Category Archives: Apartments in Bangalore

Bengaluru is an incredible city. While being known for many things, it’s also quite a great place to live in. For those looking to settle in Bengaluru for good, you must’ve at least once considered the possibility of buying yourself a good home to settle in for the long haul, even if it was just a fleeting thought.

But if you’re quite serious about owning an apartment for yourself, then there’s a lot to really be considered. Lucky for you, we’ve put a guide to buying your dream apartment in Bengaluru.

Location, Location, Location

Let’s be honest. The location of where you live plays a significant role in practically everything else in your life be it your work, where your children go to school or even the convenience stores. The most determining factor here is the convenience of travel associated with the location of where you reside. You wouldn’t want to be living in one end of the city and have to travel an hours’ journey to where you work. Best to consider a location that’s at the center of all your needs.

How Deep Do Your Pockets Run?

We all crave that dream apartment that we see in the movies. The ones with the spacious common room, magnificent bathrooms and a balcony with a view of the entire city in all its glory. Unfortunately, not all of us get that and we mostly have to settle for something almost as good. Regardless of what apartment you decide to buy, it costs a considerable amount of money. If it’s a pure luxury you seek, then be sure to shell out the extra cash for it. Otherwise, even the most affordable homes can provide you with a class living of its own. If it runs beyond your pocket, you could consider a loan.

The Finer Things

If you’re looking for an apartment, chances are that most real estate projects come equipped with modern amenities to make your stay all the more comfortable. If you’re going ahead with a particular apartment, it’s fair to say that it would be your dream home and after all, you want your dream home to have the very best facilities. Projects today come equipped with a multitude of sports amenities, clubhouses, and swimming pools to say the least. While they may be seen as a bit of a luxury, they’re undeniably incredible to accommodate your living experience as a whole.

Serenity Vs Hustle

This correlates with the first point perfectly but the factor is different. If you’re the kind looking to embrace a bit of peace and quietness as a part of your living experience, Bengaluru plays host to a variety of areas that are a bit secluded from the cityscapes making for a living that’s tranquil and peaceful. However, if you’re the opposite and enjoy the lifestyle of the city and prefer to be closer to everything, then it would be wiser to seek out stay that’s within the hustle and bustle. Staying in a secluded region may then turn out to be quite the bore. This factor would really depend on the life you intend to choose.

Quality of The Living Experience

Keep in mind that this includes a variety of things. While every builder has their offerings, it’s important to understand what your home actually offers. This brings about the need to ask many questions. Does my home have good ventilation? Is there an uninterrupted power supply? Do I have access to clean water all day? Are the operation and maintenance looked after? Is the waste and sewage disposal looked after? These may seem unnecessary at first but are very important in the long run.

Finding your dream home is no easy task. It may even have a much bigger list to be checked out. But as long as you have the most basic of factors and conditions looked into, you could be one step closer to picking up your dream home.

Apartments in Bangalore, Apartments in Whitefield, Home Buyer Tips

Advantages of staying near Global Village Tech Park Bangalore

December 29, 2017 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

As a major IT hub in India, Bangalore draws people from all over India with its competitive job opportunities. It is not just the lucrative job market here that impresses the masses but also the overall quality of lifestyle which is unrivaled. And the cost of living in Bangalore is reasonable compared to other metropolitan cities. And the bright potential for the real estate market has made it a great opportunity to buy a property in Bangalore rather than renting one. Buying a property near Global Village Tech Park, Bangalore makes for a great investment. This is a popular locality which has everything to make it a perfect residential neighborhood. Here are some reasons why this area is great to reside in:

Convenient daily commute

For those working in Global Village Tech Park, there are many places you could consider living in, one of which would be investing in a home in Habitat Iluminar. This would help you save all the time spent in your daily commute, the annoying struggles of daily traffic. So that adds more quality time with your family!

This is also a great place to stay for those working in Banashankari and other regions in South Bangalore. The Outer Ring Road makes it easy and quick to travel to the rest of the city without any hassle. Public transport facilities are great in this area and there are local buses plying every few minutes to all the major localities. The real estate market in this area is still growing, so investing in this area would fetch you a great value home with excellent appreciation value which would be useful even if you would have to rent out your house or resell it in future.

For those who are looking to start a commercial venture this locality again makes a great choice given the steady increasing market accompanied by the growing demands. There are also several commercial establishments coming up close by and the area is growing and expanding at a positive rate.

