45 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Apartment in India
Buying an apartment in India is about much more than price, location and interiors. This 45-question checklist helps buyers verify RERA registration, title, approvals, carpet area, UDS, OC, CC, builder track record, hidden costs, maintenance, construction quality, possession terms and the sale agreement before booking.
- Written by
- Jamin Editorial Team
- Published
- 10 August 2026
๐๏ธ 45 Questions You MUST Ask Before Buying an Apartment in India
๐ THE JAMIN BAZAAR APARTMENT BUYER'S MASTER PLAYBOOK
The sample flat is designed to make you fall in love. This checklist is designed to make you think before you pay.
๐ข A BEAUTIFUL SAMPLE FLAT CAN HIDE AN UGLY DEAL
Buying an apartment feels safer than buying land.
There is a brand.
A polished sales office.
A furnished sample flat.
A RERA number.
A bank willing to lend.
A smiling sales executive who answers the phone even on Sunday.
And that comfort is exactly where buyers lower their guard.
The apartment buyer's biggest risk is usually not someone selling land they don't own.
It is quieter than that.
๐ด A project that keeps getting delayed.๐ A carpet area smaller than you imagined.๐ก A maintenance bill nobody mentioned.๐ฃ Amenities that exist beautifully in the brochure and nowhere else.๐ต An Occupancy Certificate that arrives years late.โซ Or never arrives at all.
The questions below follow the order in which you should investigate an apartment:
๐๏ธ LEGITIMACY
โฌ
๐ฐ THE REAL DEAL
โฌ
๐๏ธ THE BUILDING
โฌ
๐ก THE LIFE YOU WILL ACTUALLY LIVE THERE
And there is one rule before all 45.
โ๏ธ ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN WRITING.A sales executive's verbal assurance disappears the moment the executive changes jobs.
An email does not.
๐ BEFORE QUESTION #1
GET THESE 6 DOCUMENTS
Do this before your second site visit.
Not after booking.
Not after paying the token.
Not after hearing:
"Sir, agreement will be shared after booking."
Ask by email for:
| # | ๐ DOCUMENT | ๐ WHAT IT TELLS YOU |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | ๐ฃ RERA Registration Certificate + Project RERA Page | What the builder officially promised |
| 02 | ๐๏ธ Approved Building Plan + Commencement Certificate | What can legally be constructed |
| 03 | ๐ Title Deed + Legal Title Report | Whether the project land has a defensible title |
| 04 | ๐ค Joint Development Agreement, if applicable | Who owns what between builder and landowner |
| 05 | โ๏ธ Draft Sale Agreement + Draft Sale Deed | What you are actually agreeing to |
| 06 | ๐ Encumbrance Certificate | Registered transactions/charges affecting project land |
๐จ๐จ๐จ JAMIN RED FLAG #1"We'll give you the agreement after you book."
You are being asked to pay first and discover the terms later.That is backwards.
Read first. Sign second. Pay third.
๐ฃ SECTION 01
๐๏ธ LEGITIMACY, RERA & APPROVALS
Questions 01โ12
Before asking whether the kitchen has a chimney, ask whether the building should legally be standing there.
๐ช 01 | WHAT IS THE RERA NUMBER?
And what completion date has the promoter filed?
Don't ask only:
"Is it RERA registered?"
Ask:
"Please send me the RERA registration number and project page."
Then verify it yourself on the relevant state RERA portal.
Compare:
| ๐ฃ๏ธ Sales Pitch | ๐๏ธ RERA Filing |
|---|---|
| "Possession December" | What date is actually filed? |
| "Clubhouse Phase 1" | What does the filing show? |
| "Only 300 apartments" | What is the sanctioned/project count? |
| "No legal issues" | What has the promoter disclosed? |
๐ก RULE: The brochure tells you what they want to sell.
The regulatory filing tells you what they formally disclosed.
๐ช 02 | HAS THE RERA DATE EVER BEEN EXTENDED?
An extension does not automatically make a project bad.
But it tells you something useful:
โฑ๏ธ How accurately does this builder estimate time?
Check:
โ Original completion date โ Revised completion date โ Number of extensions โ Reason for extension โ Current construction status
๐ข One explained extension?
