You have every right to raise all sorts of questions while buying a house. Don't hesitate to clarify your doubts. You must check all the original legal documents. You must get a 'No Objection Certificate' from the builder or housing society.

Check if the builder has got approvals from the government departments like the land development, income tax department, etc. Check if all the duties that are to be paid on the property like stamp duty, registration fees and taxes are included in the sale agreement.

Check if your builder has got approvals from municipal authorities, area development authorities, electricity boards, water supply and sewerage boards, pollution control boards, agriculture and forest authorities.

Area of the flat

Most apartments are sold on the basis of the super built-up area, which includes open spaces like area for lifts (elevators), staircases, etc. Actually, you get only the carpet area (the actual living space inside the apartment). This can be 15-35 per cent less than the super built-up area. Some builders do offer houses on the basis of carpet area. So make sure you pay for only the carpet area only. You can save a lot of money if you pay only for the carpet area.

Quality of construction

You must check the quality of construction in the new building compared to the sample flats shown to you. A structural assessment of the building is a must. You can take the help of an engineer for this. Also check availability of clean water supply.

Check for good lighting, wiring, ventilation, water connection, and interiors fittings. Also check drainage, leakages, sewerage and garbage disposal arrangements. Make sure your house is in a pollution free area. For instance, many housing projects in Navi Mumbai are near the industrial zone posing health problems.

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