seen at OMR and the adjacent ECR.

Besides location, OMR enjoys the significant advantage of sustained high real estate demand due to several other reasons.

1. Most areas in Chennai have been facing ups and down in the real estate scenario ever since the global economic slowdown. But OMR has shown realistic and stable prices and consistent demand even during these years.

2. Real estate buyers who have invested in properties or land in Chennai are sitting on exponentially high returns on their investment. The region has grown rapidly in just a few years and is also expected to do exceedingly well in the years to come. In the last 5 years, OMR has seen 21 percent hike in property values.

3. Although, OMR is one of the high priced suburban regions of Chennai; the area also has pockets that are affordable by the middle and upper middle income community of buyers. Kelambakkam is one such area to reckon.

4. Flats in Chennai, especially along the OMR stretch, offers an interesting contrast. They belong to the range from the most premium to the most affordable as well. Therefore, OMR has something to offer every kind of real estate investor. The most affordable category demand has spurted quick growth of residential properties along the 5 km radius of Kelambakkam. And the properties near the backwaters command a greater premium.

5. Proximity to IT/ITES hub drives majority of demand in OMR from buyers and investors from the industry. Flats in Chennai in OMR in the range of Rs. 40 to 60 lacs observe maximum demand.

6. OMR is the hub of immense developments. The elevated expressway from Madhya Kailash to Mahabalipuram, ELCOT SEZs, Velachery, upcoming railway line from Chennai to Pondicherry via Kelambakkam, Sholinganallur and Thoraipakkam invite interest from all communities of buyers.

7. Land in Chennai is not an issue in OMR owing to availability of land parcels.

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Best Way to Negotiate Your Real Estate Agent's Commission

You are ready to sell your home or business. You know that you are going to have to pay a real estate agent in order to get the best sale price for your property. You don’t mind paying an agent money, but you’d like to get the most for your money. Here are the best ways to negotiate your real estate agent’s commission.

• Ask up front for a discount. If you don’t ask, you won’t get a discount. The worst that can happen is that he or she will tell you no. The agent may also be able to tell you other ways to save money that may make up for the commission you have to pay.


• Plan to buy property that the real estate agent has listed. If a real estate agent lists and sells the same property, he/she will make more commission. Since he/she is making more, you can ask him/her to reduce the commission fees.


• Call or research other agent’s commissions. If your agent is higher, ask why. You may also ask him/her to match the commission fees of a competitor.


• If you are not satisfied with the real estate agent’s work and you don’t feel he/she should earn the commission, talk to his/her supervisor. Many times the supervisor will reduce or eliminate the commission fees.


• Talk openly with the agent and ask what you can do to help reduce the commission costs. Maybe he/she will allow you to show the house to save him/her time and reduce the commission costs.

How to Compare Real Estate Rentals to Annuities

Real estate rentals and annuities are two of the options that are ideal for retirement planning. It is estimated that half of the individuals who are retired are unable to continue their standard of living off of retirement income alone, there for it is vital to consider incorporating other options into your goals.

• Compare the risk factors of each type of investment. The risks associated with rentals differ according to a number of factors, some of which include the location of the property as well as the value of the property you are trying to rent out. The risk for annuities depends on the amount of money you have invested, as well as the activity within the stock market.

• Compare the different types of annuities that exist. If you opt for the life or fixed annuity, you have considerably less risk than if you were to choose the variable annuity option. This is simply because the variable option is directly dependent on the investment activity. On the other hand, the life option provides you with a set amount of return on your investment throughout the life of the annuity. 

• Take a look at the return on your investment with both the real estate rentals as well as the annuities. Determine whether the risk is worth the return.

• Consider the fact that you have to put in more effort in managing your real estate rentals than you do with your annuities. With annuities, you check on the status when you feel the need to. With rentals, on the other hand, you are expected to handle issues as they arise, which can be in the middle of the night in the event of a natural disaster.

How to build concrete footing and concrete forms

A wise builder once told me, a basement is a well we pray water will never enter. Those with basements will say, amen. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the #1 reason for builder callbacks is foundations. A properly designed and constructed foundation will never cause a problem, improperly constructed, it will never cease to be a problem. A concrete footing spreads the weight so the wall doesn’t sink, and it’s usually twice the width of the structure it supports. The concrete footing must extend below the frost line to avoid damage from frost heave. Check local codes to see how deep the concrete footing must be. To do its job without sinking or shifting, a footing must rest on stable, undisturbed soil. A concrete footing beneath a foundation wall also much have adequate drainage to avoid damage from hydraulic pressure. To make sure you’ve planned for the demands of your particular climate and soil conditions, consult with your local building department.

 In most situations, a concrete footing 22 inches wide and 12 inches deep, with three pieces of ½ inch reinforcing bar running through it, is strong enough to support a one story wall. But if the soil in your area is soft, your local building codes may require a larger footing.

