Affordable Apartment Makeover Tips

Improving the look of your space, even radically, needn’t be an expensive project. 

1. Paint
There is no more immediate way to improve your space than by painting. Even repainting a white apartment a different shade of white can make a dramatic difference in how the space feels.

Experiment with different paint chips. Watch the amount of light that goes through the different rooms per day. How much light your apartment receives is an important factor is deciding which color will work best for your space. Repainting is one of the simplest, most affordable and most dramatic ways to transform your apartment.

2. Mount a large mirror. This is a well known trick to create the illusion of a brighter and larger room. Use large, antique-style mirror to beautiful effect the room.
3. Use storage smartly. Nothing kills the vibe of a nice space faster than clutter. If you live in a small space (which I do) this is even more important. Covered baskets, bins in the space under your bed, wall mounted shelves; these are all great ways to keep your belongings organized.

4. Craigslist is your new best friend.
I know this was already mentioned by another writer on this thread, but I want to emphasize it because Craigslist is a tremendously valuable resource for people redecorating on a budget.

5. Use textiles, antiques and personal items to add warmth and personality to your space.
Despite living in a very small apartment, I have textiles, art and antiques placed throughout my apartment. Strategic placement of art and antiques has made an enormous difference in how an apartment feels. They make your home into a place that feels special, a place that is a sanctuary, not just a space to eat and sleep. It may sound cheesy, but adding these elements to my space made it somewhere I really wanted to come home to, which is important when you’re busy, stressed and pressured much of the time.

Realty at your Finger Tips

Confused about the real estate jargon? This blog is for you. In this blog, we’ll talk about the key real estate jargon that’ll help you understand realty at your fingertips!

Key Real Estate Jargon

Below is a list of some basic terms that are the ABCs of real estate. Before purchasing real estate in India, it is crucial to know a handful of the most commonly used terms.

  • Carpet Area : It is the area of the house that does not include the inner walls’ area. Carpet area calculation also includes the terrace and balcony space, which is normally considered as half of the main or the actual area.
  • Built-up Area:
    Built-up area includes everything right from the thickness of the outer walls, carpet area, balcony area until the inside walls.

Must Read: Understanding Carpet Area, Super Built-up Area & Built-up Area

  • Super built-up Area :
    This generally comprises of the built-up area and also all the useable area including the lobby, stairs, corridors, lifts etc and are proportionately divided among the flats.
  • Per Square Foot Rate :
    Generally developers decide the value of the property based on the per square foot rate of the super built-up area. This is the reason for the super built-up area being termed as “Saleable area”.
  • Floor Space Index (FSI) :
    Floor Space Index calculation or FSI is the actual ratio between the total built-up area and the available plot area permitted by the Government for a specific locality. A higher FSI will have a higher built-up area.
  • Residential & Commercial Property:
    Residential property refers to those buildings which are developed for personal use and living; Commercial properties are those which are developed solely for business purposes.
  • What is a Freehold Property?
    A Freehold property is where the owner has the complete & unconditional ownership of the land and also the building that stands on it. In other words, it is the unrestricted ownership of the whole real estate property.
  • Real Estate Broker:
    Real estate brokers are usually professionals who mediate between the owner and the buyer in the sale or purchase of a property.
  • Conveyance:
    It is referred to as the act of transferring or conveying the rights, title, ownership & interests of a property from one person to the other, who is purchasing the property. Any property, whether immovable or movable, should be transferred to the buyer using this agreement.
  • Credit Score:
    It is a statistically derived score of a person’s credit worthiness, which is generally used by money lenders to know the likelihood of that person repaying his/her debts. It is usually based on the person’s past credit history.
  • Lease Agreement:
    Lease agreement is one type of contractual agreement made between the lessee (user) and the lessor (owner) to lease out the property for a period of time. The terms cannot be changed until the lease term expires and it should be strictly followed by both the parties.
  • License Agreement:
    License agreement is referred as the written agreement which is entered into by the owner of the property who gives permission to another person to use the property or involve any activity with regards to the property.
  • Non-Disclosure Agreement:
    A non-disclosure agreement or NDA is a legal contract signed between two or more parties outlining confidential materials, knowledge or valuable information that the parties share among themselves for business purposes but wish to
    restrict the access to third parties.
  • Inherited Property:
    Inheriting a property is the practice of passing on a property, titles, debts and any other obligations upon the death of a person or under any other circumstances.
  • Subletting:
    It is basically the practice of an existing tenant to lease out small fraction or the whole property to another person. And the subtenant pays the rent to the tenant instead of paying it to the owner. In India, the tenant is evicted if found guilty of subletting the property to another person without the knowledge of the owner of the property.