Away from the crowd:

Mailasandra, RR Nagar and the nearby localities close to Mysore Road are great residential localities. They offer a peaceful stay away from the noise of the city and the area is not as crowded as the rest of the city. The population density in this area is less and retiring to a peaceful environment after a long day at the office is after all that everyone would love.

As there are several colleges and schools in the surrounding, the area around is still crowd free with clutter-free buildings and clean maintenance.

Schools and colleges

There are several colleges and schools near Global Village Tech Park, so for those who are looking to settle down in Bengaluru, this is a great place to pick. Here are some of the most popular schools and colleges in this area:

Orchids International School

National Public School Kengeri

Young World International Preschool

ICFAI Business School

RV College of Engineering

RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital

Padmashree Group of Institutions

These are just a handful of the longlist of educational institutions close to Global Village Tech Park. The locality has always been popular among those settling down with their families so that the kids would not have to travel long distances every day.

There are also limitless options when it comes to choosing playschools for the tiny tots. On the whole, this is an area that is great in terms of the educational facilities it offers.

Quality medical facilities just around the corner

BGS Global Multi-Specialty Hospital

RC Hospital

Medsol Hospital

and many more multi-specialty hospitals and clinics with state of the art facilities are located within close proximity in this area. This ticks off another important criterion that people consider while choosing a locality for residence.

Whether you are looking for schools or hospitals or commute into and away from the city you would be able to find all your needs being fulfilled when you stay close to Global Village Tech Park Bangalore. These are some of the prime reasons why Habitat Iluminar is growing to be one of the most popular choices for first time home buyers in Bangalore.

Apartments in Bangalore, Apartments in Whitefield, Home Buyer Tips, Real Estate Tips

Builders & Architect in Bangalore

August 24, 2017 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

RERA, the implementation of GST and several other reforms have made the situation of buying homes even more favorable for Buyers and Investors. If you are looking to book any of the ongoing projects or prelaunch projects, you would definitely be eager to know more about the developer. Here’s a brief story of how it all started:

Inception:

Started by a pair of passionate Builders & Architect in Bangalore, Habitat Ventures have been delivering residential and commercial projects of impeccable standards matching those on international quality. Affordable premium homes has been a bit of a specialty for Habitat Ventures. The company, with its headquarters in Bangalore, within its 12 years, has completed 15 projects having constructed a total of 2.5million sq.ft. The numbers are steadily increasing as we speak.

With the best team on board, with years of diverse experience in launching and successfully delivering quality residential projects, Habitat Ventures have constantly managed to provide hundreds of people the homes of their dreams.

Punctuality Promise

Getting to know the timeline of the completed projects would help you understand Habitat’s timeliness in delivering projects which is one of the most crucial factors that any customer looks for when they buy a home.

Builders & Architect in Bangalore. Habitat has had a long history of having completed lifestyle apartments, premium residential projects, plotted developments and a wide variety of other real estate projects. This caters to the growing needs of the diverse population in Bengaluru.

Features of Habitat residential projects

Timely completion of the project and handover of the house is something that has been common with every project launched by Habitat Ventures.
Habitat is one of the pioneers in introducing the concept of villaments in Bangalore. This perfectly suits those who are looking for a spacious duplex, villa-like house which also combines the benefits of an apartment.
Habitat has won several awards and accolades for innovating and giving a fresh life to the real estate market in Bangalore.
Innovation in the design and construction and the wise choice of construction materials is something that makes the projects of Habitat stand out from others in the city.
One other aspect that people love is Habitat’s assurance of adopting eco-friendly concepts like solar lighting, waste management- organic waste converter and more.
Every house comes with an ample amount of natural lighting and ventilation. The houses are Vaastu-compliant too.
Safety is the factor that continues to be the core of Habitat projects. This is why you would find convenient piped LPG gas facilities for all the houses. The campuses are also monitored round the clock by the CCTV cameras.
The gated communities come with all world class amenities on campus including parks, jogging trails, swimming pool, and lots more

Ongoing projects

Builders & Architect in Bangalore. Habitat Ventures offers some of the very best ongoing projects in Bengaluru. Currently, there are great houses to choose from in Habitat Iluminar and Habitat Eden Heights.