Investigate.
๐ด Repeated extensions across several projects?
Now you may be looking at a pattern.
๐ช 03 | ARE THERE RERA COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE PROMOTER?
Don't search only for your project.
Search the promoter.
Their previous projects are their rรฉsumรฉ.
Look for recurring complaints involving:
๐ด Delayed possession ๐ Refund disputes ๐ก Plan changes ๐ฃ Amenity disputes ๐ต Defects โซ Documentation problems
๐ THE PAST PROJECT TESTDon't ask only:**"Will this builder deliver?"
Ask:"How did this builder behave after collecting money on the last five projects?"**
๐ช 04 | DOES THE COMMENCEMENT CERTIFICATE COVER MY FLOOR?
This question matters more than:
"Which floor has the best view?"
Ask exactly which sanctioned floors the Commencement Certificate, CC, covers.
๐๏ธ APPROVED PLAN
๐ COMMENCEMENT AUTHORITY
๐ข YOUR ACTUAL FLOOR
MUST RECONCILE.
๐ช 05 | IS THE SANCTIONED PLAN THE SAME AS THE BROCHURE?
Put them beside each other.
Compare:
โ Tower count โ Floor count โ Apartment layout โ Setbacks โ Open spaces โ Amenities โ Parking areas โ Internal roads
Don't buy a drawing.
Buy what the competent authority actually approved.
๐ช 06 | WHEN WILL THE OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE ARRIVE?
The Occupancy Certificate, OC, is not decorative paperwork.
It is a critical completion/occupation document.
Ask:
"What contractual protection do I have if the OC is delayed?"
Potential problems around an apartment without the required OC can include:
๐ด Occupation issues ๐ Utility complications ๐ก Property-record complications ๐ฃ Resale difficulties ๐ต Financing difficulties
๐จ 07 | WILL YOU GIVE ME POSSESSION BEFORE THE OC?
If the answer is:
"Yes sir, you can move in. OC will come soon."
Your next question should be:
"Why?"
Be especially careful with phrases such as:
Fit-out possession
Soft possession
Early possession
Temporary handover
๐ข BUYER-PROTECTION STRUCTURE
Construction Completed โฌ Required Approvals / OC โฌ Final Payment as Contractually Agreed โฌ Possession
Not:
Pay Everything โ Move In โ Hope
๐ช 08 | WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE LAND?
Is the builder also the landowner?
Or is this a:
๐ค JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT?
If JDA:
Ask for:
โ JDA โ Sharing ratio โ Builder allocation โ Landowner allocation โ List of retained flats โ Authority to sell your specific apartment
๐ช 09 | DOES THE LANDOWNER NEED TO SIGN MY SALE DEED?
In relevant JDA structures, the landowner may need to participate as a confirming/executing party.
Find this out before registration day.
Not while everyone is standing at the Sub-Registrar's Office asking:
"Where is the landowner?"
๐ช 10 | IS THE PROJECT LAND MORTGAGED?
Construction finance itself is not unusual.
What matters is how your apartment gets released from the lender's security.
Ask:
๐ฆ "Will I receive the lender's NOC/release applicable to my flat before registration?"
THE SAFE QUESTION FLOW
Project Loan? โฌ Which Bank? โฌ Is My Flat Covered by Security? โฌ How Is My Flat Released? โฌ Where Is the NOC / Release?
๐ช 11 | WHICH BANKS HAVE APPROVED THE PROJECT?
Major lender approvals can provide another layer of scrutiny.
Ask for the list.
But remember:
โ ๏ธ BANK APPROVAL โ PERSONAL LEGAL DUE DILIGENCE
A bank protects its loan.
Your lawyer protects your purchase.
๐ช 12 | IS THERE ANY LITIGATION?
Ask the builder for a written declaration.
Then independently check available:
โ๏ธ RERA records โ๏ธ Court records โ๏ธ Project disclosures โ๏ธ Title/legal report
Never outsource this question to the sales desk.
๐ฐ SECTION 02
๐ก AREA, PRICE & THE MONEY YOU REALLY PAY
Questions 13โ25
The apartment price on the billboard is not the apartment price.
