Archives: July 21, 2016

A Newbie’s Guide To Setting Up An Ironclad Apartment Security System

With the rise in robbery and burglary cases in urban India, protecting homes from being attacked has become a priority for city dwellers. Since the police is finding it tough to keep these incidents at bay, it has somehow become the responsibility of the citizens to protect their homes, or install an apartment security system.

apartment security

Recently, in Bangalore, a group of robbers barged into an elderly woman’s house at wee hours and not only stole all the valuables present in the house, but also brutally killed her. This horrific incident took place in the first week of June 2016 and the police are yet to find the culprits.

To counter this, the markets these days are flooded with modern and hi-tech security devices. You’ll come across many types of equipment like burglar alarm systems, access control systems, and surveillance cameras.

This article will guide you on how to choose a security system for your house, if you’re a novice in this field.

Understand The Differences Between Devices

An apartment security system protects your house against external threats through the use of technology. There are many parts in a security system but one thing that is standard among all equipment is the keypad. This keypad helps in activating and deactivating the system. They are also available in different styles as per your requirements like touch screen and keyless.

apartment security

Other than the keypad, you’ll also be required to consider sensors and motion detectors. Many of the security systems come with the facility of strategically placing these sensors and detectors at doors, windows and common rooms. Once turned on, these sophisticated devices can easily detect activities and movements of unauthorised people entering the house.

Understand Your Needs

As modern technology is advancing, you’ll be required to consider many factors before you zero in on a security system for your house, and a lot of it depends on your requirements (why you’d like to have a security cover installed). Prepare a list of priorities, assess them and see which equipment fits your need. Also, ensure the systems are working fine and you aren’t facing any technical hassles while utilising.

What You Should Know

Before you decide to have a security system installed at your home, it is important to check the reputation of the company that is manufacturing the product. If the product is damaged, the company should have a robust service team and a backup facility. After-Sales Services from a company are highly useful. A security app like Gatekeeper is a great idea. This app has already been successfully adopted by security guards in 100 apartment complexes all across India and is expected to reach out even further.

Investing in a security system that doesn’t address your needs is a waste of money and resources. Therefore, make sure that the system you buy satisfies all your requirements.


Home improvement – Utilize your home space efficiently

If you live in a home or an apartment that’s commodious enough for one or two people, but still feel like you could use the space better if you knew how to, these are the home decor tips you should be reading. Today, we show you how to make your home look captivating no matter what the size.

 

  • Seamlessness is key
    • A major piece of wisdom that I’ve gained over time, reading various pieces on apartment décor, is that ‘seamlessness is key’. You want to make your rooms look bigger and you can do that by reducing the breakages in colour and hues on the walls. This technique can be applied to fixtures and conversation pieces as well.

seamlessness is key ddc2a1b148ad4937a093d02827a76005

Matching copper tones on the couch and curtains with creamy tan walls

 

  • Utilising corners effectively
    • Place an oversized chair or accent chair in the nook for a comfy look.
    • Stacking books on corner shelves is a smart way to use that part of a room.

Placing a large chair is an effective way of utilizing corners in a room.

 

  • Lighter shades of paint and flooring
    • Using lighter shades on the walls and floors will make the room look bigger and brighter.

A nursery having light walls and a white carpet.

Lighter walls and flooring create an illusion of a wider space.

 

  • Select furniture that makes the room look sizable
    • Avoid making your rooms look cramped by taking advantage of compact and undersized furniture pieces.

A small rotating shoe rack to keep all kinds of shoes saves space better than you could imagine.

A compact convertible dining table with pull-out chairs.

 

  • Floating shelves
    • Floating shelves are a wonderful alternative to chests and drawers. They offer great storage space while not looking bulky and colossal inside a smaller room.

Floating shelves are a smart way of storing stuff used on a daily basis as well as house decor.

 

  • Curtain tints
    • Buy curtains that create a fusion with the walls with their hue. This improves on the ‘seamlessness’ aspect mentioned earlier.

Curtains with well-chosen tints help make a seamless transition and blend in with the wall.

 

  • Hang a proportionally sized mirror
    • A mirror in the room will make it come alive and reflect light inside it.
    • The bigger the mirror, the larger the room looks.
    • Mirrors can be hung horizontally or vertically to make the room look wider or higher.

Notice how bright the room looks with the mirror on the right.

