Tips To Keep Your Home Safe And Hygienic For Your Child

Having children at home not only brings joy and fun but also calls for greater safety and responsible planning of space in order to keep them safe. For couples, with with children, planning to buy a residential property in India, it is mandatory to know if the property is childproof or not. In case, you plan to buy a property which is not childproof yet, ensure that you take necessary measures to make it childproof before you move in. The childproofing can be done by hiring professionals who are well-equipped and have the knowledge about how the property can be safe for your child.

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Importance of childproofing

At the growing age, children are curious about their environment and the things around them. Whether it is a toddler or a four-year-old, the home is a huge playground where their imagination runs wild. This also means that there can be multiple places in your home where an accident is just waiting to occur. By barricading the possible areas of accident, will ensure their safety and your peace of mind. In fact, many upcoming projects in India add childproofing as a key feature to their apartments.

What are the danger zones?

To identify the danger are, look at your home from a toddler's point of view. Angular corners, sharp-edged furniture, low lying electrical sockets, slippery floors, and even poisonous cleaning products within their reach, can pose serious baby hazards. Any place where a baby can get hurt is a potential danger zone that needs to be childproofed.

Steps to childproof

The first step towards childproofing is to remove or cover everything sharp, pointed, and heavy from the child's path.

Bathroom

- Have non-slippery mats outside the bathroom and next to the bathtubs to ensure they do not slip. Never leave your child unattended during a bath.

- Toilet lids should be locked to prevent children from tipping over or slamming it on their hands or heads.

- Cabinets, if any, should be locked as these largely are used for storing medicines, soaps and shampoos, which can pose danger if consumed out of curiosity.

- All electric outlets/sockets should be covered with proofing gadgets to prevent accidental electrocution. Children tend to put their fingers in the electrical sockets.

Balcony and terrace

- Children should not be allowed on balconies and terraces alone. They should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.

- The balconies should have grilles, barricades, and protective railings, and designed in a manner that there is minimal space between the bars of the grille, enough to prevent a mishap.

Kitchen

- Kitchen cabinets should have locks to keep sharp objects like knives and scissors away from children's reach. - Installing stops in drawers will stop toddlers from bring them out on themselves.

- Install stove knobs that come with in-built locking mechanisms, so that even if the child can reach the stove, they are unable to operate it.

- Keep the fridge and microwave locked when not in use.

- Use a retractable electrical cable for coffee makers, toasters and microwaves so that children cannot pull the cords.

Bedrooms and living room

- Children spend a lot of time in these rooms. Have a minimal decor until child grows up a little. Too many artifacts, breakable or heavy, and sharp-edged furniture can be a cause of injury to children.

- Get stoppers installed on all the doors, prohibiting baby's fingers from getting pinched.

- Keyholes on the doors should preferably be double-sided and child-friendly to prevent a child from being accidentally locked inside the home.

- Electrical covers should be placed on unused sockets. Switches and regulators should be installed out of the reach of small hands.

- Place corner bumpers on all sharp edges to prevent bumps on the head.

- If you have a staircase, fix a baby gate on the top and bottom of it.

The installation process all the safety measures and equipments should be completed before you move in. Though this comes with a price, but that is worth paying for when it ensures a safe environment for your child.

Hygiene at home plays a great role in maintaining the good health of the new born. Thus, it becomes important to go for a deep cleaning process before the new born enters the home. It is as important as stocking up on diapers.

Here are some additional tips:

Basic Housecleaning

It is important to have a thorough cleaning of the home. Avoid going for harsh cleaning solutions and insecticidal sprays. This may leave a negative impact on the health of the baby. Kitchen is one specific place that needs extra attention. An average dishcloth contains around 4 billion living germs. Clean the kitchen floors nicely and regularly. Bathrooms are another area that needs attention. Use a strong cleanser once a week.

Keep Things Handy

Ensure that the adults can easily reach out for the disinfectant and sanitising sprays. It is also important to keep a basket which can be used to hold all of baby's belongings. This will help you to easily find things. This will also make you more efficient while doing a full clean up.