Formed or unformed, a concrete footing must rest on undisturbed soil. If the soil is black, it almost certainly is topsoil and you must dig deeper. In most areas, undisturbed soil will be clay. In some areas, you’ll hit bedrock only a few feet below grade. A building inspector should approve pouring directly on top of bedrock, even if you haven’t dug below the frost line.

1. Installing Batter Boards

Lay out the job by driving in stakes to mark the wall’s outside corners. Place batter boards about 3 feet beyond these stakes by driving in 1+4 or 2+4 stakes and attaching 3 to 5 foot long horizontal pieces to them. Fasten with drywall screws. ( Nailing will weaken the stakes).

2. Laying out the site for concrete footing

Attach mason’s lines to the batter boards. Transfer the lines marking the outside of the wall to the batter boards by having someone dangle a plumb bob over the outer edge of each perimeter stake while you stretch the mason’s line. When the lines intersect over the stake, mark the points where the mason’s lines cross the batter boards. Now that you have marked for the outside of the wall, measure over on the batter board and mark for the inside edge of the footing. The outside edge of the footing, and the outer excavation line.

3. Dig trench and lay out for concrete footing

It may not be necessary to build forms for your concrete footings. Depending on your local codes and the nature of your project, digging a trench for the concrete footing may suffice. Digging a hole as big and as deep as needed for a concrete wall footing can be a slow, back breaking job, so consider hiring an excavator or renting a small backhoe or trench digger. Dig the trench to a depth equal to the top of the footing or to about 3 inches below the top of the footing if you will be building a form.

Use a plumb bob to locate the outside corner of the footing. Partially drive in the stakes that line up with the outside edges of your forming lumber. Follow the same procedure to position the form stakes for the inside edge of the footing.

 4. Level tops of the stakes

If there is a footing on the existing structure, drive in form stakes so the tops of the stakes are at the same level as that footing. Or drive a stake so its top is at the correct depth of the footing top. Then drive the outside corner stakes so they are level with those next to the building. Check for level with a line level or carpenter’s level resting on a straight board.

Tips:

 Using a water level for building concrete forms

With a water level, you easily can find the same level for two places far from each other, even if you have to turn a corner or two, step down an inclines, or climb a couple of stairs. This simple tool consists of two calibrated plastic tubes attached to a garden hose. Drain spigots and fill spigots let you fill the tubes and hose with water to the desired level. It works on the principle that water seeks its own level.

Using a transit for building concrete forms.

For small jobs, using a line level or water level to lay out a level or accurately sloped slab is most likely sufficient, but if you’d like to perform more efficiently and have a lesser chance for human error, consider renting a transit, or better yet a laser level transit. Transits are a small telescope like device that sits on a tripod. By sighting through it, you can determine level points across a distance. A laser level automatically finds level and shoots a red dot or line up to 200 hundred feet away or more. Combine a laser with a transit and you have the ultimate tool for finding level, ideal for large jobs or if you’re working along.

 Checking for square using the 3-4-5 method.

Drive in a stake at one corner of the slab, such as against the foundation, and attach a mason’s line to it. Working from that fixed point, check for square as you drive stakes for the other corners. Use the 3-4-5 method. Measure 3 feet from the stake along one side, mark that point with a stake or tape. Pull the line taut, then measure 4 feet along the line and mark the spot with a piece of tape. Make sure both measurements begin at exactly the same point. Measure between the 3 and 4 foot marks, moving the line until this distance is exactly 5 feet. You’ll then have a square corner. Drive a stake and attach the line. If you have room or have a large slab, use multiples of 3-4-5, such as 6-8-10 or 9-12-15.

1. Building and installing concrete forms.

The only forming materials you’ll need are 2+4s for the footing rails and 1+4s for stakes. Position the stakes, then secure the rails to them, making sure the top of each rail is even with or slightly above the top of the stakes. If the soil is firm enough to hold its shape when filled with wet concrete, dig a trench footing. Keep the sides of the trench even to avoid wasting concrete. For screeding guides, center a row of stakes about 4 feet apart, check the height of the stakes with a line level.

2. Secure and level the forms boards.

Every few feet along the length of the form boards, use a carpenter’s level to make sure parallel forms are the same height. Also check that the forms are level length wise. Drive stakes every 4 feet to anchor the forms securely. Make sure the stakes penetrate at least 6 inches below the bottom of the footing trench that you will dig to ensure that the form boards will be secure.

3. Dig the trench inside the form boards.

Once you are satisfied that the forms are level and secure, excavate an additional 5 to 6 inches of earth, the total depth of the footing should be no less than 8 inches. Keep the sides of the trench even with the form boards as you dig.

4. Step down concrete footing.

If your site is slop, you can step down the footings to save concrete. Use 2+8s and additional stakes. For an earth form make a wood riser that wedges securely between the two levels. Stepped concrete forms should rise no more than 2 feet per step, the upper and lower forms should overlap by at least 2 feet.

