Damn! ContractorBhai.com is 4 months old

So How are we doing?

Not bad!

Check the graph of people who have been visiting us. It is very encouraging. Its been 4 months we launched. Last month( April 2012) more then 3000 people visited us.

Looking at statistics and sample data, most of the people who visited us were people who were looking for information related to Home Renovation.

Here are top 10 things we want to do for sure on ContractorBhai.com

1) Anyone who visits website should find some useful information.
2) Anyone who writes email or message to us, should get complete answer to query
3) Anyone who fills form for Free Estimate, must get helped.
4) Anyone who asks us to refer Contractor/Architect/Interior Designer will get best contacts.
5) We do not want to focus on selling service, instead we want to focus on interest of home owners
6) We want to promise little and outperform our promise. Honor what we say.
7) We want to focus on Quality. Stay small and lean.
8.) Keep away from corporate bullshit but at the sametime provide high quality customer experience.
9) Respect others. Stay open to criticisms
10) Have fun!

Thank you to all Home Owners who got in touch with us in last 4 months! Irrespective of whether you have given business or not, you have helped me and this project in growing stronger.

Keep in touch with us on facebook and twitter

Interior Design Ideas for 500 square feet 1BHK Flat

When a Contractor or Interior Designer first visits your place first thing he wants to know is your budget.

If my Home is a 500 square feet 1BHK Flat – What Interior Ideas should I opt for and what should I avoid?

Knowing Budget, kind of puts rest of the thing in place. Budget plus requirement decides whole plan of action. All your requirements and made to fit in to your budget.

There are always changes in Interior plans as per your budget. For example if your budget doesn’t allow

Difference between Built up area and Carpet area

Earlier flats / apartments were always sold using Carpet Area. In short Carpet Area is the area that is usable. But now Builders deal in Built Up area. 6 months back important decision came out of High Court . There were stricter norms on calculating Carpet Area. Builders and companies were asked to sell houses as per Carpet area. In carpet area – Balcony and Terrace is not counted. Rates will be half for such area.

Interview with Ashish Sheth, Architect & Civil Consultant, Pune

Tell us something about your career?
I did B Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) from Abhinav College of Architecture Pune (BKPS College Of Architecture). B. Arch is a 5 years course. I was passionate about drawing and always wanted to make it part of my profession. In 1997, I did get in to Computer Engineering, but very soon left it to pursue Architecture.

When did you start working?
Even while I was studying, I started working on various projects. I designed Set for song in Devdas movie under Art Director, Nitin Desai. By the time I was in 4th Year, I was already getting projects from individual Home Owners.

As part of thesis, I designed a planned solution for a government project for Boat Club in Pimpri Chincwad, Pavana river. This was to increases tourism and at the same time not do harm to environment. I provided complete plan to Corporation and they actually executed it. Project was completed even before I finish my Graduation

After finishing B. Arch, I did job for a year. And then went independent to start my business with name “Savvy Architects & Interior Designers” . Company provides Architectural, Interior, Green Building Design Consultancy. we execute all type of civil and interior works, small apartment/flat or a big budget bungalow or a township etc.

Cost of Home Renovation in Rupees Per sq ft

It depends a lot on requirement and situation of Home. For example, a Home Owner might decide to get POP ( Plaster of Paris) instead of normal Ceiling. Aluminum Window inside home could be simple of Painted with Powder Coated & Anodized Surfaces. So there is always more then one way of doing things.

What decides cost of Bathroom Renovation in Mumbai or Pune or Bangalore etc

We spoke about Economic Home renovation of 1 BHK and Deluxe Home Renovation few days back. Adding to same note heres example of how cost of Bathroom Repair can vary in a big range.

Lot depends on what Building material you choose to use. In city like Mumbai Pune , Delhi, Bangalore – the simplest Commode seat can cost you upto Rs 500. Commode is selected as per plan of WC changes.

Interview with Govind Parmar, Civil Contractor for Pune, Satara, Karad

Tell us about yourself?
In 1977, fresh out of school, I started working for a Diamond polishing firm. But very soon switched to Civil Contractor work. I learned work from my brother in law Mr Keshav Mistry (Satara). Mainly Tiling work. Once I had picked up how things work, my relative from Mumbai offered me Partnership. This was in 1978.

I moved to Mumbai in 1978 and worked here till 1985. I Mumbai, I did projects for K Raheja, Nahar Builders, Rajdeep and later for Mayfair housing. I was involved mainly in Tiling related work for all these big builders. It was going good. We had around 200 labours and it was growing day by day. Unfortunately, due to some person family reasons, I had move back to my hometown Satara in 1985.

First visit of Contractor – What to know?

Lets say you are a home owner in city like Mumbai and you need to fix or Renovate your bathroom. One fine day you call a Contractor for inspection. If you want to know what to expect in first visit of Contractor keep reading further.

There are two situations in which a home owner calls Contractor, it could be general home renovation or to fix some specific problem.
For example Home owner wants to fix or renovate Bathroom or renovate Kitchen. In such case Contractor inspects particular part of home and asks questions about requirements in mind of owner. Contractor starts explaining his recommendations and changes that can be done for renovation.

Interview with Jitu Mevada, Architect & Developer

Tell me about your Career in Construction Industry?
It’s been Challenging ride so far. I did B.E in Civil Engineering from Vartak college of Engineering, Vasai Mumbai. In year 2000 I started working for a company named Bhumi Developers as a Senior Engineer. Presently I Own a business of my own with name Om Swastik Developers. We mostly deal in to Residential projects.  I have seen lots of ups & down but fortunately so far it’s been going good and have done lot of creative work.