Questions You Must Ask Your Builder

Can this builder deliver what I want? Has he completed his past projects on time? Does he build a quality product? Asking the right questions to the builder is half the work done while buying a property. Besides “How much does it cost?” and “When can we move in,” there are some other questions you must ask the builder for a safe investment.

To assist you in your home buying journey, we have created a list of questions that you must ask before zeroing in on the project. Let’s begin.

About the builder

With RERA in place, it has become quite easy to get the details of any developer. However, it is always good to ask the developer about his previous projects. Once you know the name of the projects, you can visit and check the quality of construction and project deliverables from other buyers.

Here’s what you should ask:

• Can we please see your recently finished projects or any under-construction project?
• How many years have you been in operation?
• Can you assist me with a home loan?

About the locality

• Is this location rapidly developing?
• Are there any major development plans for the area in the next five years?
• What is the appreciation potential of this project and locality?

The documents

Some of the essential documents you must ask your builder include:

• Title Deed
• Encumbrance Certificate
• Property Tax Receipts
• Local Municipal Corporation approvals
• RERA certificate
• Commencement Certificate
• Building Approval Plan

Project delays

This question might seem a bit irrelevant with the advent of RERA, but not everybody is clear about the norms. So, it’s always good to ask about the project completion timelines. Also, what happens in case of an unexpected delay.

Now, let’s move to the project level details.

Entrance to the project

• How many entrances are there in the project?
• Where are the entrances located?
• Is the entrance Vaastu-friendly?

Car parking   

• How many apartments and car parking spaces are there?
• Is the parking area covered or uncovered?
• How many vehicles can be parked in the parking space allotted to the apartment?
• Is guest car parking space available?

Drainage   

• Is there a proper drainage system?
• What are the possibilities of water clogging during monsoon?
• Is there any drainage overflow/blockage somewhere?

Open space   

• Overall, how much open area is available in the project?
• How much of the open space is attributed to landscape / green cover?

Amenities

Brochures list several facilities, but you must always cross-check those with the builder.

• What kind of amenities are there in the project?
• Is there provision for swimming pool/gym/ clubhouse? If yes, then check the following:

Swimming pool

• What is the size of the pool?
• Is there a separate pool for kids?
• Are there enough changing rooms?

Gym

• How big is the gym?
• What machines will be there?

Clubhouse

• If the clubhouse is on the top floor of the project, don’t forget to check the safety approvals.

Who will be my primary point of contact?

This is very important as several people are working on the same project. A developer should provide you with a primary point of contact so you can get the construction updates regularly.