Habitat Iluminar- 2, 2.5, 3 BHK premium homes located near RV College of Engineering, Mysore Road.
Habitat Eden Heights- 2.5, 3, 3.5 BHK premium homes located in Hoodi Circle, Whitefield

Builders & Architect in Bangalore. Habitat Eden Heights is located in East of Bengaluru in the prime location close to many and large IT hubs in the city. Meanwhile, Habitat Iluminar is strategically located in south-west of Bengaluru, located close to the Global Village Tech Park, Bangalore University & RVCE makes Iluminar a desirable project to invest in

Both the projects come equipped with state of the art infrastructure. The houses come with secure waterproofing solutions, top-notch plumbing work and sanitary fittings, and standard safe electrical work.

Apartments in Bangalore

Best Ongoing Projects in Bangalore: Habitat Ventures

June 23, 2017 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

Ongoing Projects in Bangalore buying your own home is more than just an investment. Buying your first home can be both exciting and exacting. It would be a big decision and you would be investing your hard earned money. This is why choosing the right real estate development company would ensure that you get the best for what you invest.

Why choose Ongoing Projects in Bangalore Habitat?

So what are the common questions that you might want to ask about a builder?

Where is the developer from?
What are the completed projects?
What’s the company’s experience in the field?
Do they have all the approvals?
Do they stick to the timelines?
How is the quality of construction?
How are the prices and the location of the properties?

Ongoing Projects in Bangalore Habitat’s experience– They’re in the industry for 12 years and have since, delivered 2.5 million Sq.ft across 15 premium projects including residential, commercial & plotted development and still growing.

Completed projects– (Residential)

Habitat Crest
Habitat Aster
Habitat Mayflower
Habitat Cedar
Habitat Greens
Habitat Orchid

Timelines – Delivering timely possession has been Habitat’s strongest traits. You can also view the current construction status on the project page to be assured that things are on track.

Quality – Habitat Ventures aims at delivering affordable luxury without the slightest compromise in terms of quality be it in the construction or the various specifications. Using top of the line products like Porothorem Blocks, Tata cut &bend steel and so on, Habitat homes come equipped with all the modern amenities you’d come to expect along with a safe, gated community. You can be assured of getting the best value for money here.

Prices and location – All of the Habitat projects are strategically located in prime locations with close proximity to socio-civic infrastructure & close to the upcoming Metro Stations, one can also achieve a walk-to-work culture with these projects. These locations are sure to see a price appreciation in the future. The prices of these homes are indeed competitive with the others in the vicinity.

The ongoing projects in Bengaluru:

Bangalore’s real estate market has always been a popular one. This is why investing in a residential property in Bangalore would be a great choice. Habitat’s current projects are:

So what makes these projects great places to find your next home?

Ongoing Projects in Bangalore Habitat Iluminar:

Located just a little away from the RV Engineering college on Mysore Road, the high rise buildings of Iluminar consist of 2, 2.5 as well as 3 BHK spacious homes. It enjoys excellent connectivity through NICE Corridor, SH 17, Upcoming Metro Station, Kengeri, TTMC & Railway Station. The project is ideally located close to the top schools and colleges including the Orchids International School, Kidzee, Euro Kids among the others. The Global Village Tech Park is a few minutes’ walk from Iluminar. So this location makes it a convenient spot for the whole family, especially if you are looking for a calm and serene location away from the busy city.

Habitat Advantage:

Vaastu compliance
Fully equipped with state-of-the-art amenities including Golf, Swimming pool, Joggers’ trails, Children’s play area, basketball and tennis courts, Cricket practice nets and lots more
Iluminar also comes with Zen Garden, and a dedicated Senior citizen park
All the houses come with vitrified tile flooring and premium electrical fittings
Ventilation and natural lighting are the two main factors forming the core of Habitat designs. These have been streamlined into the design to offer well-lit rooms.

Ongoing Projects in Bangalore Habitat Eden Heights:

Standing tall in the heart of the IT hub of Eastern part of Bangalore, Eden Heights is located at Hoodi Circle. Whitefield still remains one of the most popular neighborhoods in Bangalore as the area has all the major offices and the best schools, best malls and other facilities. Shut down the noise of the city the moment you enter the green premises of Eden Heights.

Habitat Advantage:

Vaastu compliance
State of the art infrastructure with all modern amenities similar to those offered in all of Habitat Ventures’ projects
Project is currently under construction but the floodlit amenities are ready to use.

If you are looking for a serene area just outside the city, Habitat Aura is another project coming up in Arekere. Get in touch and register with habitat to avail the best offers on Aura.

Why choose Habitat Ventures’ ongoing projects in Bangalore?