Purify the Air

Go for a strict no-shoes policy. Say no to synthetic air fresheners and fragrances. Use clove oil bleach for mold removal. Avoid bleaching in general. Clean the rugs if any. Bring in indoor plants that will purify the air. You can use eco-friendly cleansers made out of lemon etc. This will ensure that the air within the house is clean and healthy for your new born.

Find the right corner for the nursery

It is necessary to find a right space for the nursery in your home. The room must have proper sun light, temperature and electricity. It should be also away from unnecessary noises. This will ensure that the baby enjoys a peaceful sleep.

As the process of cleaning the home is not that easy it becomes important to take the help of other family members. Set tiny goals and divide the work amongst all the family members. This will simplify the process of cleaning the home for the new born.

Also read: 20 Low-Cost Decorating Ideas

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20 Low-Cost Decorating Ideas

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Canvas the Area

Hang canvases painted with interior latex paint to brighten blank walls. Think big: The canvases should fill the wall.

Create a Side Table

Stack modular storage units to make a stepped side table with surfaces for displays and lighting. Create miniature still lifes in the cubbies, or stack reading material that you’re going to get to...someday.

Hang Plates

Plates in unexpected colors make a fresh wall arrangement. Vary hues (within a family), sizes, textures. Put the most dramatic plate toward the center (lay out the plates first to experiment); attach wire plate hangers and hang plates on picture nails.

Lighten Up With Wicker

Inexpensive wicker that looks as if it belongs outdoors changes the mood of any room. Put chairs in a sunny corner of their own or mix them with your upholstered pieces.

Make Your Own Art

Even photocopied art looks sophisticated when it floats between two pieces of glass in Umbra’s Document Frames. The wall color shows through the glass, creating the illusion of a custom mat.

Be Crafty

A variation on the idea: Make use of mittens missing their mates. Cut felt to fit the backing of the frame ($24 each, mtsframes.com), then use craft glue to adhere the felt. Center the mitten on the felt and glue it down; let dry overnight.

Go Natural

Use shells and other beach bounty to warm up a kitchen, an entryway, or a stairwell by creating a rustic, relaxed display.

Think Visually

Add interest to a store-bought lamp shade with the help of ribbon, glue, and an eye chart. (Print one for free online, then have it enlarged at a copy center.)

Fake a Headboard

An easy paint project: Create a trompe l’oeil headboard. zero floor space. For how-tos, see Paint a Faux Headboard.

Hang a Gallery of Photos

Mine your albums for your best shots (pick a theme: weddings, birthday parties, vacations) and put them in identical frames. Hang in a tight grid or a long line—you can’t go wrong if you stick to a geometric arrangement.

Reflect Your Style

Define a space—here, a foyer—with a mirror that adds both drama and light. This one is a hand-me-down dressed up with one coat of spray paint.

Bring in Shades of Colors

Colored lamp shades can make a bold statement. Limit the colors to one per room, and select other lamp shades in neutral tones, such as parchment and white.

Stack Your Books

Piled books draw the eye. If shelves aren’t high enough or deep enough to accommodate oversize books, stack them on a flat surface, such as a bench or an end table.

Cluster Candles

Candles look best when massed, particularly on a spacious surface, like a coffee table; the larger the surface, the larger the candles should be. Group four or five pillars of different heights (same color) in glass containers.

Mix Patterns

No matter the season, your bedroom will look springlike year-round with floral sheets or pillowcases paired with crisp white linens. Pick patterns with white backgrounds to keep florals harmonious. Drape bedside tables with vintage floral tablecloths or white matelassé runners.

Bring the Outdoors In

Lend an entryway an earthy vibe with a coatrack made from found materials. Using polyurethane-based glue (such as Gorilla glue), attach a stone to the end of a wooden drawer knob, then screw each knob into a plank of wood.

Repurpose Furniture

Rickety seating can be given a second life as a bedside table. If there’s a hole in the caning, place a tray on the chair to hold an alarm clock, a reading lamp, etc.