Add depth to the room with a small wall mirror.

An elongated mirror adding height to the room.

 

  • Use transparent movables
    • Pellucid movables make for a more spacious setting than wood or metallic furniture.

A transparent table in the middle is more suited to a smaller room than a wooden table.

A pellucid chair gives the room an airy feel.

 

  • Furniture that doubles up as storage space
    • Storing regularly used objects beneath that coffee table is a clever approach to getting things out of the way.

A table with storage space underneath.

 

  • Foldable/Collapsible furniture
    • Purchase foldable tables or chairs that maximise space inside the house when they aren’t being used.
      Some of these pieces can double-up as ironing boards or other useful surfaces around the house.

A convertible table used for work and as a dining table as well.

A collapsible wall mounted desk.

 

  • In-built shelves
    • Built-in shelves save up space inside a room like no other. No protrusions jutting out at odd places and no jamming your little toe into the legs of an awkward table anymore.

A built-in corner bookshelf.

 

  • Convertible pieces
    • This revolves around the same logic as foldable furniture.
    • Convertible armchair-beds, sofa-bunk beds or collapsible coffee tables are examples of reusable pieces in the living room and in bedrooms.

A convertible space-saving coffee table.

 

  • Matryoshka furniture
    • This is the kind of furniture you’ve seen pictures of but don’t really know what they are called.
    • Matryoshka furniture is named after the Russian doll or Babushka doll that has figurines of a similar shape and smaller sizes inside it.
    • An extremely useful space saver, Matryoshka furniture can be arranged back into its original shape after being used.
    • It reduces the amount of space that is permanently utilised for seating, as the seats can be organised to your liking.

Matryoshka chairs.

Complete matryoshka furniture set .

 

Extra décor ideas

 

  • Vinyl wall art
    • You can’t go wrong with vinyl wall stickers. They are one of the cheapest and quickest ways to transform any room and make it come alive.

Vinyl wall art gives a distinctive look to any room it is used in.

Vinyl alphabet stickers are a fun way to decorate a play room.

 

  • Accommodating greenery in your humble abode
    • Vertical garden displays are not the norm yet, but are a great way of making your house seem less like a concrete box. They bring more of a balanced look and make it a ‘living’ room.
    • This idea is definitely worth a shot, in our opinion. No harm done with extra oxygen around the house, right?

Herb garden in a kitchen.

This room was ‘planted’.

 

  • Wall photo collage
    • Instead of using frames and bulking down the room, creating a collage of pictures in a particular shape would be more practical and fun to look at.

A heart-shaped wall photo collage.

Photographs hung on a wall with lights.

 

  • Decorating the walls with wall tape and foil tape
    • Using washi tape (decorative wall tape) is another way of revamping a dull wall.
    • Foil tape can be used to create designs on a wall, and if done correctly, it can lift the ambience of the room to a point that the room would be unrecognisable.
    • It is the ultimate DIY activity that can be done by anyone from scratch. Pick a design and start taping.

Washi tape used to create frames for pictures.

A skyline made out of washi tape.

Foil tape used as a design on a blank wall.

 

  • String art
    • String art is an easy and fun pastime and you can create any kind of pattern by practising it a little bit.
    • Once you’ve made a design that you think looks like the initial idea you had, put it up on a wall that needs some TLC.
    • Your hard work will surely pay off with all the compliments and admiration coming your way.

 A dandelion made out of strings and pins.

String art of a dog paw.

 

 

Having a smaller space to live in can be very interesting if you make it that way. Rooms, no matter what size, can be altered by the furnishings and embellishments one places in them. Smaller homes can be a challenge to decorate but it is a very enjoyable experience. If you know what you’re doing and you know you’re doing it the right way, the end result is bound to leave you more than just satisfied. Try these suggestions to visually expand room sizes and you won’t be let down. In fact, your home will undoubtedly look as fresh as paint.

home decor home Open-Plan-Layout-of-Living-Room-with-Swivel-Chair-in-The-Corner-and-Yellow-Padded-Backrest


Pets & apartments: Why they get to stay and you do too

The perpetual debate of whether pets must be allowed in apartment complexes, or not, has made us realise that the need for a clear understanding of the situation is at an all-time high (especially before we jump to conclusions about the rights and wrongs).

pet-dog-in-apartment-thinking

 

The idea of breeding pets in apartments is welcomed by a lot of people. Animal lovers will do anything for their furry friends. But they are also considered a hindrance by many. Pet related activities are disapproved, and even opposed. Often, there is no second thought given to the fact that species other than humans need a place to live as well. And considering we’ve occupied most of the area a domestic animal needs to reside in, we humans need to be a bit more open-minded about such sensitive decisions.