๐จ 13 | WHAT IS THE RERA CARPET AREA?
Ask for the number:
๐ IN SQUARE FEET.
โ๏ธ IN WRITING.
๐ IN THE AGREEMENT.
The RERA-defined carpet area is the number you need for meaningful comparison.
๐ฅ CARPET AREA vs SUPER BUILT-UP
| ๐ | CARPET AREA | SUPER BUILT-UP |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Usable internal area as defined under RERA | Marketing/commercial measure including allocated common areas |
| Can you physically use all of it? | Largely represents usable internal space | โ No |
| Best basis for comparing projects? | ๐ข YES | ๐ด Poor comparison basis |
| Should agreement clearly state RERA carpet area? | ๐ข YES | Not as a substitute |
๐จ 14 | WHAT IS THE LOADING?
Suppose:
Super Built-Up = 1,500 sq ft
Carpet = 1,050 sq ft
That gap matters.
Don't compare:
Project A โน8,000/sq ft super built-up
against
Project B โน8,500/sq ft super built-up
until you know what you are actually getting.
๐ Compare effective price on carpet area.
That's where marketing fog begins to clear.
๐จ 15 | WHERE ARE THE BALCONY & UTILITY AREAS COUNTED?
Ask for a marked plan.
Every area should be labelled.
๐ Living ๐ Bedrooms ๐ Kitchen ๐ Utility ๐ Balcony ๐ Other relevant spaces
Attach the agreed plan to the agreement wherever appropriate.
๐ 16 | WHAT IS MY UDS?
UNDIVIDED SHARE OF LAND
This is one of the most important numbers apartment buyers ignore.
You are not merely buying walls in the sky.
You acquire an interest associated with the underlying land as documented in the transaction.
Ask:
"What is my UDS in square feet?"
Why does it matter?
๐๏ธ Land ownership interest ๐ Long-term land value ๐๏ธ Redevelopment โ๏ธ Future rights ๐ฐ Long-term asset value
๐ฃ The building ages.
The land remains.
๐ฃ 17 | GIVE ME THE COMPLETE COST SHEET
Not:
"Starting from โน89 lakh."
You want:
| ๐ฐ COST | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Base Apartment Price | โน_____ |
| Floor-Rise Charge | โน_____ |
| PLC | โน_____ |
| Parking | โน_____ |
| Club / Amenities | โน_____ |
| Infrastructure Charges | โน_____ |
| Electricity Deposit | โน_____ |
| Water Deposit | โน_____ |
| Legal / Documentation | โน_____ |
| Corpus / Sinking Fund | โน_____ |
| Advance Maintenance | โน_____ |
| GST, if applicable | โน_____ |
| Stamp Duty | โน_____ |
| Registration | โน_____ |
| Other Charges | โน_____ |
| ๐ GRAND TOTAL | โน_____ |
THAT LAST NUMBER IS YOUR APARTMENT PRICE.
๐จ 18 | WHAT GST APPLIES?
Ask:
โ Is GST applicable to this transaction? โ At what rate? โ On what taxable value? โ Is it already included in the quote?
The tax treatment of under-construction and qualifying completed properties differs.
Verify the position for the particular property before payment.
๐จ 19 | WHAT ARE STAMP DUTY & REGISTRATION COSTS?
Don't budget them as:
"Something around 7 or 8%."
Get the applicable current figure.
Rates vary by:
๐ State ๐ก Property type ๐ค Buyer circumstances/category where applicable ๐ฐ Transaction value / statutory valuation rules
Add the real number to your budget before booking.
๐ 20 | WHAT EXACTLY AM I GETTING AS PARKING?
Ask:
Is it:
๐ข Covered? ๐ต Basement? ๐ฃ Stilt? ๐ก Mechanical? ๐ Stack? ๐ด Open?
Then ask:
"Where is my parking allotment recorded?"
And:
"Is there a separate charge, and is that charge legally permissible for this type of parking?"
๐จ 21 | IS THE PAYMENT PLAN CONSTRUCTION-LINKED?
Prefer payments tied to measurable construction milestones.
