GOING FOR A PROPERTY VISIT? DON’T FORGET TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS

Introduction
We live in the digital era where information is just a click away. You can buy and sell just about everything by viewing information in real-time. Similarly, even with buying and selling real estate, there are numerous online sites available, where individuals can upload pictures, provide details about the property and also provide verified contact details. However, is this alone enough to make a big decision about a property buy?  

Questions You Shouldn’t Forget to Ask

Once you have shortlisted the properties that interest you, the next step is to plan for a site visit. You cannot simply go buy online images and words of assurances from your prospective property seller. How would you know the property’s condition and maintenance unless you really get investigate the place? At the site, you must also verify the property against the floor plan that was displayed on the online sites.

Thoroughly review the quality of construction and also ask for the brands of the fitting used in the construction. Ask for the legal documents of the proposed property including approvals for construction, security and fire safety. Run these documents through a real-estate lawyer to ensure that there are no legal hangovers pending on the site.

Also, monitor the progress of construction against the schedule promised by the builder.

Find out what are the kind of amenities that are available at the site. Every property, depending on the builder, area, and other considerations, offer different kinds of amenities such as a gym, walking paths, clubhouse, gaming areas, play area for children, swimming pool among others. You may either have to pay extra to use these amenities or it will be included as part of the overall cost. If you are planning to buy a fully furnished property, then check the quality of the fittings and brands used for bathrooms, kitchen cabinets and cupboards.

A fully furnished property

If you have people at home who require the use of elevators, or if you plan to buy a property with a view, make sure you check the number of elevators that is available and how well maintained they are. Every elevator should have an emergency phone and emergency button as a bare minimum.

Enquire about other proposed properties or infrastructure support that is likely to come up in the location in the long run. With better infrastructure amenities, it also contributes to improved rental values and property appreciation. For example, road expansion, connecting highways, schools, pharma, accessibility to train and bus stations are critical factors that play a role in decision making.

In the summer months, there are frequent power-cuts due to high load. Verify if the property includes a power backup and generator in case of an emergency. Finally, don’t forget to check the security measures implemented or proposed for the building including CCTV cameras at strategic locations, security personnel on shifts and intercom facility.