As a lot of us know, local authorities are popping up rules and regulations, in the form of circulars regarding pet animals. These circulars contain over-hyped ‘vital’ information about whether or not they can be allowed to live with their human caretakers. But some pet enthusiasts don’t realise that as per the Parliament, or any State Legislature, there is no law enacted that bans animal friends. The most any of these groups can do is insist on registration and licencing of pets. They, often than not, are torn between choosing from among the home and their beloved animal companion. This should not be the case. It violates the fundamental freedom of being a citizen of this country.

 

pets in apartments Pet-dog-pet-turtle-pet-hamster-pet-budgie-at-home

 

Following are the issues faced by pet owners:

  • Banning pets on society premises.
  • ‘Dog barking’ being cited as a valid reason to impose a ban.
  • Prohibiting homeowners from using parks, lifts and other facilities if they are accompanied by pets. Also, being charged for the same.
  • Being charged ‘pet rent’.
  • Forced usage of muzzles and leashes (on calm pets).
  • Discrimination as per the size and breed of pets allowed in the housing society.
  • Being asked for a pet resume before being given the flat on rent (A pet resume contains the pet’s basic details, previous rental experience, health, behaviour, references, etc.)

 

To make matters clear:

  • No bans can be imposed on usage of facilities (like lifts and parks) by pets. RWAs cannot impose any extra charges for this, as well.
  • Pets and resident owners of the pets not violating any Municipal Sanitary Bye-Laws or Regulations are permissible to stay in the society or community.
  • Size of pets cannot be a valid reason to ban them from society premises.

 

Rules like these result in service quality of the society’s provisions turning low. But, it must be kept in mind that these objections have risen due to certain behaviours of pet animals that have inconvenienced people in some way or another in the past.

 

So, to make things fair:

  • The pet owners must make sure that there is no nuisance caused in the society due to their furry pals.
  • When out of the house and in the premises of the complex, the pets must be accompanied by their owners or anyone who has them under careful observation.
  • Since there is no central law regarding cleaning pet excreta, RWA can request pet owners to do the same.
  • Training must be provided to the pets in apartments on identifying people walking in and out of the apartment wing. This will help prevent them from getting provoked when neighbours and children are around.
  • The animals should be taken to an obedience class/training class as well. A certificate is generally provided once the animal recognises behaviour signals.
  • Crate/kennel training is another way of training the pet to stay in one place as it provides a feeling of security to the animal.pet-dog-crate-training-in-apartment
  • The pets must also be trained, through positive reinforcement, to not get aggressive around other animals and prevent matters from going downhill.
  • Pets must undergo regular vaccinations and medications required to stay healthy.
  • The owners should take responsibility for their pets.
  • Children and residents must be asked to not provoke or tease the animals.

 

Pet owners must come forward and offer to adhere to simple, implicit rules and mannerisms by themselves. This won’t even let the problem of notices and circulars arise in the first place. It is eventually the landlord/society’s job to rightly recognise responsible pet people.

 

pet-dog-in-apartment-with-big-eyes

 

In conclusion, to get rid of these issues in a sure-shot way, the society representatives and pet owners, both parties, must organise regular meetings and address the issues each of them face, and meet each other halfway. Non-pet owners must be sympathetic and flexible towards pets and their owners, and the latter must take precautions to ensure that there are no discrepancies regarding their co-ordination with approved and disapproved behaviours.

 

(The Governing Body in India Concerning Animal Welfare-
The Animal Welfare Board of India, 1962, was the first of its kind to be set up in the world, by any Government. It was established as a part of the Ministry of Environments and Forests, Government of India, in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (No.59 of 1960). It has a list of bye-laws for pets, and was created to advise the Government on matters concerning animal welfare and preventing infliction of pain on animals.)

 

 

Now that we’ve given you a solution to this problem, let’s check out what the pets themselves have to say:

Pikachu-dog-tired

 

 

 

 

I’m tired of the fights. Let’s just talk it out, please.

