Most of us take what we are told at face value and are pushed into buying by attractive price discounts and offers. But remember, a little caution never hurts when buying an apartment. It will save you from making a big mistake.

The first thing to bear in mind is to understand that when new, everything looks fantastic. All flaws stay hidden. But looks are always deceptive.

It is only with the passage of time that ‘lack of quality’ begins to show.

So, whether you plan to live in your new apartment or like to look at it as an investment, quality should be your top priority.

Don’t compromise.

Cracks, Leaks & Short Circuits

Trouble starts when hairline cracks in the walls begin to show and soon grow in size.
This is only the beginning. Things get even worse once the monsoons set in.

You will notice that the walls stay damp, and sure enough water soon begins to seep through the hairline cracks between the roof slab and load-bearing beams.

Once water gets inside the walls, paint peels off and flakes start to litter the floor and your home. Then the biggest nightmare of all happens, water begins to drip from the ceilings.

Faucets and showers begin to drip, wasting not only precious water but also creating that irritating sound of dripping water into the bucket. It will keep you awake at night. Bulbs fuse for no apparent reason and short circuits trip the mains more often than not.

That’s when truth hits you square in the face — you have been taken for a ride.

Recriminations and finger pointing soon dominate family interactions. You should not have hurried but checked out every claim the builder made. You should have listened to your mother and waited for her engineer brother’s advice… this goes on and on.

Take Your Time. Don’t Rush.

The moral of the story is: don’t rush in where angels fear to tread. Take your time to check out everything. Go step by step.

• First check the track record of the builder.
• Go and inspect the projects they have completed.
• Talk to the owners living in those complexes
• Take all sales talk with a pinch of salt
• Be smart. You will never be disappointed by your decision.