Buying a Home? Know More about Specifications

When looking for a home… what are the first things that you consider? You finalize the location, look for a reputed builder, checkout the floor plans, amenities offered by the project and finalize your home. Have you also considered comparing the specifications offered by one project with another? The reason we typically skip reading specifications is its highly technical nature and no differentiation across projects. Through this article we want to simplify for you some of the terms used in specifications and help you in identifying superior specifications from regular ones.

Flooring: Flooring is probably the most important item in specifications. Builders offer a gamut of flooring options, such as vitrified tiles, antiskid ceramic tiles, italian marbles and wooden flooring in the master bedroom, etc. You should choose the flooring option that suits your personality, décor needs and the weather conditions.

Wooden floorings are warmer than vitrified tiles, also wooden floorings have a longer lifecycle and have a cheaper maintenance cost. Moreover, cheaper production options have made it available for different budget segments. While vitrified tiles are machine made, easier to lay down, pre-polished and can easily be cut down to create different patterns, antiskid ceramic tiles are durable and moisture resistant and an excellent choice for wet areas.

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Windows Windows are no more just an outlet to let in air and light, they are part of the décor now. Developers these days give emphasis to the kind of windows they incorporate in their design as it plays an important role in creating the ambience of the house. The material of the frame is an important aspect and can range from wooden, aluminum, vinyl, Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (UPVC) and fiberglass. When checking the material of the window, make sure to ask about the durability of the material used for windows.

When it comes to the style of the window; hinged, horizontal sliding, double hinged, tilt and turn, are some styles used in homes. You should also consider other factors like energy efficient window styles, and soundproof windows.

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Doors Doors maybe the last thing that you look at, but their look, material and strength matter a lot when it comes to creating a safe ambience in the house. While hardwood is the common material used for doors, you can also find options like glass doors, aluminum frames, skin shuttered doors, flush doors, etc. You also need to check the material of the doors in the wet area as they should be resistant to moisture. Hinged and sliding doors are the two types of doors that builders provide.

Photo Credit: AndersonWindows/Flickr

Walls The construction material used may not be something that you can check on but you can always look for the paint and finishing of the interiors of the wall. Builders use a wide range of paint types like: emulsion, distemper, enamel and acrylic. Usually a base coat of putty or primer is applied before painting the walls, to create a smooth finish. Putty also protects the walls from getting damp and flaky. Wall tiles are provided in the wet areas like the bathrooms and kitchen, preventing them from getting stains or splash marks.

Electrical Fittings: Checking the electrical equipment is mandatory to keep your home safe from electrical hazards. Check with the developer if he is providing fire resistant wires, and good quality Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB), which would prevent short circuits in the home. Some builders also mention if they provide concealed PVC conduits. Also check if proper ducting has been provided for the installation of split AC's.

You also need to pay attention to the switches provided. The switches installed should be of a renowned and reliable brand and have a modern design. A wide range of modular and short circuit proof switches with intricate patterns are available in the market. You should also check the electrical fittings in the bathroom to ensure they are waterproof. Power points and high voltage switches is also something that you will need to run your high capacity electrical equipment like ACs, Refrigerator, Geyser, Microwave etc.

Photo Credit: Jinkazamah/ Flickr

Sanitary Fittings: Bath and sanitary fittings is an area of attention for you, as you need to check with the utility and the convenience it offers. Branded sanitary fittings have a longer lifecycle than locally purchased items. Also many builders now use water saving fittings which consume less water. If your builder is not providing the same you should ask for it.

While these are some specifications that can help you identify one project from another there are other things that you can consider, like the size and design of the main door, utility provision and furnishing.

Stay tuned to our blog for more details on specifications.

What other specifications would you like to know about? Comment below and let us know.