2 BHK or 3 BHK for your first home in Bengaluru?
More Bengaluru families are choosing 3 BHK homes. But for a first home, the right answer depends on your plans and your monthly budget. Here is how to decide.
· 7 min read
Reeva journal
Lifestyle & Design guides
20 plain-English guides on lifestyle & design for first-home buyers in Bengaluru.
The sewage treatment plant in your apartment, explained simply
Most apartment buyers never ask about the STP. It quietly shapes your water supply, your maintenance bill and even how your building smells.
· 6 min read
Bengaluru weather and your first home: what to check before buying
Bengaluru's mild weather is a reason many people settle here. But a home's design decides how much of that comfort you actually feel indoors.
· 6 min read
How to check a green home claim before you book
You do not need to be an expert to test a green claim. Four simple checks, and a few red flags, are enough to tell a real label from a slogan.
· 6 min read
Cross ventilation: a five-minute check for your show-flat visit
Almost every brochure says cross ventilation. Here is a simple way to test it yourself in a show flat, in about five minutes.
· 6 min read
Engineered or solid wood? Doors and frames in your new flat
Many new homes now use engineered materials instead of solid timber for doors and frames. Here is what that means for your flat, in plain words.
· 6 min read
Planning an electric car? EV charging questions for your first flat
You may not own an electric car yet. Your next car might be one. Here is what 'EV charging provision' really means, and what to ask the builder.
· 6 min read
Green home labels: what each word on a brochure really promises
Three green-building words turn up on almost every brochure, and they do not mean the same thing. Here is what each one promises, in plain words.
· 7 min read
How to read a floor plan before you buy your first home
A floor plan is the most useful page in any brochure, once you know how to read it. Here is a simple order to read it in, for a 2 or 3 BHK.
· 6 min read
"IGBC-aligned": what it means when no one has checked
"Aligned" sounds like a certificate, but it is not one. Here is what the word really tells you, and how to check the features behind it yourself.
· 6 min read
IGBC, LEED, GRIHA, EDGE: four green labels, compared simply
Four green labels, four different owners. Here is a plain comparison of IGBC, LEED, GRIHA and EDGE, and what each means for a flat you might buy.
· 6 min read
IGBC Silver, Gold, Platinum: what the levels mean for your home
A brochure says IGBC Gold. What does that actually mean for the flat you are buying? Here is how the levels work, without the jargon.
· 6 min read
Bought a pre-certified green home? What happens next
Pre-certification is a good start, not the finish line. Here is what happens between design and handover, and what to ask along the way.
· 5 min read
Rainwater harvesting in Bengaluru flats: what buyers should know
Rainwater harvesting is on every Bengaluru brochure. Here is what it actually involves, why some systems fail, and what to check before you buy.
· 6 min read
Recycled water for apartment gardens: what it means for residents
In many apartment communities, the garden is watered with treated water from the building's own STP. Here is what that means for you and your family.
· 6 min read
Solar panels in apartments: what they can and cannot power
Rooftop solar sounds like free power for your flat. Usually it is not. Here is what apartment solar realistically does, and how it can still help you.
· 6 min read
Vaastu and your first home: a practical, no-pressure guide
Vaastu matters to many Indian families. Here is a calm look at which ideas match climate sense, which are belief, and how to choose a flat together.
· 6 min read
Warm or cool lights for your new home? A simple room-by-room guide
Moving into your first home means buying a lot of bulbs. Here is what the kelvin number on the box means, and which colour suits each room.
· 6 min read
"Water positive" homes: what the claim would need to be true
"Water positive" sounds great on a hoarding. Here is what any honest version of the claim would need, and the questions to ask before trusting it.
· 6 min read
What is IGBC? A simple guide for home buyers
IGBC shows up on many Bengaluru brochures. Here is who runs it, what its ratings look at, and how much weight a first-home buyer should give it.
· 6 min read
FAQ
About these guides
What do the lifestyle & design guides cover?
20 short guides on lifestyle & design for first-home buyers in Bengaluru, each answering one question in plain words.
Are these guides advice for my case?
No. They explain how things usually work. For your own purchase, check with your bank, a lawyer or a tax adviser.
Where can I read every guide?
The <a href="/blog">Reeva blog</a> lists every guide, newest first, and the <a href="/glossary">glossary</a> explains the terms they use.
See The Shalott Marque for yourself
Walk the site at S Medihalli, see the homes, and ask anything. The Reeva team will call to fix a time that suits you.