Habitat’s projects all come with intelligent energy management systems including full power backup and solar lightning
Security is one of the strongest points in Habitat homes. With round the clock manned security stationed in the premises, there are also surveillance cameras dotting the campuses.
Besides the common amenities like club house, swimming pool and children’s play areas, Habitat homes also come with Golf Putting, Open Amphitheater and lots of other exciting facilities and fully-equipped indoor play areas
Waste management, rain water harvesting, STP within the premises and other environment friendly measures have been incorporated as well.

Come find your home in the most sought after locations in Bangalore with Habitat Ventures delivering the best residential projects in the city.

Apartments in Bangalore, Apartments in Whitefield, Home Buyer Tips, Interior Design, Real Estate Tips

5 Quick Interior Decoration Tips For Your New Home

July 31, 2014 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

Interior Decoration is to a house like seasoning is to the main course. Getting it right is crucial, as it is trusted with bringing out all the key elements in the architecture of your house. Interior designing when done right, not only makes your home more aesthetically appealing but also makes sure that it is practical. Poor interior design can make even the largest houses seem clustered and dull, but when done right can make even a tiny apartment seem spacious and practical. Be it a 2/3 BHK apartment even, the right interior design will not only help add a certain sense of grandeur but also make your house more of a home 🙂

While hiring a professional interior designer is a sure shot way of ensuring a practical and lively living environment, it is up to you to convey to the designer what exactly your needs are. It is a difficult process as there is no scope for improvement or remodeling until the design has been implemented and used. Whether you are hiring an interior designer or planning to do it yourself, here are five essential points to keep in mind:

Interior Decoration Tip #1: Personality

Personality is what makes a home make people go wow! So before sitting yourself down and deciding what to buy for your walls, it’s important to decide what kind of atmosphere you want the room to put out. Whether you require a formal room setting to conduct business or a bright zingy one to make into a game room, it is important to convey it to your designer or make note of it first. Make your own statement and have fun doing it. 🙂 Always remember that your home is supposed to serve you, and not the other way round. And also remember that the attitude of your home is contagious to anyone who comes to visit.

Interior Decoration Tip #2: Wall Colours

This is one standard rule that is so often ignored. It may make sense to first pick a wall colour and then to pick the upholstery and art & rugs. However in retrospect, it’s more ideal to do it the other way round. Elements like upholstery add significantly to factors such as lighting. Given that there are thousands of shades and tints when it comes to paints, it should be understandable that each one looks different from house to house depending on light source. It is ideal to therefore pick the wall colour after all the upholstery and art is in your house. So try not to be surprised if your decorator takes you shopping for rugs before he’s given you the chance to select a wall colour.

Interior Decoration Tip #3: Furniture and Rugs

It’s important to pick furniture that matches the personality of your home. A bright pep room calls for arty furniture with bright cushions, where as a more formal setting may require a somber leather seated sofa. Keeping in mind the attitude of the room will take you a long way in looking for furniture. Try to pick contrasting colours for the cushions that you might want to use.

Avoid cluttering furniture on the flood of your living room. The more space you have to move about, the more practical is your home and the more cost effective it is. Decide a focal point of the room and try to ensure that all chairs and sofas point in that direction.

Selecting a rug adds class to any place. You have to decide whether you want a big rug to fit all the furniture, which adds a more luxurious feel, or you could decide to place all furniture off the rug, which is the cost effective way to go.

All the elements are in uniform harmony. All the furniture is on the rug and the lighting along with the wall paint makes the entire room seem spacious and inviting.

Interior Decoration Tip #4: Collectibles and Art

Be strong when selecting what sort of art goes into your home. Don’t stuff a cactus next to your TV stand just because your girlfriend gifted it to you. If a collectible doesn’t fit, there is always a place for it in your attic. Remember that you do not have to worry about your collectibles contrasting the wall colour because as we discussed earlier, wall colour comes later. Make sure that all your art and collectibles are balanced and don’t collide with each other. Also justify to yourself if it fits within the attitude you want for your home and go ahead with it only when you are satisfied. Keep in mind that it’s ideal to hang all art work at about 58 inches from the ground as it is the average human eye level. Try to avoid placing anything striking at the focal points of your furniture arrangement.

Even few collectibles and art, when placed right, bring a room to life.

Interior Decoration Tip #5: Staying Happy

The perfect home is where the “heart” is, and not where your “art” is. There are very few ways in which you can predict mistakes in your design and it will not come to light until it is implemented. So do not beat yourself up over such things. If you have found something impractical get rid of it. If there is something you think you’d find more practical, implement it, but knowing when to stop takes you a long way to feel good about everything you have worked for.