 

 

 

 

 

friendly-pet-dog

Come on. How can you say no to that face!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pet-dog-crying-at-home

 

 

 

pet-dog-crying-at-home

 

 

Cat-dog-play

 

 

HA HA!

 

 

 

 

 

dog-tongue-hanging

 

 

Got you there, didn’t we?

 

 

 

 

excuse-me-pet-dog-confused

 

 

 

pet-dog-tongue-hanging

Did I say something wrong?

pets in apartments Cockatoo-Dog-Turtle-staring-outside-at-cat

What are all of them looking at anyway?

 

 

 

 

Oh him.

house-cat-staring-outside-window

 ” Someone say my name, Mr. Fan-tabby-ulous? “

 

 

 

welcome-home-dog

Oh well, welcome home!

 

 

cheers-to-good-decisions

 

And cheers to good decisions!

 


Apna Monsoon Guide – Prepare Your Home For The Rains

Are the rains slowing down your city every year? Is everything always at a standstill? Breeze through life with these tips to prepare yourself for the rainy days.

It’s that time of the year again when the rain gods decide that it’s their turn to rain on your parade. The rainy season, paradoxically, is one of the most loved and detested seasons from among the rest. The increase in water content everywhere you look, and being forced into living with it, is what makes it difficult to like. But that’s also the foremost reason why people look forward to the rains; to look outside their window and sip on a hot beverage or to take in the petrichor emanating from the ground.

You surely want to enjoy that in the best possible surrounding. So why let anything under your control ruin something so idyllic? Simple observation skills are all you need. Here are some pointers to implement around your humble abode and garden area to keep them safe from the rains.

  • EXTERNAL PREPARATION –
    • Roof –
      • Inspect the roof from ground level and check for any leakages, damages, ageing and cracks.
      • Check whether the tiling is in place and whether there are any cracks in the chimney. Loose tiling and cracks are congruent to direct exposure to intense weather conditions.
      • Look for damp patches in your loft that will help you prevent extreme leakages once the rains begin.
      • Make sure your television satellite dish is secured tightly to the roof.
      • Inspections of the roof must be done at least twice a year.
      • Outside light penetrating the roof shows that there is most probably an orifice that shouldn’t exist.
    • Gutters –
      • Gutters are meant to clear out water from the area. A clear gutter is the only way it is functional.
      • Keep the gutters clear from debris, dead leaves and other blockages by cleaning them weekly to avoid clogging.
      • Tight-fitting wire mesh traps leaves and dirt while allowing water through.
    • Garden space –
      • Trim any low hanging trees and creepers.
      • Clear out dead branches to prevent them from falling during the rains.
      • Garden equipment, tools and furniture can get extremely damaged in wet weather. Create suitable conditions to keep the furniture dry by keeping it inside or under a roof. You can also apply a waterproofing treatment to wooden garden furniture.

 

  • INTERNAL PREPARATION –
    • Doors & windows –
      • Study your doors and windows and make sure they have secure sealing, and check if any repairs are required.
      • Fireplaces, skylights and other orifices or vents need to be scrutinised.
    •  Ceiling and walls –
      • Check for leakages and damp patches. They will most definitely reoccur and expand if they aren’t dealt with immediately.
      • Dark spots on the walls and ceilings could be moulds or condensation, and the underlying cause or leakage must be catered to.
    •  Draught proofing –
      • Door and window seals (brush, rubber etc.) help seal them against draught, light, smoke, odours, insects and dust.
      • They help retain heat inside the house too.
    •  Emergency kit –
      • Always keep an emergency kit well-stocked at home. Your kit should be easily accessible and should include:
        • Essential medication.
        • Flashlights and extra batteries.
        • Candles/oil lamps/battery operated lamps and plenty of matchboxes or a lighter.
        • Non-perishable, dry food and drinking water.
        • A list of useful phone numbers.
        • A battery-operated radio.
        • A first aid kit and a disinfectant.
        • Blankets.

