What to check before buying in an under-construction project

Buying off-plan or during construction can mean a better price and better unit choice, but only if you do the due diligence. Here is the checklist we would want any buyer to run through before signing.

1. Approvals and legal status

Confirm the project has the necessary approvals and NOCs from the relevant authorities, and that the land title is clean. A legitimate developer will show you this documentation without hesitation.

2. The developer's delivery history

Past performance is the best predictor. Has the developer completed projects of similar scale? Were they handed over on time and to the promised quality? Visiting a developer's finished and ongoing sites tells you more than any brochure.

3. The payment plan and what it is tied to

Understand exactly what you are paying and when. The healthiest payment plans are linked to construction milestones, so your money tracks real progress on site rather than an arbitrary calendar.

4. Realistic timelines and the possession clause

Ask for the expected completion date in writing and read the possession clause carefully. A serious developer publishes progress openly, which is exactly why every FCI project page carries a live construction-update timeline.

5. Specifications in writing

Materials, finishes, amenities and unit areas should all be documented, not promised verbally. Get the specification sheet and keep it.

Buying under construction is a sound strategy when the developer is credible and transparent. Run this checklist, insist on documentation, and you remove most of the risk.