Example:
Booking โฌ Foundation โฌ Structure Milestone โฌ Brickwork / Services โฌ Completion Milestone โฌ Required Approvals / OC โฌ Final Payment
๐จ BE CAREFUL WITH HEAVILY FRONT-LOADED PAYMENT PLANS.
The faster your money leaves you relative to construction progress, the more project risk you may be carrying.
โ๏ธ 22 | WHAT IS YOUR DELAY PENALTY?
Now compare it with your delay penalty.
BUILDER DELAY
_____
BUYER DELAY
_____
If the agreement punishes you heavily for being late but barely inconveniences the promoter for being late:
๐ฅ ASK WHY.
Don't read contractual penalties separately.
Compare them side by side.
๐จ 23 | WHAT IF I CANCEL?
Before booking, ask:
โ How much gets forfeited? โ Under what circumstances? โ What is refundable? โ When is it refunded? โ Are taxes/charges treated separately? โ Is there an administrative deduction?
Cancellation clauses become very interesting only after you need them.
Read them before you do.
๐งพ 24 | WHAT IS THE MONTHLY MAINTENANCE?
Ask:
โน_____ per sq ft / month?
Then:
Calculated on what area?
Then:
What does it include?
Then the important one:
"What happens to the rate after the owners' association takes over?"
Include:
๐ Lifts ๐ก Common electricity ๐ก๏ธ Security ๐ณ Landscaping ๐ Amenities ๐งน Housekeeping ๐ง Common water systems ๐ง Equipment maintenance
๐ฆ 25 | WHAT IS THE CORPUS / SINKING FUND?
Ask:
๐ฐ How much? ๐ฆ Where is it held? ๐ Who controls it? ๐ค When is it transferred? ๐ข When does the association receive it?
Your corpus should not vanish into a mysterious line item called "other charges."
๐๏ธ SECTION 03
๐ต THE BUILDING ITSELF
Questions 26โ36
Marble can be replaced. Structural mistakes are harder.
๐ฆ 26 | WHO DESIGNED THE STRUCTURE?
Ask for:
๐ท Structural consultant ๐ Seismic design basis ๐จ Wind-load design ๐ชจ Soil investigation report ๐๏ธ Foundation basis
A serious project should have serious answers.
๐ฆ 27 | WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE SPECIFICATIONS?
Not:
"Premium fittings."
Premium WHAT?
Ask brand by brand.
| ITEM | PROMISED BRAND / GRADE |
|---|---|
| Flooring | ______ |
| Sanitaryware | ______ |
| CP Fittings | ______ |
| Electrical | ______ |
| Switches | ______ |
| Doors | ______ |
| Windows | ______ |
| Paint | ______ |
| Elevators | ______ |
โ ๏ธ WATCH THE WORDS:
"OR EQUIVALENT"
Equivalent according to whom?
Define substitutions tightly in the contract.
๐ ๏ธ 28 | WHAT IS THE DEFECT LIABILITY PERIOD?
Under RERA, the promoter has statutory obligations concerning qualifying structural/workmanship defects for the prescribed period.
The source article highlights a five-year period from possession and rectification requirements.
But ask the practical question too:
"How do I actually report a defect?"
And:
"Show me how defects were handled in your last completed project."
๐ 29 | HOW MANY LIFTS?
Don't ask:
"Does the building have lifts?"
Ask:
HOW MANY LIFTS PER TOWER?
Then calculate:
๐งฎ Flats รท Lifts = Reality
Two lifts serving a heavily populated high-rise tower can become a daily quality-of-life problem.
Ask separately about:
๐ Passenger lifts ๐ Stretcher/service lift ๐ฅ Fire lift, where applicable
โก 30 | WHAT DOES THE POWER BACKUP ACTUALLY RUN?
"100% power backup" sounds wonderful.
Ask:
100% OF WHAT?
โ Lifts? โ Common areas? โ Lights? โ Fans? โ Refrigerator? โ AC? โ Entire apartment?
Ask for the allocated capacity where relevant.
๐ง 31 | WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM?
Choose all that apply:
๐ข Municipal supply ๐ต Borewell ๐ก Tanker ๐ฃ Treated/recycled water
Then ask:
"How much tanker water do your nearby completed projects currently use?"
