Top changes you can make to your apartment layout before moving in

 Top changes you can make to your apartment layout before moving in

Want to add a home office or glass walls in the balcony of your new home? Here are some ideas to execute in the construction stage.

      How many instances have you come across where friends or family, who own a home, regret not adding certain design features to their apartment before moving in?  If you are planning to buy a home under construction, know what changes can be made to your apartment and at which stage before you take possession of your property.

Choose a floor which is not ready

     Before you choose the floor of your apartment, visit the site to check the progress of the construction.  If the construction of the floor - where you prefer to buy your apartment - has not yet started, then it’s the best time to approach the developer and find out what design changes can be implemented in your apartment.

     Majority of the apartment buildings have common structural fittings such as power lines, plumbing, sewerage, load bearing pillars and beams, elevator shafts, balconies, external window and door frames, etc.  These are part of the project design that is architecturally feasible and most of these cannot be changed.

     However, what can be changed are the design features within the apartment and any additional fittings externally.

Consult the project engineer

      Source the apartment floor plan and consult the project engineer and architect on the structural changes possible inside the apartment.  This will give you an idea about where the pipelines and electrical connections are located and which are the important load bearing pillars and beams passing through your home.  Based on this plan, it’ll be easier for you to decide on whether you want the bathspaces resized or you’d prefer an open floor living room design without walls, sliding doors in the bedrooms, etc.

Installation of overhead solar heater

        If the provision of a common solar water heater for all the apartments is not part of the project offering, ask the developer if you can install one on the terrace for yourself.  If the developer gives you the go-ahead, you will then require a separate pipeline from the common water tank to the heater and from the storage tank to your apartment.  This will incur extra cost which the developer will not pay for.  On the other hand, there’s a fair chance the developer may decide to install solar water heating to all apartments at an additional cost.
 

Internal walls

         If you prefer sliding doors between rooms instead of old-fashioned doors that open against the wall, you have two options.  One that slides along the wall or one that slides into the wall concealing the door.  The second sliding door design will require prior planning with the developer to make the wall hollow for the door to slide in.

Entrance from living room to inner areas

        Since most apartments have a typical entryway-possibly a corridor-leading to the inner rooms, you might want to add a unique feature, such as an arched entrance or one flanked by two gothic style pillars.  In this case, you might need to inform the developer to source the service of the project designer to execute the changes without tampering with the structural design.

Larger openings for chimney

         If you have decided on having a cooking stove with an external chimney, it will require a larger window outlet for the smoke to dissipate.  In this case, inform the builder to mark a separate opening in your kitchen wall to fit the chimney outlet instead of the typical exhaust fan window that all apartments come with.

Connections for appliances

         While all apartments have the same floor design, you might want to place your appliances differently.  For example, you might prefer to have a larger bath area with a laundry or utility space attached to place your washing machine.  Or perhaps, you prefer to have your dishwasher, oven and refrigerator clustered in a concealed space, or desire a separate kitchen island with sink attachment.  In that case, these spaces will need dedicated wiring and sockets, water inlets and outlets suitable for modular kitchens and bath spaces.

Separate prayer room

          Most projects do not offer puja or prayer area space.  So, it’s best to plan it before the apartment is completed so that you don’t need to knock off any walls to make room for it.

Study or home office space

           The work-from-home trend revealed the importance of having a secluded area to work out of.  Carve out a space from the master bedroom or the children’s room that is well lit and ventilated to make a small study or home office complete with suitable wiring for the printer and computers.