Buying a home is more than buying a car or the latest home theatre system. It’s one of the biggest decisions in our life. These days, more and more women are buying homes. Empowered financially, women are looking at investing in real estate.
“I prefer buying a house with a bigger living room. My wife, however, wanted the bedroom to be more spacious. In the end, we found a house had met both these requirements!” laughs Abhishek Chatterjee. Does convenience matter more to a woman or neighbourhood? Questions, questions, questions.
In interesting data from many realtors, women hold the final decision in more than 80% of home purchases. Better exposure to detailed information about projects and developers is helping women form an opinion and are making them more confident in making the life-changing decision of owning a home. After all, a self-owned home is considered as security anchor in India. So, what are the factors a woman may consider while buying a home?
Function or aesthetics?
Women buyers might give importance to the functional aspects of a house. Storage and cabinet spaces matter. Utilities also rank high on the checklist of a woman homebuyer.
Location
From proximity to daily life amenities to connectivity via public transport, women rank a house higher if it is located close to the centre of the city. Safety is another factor that plays a major role in the final decision.
Community matters. Does the locality offer back-up support for women? Are there schools nearby? Are their crèches or daycare available? How does the transit infrastructure rank in the locality?
Storage spaces
Does the home have space for utilities such as a washing machine or dryer? In today’s ever-shrinking spaces, homes that maximise space while minimising clutter. That means more consideration for a home that has many cabinets, cupboards, drawers, and cubbies. A dedicated laundry area with water and electricity connection is a huge bonus.
Roomy kitchens
Regardless of gender, the kitchen these days is a focal point for the entire family to get together. A big open kitchen with lots of storage areas and spaces for dining, entertaining, and hanging out together would be perfect.
Value for investing
More than for a living, buying a house is also about investing in real estate. It is important to assess the value the house is going to provide 20 years down the line. A house that fits into the budget and has high acceleration value would be perfect for the value-oriented woman buyer.
This article was originally published on www.thehindu.com dated July 10,2017