That answer may tell you more than the brochure.
๐ฐ 32 | IS THE STP LARGE ENOUGH?
Ask about:
๐ง STP capacity ๐ฅ Design occupancy โป๏ธ Treated-water reuse ๐ง๏ธ Rainwater harvesting ๐ ๏ธ Maintenance arrangements
An undersized or badly maintained STP can become everyone's problem.
Including your nose.
๐ฅ 33 | SHOW ME THE FIRE-SAFETY APPROVALS
Where applicable, ask for the relevant:
๐ฅ Fire NOC ๐จ Alarm systems ๐ฆ Sprinkler systems ๐งฏ Fire equipment ๐ช Fire stairs ๐ Fire access
Don't settle for:
"Everything is as per norms."
Ask for the documents.
๐ 34 | WHAT IS THE PARKING RATIO?
Ask:
Resident spaces = _____
Visitor spaces = _____
Total apartments = _____
Visitor parking looks boring in a brochure.
It becomes extremely interesting when twenty guests arrive on a Saturday evening.
๐ 35 | WHICH AMENITIES EXIST IN MY PHASE?
The brochure may show:
๐ Infinity pool ๐๏ธ Gym ๐พ Courts ๐ฌ Theatre ๐ Banquet hall ๐ณ Gardens ๐ถ Children's zone ๐ข Clubhouse
Now ask:
"Which of these will actually be completed when my apartment is handed over?"
Then:
"Put the amenity completion date in writing."
๐๏ธ 36 | WHAT WILL THE PROJECT LOOK LIKE WHEN EVERYTHING IS FINISHED?
Don't inspect only your tower.
Ask:
๐ข Total towers? ๐ Total apartments? ๐ฅ Final population/density? ๐๏ธ Number of phases? โฑ๏ธ Final completion date? ๐ง Construction after my possession?
You may receive your keys in 2027 and still live inside a construction site until 2031.
Know the full build-out.
๐ก SECTION 04
๐ข THE LIFE YOU'RE ACTUALLY BUYING
Questions 37โ45
You aren't buying a floor plan. You're buying thousands of future mornings.
๐ 37 | CAN I SPEAK TO YOUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS?
This may be the highest-value question in the entire list.
Ask to visit a completed project.
Then speak to:
๐ข THE RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
Preferably without the salesperson hovering beside you.
Ask residents:
๐ฃ๏ธ Was possession on time? ๐ฃ๏ธ How is maintenance? ๐ฃ๏ธ Water problems? ๐ฃ๏ธ Seepage? ๐ฃ๏ธ Lift problems? ๐ฃ๏ธ Did amenities arrive? ๐ฃ๏ธ How responsive is the builder after possession? ๐ฃ๏ธ Any surprise charges?
Thirty minutes here can beat three hours in the sales lounge.
๐ฉ 38 | WHEN DOES THE OWNERS' ASSOCIATION TAKE OVER?
Ask:
๐ Formation date ๐ Trigger for formation/handover ๐ฐ Corpus transfer ๐ Account transfer ๐ ๏ธ Maintenance transition
You eventually want residents managing the community under the applicable framework, not an indefinite builder-controlled arrangement without transparency.
๐ฉ 39 | WHAT EXACTLY GETS HANDED TO THE ASSOCIATION?
Ask for the handover schedule covering relevant:
๐ As-built drawings ๐ Equipment warranties ๐ง AMC contracts ๐ฐ Corpus funds ๐ Accounts ๐๏ธ Common-area records ๐ฅ Safety records ๐ง STP documentation โก Electrical documentation
The association needs more than a bunch of keys.
๐ฉ 40 | WHEN WILL PROPERTY RECORDS MOVE TO MY NAME?
Terminology varies by city and state.
For example:
๐ Bengaluru โ Khata
๐ Chennai / elsewhere โ applicable property tax/revenue/municipal records
Ask:
"What record transfers are required after registration, who handles them, and by when?"
๐ 41 | DO THE TUESDAY 9 AM TEST
The brochure says:
"20 minutes from the IT corridor."
Wonderful.
