Site visit checklist: what to look at, ask and photograph

A sample flat shows you what a developer wants you to see. A good site visit shows you the project as it actually is. Here's how we structure visits with our clients.

Before you go

• Check the project's RERA registration and note the registration number and validity date.
• Ask for the price list, payment plan and a sample agreement for sale in advance.
• Decide which tower, floor and orientation you want to see, not just the sample flat.

On site

• Visit the actual tower and, if construction allows safely, the floor and unit you're considering.
• Look at access roads, drainage, nearby land use and what is being built around the project.
• Check light and ventilation at the time of day that matters to you.
• Note the distance to the main road, schools, hospitals and your workplace at the time you'd normally travel.
• Photograph the site and construction progress, and compare with the latest RERA quarterly update.

Questions to ask

• Is the carpet area (as defined under RERA) stated in the agreement? What is the super area loading?
• What is the all-inclusive cost: preferential location charges, parking, club membership, maintenance deposit, GST and registration?
• What is the possession date in the agreement, and what compensation applies for delay?
• Who will maintain the project after handover, and at what estimated charge?
• Which bank approvals does the project have for home loans?

Before paying anything

Read the agreement for sale, ideally with an independent lawyer. Pay only to the developer's designated project account, by traceable bank transfer, and get a receipt. Never pay cash or transfer money to an individual's personal account.