Pump Up the Color

Perk up a dull room with vibrant hits of a color like green. Though this space is accessorized generously with the shade (starting with the big burst in the rug), even something as subtle as green blossoms can add pop.

Showcase a Collection

In the months when your fireplace goes unlit, use it to display a collection of vases or other objects. Gather similar pieces, staying in a simple palette, in a variety of heights and shapes.

Amplify Your Space

Tight spaces expand and rooms seem roomier when you prop up a large mirror (at least three-fourths as tall as the wall). It’s a classic interior decorator’s trick to create instant―if not real―square footage.

Also read: Top 5 Home Preparation Tips Before Unpacking

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PMAY Home Loan – Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

With a view to help people own a roof over their head government has announced ‘Housing for All by 2022’ mission, under which it is partly financing the interest cost to the borrowers. The same is done under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in urban areas as well as in rural area.

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Eligibility Criteria for Home Loans under PMAY

This scheme is available for acquiring or constructing residential units in the 4,041 statutory towns as per the 2011 census and 274 additional towns, which have separately been notified by the state government.

For qualifying under the scheme the individual should own any pucca house either in his/her name or in the name of any unmarried child anywhere in India. The home loan under this scheme can also be availed for the purpose of extension of the existing residential house, either self-acquired or inherited, in addition to for acquiring or constructing a new house. In case the borrower wants to avail home loan under PMAY for extension of his existing house then the condition of owning a pucca house does not apply.

The eligibility for availing the home loans under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is based on the income for the family as a whole and not only of the head of the family. In order to avail the subsidy offer under PMAY home loans the borrower has to submit a self-declaration for income of the family and about the title of the property to be purchased.

In case the home loan is disbursed for construction of property or self construction, the lender has to monitor the construction progress and legal compliance of the dwelling units financed under the PMAY scheme, like approvals for the building design, infrastructure facilities, quality of construction, etc. The lender is also required to verify the costs incurred up to different stages of construction, through site visits, photographs of the site certificates of architect, engineers etc. The government provides subsidy only for home loans under PMAY but the lender has to take all the necessary precautions, which it takes for any other home loans.

The house which qualifies for the interest subsidy, can either be a single unit or a unit under any multi story building. The eligible unit under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana needs to have basic facilities and infrastructure like toilet, water, sewerage, road, electricity, etc. For the purpose of ascertaining eligibility only area on which a carpet can be laid shall be considered and therefore it will not include the walls in the house or the outer wall of the house.

The house to be constructed or acquired under PMAY has be purchased either in the name of the female head of the family or alternatively, in the joint name of the male head of the household and his wife. The dwelling unit can be acquired in the name of the male member of the family only if there is no adult female member in the family.

The income eligibility and rate of interest subsidy available and the exact quantum of benefits is tabulated as under:

The maximum subsidy under PMAY can be Rs 2,67,280. The eligible amount of subsidy will come down proportionately in case the home loan is lower than Rs 6 lakhs. The subsidy benefit is only available for loans that are disbursed on or after June 17, 2015.

Methodology of giving the subsidy under PMAY

The subsidy under PMAY granted in the form of upfront credit for the present value of the amount of subsidy from the amount of loan disbursed. The amount of loan to be serviced comes down to the extent of present value of the subsidy of 6.50% is discounted at 6.50%, for a maximum tenure period of 20 years, on the maximum loan amount of Rs 6 lakhs. The EMI thus is computed on the reduced home loan liability based on the agreed rate of interest.

Though the lender gives the credit for subsidy to the borrower immediately, the lender gets it only the its claim is processed by the nodal agency. This is the main reason why lenders are not keen to promote this beneficial scheme.

PMAY Home Loan Processing fee for loan applications

Under PMAY home loan the lender is not allowed to charge any processing fee from the borrower in lieu of which it is given a a lump sum of three thousands rupees to cover cost of processing the home loan application for an amount upto Rs 6 lakhs. For additional loan beyond Rs 6 lakhs, the lenders are allowed to recover normal processing fees.