Now drive it:
๐ TUESDAY.
โฐ 9:00 AM.
Check:
๐ข Office commute ๐ซ School route ๐ฅ Hospital ๐ Groceries ๐ Metro / rail โ๏ธ Airport where relevant
Marketing distances have a mysterious affection for empty roads.
Your commute will not.
๐ 42 | WHAT CAN BE BUILT NEXT DOOR?
That empty field outside your balcony looks lovely.
Today.
Check:
๐บ๏ธ Master plan ๐๏ธ Zoning ๐ Permitted development ๐ข Adjacent approvals
๐ Never pay a permanent premium for a temporary view unless the view itself is protected.
๐ฐ 43 | WHAT HAPPENED TO RESALE VALUES IN THEIR LAST PROJECT?
Don't ask the builder.
Ask:
๐ A LOCAL RESALE BROKER.
Compare:
Launch Price vs Current Resale Price vs Area Market Price vs Rental Yield
You want to know whether previous buyers actually built value after all costs.
๐ 44 | CAN I FREELY SELL, RENT & RENOVATE?
Read the agreement for restrictions concerning:
๐ท๏ธ Resale ๐ Letting ๐ ๏ธ Interior work ๐ Transfer fees โฑ๏ธ Lock-in / pre-OC transfer restrictions ๐ Builder NOC requirements
You should know the restrictions attached to your apartment before you own it.
๐๐๐ 45 | WHO IS MY INDEPENDENT LAWYER?
Not:
โ The builder's lawyer
โ The bank's lawyer
โ The broker's lawyer
โ "Our legal team"
YOUR LAWYER.
Have an independent property advocate examine:
๐ Title ๐ EC ๐ JDA, if applicable ๐ Approvals ๐ RERA disclosures ๐ Draft sale agreement ๐ Draft sale deed ๐ Mortgage / NOC arrangements
And ask them to read the agreement:
LINE.
BY.
LINE.
๐ข A relatively small legal-review fee can be cheap insurance against a very expensive mistake.
โ ๏ธ THE 5 ANSWERS THAT SHOULD CHANGE THE CONVERSATION IMMEDIATELY
๐จ 01
"THE AGREEMENT IS STANDARD. WE CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING."
Translation:
They want you to negotiate the price but not the contract governing the purchase.
๐ด READ BEFORE BOOKING.
๐จ 02
"TAKE POSSESSION. OC WILL COME SOON."
Translation:
They want your money and your acceptance of possession before a critical approval is in place.
๐ด DON'T TREAT "SOON" AS A DOCUMENT.
๐จ 03
"PAY SOME IN CASH. YOU'LL SAVE MONEY."
Translation:
You are being invited into a tax, documentation and evidence problem.
๐ด WALK AWAY.
๐จ 04
"CARPET AREA, BUILT-UP, SUPER BUILT-UP... SAME THING."
No.
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
Ask for the RERA carpet area in writing.
๐จ 05
"THE AMENITY IS IN THE BROCHURE. DON'T WORRY."
Great.
Then putting the commitment into the contractual documentation should not be frightening.
SAVE:
๐ Brochures ๐ง Emails ๐ฌ WhatsApp messages ๐ธ Advertisements ๐ Cost sheets ๐ Written promises
IF IT MATTERS TO YOUR PURCHASE, KEEP THE EVIDENCE.
๐ THE JAMIN 8-STEP APARTMENT BUYING SEQUENCE
๐ฃ STEP 01
VERIFY RERA
Check project + promoter history.
โฌ๏ธ
๐ต STEP 02
COLLECT ALL 6 DOCUMENTS
Before booking.
โฌ๏ธ
๐ข STEP 03
INDEPENDENT LEGAL REVIEW
Title + agreement + approvals.
โฌ๏ธ
๐ก STEP 04
VISIT AN OLD PROJECT
Talk to actual residents.
โฌ๏ธ
๐ STEP 05
NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT
Area โข Price โข Delay โข Refund โข Specifications โข Amenities
โฌ๏ธ
๐ฃ STEP 06
BOOK CAREFULLY
Prefer an appropriate construction-linked payment structure for under-construction property.