Weak concrete forms lead to disaster. Once a form bursts or bulges, usually all you can do is let the concrete set, break it into rubble, throw the pieces away, and start over. So always think on the side of caution, overbuild, rather than construct weak concrete forms.

10 cool summer tips for your home

The summer is upon us and it will only get hotter. These 10 easy to do tips for your interiors will not only make your house look beautiful and apt for the scorching summer, it will also help in bringing the temperature down. From the furniture and floorings, to the curtains and lighting, you can know what works during the season. So go ahead and get ready to give your home the right look and feel, suiting the season. This will not just be a fun exercise but will also make you fall in love with your home all over again. These makeover changes don’t cost much and only require a little bit of effort and creativity to give your home the comfort that sits well with the season.

1. Light Colours: The lighter the colour, the cooler the temperature. Try and pick lighter shades such as whites and creams for your curtains, upholstery and furnishings. Lighter colours act as a soothing balm during summers and work with respect to both the look, as well as the feel.

2. Softer Fabrics: Nothing works during the summer like cottons and linens. Make sure you keep that in mind while finalising your bedsheets, pillow covers and curtains. 

3. Cleaner Designs: Try picking either plain or minimal design fabrics to suit the ambience in summers. Don’t go for heavy blockprints or embossing. Going with the feel of the season, remember to choose the correct design for your home furnishings. Not just the drawing room and the bedrooms, the kitchen and the bathrooms too should have appropriate linens.
4. Summer Floorings: Get rid of those heavy, dark-coloured woolen woven carpets. Opt for daries and plastic carpets during summers. They are affordable, easy to maintain and apt for the season.

5. Minimal Lighting: With the blazing sun outside, you would not want an equally blazing lighting inside your house. Keep the lighting bare minimal to stay close to nature and away from extra radiation in an already hot environment.

6. Happy Planting: Nothing beats the hot weather like cool plantation. Chuck the artificial ones and go for the real, natural home plants. Water and air them regularly and see a change in the level of both the temperature, as well as the happiness quotient.

7. Water Connect: Whether in the form of fountains or in the shape of artifacts, you would want to connect with water in some form. It will help in cooling your home and soothing your nerves.

8. Summer Candles: Get hold of some economical, simple candles especially the floating variety that can double up both as air fresheners and help create a cool feel in the house.

9. Beautiful Blinds: You can redefine chic on your walls by going for easy to maintain blinds over the hassle of having overflowing curtains. To go with the summer theme, you can choose lighter shades, especially pastels to give them a bit of edge.

10. Clearing Clutter: Remember, during summers, less is more. In an already hot environment, you will feel claustrophobic if you do not clear out the excess clutter – be it furniture or artifacts or paintings.

Now all you need to do is get cracking and give yourself the joyful experience to enjoy a sizzling summer by adding some spunk to your home. Happy makeover.

To protect home buyers and real estate amendment, tabled in the Budget Session

In a bid to protect home buyers and real estate, which has been amended bill, the budget is to be presented in the second session. It is stated that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs: 
Real estate amendment is important. Our aim is the duty of the 2nd Session of the budget. The bill has already been wrong, there are severe penalties, including imprisonment for the filters. Additional security features are for the amendment of internal links. 

At least 50 percent of the amount of money charged to customers, the Bank for the construction costs to be kept in a special separate account tarkal bill. Customers participating in the 3 for 2 persons, without permission of Thang filters pilanka laiyum building and design can not be changed. Real estate agents subject to the orders of the Commission Regulation punished. These tribunals established macotavinkil. Twitter about this comment in the Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, '' Real estate has approved the amendment to the Federal Ministry of semolina gives pleasure. Now this bill be introduced in the coming session of Parliament, "he said. 

The main features of the bill 

* Real Estate Regulatory Authority to be set up in each state. All Home and commercial building projects must register here. The building's lay-out plan, building permit must report to. A contractor, architect, engineer, and asked to report on their names. Atanpinpe be able to advertise. The standard by which people can buy homes. 

* Apartment common areas, including the area of ​​the entrance (super area) shall be prohibited to sell to consumers filters. The house is located in a place the size (karpat area) will only be able to advertise. 

* Filters, the problem is between the customer and the compensation shall be determined by the Real Estate Commission. 

* Buildings to be completed on time, the customer will receive 50 percent of the money, to be paid within 15 days of the bank's own account filters. 

* The building was built incorrectly filters must accept the responsibility for it. Laiyenr in the customers should pay back the money. 

* Building purokkarkalum must register their name in the real estate commission. Otherwise they would be punished. 

* If you do not pay on time, houses, building, builder, from customers that they can get the money paid back with interest. 

* If you violate the terms of the filters, the registration is canceled, will be fined up to 10 percent of the value of the building. £ provided incorrect information in a fine of up to 5 percent of the value of the project. 

* Filters, often part of the money from customers, as part of the cash to get this bill imposes a ban. Brought this system to eradicate the black money in the real estate industry.