Appreciate your own efforts and learn from your mistakes to make sure that your coming renovation is that much more fascinating.

And equally important to supplement the well decorated interiors of any home, are its exterior. You want to make sure that the architecture and colors on the outside complement or contrast well with the interiors. Else, it’d end up being like a book that gets misjudged by its cover. The experts usually suggest brighter and more vibrant colors for the exteriors, as we see in the below image of the Habitat Aster apartments, located in Whitefield. Aster is a place where families can enjoy elegant living in well-designed 2 or 3 bedroom homes. A total of 64 finely detailed apartments ranging from 1229 sq. ft. to 1823 sq. ft. To book a 2 or BHK home at Habitat Aster or to know more about Habitat Ventures call +91-80-4146 9220/1 or visit www.habitatventures.com

Habitat Aster's bright yellow and white exteriors are not only visually appealing but are colours that would contrast well with modern interior decor, not to mention the green grass and the blue sky on the outside as well. — Habitat Aster’s bright yellow and white exteriors are not only visually appealing but are colours that would contrast well with modern interior decor, not to mention the green grass and the blue sky on the outside as well.

We hope these quick tips come handy the next time you wanna design your new home or even redesign your existing one. If there are any other interior design tips you follow and would like to share, please do so in the comments section below 🙂

Apartments in Bangalore, Home Buyer Tips, Villaments in Bangalore

How to apply for a home loan and make sure the process is hassle free

July 30, 2014 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase anyone will ever make. For most of us it is the ultimate ‘status symbol’, the ultimate ‘we made it’ sign. Everyone realizes buying a new home isn’t easy. It involves a lot of work and effort, sometimes even years of preparation. When the moment finally arrives and we’ve decided on the house of our dreams how does one go about paying for it? Almost everyone opts for a home loan, besides the obvious benefits like ease of payment, tax benefits and not blocking up capital, home loans are also easy to apply for, especially with so many banks offering the home loan. With that being said, as a potential new owner, one needs to do a few things that ensure that the home loan approval happens on time and smoothly.

1) Plan within budget: The first step is to plan the budget of your house. As someone going for a home loan do not worry about the project cost, you need to pay closer attention to the EMI (Equated Monthly Installment). Ensure that the EMI is within your budget. This is something the bank looks into as well. When they get your bank statements they cross your earnings to your expenses and saving and then see how much EMI an individual can afford.

There are many EMI calculators online which can help you plan your spending. Just enter the amount of home loan, the tenure, approximate interest rate and voila! Your answer is in front of you 🙂

2) Keep your documents handy: Buying a new home can be overwhelming; the last thing you need is the stress of running around for documents at the last minute. Save yourself the trouble and keep the documents ready beforehand. Most banks ask for more or less the similar documentation like –

Identity Proof: Voter’s ID, PAN Card or any photo ID

Income Proof: Latest salary slips and Form 16 documents or if you’re are self-employed, last 2 years IT returns and certified computation of income.

Proof of residence: Electricity Bill, Water Bill, Telephone bill, Bank account statement, Property documents etc… or other such bills with your name on it can be used.

Last 6 months bank statements: Salaried or Self Employees they usually ask for these.

Guarantors: Some banks might ask for a guarantor so ask a couple of friends and family and be ready in case the bank asks for it.

Each bank has different requirements so be sure to talk to your home loan officer in advance, alternatively, you could check out your bank’s site and get that info as well.

3) Track your Credit rating: CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau India Limited) tracks people’s credit history and allots a rating to them. When purchasing a home, people plan months in advance. This is when you need to start tracking your credit rating. If it needs improvement, this is the best time to do it. Start paying off loans and credit cards on time, & make sure you have no cheque bounces and outstanding payments etc…

The credit score is rated on a scale of 300 to 900. The higher the rating, the higher the chances of you getting the loan approved. A Credit score of around 800 is ideal, failing which 700 should be the target. For a small fee, you can check your CIBIL credit score by logging on to their website.

Additional Tips:

Check with your own banker for a loan. Since you already have a savings or current account there getting a loan might be easier.

If you are buying an apartment or Villament, try to get the loan through the banks that the builder has tied up with. The banks are aware of the property and this sometimes helps expedite the process.

Before you decide on a bank cross-check with other banks to ensure that you are getting the best interest rate possible.

