bs 28jan2007 - ground beneath his feet
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8/12/2019 BS 28jan2007 - Ground Beneath His Feet
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Saturday,Feb 10,2007
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Ground beneath his feet
MYSTERY GUEST
Ravi Teja Sharma / New Delhi January 28, 2007
I was looking at a model of a Rs 1.8 crore apartment at The Hibicus, promotedby Silverglades, when Prabhakar introduced himself. The Hibiscus, no matterhow nice it sounds (smells?) is just another apartment complex coming up inGurgoan, which must be the apartment capital of this country, but I digress.
After being offered tea and coffee which I declined (I was there to buy anapartment, wasnt I), we got down to business.
Prabahkar turned out to be articulate, unlike so many other agents you meetacross Delhi (refer to the movie Khosla ka Ghosla for the latter variety) at
different booking offices. I found we could converse easily.
When the interrogation started I could see the guy wondering about the kindof questions that were coming his way. The details I demanded from himranged from how much green space there would be; what kind of facilities wereon offer; power backup; swimming pool(s); how many types of apartmentsthere were in the entire complex; the specifications of a three-bedroomapartment; the cost per sq ft cost; total area of the apartment; as well as whythe apartments were so expensive given the fact that they were at least 35 kmfrom Delhi.
Prabhakar was well-prepared and had answers to most of queries. Can I getthe house without any fixtures at all? I want to put stuff that I like, not what thebuilder likes, I asked, trying to needle him just a wee bit more. Prabhakar, thistime, threw back at me his considerable experience in the industry (all of twoyears) to explain that no builder would give me that option.
On being asked about the earthquake resistance of the buildings that cost,literally the earth, he was silent. Since a chat that I had had only last week onearthquake resistant structures was still fresh in my mind, I stood my ground onthis one. Poor Prabhakar had to call up the head office to get me off his back.
SCORE:The apartments were beautiful though earthquake safety was a glaring weakpoint, 8/10
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