Conclusion

Understanding real estate terms is crucial for making informed property decisions. Whether buying, renting, or investing, knowing these basics helps you navigate transactions with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between carpet area and built-up area?

Carpet area is the usable space inside a house, while built-up area includes walls, balconies, and other structural elements.

Q. What is a freehold property?

A freehold property gives the owner full ownership of the land and building without restrictions.

Q. What is the purpose of a lease agreement?

A lease agreement defines terms between a property owner and a tenant for a fixed period.

Right Home with TRIMURTY, Why Not the Right Colour?

People living in a home should keep the following points in mind, while colouring the rooms. According to Vastu, the ancient study of architecture colours have a big role to play in keeping a positive & healthy environment at your home. They might be responsible for the type of energies that your home attracts.

Therefore, in addition to the basic construction rules that we apparently follow here is a small piece of advice on who you can attract the correct energy in your home via colours. 

Ideal Vastu Colours for Your Home

Here are the ideal colours for your home rooms —-

  • Master bedroom: Ideally, the master bedroom should be in a south-west direction and hence, should be painted with blue colour.
  • Guest room/ drawing room: North-west is the best place for the guest room/ drawing room and hence, a guest room in this direction should be painted with white colour.
  • Kids’ room: North-west is the best place for rooms for children who are grown up and go out for study purposes. As the north-west direction is governed by the moon, hence, children’s rooms in this direction should be painted with white colour.
  • Kitchen: The south-east zone is ideal for kitchens and hence, the walls of the kitchen should be painted with orange or red colour.
  • Bathroom: North-west is the best place for bathroom and hence, the bathroom should be painted with white colour.
  • Hall: Ideally, the hall should be in the northeast or northwest direction and, hence, should be painted yellow or white.
  • Home exterior colour: The exterior colour of the house, should be based on its owners. Colours, such as yellowish-white or off-white or light mauve or orange, can suit to people of all Rashis.

Colours That You Should Avoid in Your Home

Experts suggest that light shades are always good. Dark shades like red, brown, gray and black may not suit everyone, as they represent some of the fiery planets likes Rahu, Shani, Mars and Sun. Red, deep yellow and black should be avoided. Generally, theses colours have high intensity and it may disturb the energy pattern inside your house.

Final Words

Choosing the right colors as per Vastu can enhance the energy of your home. Light, soothing shades create harmony, while dark colors may disrupt the balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which color is best for a master bedroom as per Vastu?

Blue is ideal for the master bedroom, especially if it’s in the southwest direction.

Q. What colors should be avoided in home interiors?

Avoid dark colors like black, deep red, and dark brown, as they can disturb energy balance.

Q. Which color is good for the kitchen according to Vastu?

Orange or red is recommended for the kitchen, especially in the southeast direction.

Buy Your Dream Home With Trimurty

Our endeavor is to simplify the most important decision of your life – buying a home. We combine the power of quality construction, comprehensive technique along with the essence of an exclusive lifestyle.

Here’s how you can buy your dream home with Trimurty

Step II: Check Out Our Website

Visit trimurty.com to see the best-suited property from our vast database of properties. Our website contains comprehensive information about our projects, like location, unique selling points of the project, layout plan, floor plans, specifications and amenities on all properties.

Step II: Select the Property that Meets Your Criteria

Property selection is based on the following:

  • Evaluating various choices available on the basis of your requirement
  • Meet our sales executives, who will help you shortlist the properties that suit your needs. We will advise you on the location, price and future prospects of the property, home loans, etc.
  • We arrange a site visit to all the shortlisted properties

Step III: Closing the Deal

Once you have decided on the property of your choice, we help you:

  • Close the deal by handling all the paperwork
  • Guiding you through the application forms, allotment and arranging home loan from a reputed bank, if required
  • Ensure a convenient and hassle-free transaction
  • Trimurty’s services will continue even after the registry of the flat, and we will continue to add colour to your lives.