โฌ๏ธ
๐ต STEP 07
REGISTER WITH REQUIRED NOCs / RELEASES
Make sure the flat's lender/mortgage position is properly addressed.
โฌ๏ธ
๐ STEP 08
POSSESSION + OC + SNAG LIST
Do not merely collect the keys.
INSPECT.
๐ THE PRE-POSSESSION SNAG WALK
Before signing the possession/handover documents, inspect the apartment carefully.
๐ช DOORS & WINDOWS
โ Alignment โ Locks โ Handles โ Glass โ Seals
๐ฟ PLUMBING
โ Taps โ Pressure โ Drainage โ Leakage โ Toilets โ Sinks
โก ELECTRICAL
โ Sockets โ Switches โ DB โ Lights โ Backup points
๐งฑ FINISHES
โ Cracks โ Tiles โ Paint โ Grouting โ Level differences
๐ง WATERPROOFING
โ Toilets โ Balcony โ Utility โ Kitchen โ External walls where visible
๐ DIMENSIONS
โ Room sizes โ Carpet-area reconciliation where practicable โ Balcony โ Utility
๐ธ PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING.
Create a written snag list.
Get it acknowledged.
โก THE 60-SECOND APARTMENT CHECK
Before paying the booking amount:
| ๐ CHECK | STATUS |
|---|---|
| ๐๏ธ RERA verified | โ |
| ๐ RERA completion date checked | โ |
| ๐ Title reviewed | โ |
| ๐ EC reviewed | โ |
| ๐ค JDA checked, if applicable | โ |
| ๐๏ธ Sanctioned plan checked | โ |
| ๐ CC checked | โ |
| ๐ OC strategy understood | โ |
| ๐ Carpet area confirmed | โ |
| ๐ UDS confirmed | โ |
| ๐ฐ Complete cost sheet obtained | โ |
| ๐งพ GST treatment checked | โ |
| ๐๏ธ Stamp duty calculated | โ |
| ๐ Parking identified | โ |
| ๐ Payment plan reviewed | โ |
| โ๏ธ Delay clauses compared | โ |
| ๐ Cancellation clause reviewed | โ |
| ๐งพ Maintenance calculated | โ |
| ๐ฐ Corpus checked | โ |
| ๐๏ธ Specifications attached | โ |
| ๐ Lift ratio checked | โ |
| ๐ง Water source checked | โ |
| ๐ฅ Fire approvals checked | โ |
| ๐ Amenity delivery dates checked | โ |
| ๐ข Final project density checked | โ |
| ๐ฃ๏ธ Existing residents consulted | โ |
| ๐ค Association handover understood | โ |
| ๐ Real commute tested | โ |
| ๐๏ธ Adjacent land checked | โ |
| ๐จโโ๏ธ Independent lawyer approved | โ |
๐ฅ SAMPLE FLAT vs REALITY
| โจ SALES EXPERIENCE | ๐ BUYER'S QUESTION |
|---|---|
| Beautiful sample flat | What specifications are contractual? |
| "RERA approved" | What's the registration number and filed date? |
| "1,500 sq ft apartment" | What's the RERA carpet area? |
| "Luxury project" | What's the UDS? |
| "Possession December" | Which December is filed with RERA? |
| "100% backup" | What exactly is backed up? |
| "24/7 water" | From where? |
| "Premium fittings" | Which brands and grades? |
| "World-class clubhouse" | Completion date? |
| "Great investment" | What happened to resale in your previous projects? |
| "20 minutes from office" | At 9 am Tuesday? |
| "Possession ready" | Where is the OC? |
๐ THE NUMBERS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER
Forget the giant number printed on the hoarding for a moment.
Before buying, know these:
๐ฃ RERA Carpet Area
_____ sq ft
๐ UDS
_____ sq ft
๐ฐ Effective Price per Carpet Sq Ft
โน_____
๐งพ Total All-In Purchase Cost
โน_____
๐ฆ Loan Amount
โน_____
๐ RERA Completion Date
_____
๐งพ Monthly Maintenance
โน_____
๐ฐ Corpus / Sinking Fund
โน_____
๐ Parking
_____
๐๏ธ Total Apartments at Full Build-Out
_____
๐ Flats Per Lift
_____
๐ง Primary Water Source
_____
Those numbers tell you more about the apartment than the chandelier in the sample flat.