 

  • MISCELLANEOUS PREP –
    • Switch off your sprinkler system, if you have one.
    • Treat damp patches before they spread.
    • If you live on the ground floor, plan on accommodating most of your furniture to the highest space in the house, in the event of a flood.
    • Also, sandbags can be used during extreme flooding conditions. They act as a barrier by preventing water from entering for short periods of time. Using them along with plastic sheeting improves their utility.
    • Avoid using ladders during adverse weather conditions as it could prove to be fatal.
    • Keep valuables and documents safe in waterproof bags and store them in higher places inside the house.
    • Inspect your basement and check whether resealing is required in case there is water seeping in.
    • Buy tarpaulin to protect heavy household items that are difficult to move, like sofas and beds.
    • An emergency plan – Pre-plan what you would do at the time of an emergency.

Some important lessons to keep in mind before the rain hits us all –

When life gives you a rainy day, play in the puddles. But don't let your house become one.

But don’t let your house become one.

 

Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday. Just make sure your furniture is here to stay...

 

 

 

Just make sure your furniture is here to stay.

 

 

 

 

…Or else you might end up saying this to your doors and windows.

Take precautions or else you might end up saying this to your doors and windows.

 

A penny for your thoughts on this one –

A penny for your thoughts on this one.

 

Anyway, the most important message that we get from the rain is that –

...Or at least successfully preparing yourself to face its wrath.

 

 

…Or at least successfully preparing yourself to face its wrath.

 

 

 

Keep in mind that extreme weather conditions can cause serious damages on the insides, as well as the outsides, of your house. This, in turn, would increase unexpected costs and become troublesome to deal with. Follow the above-mentioned steps to avoid most issues arising from the rains, and try to stay as happy as this little guy.

He's all set for the rains. Are you?

 


Enhance Vehicle Tracking in your Society

ApnaComplex announces its latest innovation – ‘Vehicle Sentry’ – A RFID based Vehicle Movement Tracking System. Enhance Vehicle security in your Society today!

Vehicle Tracking of is one of the key responsibilities for security guards of every apartment. In addition, Vehicle Security itself is a very important issue for every society. With theft of vehicles increasing, it has become an imperative for societies to address this issue. How would one know whether their vehicle is safe and is still at the same place they left it? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to keep track of your vehicle’s movement whenever you are not using it?

Usual Process in most Housing Societies

  • Vehicle owners are issued ‘parking lot’ stickers which are to be pasted on windshields
  • Vehicles are usually authorized to enter a society after checking the sticker by the security gaurd
  • No way to ‘de-activate’ a sticker once issued – leading to entry of unauthorized vehicles even after they left the society
  • More often than not, security relies more on familiarity of the vehicle/resident than on sticker – leading to problems when security gaurds change
  • No record of when a vehicle came in and when a vehicle left

We, at ApnaComplex, are proud to announce the launch of ‘Vehicle Sentry’ – a RFID based Vehicle Movement Tracking System that is fully integrated with the ApnaComplex’s cloud platform, to solve all these above issues and to reduce your worries.

What exactly is Vehicle Sentry?

Vehicle Sentry is an Vehicle Tracking System that is RFID based and fully integrated with ApnaComplex cloud. At a broad level, Vehicle Sentry includes RFID tags for all authorized vehicles and RFID readers, that are connected to ApnaComplex’s hardware (Sentry Controller) which in turn is connected to ApnaComplex cloud via internet.

This mix will ensure that your vehicle security is enhanced in your housing society. These readers are positioned at security gates to detect vehicles with authorized RFID tags and capture the movement. One of the most important features of Vehicle Sentry is that it automatically synchronizes vehicle-related, and other data of your society on the ApnaComplex portal. In addition, the resident also can receive an SMS regarding the movement of their vehicle, in and out of the society premises.

How does Vehicle Sentry, the Vehicle Tracking System work?

Authorized vehicles are first fitted with RFID tags. Next, RFID readers are installed at the gates, or entrances, and exits of the society campus. These Readers come with ApnaComplex’s own custom hardware called ‘Sentry Controller’ that acts as the gateway between ApnaComplex Cloud and the RFID Readers. Sentry Controller helps sync the vehicle entry, and exit information to the ApnaComplex cloud server in near real-time, and also keeps the reader in sync with tags issued for new vehicles and de-activated tag list.