Conclusion

Trimurty simplifies the home-buying journey by offering expert guidance, premium properties, and end-to-end support, making your dream home a reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How can I find a Trimurty property that suits my needs?

Visit trimurty.com to explore various properties with detailed specifications, floor plans, and amenities.

Q. Does Trimurty assist with home loans?

Yes, Trimurty helps in arranging home loans from reputed banks for a smooth buying experience.

Q. What after-sales services does Trimurty offer?

Trimurty continues to assist even after property registration to ensure a seamless transition into your new home.

Home Buyers Check What GST Will Do Your Expenses

Buying a property under the GST regime would most certainly become cheaper & simpler.

What makes us say so? Well, it’s simple because as a home buyer, you now wouldn’t have to find rates of so many different taxes — like service tax, excise duty, VAT (value-added tax), entry tax, customs duty, etc. When compared to the 18 per cent GST rate, real estate transactions involved tax payments of up to 25 per cent, owing to the existence of a multitude of levies. Because of the input tax credit facility, developers will only be paying 12 per cent GST, which would further lessen the tax amount.

However, the same cannot be said about setting up your new home. In case you have already bought a house and are planning to shift soon, there are many ways in which GST would raise your expenses.

1. Maintenance charges to go up

Let’s start with maintenance charges. Before July 1, an apartment owner paid 15.55 per cent as tax on maintenance charges. Under GST, this owner would be taxed at an 18 per cent rate, a difference of 2.5 per cent.

Take note that maintenance charges do not include utility bills, such as electricity and water charges or property tax and stamp duty.

2. Pay more for decking up your home

If you are planning to hire the services of an interior decorator to beautify your house, you will be paying an additional three percent tax under GST. 

  • Previously, a 15% service tax was charged on interior decorator services.
  • Under GST, the tax rate is increased to 18%.
  • Tax rates for carpets and LED lights have been significantly reduced.
  • LED lights and lamps now have a reduced tax rate of 12%, down from 17.5%.
  • Carpets are also taxed at 12%, a major reduction from the earlier 25%.

3. Pay more for TV, AC

In case you have to buy a new television, a new refrigerator, a new microwave, a dishwasher and a new washing machine for your new home, you may have to pay double the price that you paid before July 1, the day on which the GST regime came into effect. Manufacturers of these items will have to pay effective four per cent more in taxes now.

4. The additional burden on your kitchen

This is for you, the woman of the house. You will be paying more to have an ample supply of your favourite beverages, tea, coffee and aerated beverages. The rates varied between three and nine per cent earlier. Aerated beverages would be taxed at 28 per cent under GST.

5. Pay more to stay connected

Wait, you will also be paying more to enjoy uninterrupted DTH services, internet and Wi-Fi connectivity. Because the new tax regime would need you to be more tech-savvy than ever, you must ensure you have an internet or Wi-Fi connection.

6. Ready to transact? Pay more for that, too

To buy your household items or to avail yourself of the services, you will be using plastic money. This, too, is going to cost you more now. For all your banking needs, you will be paying a higher amount to avail of the services. 

  • Banking services, including ATM withdrawals, will have higher charges.
  • Online shoppers should expect to pay extra.
  • Before July 1, e-tailers did not pay any tax to the government.
  • Now, e-tailers will pay a standard tax of 1%.
  • This tax may result in higher costs for shoppers.

Conclusion

While GST simplifies home buying by lowering real estate taxes, homeowners may face increased costs for maintenance, home decor, and household appliances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does GST make home buying cheaper?

Yes, GST has simplified taxes and reduced overall costs by eliminating multiple levies, making home purchases more affordable.

Q. How does GST affect home maintenance charges?

Maintenance charges have increased from 15.55% to 18% under GST, adding a slight extra cost for homeowners.

Q. Will household items be more expensive under GST?

Yes, items like TVs, refrigerators, and ACs have higher tax rates, while LED lights and carpets have reduced taxes.