โ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
๐ What Is the Difference Between Carpet Area and Super Built-Up Area?
๐ข CARPET AREA
The RERA-defined usable floor area within the apartment, subject to the statutory inclusions/exclusions.
๐ฃ SUPER BUILT-UP
A commercial/marketing measure that generally adds an allocated share of common areas.
The gap is commonly called:
LOADING
๐ Compare competing projects using carpet-area economics, not just headline super-built-up rates.
๐๏ธ Is It Safe to Buy an Apartment Without an OC?
An apartment lacking the required Occupancy Certificate carries serious legal and practical risks.
Potential issues can involve:
โ Occupation โ Utilities โ Property records โ Resale โ Financing
๐ข For a completed property, verify the OC before treating it as legally ready for occupation.
๐ What Is UDS and Why Does It Matter?
UDS = Undivided Share of Land
It represents your proportionate interest in the underlying project land as documented in the transaction.
Its importance becomes particularly visible in:
๐๏ธ Redevelopment ๐ Land appreciation โ๏ธ Ownership rights ๐ข End-of-building-life scenarios
Don't buy an apartment without knowing your UDS.
๐ ๏ธ How Long Is the Builder Responsible for Defects?
The source article identifies the RERA defect-liability period as five years from possession for covered structural/workmanship issues, with statutory rectification obligations.
Keep:
๐ธ Photos ๐ง Emails ๐ Complaints ๐งพ Repair records ๐ Dates
Report defects formally rather than only calling the maintenance desk.
๐๏ธ UNDER-CONSTRUCTION vs READY-TO-MOVE
| ๐๏ธ UNDER-CONSTRUCTION | ๐ก READY WITH OC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Often lower | Often higher |
| Payment | Staged | More immediate |
| Delivery Risk | ๐ด Higher | ๐ข Lower |
| Can inspect exact flat? | Limited | ๐ข Yes |
| GST | May apply | Generally different treatment once qualifying completion/OC conditions are met |
| Construction uncertainty | ๐ด Yes | ๐ข Much lower |
| Immediate use | โ Usually no | ๐ข Yes |
| What you see | Promise + progress | Actual property |
๐ก If your finances or life cannot absorb a serious construction delay, delivery certainty deserves a price of its own.
๐ THE JAMIN BAZAAR GOLDEN RULE
DON'T BUY THE SAMPLE FLAT.
The sample flat isn't your flat.
DON'T BUY THE BROCHURE.
The brochure isn't your contract.
DON'T BUY THE SALESPERSON'S PROMISE.
The salesperson isn't signing your sale deed.
DON'T BUY THE "PRE-LAUNCH PRICE."
A discount does not cure a bad agreement.
๐๏ธ BUY THE DOCUMENTS.๐ BUY THE CARPET AREA.๐ BUY THE UDS.๐๏ธ BUY THE APPROVALS.๐ฐ BUY THE REAL ALL-IN PRICE.๐ก AND BUY THE HOME ONLY WHEN ALL OF THEM TELL THE SAME STORY.
๐ก๏ธ THE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU PAY
Stand outside the sales office.
Close the brochure.
Put away the floor plan.
Ignore the:
"Sir, only two units left at this price."
And ask yourself:
If there were no discount today, would the documents still make me want this apartment?
If the answer is yes, continue your due diligence.
If the answer is no:
๐ฅ THE DISCOUNT IS DOING THE SELLING.
โ๏ธ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. RERA implementation, taxation, stamp duty, registration procedures, development rules and approval processes vary by state and may change.
Engage an independent property advocate to review the title, approvals, RERA disclosures, draft sale agreement and sale deed before committing to the purchase.
Still deciding?
Our desk will walk you through any of this against a specific plot โ including the documents you should ask to see.
Colophon
- Written by
- Jamin Editorial Team
- Published
- 10 August 2026
- Extent
- 25 min read
Set in Inter. Published by Jamin Properties, Tamil Nadu.