Important features of Vehicle Sentry, RFID based Vehicle Tracking system –

    • When a Vehicle with valid tag passes near the gate, the light/buzzer connected to Reader will buzz indicating the detection
    • Can be configured to hoot for invalid tags
    • Security can open / close gate accordingly instead of looking for inaccurate vehicle stickers
    • Can be hooked up with a boom barrier for automatic entry/exit
    • Vehicle Movement information will get automatically synced up with ApnaComplex portal
    • Admins can check the vehicle movement records any time in the portal
    • Data of any new tags issues or old tags deactivated will automatically updated the RFID reader (as long as internet connectivity is there)

    Vehicle Sentry System - Vehicle Tracking System

    RFID based Vehicle Tracking System – Vehicle Sentry by ApnaComplex

 

How your society can benefit from Vehicle Sentry and why you need it right now –

  • Increased security in your society: Vehicle sticker validation is old news since the movement of every vehicle entering and leaving the campus is now tracked, making it more secure. Unwanted intrusion is avoided with the use of Vehicle Sentry.
  • Easy and quick recording and updating: All the data regarding your flats and vehicles are stored in one database only. Any other RFID solution you implement will force you to maintain separate databases of vehicles and flats, which in turn makes you update the same information at multiple places whenever there is a tenant moving in or out. Vehicle Sentry is an integrated solution to this concern and redundant efforts do not come into the picture.
  • Cost Effective: Extra hardware is unneeded at places where the RFID reader gates are installed. All functionalities are driven from the ApnaComplex portal. Your estate manager can issue and deactivate tags and update the portal, all the while being in the estate office, and the data is synced with the RFID readers at the gate. In addition, you could just deploy the vehicle movement tracking with our boom barrier, making it very cost effective for housing society deployments.

The phrase ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure‘ couldn’t be stressed upon anymore during the time of Benjamin Franklin than it could be in today’s age of deception. Vehicle Sentry is your best and most genuine bet.

How do I get Vehicle Sentry for my society?

To know more about Vehicle Sentry and to implement it in your society, kindly submit a sales request at Contact Us page and we will get back to you with the details.

This is yet another innovative approach by ApnaComplex to keep your mind free from worry, while providing you with the best services possible. Look forward to the greater safety of your vehicles in your society with Vehicle Sentry!


Things to keep in mind when looking to rent a flat

There are many things one must consider before choosing to rent a flat in any apartment building. We, at Apnacomplex, list out the things we think you should keep in mind before renting that flat.

