Checklist before Taking Possession of Your New Flat
If the construction of your house is nearly complete and you are planning to move in, refer to this checklist before taking possession of your new apartment:
Things to see before taking possession of your propertyAmenities:At the time of booking, the builder promises to provide a number of amenities like a playground, swimming pool, gymnasium, jogging track, etc. Many times the builders fail to provide all of these. So, before you finally move in, you must check whether these have been provided according to specifications or not.
One of the points that we miss many times is the drainage outlet of the new flat. It is very annoying to shift to your new home and see that the washroom has got clogged outlets. Hence, you must check whether all drainage outlets in the bathroom, balcony and kitchen are working properly.
Switches and plug-points:Before shifting, you must make sure that all switches and plug points are working, by turning every switch on and off at least once. Ensure that all holders, sockets and plugs are connected to the main supply. Also, see that if the main switch is turned off, the supply automatically shifts to the inverter or not.
AC Ducting:Proper ducting for split AC should be done according to the specification of your room. For example, if the room is very big and the register is at one corner, it may not prove good for you. Also, enquire about the water outlet of the AC because a bad ducting can cause seepage in your walls.
An MCB is used to protect your home's electric circuit from damage in case of overloads, so it has to be of good quality. Tungsten used in MCBs melts at a certain temperature and trips off when there is overload. There are low-voltage, medium-voltage and high-voltage MCBs available in the market. Your home should have an MCB that is suitable for the voltage supply in your home.
DTH Facility:Check for the DTH Service Providers in your society. Some of the builders have tie-ups with companies like TATA Sky, Airtel, Dish TV, etc, to provide such facilities in apartments. The repair and other services in such cases are mostly free. Make sure such facilities are provided in your apartment.
Broadband and Wi-Fi:You should also check whether the broadband or Wi-Fi service in your flat is working as promised. Also, see if your mobile phone network connection in the area is good or not.
These days, almost all builders offer piped gas facility in their projects. Before moving in, you must check for the safety features of your LPG pipeline. Make sure that pressure test and leakage test are conducted by third-party inspectors beforehand. Ensure that the main supply is managed by an expert and the line is cut off in the case of emergency. Also, look for the brands of tubes and other apparatus; these should be ISI-marked.
Leakages:Make sure that there is no leakage in the bathroom fittings and granite countertops in the kitchen. Also, check for water floors and sloping direction of the rooms to ensure that water is not accumulating at one corner. These are important as negligence may cause major problems later.
Safety Features:It is very important to ensure that your building is prepared according to the safety standards as laid down by proper authorities (like National Building Code) . Also, see if all safety setups are working properly. For example, make sure that the smoke detector is working by lighting a paper near it.
Being sure about everything will save you a lot of trouble when you shift to a new house. By checking on all these specifications, you can be sure about everything and relax while your dream home is taking shape. But you must not forget to make a final checklist before taking possession of your flat.