Buying Guide
Buying a home involves dozens of small decisions spread across weeks or months, made while you're also excited, stressed, and juggling everything else in life. A written checklist — worked through methodically rather than relying on memory — catches the things that get missed when you're focused on how a property "feels."
✓ Total realistic budget calculated — including stamp duty, registration, and moving costs, not just the property price
✓ Home loan pre-approval obtained, if financing
✓ Preferred localities shortlisted based on genuine lifestyle needs, not just popularity
✓ Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves clearly separated
✓ Realistic timeline established for when you need to move
✓ Visited at more than one time of day
✓ Natural light checked in every room
✓ Water pressure tested at multiple taps simultaneously
✓ Walls and ceilings inspected for dampness or seepage
✓ Electrical wiring and switches checked
✓ Parking arrangement confirmed as workable
✓ Neighbourhood walked — genuine distance to market, metro, schools checked
✓ Noise levels assessed, particularly for main-road-facing properties
✓ Recent comparable sale prices researched for the specific locality
✓ Maintenance charges understood (amount and coverage), if a flat
✓ Building/construction age and condition assessed
✓ Any planned nearby construction checked (can affect light, noise, views)
✓ Ownership title and chain verified
✓ No undisclosed loans or legal claims confirmed
✓ Property tax dues confirmed current
✓ Building plan approval confirmed, where applicable
✓ Society/RWA NOC obtained, where applicable
✓ Final price and payment schedule agreed in writing
✓ Sale agreement drafted before any advance payment
✓ Possession date clearly specified
✓ Inclusions (fittings, furniture) explicitly listed
✓ Stamp duty calculated and payment arranged
✓ Sale deed carefully reviewed before signing
✓ Required documents and witnesses arranged
✓ Utility connections transferred after possession
✓ Society membership formally transferred
✓ Address updated across official records
✓ All documents filed together safely
In our experience, buyers most often skip: visiting at a second time of day (usually because the first visit felt "good enough"), independently verifying the ownership chain beyond the most recent sale deed, and clarifying exactly what's included in the sale before finalizing price. Each of these is quick to do and can prevent genuine regret later.
We don't just hand buyers a list — we actively work through it with you at each stage, from realistic budgeting through to the paperwork you'll want organized after you've moved in.
Have a question about this? Contact Chauhan Associate — Delhi property specialists.
