At some point in our lives, we have all fantasized about living in our own multi-story mansion, with expansive gardens stretching on all four sides. However, as we grow up and understand that this dream is a difficult one to realize, we seek pragmatic options that somehow compensate for this imagination of ours; and there enters the picture the concept of independent houses, bungalows, or row bungalows. And this trend is not foreign to people in Nashik, or those wanting to live in Nashik. So, if you too are one who is seeking an independent home, bungalow, row bungalow, or semi-detached home in Nashik, then read ahead, because here you will get all the information you need before you make a decision – the pros, and the cons, the process, everything!

The advantages of independent homes:

Privacy:

The biggest advantage of living in a private home or a bungalow is the “zero interference”. Since your property is not shared with anyone, you have absolute freedom from intrusions or disturbances you would otherwise have; for instance, loud noises from the neighbors’ houses, the coming and going of people from shared passageways, etc. Instead, you too have absolute freedom to do as you like in your home, without having to think about being a disturbance to anyone.

Modify, demolish, or expand:

Imagine wanting to refurbish your home, but being unable to due to restrictions from the neighbors and even the structural limitations of the apartment. However, all these qualms disappear when you live in independent homes. You could even add one, two or three floors to your existing home, or even demolish one completely and construct a new one.

Spacious:

When you have an independent home or a bungalow, space is something you will never fall short off! Since it is designed to suit your needs and wants, detached homes tend to be extensive, offering you the flexibility to use the rooms the way you would want.

And you never have to fight for parking!

Increase in value:

The value of an independent house only increases with time, as it is the land on which it is built, that keeps gaining value. Thus, in case one wanted to sell an independent home, they would not be suffering a loss, at any time.

The disadvantages of independent homes:

Security:

The biggest con of living in a bungalow, row house, or an independent home, would be security concerns. As opposed to apartments where neighbors live next to one another and can be easily looked to for help, in cases of emergencies, independent homes do not have this benefit. For instance, if an adult in the house has to be on tour often, and there are dependents in the home, finding assistance in cases of emergencies becomes difficult in the absence of the responsible adult.

Maintenance costs:

When living in bungalows or independent properties, the upkeep of the property becomes the sole responsibility of the owner, whereas in apartment homes these expenses would be shared by the multiple residents. Moreover, in apartments, these maintenance tasks are regularly looked after, which may not be the case in private residences and they may fall prey to gradual deterioration.

Apart from this, the time required to regularly clean and maintain an independent home is way more than that needed to clean an apartment every day! So, for people living a fast-paced life, bungalows can mean a tedious task.

Amenities and facilities:

The next disadvantage of private homes is that they do not have fun facilities like a swimming pool, clubhouse, recreation center, or garden, which are one of the biggest attractions of living in apartment homes or flats. Even if an owner was to incorporate these facilities in his/her independent home, it would lead to sky rocketing expenses first in building, and then in maintaining these amenities.

However, these pros and cons would affect different people differently, and the decision remains exclusively the buyer’s, to make.

Moving on to what needs to be done when you have decided on buying an independent home, here are a few things to consider.

Find the right property:

There are various things you need to think of such as the location, the size, and the budget.

• You have to think of the locality where you want to live. Does the bungalow have a good commute system, and accessibility to essential services such as schools, hospitals, offices, etc..
• Think about how large or small you want your home to be. The number of bedrooms, bathrooms, staircase placement and access, and open space surrounding the construction all come into question here.
• Do not forget to factor in the costs – direct and indirect. What is your budget? You will also have to maintain the property, so, thinking of the budget is a must!

Financing your purchase:

There are generally three ways you could finance your property – mortgage, home equity loan, or cash.

• To mortgage means to get a loan for purchasing a property, where you repay it in installments and have to pay interest.
• A home equity loan on the other hand is a loan where you borrow money in return for equity in your home. Even here you have to pay installments and interest.
• While buying a property in cash is the most straightforward way, the trick is having that money ready in hand!

Make the offer and negotiate:

After you think you have got most of the job done, on finalizing the property you want, and finding finance solutions, begins the real work. Once you make the offer that includes the price and the contingencies you may have to bear, you need to check if the seller agrees too. You may have to ready your mind for certain compromises with regard to the price, or terms of the sale.

When all this is said and done, ensure you get the paperwork right, and enjoy the fruits of your effort, in your very own independent home.