  1. Budget – Always consider your budget carefully before deciding to take up any flat on rent. The things to consider would be; gross rent paid, deposit, maintenance, and upkeep. All those things need to factor into your decision to rent out a flat.  Generally, things work up to 1.2x of the gross rent. So assuming your rent to be 10000 per month, you’ll eventually end up paying 12000 per month all things included. Once you know what the rent of your new flat will be, factor in your household income. As a rule of thumb, it is ok to spend 30% of your household income on rent in any given month. Once you have your budget sorted out, looking for a place can be much easier and less time consuming.Know your budget
  2. Broker Vs. No broker – getting a local broker can be a good way to increase your awareness of apartments in your area of choice. But then there’s the dreaded issue of brokerage, the one thing we never wish to pay (Trust me, I’m regretting paying brokerage as I write this article). Going on online sites can be a healthy start too, but what you see is not always what you get with online real estate listings, so it might take you longer than anticipated when you take that route. The only trait you’ll need is patience and you might just find the right fit searching online. In our experience, some of the best deals are available on classified newspapers and online portals (Please check https://www.apnacomplex.com/classifieds). You’ll be surprised at the deals you find there.Consider a broker carefully
  3. Be specific – If you’re experienced in renting out a place, you’ll probably be aware of these factors more or less, if not, then here’s the stuff that you’ll need to make that house a home.
    1. Check the amount of noise in that area – having religious institutions nearby might be good for your piety but can have a disastrous effect on your sleep schedule.
    2. Check if household services are available in that area – From dry cleaning to housekeepers, there are many areas where these basic services are difficult to come by, so ensure that you’re not making your life more difficult in the future.
    3. Check power outage cycles – some areas are notorious for a number of power cuts that occur there. So make sure your apartment provides for power backup or there are limited power outages there.
    4. Check water limitations – Water is considered the element of life, so maybe having a check on whether your apartment is equipped with rainwater harvesting or has some water facility to meet demand and supply will benefit you. Else you won’t have to option but to literally air your dirty laundry.Check if there's water in the flat
  4. Check the contract – Contracts are mandatory if you’re taking a flat on rent legally. Yes, we’re putting it that way because taking a flat legally benefits you more than the landlord. Here is a snapshot of things you need to look out for while taking you flat on rent:
    1. Contract dates – check when your contract starts and ends. Yes, you’ll be surprised at how many people miss this.
    2. Termination clauses – This is the most highlight-able area of your rental contract. Check to see if “My sister wants to come and stay” is a valid reason. Else, you can’t be evicted if you pay your rent on time.
    3. Penalties – Generally most flats have a one month rent as a penalty from their deposit. But make sure you’re aware of that clause in your contract.
    4. Repairs – Most contracts are segregated into major repairs and minor repairs. Major repairs are undertaken by the owner and minor repairs are undertaken by the tenant. So be sure to look out for that.
    5. Guests – Check to see if there’s any limitation on guests allowed. Contracts generally mirror society rules on such issues, so if your society limits guests then it’s better that you’re aware of what needs to be done.
    6. Rent renewal – arguably the most important part of your contract, check on the terms of a renewal. If there’s no renewal clause, push for it to be added in. Assuming you’re not going to move out of the house for the foreseeable future, it’s unjust to randomly have your rent increased on renewal. In our experience, most landlords settle for an annual 5% increase in rent year on year.
    7. Get everything in writing – Most landlords make blanket promises when giving out their house, make sure you get these promises/guarantees in writing, taking someone at their word can be good for relationships but remember, you’re looking for a house, not a friend.Contracts are important - Read carefully
  5. Inspect your flat – A lot of issues with your apartment can be hidden from a simple look. Inspect these things properly before deciding on whether or not to take the place.
    1. Pipes – make sure there are no blockages and the pipes work smoothly.
    2. Electrical fittings – See if the lights and fans work properly. It’s common courtesy for your landlord to provide these. Else, make it clear on who pays to fix it.
    3. Faucets and shower heads – Sometimes these basic fittings don’t work and nobody checks it out before renting out a place and moving in. Be sure to check these facilities in your prospective flat.
    4. Cracked windows or broken walls – If you can live with a cracked window or a broken wall, then it’s still fine. But make sure you keep photos of these issues before taking up a place. Those photos will come in handy when you’re vacating, trust us on this.Inspect your house carefully
  6. Rules and regulations – Although your landlord may be okay with these things, sometimes the housing society can have a lot of issues with some of the things you want. For example, you might not be allowed to keep pets in your house or you might not be allowed to throw a party. These are things that you should ideally check beforehand. It’s wiser if you ask the landlord these things than asking the society directly. (In Mumbai a lot of Societies require you to give an interview before being able to take a house on rent, so additional caution is advised there)Pets are people too
  7. Negotiate – A lot depends on who your landlord is and whether or not they’re ready to negotiate on the price. If it’s a person who owns a lot of property and runs this as a business, you’re going to find it harder to negotiate a better deal for yourself. If it’s an individual that is just looking to supplement their household income, play hardball, you’ll come out on top. Most landlords also practice up-selling their houses, so negotiating could make your deal sweeter than you think. Keep your poker face while negotiating
  8. Check if your apartment society is smart enough – Last but not the least, check if your prospective apartment complex is listed on http://www.apnacomplex.com by searching for it. If it is, then you’ll notice how simpler your life becomes once you live there. If not, then there’s always something you can do about it; like referring the software to you society or searching for a different apartment altogether.

Help.apnacomplex.com – A new looking Online Help Portal for ApnaComplex

We are happy to announce the launch of new looking self-service and online Help portal for ApnaComplex.

With the new design, its far easier for you to search for answers for the questions you might have when using ApnaComplex. The new design also ensures the help is easily readable over smart phones.

New Help portal of ApnaComplex

New Help portal of ApnaComplex

This portal will also stay up to date based on various queries we keep receiving from users and based on the new features we keep releasing from time to time.

Do check out the new looking ApnaComplex Help at http://help.apnacomplex.com


ApnaComplex featured on Bloomberg TV – Rising Stars!

Team ApnaComplex is happy and proud for being featured on the Rising Stars program in Bloomberg TV on 28th December 2015.

As a part of the feature, Raja Sekhar, our co-founder talks with Abha Bakaya and Priyank Lakhia of Bloomberg TV about our journey so far, how ApnaComplex helps Housing Societies and Apartment Associations to manage more efficiently.

Will certainly motivate us to reach newer heights!