The need for a place to call home cannot be emphasized. It is recognised as one of the core human desires and an essential aspect of the human experience. A home provides a sense of security and a space where people can be comfortable.
This is only one of many factors that should be considered when choosing a home. The guidelines below can prove helpful when looking for the ideal living place.
Ventilation | Residential complex
A well-ventilated home promotes positivity and creates a nice atmosphere within. Enough sunshine not only makes the house appealing but also helps to channel numerous health difficulties. Natural ventilation delivers and removes air from an interior area without using mechanical devices. It refers to the movement of outside air into an enclosed place due to pressure differences caused by natural factors. In buildings, two forms of natural ventilation occur: wind-driven and buoyancy-driven. Wind-driven ventilation results from the varied pressures caused by wind around a building or structure, and vents developed on the perimeter allow flow through the building. Buoyancy-driven ventilation occurs due to the directed buoyancy force caused by temperature variations between the inside and external.
Adequate ventilation within a building guarantees high air quality by eliminating pollutants and CO2, and it also aids in humidity control, lowering the chance of condensation. Energy efficiency and thermal comfort can be improved as well. When humidity levels are excessively high in humid or chilly places, especially in uninsulted structures, condensation is possible, which can result in mould development and other health hazards. Moisture can also cause building fabric to degrade, limiting building life and increasing life-cycle expenses.
Maintenance
Proper maintenance is critical. One has to see whether the association handles it or the third party and have a keen eye to observe whether the work done is on par with your expectation. The measures that make residential facilities safe, livable, and pleasurable fall under flat maintenance. Cleaning, groundskeeping, pest control, plumbing, HVAC maintenance, and landscaping are all part of the job. These tasks are overseen by maintenance professionals, unit supervisors, and apartment managers.
Maintenance also comprises cleaning and sanitising the premises and the water tank regularly, keeping dust-free floors and caring after any gardens, ensuring no dust settles on the essential components of the public area, and removing dry leaves from the premises. Other maintenance includes the timely removal of garbage bags to ensure the health and safety of the residents.
Security
Apartment security begins long before you move in. While looking for a new flat, keep security in mind. When viewing potential properties, inspect the building for potential dangers and ensure that security measures such as entrance locks, security lights, and cameras are in place. Consider how comfortable you would feel strolling around the apartment complex or to your vehicle at night. Check the crime statistics for the apartment complex as well. Use online neighbourhood safety tools to see whether the area has a high crime rate.
The leading home security firms provide a variety of devices for apartment dwellers, including renter-friendly alternatives, such as adhesive installation and wireless communication. Install window or door sensors, front or back patio cameras, and motion detectors. Check for any openings in the building and whether they are protected with a grill. Reinforce the doors and windows, especially the sliding doors and those on the balcony.
Add an intelligent security system for the entrance door.
Parking
If you own a four-wheeled vehicle, you are entitled to a parking place or stilt (usually one or two, depending on the size of your BHK) in your apartment parking lot. Members park their vehicles in more spaces than are authorised in their designated parking space/s. Rules and substitute provisions must be maintained for this purpose.
And in terms of guest parking, even though guest parking is available within the building, security guards routinely encourage delivery personnel, guests, and visitors to park on the street, either at the request of MC or on their initiative. Such superfluous procedures sometimes result in car damage and theft. According to the BMC, a building must have at least 25% of its space reserved for guest parking, which has since been reduced to 5%. Provide stern instructions to guards on guest parking rules by your apartment’s bylaws.
Open parking spaces need to be clarified if there is a structure or markings for members to follow. Unruly members frequently need help from the rest of the group.
Society is required by law to mark and number parking places (for bicycles, 2-wheelers, and 4-wheelers separately). Residents are expected to park outside in the building’s neighbourhood regularly if the apartment needs more parking space. Before deciding on an apartment, consider the parking spaces and the minimum requirements.
Amenities | Residential complex
When looking for an apartment, prioritise the most important features of your lifestyle. Consider what will make a living in this new location more enjoyable (for months or perhaps years) and what isn’t worth the extra rent or facility costs. If you enjoy working out, having a gym in the building would greatly benefit you. If that’s not your thing, but a weekend swim is, a rooftop pool is a considerably better option. The location will influence the facilities provided, the demographics of the city or region, and the sort of residents the property owner wants to attract. Does a college town surround the building? Is it more of a family-friendly establishment? A pool or a covered rooftop is more appealing in places where it is frequently warmer. Even while buildings catering to young professionals are fantastic places to put offices, a play area or childcare centre may be more appealing to the family population than office space. However, most prospective residents will be drawn to certain flat amenities.
Is there a communal laundry facility, an on-site laundry service, or dry cleaning in the building? If you don’t have in-unit laundry, you’ll want to find out what laundry choices your building has (if any).
A gym or fitness centre on-site, a pool, and even a playground or community centre all contribute to tenants feeling more at home (and comfortable) in a complex. Whether it’s a common outdoor grilling area for cookouts, a multi-purpose room for parties and meetings, or a library and media room for studying or working from home, amenities make a living in a building more enjoyable.
More community amenities, such as events and workshops, can foster a sense of community.
References:
Tross, K. (2023) Apartment Security & Safety Tips for Renters, SafeWise. [Online]Available at: https://www.safewise.com/resources/apartment-security/ (Accessed: April 30, 2023).
Housing, F. (2022) 7 must-have elements in any residential apartment, Effective blog articles on latest updates & news about real estate.[online] Available at: https://www.fomrahousing.in/blog/must-have-elements-in-any-residential-apartment/ (Accessed: April 30, 2023).
MaintainX (2022) What is apartment maintenance?, MaintainX.[online] Available at: https://www.getmaintainx.com/learning-center/apartment-maintenance/ (Accessed: April 30, 2023).
S.A.C.H.I.N.F. (2022) Car parking rules in housing society: Apartment parking laws, MyGate. [online]Available at: https://mygate.com/blog/apartment-parking-issues/ (Accessed: April 30, 2023).
Walansky, A. (2021) These are the amenities you really want in your apartment, The Spruce. The Spruce. [online]Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/what-are-apartment-amenities-155950 (Accessed: April 30, 2023).