Buying a home is a big decision. Don’t let the smaller details of applying for a loan make you sweat. Follow these simple guidelines and you should be in our new house in no time 🙂

Apartments in Bangalore, Home Buyer Tips, Real Estate Tips, Villaments in Bangalore

Top 10 Things to Consider When Buying a New Home (part 2)

July 28, 2014 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

If you landed here directly and haven’t read the first half of this article, click here to go to: Top Ten Things to Consider When Buying a New Home (Part 1)

So just to quickly recap, we reviewed 5 of our 10 primary things your everyday home buyer should make it a point to consider, before making that final offer on a new home – Location, Credibility of Ownership, Budget, Loan Approval and Access to Essentials. Wondering what else is left to add to the checklist? Read on and you might just be surprised 🙂

Credibility of Builder

In cases, where the keys of your new home are being handed to you directly by the builder himself (or herself 😛 ), be sure to run a quick background check and do your fair share of homework on the builder/developer’s reputation. In addition to their profile and years of experience in the industry, view some of their more recent projects. And if possible, try and visit at least one completed home/apartment and maybe even talk to a few of the residents, getting their review(s) of the builder.

Learning about their experiences with the builder, can give you valuable insight and this in turn can go on to help you in your own negotiation with the builder.

Quality of Construction

You want to make sure that the home you are buying, is of a good structure and doesn’t have any structural issues no matter how minor they might be. You want to avoid any such issues that might cost you big money to fix in the future, or might depreciate the value of the house at the time of resale, if they aren’t fixed.

Seek the help of a civil engineer or even a local mason to help you inspect the quality of the house. However, here are a list of things you can look for yourself:

issues with the foundation – look for cracks or tiny cave-in holes in the walls or ceiling, especially on the lower floors.

Cracks in the walls like these, are an immediate sign of bad foundation.

any signs of mold or water damage- these can be rather expensive to fix and are usually signs of larger foundation and roof issues.
problems with the electrical and plumbing systems – these are a home’s lifeblood and can be quite nuisansical to fix.

Amenities Provided

If you are purchasing a brand new home from a builder, find out what are the upgrades versus standard amenities that come with the house. Most model homes are setup with interior upgrades to showcase the homes in their “highest quality” state.

Clubhouse and infinity pool at Habitat Crest

Inspect amenities such bathroom fittings, kitchen appliances, wardrobe and furniture, heating/air conditioner unit and in the case of an apartment, check for provision of a clubhouse, swimming pool, children’s play area and parking space. While these are pretty much standard features offered with every apartment now days, find out the exact terms of usage and/or any restrictions that might be in place or if there is an additional cost associated with the usage of these amenities.

Access to Sunlight

Look for a home that’s not only well ventilated but ventilated in the right areas. It’s a bonus if the house is already located in a spacious and open area that doesn’t block out the sunlight. However, it that isn’t a luxury, at least make sure the home is architecturally designed to allow for maximum inlet of sunlight.

Studies indicate that 60% of homeowners who reside in a well-lit and naturally illuminated home are more active and are generally happier. Another obvious benefit is the save of electricity. Invest in a solar power system and you can reduce your electricity bills by less than half 🙂

Security

And finally for you to be able to consider it a complete home, you want to ensure that the house is safe and secure and you and your family can zZZ peacefully at night 🙂 Though it may be a relatively safe neighbourhood, check if the house comes fitted with any sort of security system. Especially with kids at home and the outburst of crimes in the recent past, a home security system is soon becoming a thing of necessity.

If it’s an apartment, get as much info from the builder about the security agency and security guards who are stationed at the gate. Take some time out and talk to these guards. Inquire about their patrol routines and what is their plan of action in case of any attempt at burglary of any other emergency for that matter like a fire in the building. These might sound silly at first but knowing these finer details might just come handy when an actual theft or burglary happens.

So now that you are prepared and have your checklist ready, happy house hunting 🙂

Have any other points you feel are necessary inclusions to this checklist? We’d really like to hear from you in the comments below.

Apartments in Bangalore, Villament for families, Villaments in Bangalore

It is important to childproof your home, and here is how you do it.

July 25, 2014 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

The joy of parenthood is quickly overcome by a sense of responsibility. Having a child at home can be very exciting for every parent. A lot of new parents forget to childproof their houses or if they do, they miss a couple of things here and there. Who can blame them? The months leading up to a child’s birth are no child’s play (no pun intended). Children unlike adults don’t know any better and as parents/guardians it is our job to provide them a childproof safe environment. Things we often overlook as adults can be dangerous to a child. Given below is a checklist to ensure your home is safe for children.

