A clearer checklist before you buy.

First, establish the property’s identity

Record the project and phase, promoter or seller’s legal name, exact unit and applicable registration details. Search the relevant official RERA portal where registration applies. If someone claims an exemption, ask for the basis and have it checked independently.

A builder’s brand name does not replace the legal entity named in the agreement. Ask who owns the land, who has authority to sell and which documents support those answers.

India Code — Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016

Documents to review before a booking

Document requirements depend on the state, property type and whether it is a new sale or resale. Use this list to prepare a local lawyer’s review, not as a certificate that every necessary check is complete.

• Title and seller authority, relevant approvals and sanctioned plans.
• Official project disclosures for the correct phase, where applicable.
• Draft agreement, unit specification, area definition and payment schedule.
• Cancellation, refund, possession and delay provisions in writing.
• For a completed or resale property: applicable completion or occupancy records, association dues and transfer requirements.

Make the budget complete

Ask for an itemised cost sheet and identify which amounts are due immediately, on milestones and at possession. Include transaction charges, taxes where applicable, loan costs, maintenance deposits and fit-out work. Keep an emergency reserve separate from the purchase budget.

For borrowing, read the lender’s Key Facts Statement and repayment terms. Check whether an approval depends on the project, borrower or both. Do not assume a sales promise establishes loan eligibility.

Reserve Bank of India — Key Facts Statement for Loans & Advances

Visit, record, then decide

Visit the site and the surrounding area at the times relevant to your commute and household. Look at access, utilities, drainage, noise and everyday services. An amenity in a brochure may be planned rather than usable.

Write a final list of unresolved points, the evidence requested and who will supply it. Keep payment receipts and signed documents. If a material issue remains unanswered, do not treat pressure to book as an answer.