September 19, 2018

Mumbai

Home-hunting during the extended monsoon is a great way to assess the property and its surrounding infrastructure when it's most vulnerable. Read on...

It's a known fact that people choose to stay indoors during the monsoons. The monsoons also create the perfect setting to sip chai and munch pakoras. But the romanticism is shortlived when one must brave puddles, delayed transport and an irate crowd to reach work, right? And these factors would have dampened your home-hunting spirit in the past months. However, as we bid farewell to the notorious monsoons, it's time to venture out and observe the remnants that the season has left behind. And if you are a home-buyer, rush to the nearest project site for an inspection to figure out its current condition before the flaws are fixed, especially if the last time you inspected it was during the summers. There's going to be a stark difference between your observations during the summer and post monsoon. Do not let the light showers deter you. Also, if reports by IMD are to be believed, Mumbai may experience an extended pattern of showers well into the festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Take the case of Sujit Sarkar, a resident of Mulund who went home-hunting on a rainy Saturday last weekend so that he could seal the deal on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi but he returned home a bit dejected. "When I reached the site of the project, water-logging was rampant on the site and the leakages from the cracks on the building put me off. I enquired with the owner of the nearby grocery store who reiterated that water clogging is a menace during the monsoon. My entire plan went for a toss and suddenly, it didn’t appeal to me."

Sudeep Anandapuram, Co-founder and CEO of ZippServ, a real estate risk assessment firm says, "Monsoon is the best time to witness the exact nature of the property. Elements such as drainage systems in the property, water-logging, type of material used for pathways (are they slippery?), water inlets and outlets, etc can be observed. Most of the basement car parks are built below the ground level and the monsoon would be the perfect time to check the drainage outlets in the buildings. Again, it would make sense to study the area through maps and take professional help to review all influencing factors."

Niyati Naik, a Bandra resident who is actively scouting for an apartment chose to take an autorickshaw from the project's nearest railway station to gauge the transport infrastructure and time taken during commuting. "Because it was raining, it took me an awful lot of time, which I did not anticipate. Not only was the road to my future home uneven, but also the drainage stench near the building caused much dismay. During the summer, it didn't appear to be so tedious but post monsoon, I am concerned."

Naik and many other prospective buyers emphasise the need to also talk to locals to gauge the condition of the area during the monsoon. How much time does it take to reach my child’s school? Is the bus operational during the rains? Does it take more time to navigate? Are the roads murky? It's mandatory that you venture out and find answers to these yourself.

Monnanda Appaiah, MD, Wienerberger India Private Ltd says, "Depending on the area in question, a real estate property or locality can look starkly different during monsoons. Busy areas or areas with bad drainage and bad road maintenance can create a very distressing living situation for you, especially in terms of daily commute. Many times, builders will assure the prospective customers that the roads would be soon reconstructed or rectified by the local bodies. But the situation may not change for the better for months to come." Ashutosh Limaye, Head - Research and REIS, JLL India shares a piece of advice, "The best way to assess the surrounding area is to travel at different times of the day and week to understand the traffic situation. One may also want to simulate activities like grocery shopping, emergency trips to doctors, etc to assess the impact of the neighbourhood on one’s daily life."

It's a known fact that buyers find the auspiciousness of the ongoing festive season apt for home buying. However, instead of being dismayed by the monsoon, venture out, for the project may throw many surprises at you, most of which would be not-so-flattering. And these very factors can adversely affect your buying.

Make hay when it's partly cloudy. Appaiah gives you a checklist:

Proper drainage

A poor drainage system can result in water-logging that not only damages the property but also makes commuting unsafe and unhygienic. Uneven roads and surfaces, absence of proper outlets can also result in water-logging, both inside and outside the building.

Window sheds

One of the concerns that property owners share during monsoons is the absence of proper window sheds/ facades in the building as it means less protection from the rain and higher chances of leakage. These structures are especially needed in the areas with windy monsoons, in the high-rise apartments or houses with poor ventilation.

Proper sealing of the usable water sumps

High-rise multiplexes, larger societies and individual houses generally come with underground sumps to store usable water. Without proper sealant in place, there are high chances of dirty water leaking into the sumps, especially during monsoons. This can result in various health hazards and hence, needs a thorough inspection always, especially before deciding on buying a property.

Viren Naidu, Times Property, The Times of India, Mumbai

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