1) Keep household chemicals out of reach: We often keep household chemicals like floor cleaner, phenyl, dishwasher liquid etc… in the lower cabinets. They need to be moved to higher cabinets, and out of the child’s reach.

Tip: Alternatively you could lock your cabinets to ensure your child cannot access them.

2) Cushion furniture corners: As adults we have a sense of our surrounding (well some of us still run into the table occasionally but that’s a topic for another day). Children could easily hurt themselves on table corners, bed edges and other such places. It’s a good idea to cushion these to help prevent any accidents by childproof.

A quick search on ebay can get you many corner guards like these.

3) Install Safety Nets: Apartments and Villaments in Bangalore are on the rise. Parents living in houses that are either in the first floor or higher need to make sure they put some kind of childproof safety nets in their balconies.

4) Keep breakable pieces out of the child’s reach: Items like costly electronics, showpieces etc… should be moved to the back, towards the wall and if they are standing on a piece of furniture that can be easily pushed over, both the breakable piece and the furniture need to be moved.

5) Keep medicines in locked cabinets: There’s a lot of medication given to the children during the early years and some parents themselves use regular medication. All of these should be stored in locked cabinets. If children have access them, accidental overdose could lead to serious problems.

6) Cover Electrical Outlets: This prevents children from accidentally sticking fingers or objects into them.

7) Install Door Stoppers: If the house you live in does not have door stoppers, it is advisable to get them installed. Children can easily get their fingers or toes stuck under moving doors.

While some of these guidelines might seem unnecessary or even outrageous to someone, they by no means are to be taken lightly. Remember, “It’s better to be safe than sorry!”

As parents having a child at home can make us happy and at the same time concerned for their safety. By taking some of the steps mentioned here we can ensure we spend less time being concerned and more time being happy with our children!

Happy parenting from all of us at Habitat Ventures! 🙂

Apartments in Bangalore, Apartments in Whitefield, Home Buyer Tips, Villament for families, Villaments in Bangalore, Villaments in Whitefield

Advantages Of Having A Private Garden At Your Home

July 23, 2014 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

Private Garden A touch of greenery amidst all the concrete is very appealing to the eye. If you have your own plot and are planning to build a home, do make sure you save some space for a beautiful garden. In case you reside in apartments, you can always go for small hanging gardens which will add a spark to your balcony. Or in the case of most new villaments, each home already comes with its own private garden/park.

Habitat Crest Villaments — At Habitat Crest, each villament has its own private park that can be doubled as a garden area.

While some folks may think of a private garden as high maintenance, which they kinda are, gardens and landscapes have a lot of advantages which many aren’t fully aware of.

In addition to the common benefits of serving as a great place to relax, exercise or simply soak in the sun from the comfort of your home or even serve as a great space for hosting barbeque parties, here are some of the more commonly overlooked advantages.

1. Experience

The most important factor which contributes to the overall look and feel of any home is the experience. To be specific, a visual experience is something which lasts longer in the minds of people. Aesthetics are essential to any home and gardens probably top the list of things which provide a visual long lasting impact on any person, as they are closely associated with natural fauna.

Not just a visual, but a mental experience also comes into play by the mood it creates. After a long and tiring day through the concrete jungle, returning home to the sight of that green is only second to that of returning home to your family and/or pet 🙂

2. Access to Fresh Produce

The vegetables and fruits we buy from the marketplace are prone to have remnant pesticides which can be harmful to your health. A garden, on the other hand, can be a source of fresh produce which is safe to consume. It might take a lot more effort to maintain the produce gardens though, but it sure is worth the rewards. You literally reap what you sow, in this case 😀

Home grown potatoes - private garden — Fresh home grown potatoes | Image credit: Tommy Hemmert Olesen

Growing vegetables and fruits with family can be fun too. If you are planning on having a garden mainly for growing veggies, it is better to have a wider area in the backyard where there is ample sunlight. Just a quick tip for those of you who lack the extra space at home, you can always consider container gardening – tomatoes and peppers grow well in small pots.

private-garden-beetroot — Gardening can be quite a productive hobby.

3. Impact on the Environment

The very word ‘garden’ instantly forces you to think of the environment. It doesn’t matter how big or small the garden is, it is sure to create an environmental impression.