Balance transfer on PMAY Home Loan

Although the borrower is allowed to shift the home loan taken under Prime Minister Awas Yojana he cannot claim the subsidy again on such balance transfer. Moreover, benefits under PMAY cannot be claimed by transferring your existing home loan after the notified date, as the subsidy is only available to the borrower when he acquires or constructs his house whether new one or second hand.

Also read: Home Warranty Under RERA: All You Need To Know

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Home Warranty Under RERA: All You Need To Know

The defect liability period better known as home warranty of five years under Clause 14 (3) of the Real Estate Act (RERA) could prove to be a market differentiator that will assure homebuyers of the construction quality of their prospective homes.

The excitement of moving into a new home could sometimes take a toll with the discovery of some construction defects in your new home. Until the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 came into existence, there was no way for buyers to persuade developers to fix these damages. Not only has the RERA changed the way real estate operates in India, it has also addressed certain issues that needed extensive deliberation in the past. One such issue is the builders’ accountability to offer workmanship for structural defects for a tenure of five years. According to Clause 14 (3) of the Real Estate Act, a builder or developer will be liable to fix/repair any defects brought to his notice by a homebuyer within a period of five years from the date of possession, without further charge. Moreover, the problem is to be fixed within 30 days of being brought into the notice of the developer.

In case the developer fails to rectify such defects within the specified time, a home buyer shall be entitled to receive compensation under the Act. Earlier, most developers in their agreements used to keep the period for repairs to as low as two years. However, the new rule intends to bridge this gap. According to Aditya Kedia, Managing Director, Transcon Developers, “In a business like real estate where fly-by-night operators are known to outnumber reputed developers, a 5 year defect liability period is definitely an optimistic step as far as customers are concerned.” Such constructive provisions assure them of the product’s excellence.

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Clean everything above your head

In case the developer fails to rectify such defects within the specified time, a home buyer shall be entitled to receive compensation under the Act. Earlier, most developers in their agreements used to keep the period for repairs to as low as two years. However, the new rule intends to bridge this gap. According to Aditya Kedia, Managing Director, Transcon Developers, “In a business like real estate where fly-by-night operators are known to outnumber reputed developers, a 5 year defect liability period is definitely an optimistic step as far as customers are concerned.” Such constructive provisions assure them of the product’s excellence.

What does home warranty cover?

Structural defects: Structural defects are caused due to deficiency in a building where the structure does not perform in a way as intended by the homebuyer. It generally arises due to a flaw in design, constructionquality or material. Deficiency in the quality of raw material causes leakage and dampness while fault in construction results in cracks in foundation, plumbing issues and electrical and mechanical problems. Under RERA’s home warranty clause, all these issues will be covered. Moreover, to ensure that everything goes smooth, a developer will have to keep an eye on contractors who sub-contract the work in order to avoid any difficulty at a later stage.

How will home warranty protect the interest of homebuyers?

Industry experts have welcomed the move and are feeling positive about it. In the international property market, such warranties have enhanced developers’ reputation for transparency and following best practices. Kedia is hopeful of it being equally successful in India. As far as safeguarding the interest of homebuyers is concerned, warranties are sure to offer a secure environment to buyers and investors as it makes it compulsory for developers to correct any building and construction flaws that may be detected, even post the property ownership has been handed over. Such warranties will surely enhance the developers reputation for adhering to transparent, best and credible practices.

Impact on real estate prices

While the defect liability period in international real estate market varies across countries, it is as high as 10 years in some countries where the builder liability and legal dispute redressals are systematic and strong. With a five year warranty clause under RERA and in order to evade additional cost occurring from repairs at a later stage, developers will certainly look to enhance their construction quality.

However, it is yet to be seen whether buyers will be keen to pay a premium on properties that come with stronger warranties. If experts are to be believed, homebuyers would not mind paying a premium for properties that come attached with warranties especially, once the system to enhance homebuyers’ trust is put in place. In case of lack of warranties, buyers will be forced to undertake upkeeps and repairs of any damage occurring due to construction fault at their own cost.

Also read: Home / Property Loans Tips - 3 Most Common Questions That Home Loan Applicants Ask

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