subject: NO ORDINARY STUFF [print this page] Author: zameensantosh Author: zameensantosh
If you plan to rent out your place to an expatriate, make sure it is spacious, has a modular kitchen with geyser, clean and spacious bathroom and lots of storage space Expatriates continue to thrive in and throng India be they in times when the economy booms, or even during a spell of slowdown. While Delhi and National Capital Region also attract a large number of diplomats with foreign missions based here, other major metros and towns are also not far behind on this score. Apart from diplomatic community, a substantial number of expatriates, right from Sweden to Korea, and from Finland to Thailand, apart from a number of Americans, currently live in India. As their number swells and multiplies, landlords of well-known areas in Delhi, Gurgaon, and to some extent Noida, are a happy lot as they earn substantial sums through rents from this ever-growing tribe. Though this a cozy arrangement, often landlords are disappointed as expatriates are very choosy and reject an establishment if these do not measure up to their exacting standards with regard to amenities on offer. Lets start from the kitchen expatriates prefer to do their own cooking. Unlike in our country, they rarely have a live-in help. Vikas Sardana of Servotel, which provides fully furnished accommodation to expatriates, says that modular kitchens are a big draw for expatriates. Again, geyser in the kitchen is a must. Before occupying their new home, these foreign nationals see to it that their landlord installs a geyser in the kitchen and the bathrooms. They need hot and cold running water when they cook. A Delhi-based journalist from Russia says modular kitchen is a must for them. We refuse to live in a house which does not have a modular kitchen. He also adds that they hate houses where water overflows in bathrooms and kitchens, and it is difficult to drain it away they only look for water in taps. The cultural difference in cleanliness between India and the West is wet vs dry. As far as bathrooms are concerned, they have to be spacious with an exhaust fan to bring in fresh air. They also expect bright lights. A bathroom is just like any other room that makes a home for them. Bathrooms with shower cubicles are also more than welcome. And mixer-taps for hot and cold water in washbasins, whether in the bathrooms or kitchens, are sine qua non. According to another realtor, bathtubs in master bedrooms are a luxury much valued by westerners. Most of them look at bathtubs in bathrooms more as a place to unwind at the end of the day, with a warm bath serving as therapeutic, to bust stress. They also prefer fittings like basins/countertops and WCs in cream or white shades. These shades again give the bathroom a sense of spaciousness and airiness. Showers and taps in steel are preferred and the water pressure in the shower must be good. According to realtors, if houses have spacious rooms with good lighting, then they are virtual milch cows for landlords. Also, expatriates are known to prefer big rooms with high ceilings, especially those from the UK. N Jain, who has been letting out a part of his house in Shanti Niketan only to foreigners for several years now, says that good storage space is something that expatriates look forward to in bathrooms. From a medical cabinet to a towel rack and toiletry, storage is a must. And last but not the least, expatriates also look for full-length mirrors in their rented homes. I still remember that one of our French tenants left our house early as he claimed the bathroom mirror was the size of a book not enough for all of his six-feet frame, Jain chuckles. And yes, in a first- or second floor house, expatriates prefer to have a park or a ridge facing them rather than a road or a slum, as they love to lounge in their balconies. If your house meets with all these criteria, then be sure that an expat will come knocking upon your door, sooner than later! Kitchen Expatriates opt for modular kitchens. Geyser in the kitchen is a must as they need hot and cold running water when they cook Bathroom Bathrooms have to be spacious with exhaust fan to bring in fresh air. It is just like any other room that makes a home for expats Courtesy:- ET Realty dt:- 08-01-2010About the Author:
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I am Santosh Kumar Baranwal. I am a Graduate. I am working in Bhardwaj Buildtech pvt. Ltd. As a SEO.