Plants absorb greenhouse gases through photosynthesis. They reduce the glares from buildings and absorb unwanted noises. It also helps in conserving energy. Pollution can also be minimized to a certain extent.

Gardening is also a way to provide habitat for different life forms. This attracts birds and insects which are always an added pleasant sight in your garden.

Nature in your very own backyard garden.

4. Value of Medicinal Plants and In-house Gardening

In addition to growing fruits &vegetables or that rare botanical collection, many gardeners are known to grow medicinal plants, whose benefits are aplenty. Aloe Vera, for example, is a common home grown medicinal plant and is very helpful when it comes to healing, reducing risks of infections and also poor appetite.

If you are planning on growing plants within the four walls of your house, there are some amazing plants like peace lily and snake plant which are very forgiving.

A healthy and peaceful surrounding is all one wants and having a landscaped garden is truly something to die for. There is no disadvantage which would overrule the advantage though. Any home will surely look complete, beautiful and more with nature with the addition of a well-maintained garden.

What do you feel? Having a garden is too much maintenance or do are it’s benefits worth the effort? Do you enjoy gardening or have a private garden in your home? Let us know how it benefits you the most.

Apartments in Bangalore, Apartments in Whitefield, Real Estate Tips, Villaments in Bangalore, Villaments in Whitefield

Advantages of living in Whitefield, Bangalore

July 20, 2014 Habitat Ventures Leave a comment

The area marked by the dotted red line outlines all of Whitefield, Bangalore.

Did you know that Whitefield was initially an old British outpost? And two time UK Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, used to frequently visit the area when in India. It is interesting to know that in the first decade of the 1900s there were under 50 houses, and the area had over 2000 acres of land fit for cultivation. Matter of fact, in 1907 there were only 130 residents :O Whitefield remained a quaint settlement until the late 1990s, which was when Bangalore was hit by the IT boom. It has since become a major hub for the Indian technology industry, ultimately resulting in Whitefield becoming a major part of Greater Bangalore. The International Tech Park, Bangalore (more commonly known as ITPL) in Whitefield is one of the country’s first information technology parks.

This residence was once called Waverly Inn, where Winston Churchill stayed. Photo credit: Meera K — This residence was once called Waverly Inn, where Winston Churchill stayed.
Photo credit: Meera K

Despite the rush hour traffic which can get crazier in Whitefield, as compared to other parts of the city and the water shortage problem, this village-turned-suburb-turned-city, virtually fabricated by the IT revolution, is now setting the cultural tone for the rest of the city. Housing offices of several reputed IT and ITES companies, Whitefield has become a hive for housing and development projects, as well as 5 star hotels, international schools, hospitals, entertainment mega-malls and more recently even art theaters.

In an interview with Times of India in August last year, Carlton Braganza, owner of Opus and Opus in the Creek, Whitefield, had this to say: “In the past four-five years, Whitefield has emerged as a new hub of culture. In terms of numbers, Opus in the Creek closely matches the original one in the heart of the city. We’re doing a festival there next month, with three days of DJs, bands and a flea market. Four years ago when we started Opus in Whitefield, it made perfect sense because we felt it had a ready-made catchment area, and most people are willing to spend.”

The traffic and water problems should soon be taken care of, with the Namma Metro project catering to Whitefield under Phase 2, during which time the Metro network will be extended from Byappanahalli to Whitefield covering 13 stations in between, and with the BWSSB expected to supply the region with the execution of Cauvery Water Supply Scheme Stage IV, Phase II. BWSSB was granted Rs.1000 crore for various water projects in 2012 including supplying water to areas of Greater Bangalore, which includes Whitefield amongst others.

Bangalore Metro Rail - Phase II Map — Bangalore Metro Rail – Phase II Map

Whitefield is very well on its way to becoming the leading hub of New Bangalore, and if you’re already a resident of Whitefield, you can relate to the advantages of living close to the following resource points:

1. Hotels & Malls

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2. Tech Parks

International Tech Park, Bangalore (ITPL)

3. Theaters, Museums & Art Galleries

Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization (KTPO)

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4. Hospitals & Schools

Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences

The Deen's Academy School — The Deen’s Academy School

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So as you can see, one is never truly far from a hospital, school, hotel, a cinema, a mall or even any recreational centres when living in Whitefield. If you happen to be a resident of Whitefield, maybe you can tell us in the comments below, what is your favorite part about living in Whitefield? 🙂

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