Before paying a booking amount, ask the builder clear questions about the project registration, property documents, carpet area, total cost, construction progress, possession date, water supply, maintenance and apartment quality.
Wherever possible, request written information through the cost sheet, brochure, email, booking form or Agreement of Sale. Verbal promises may be difficult to verify later.
Here are 20 important questions every homebuyer should ask before buying an apartment in Hyderabad.
1. What Is the Project’s TG RERA Registration Number?
Ask the builder for the project’s TG RERA registration number and verify it independently on the official Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority portal.
Check:
Promoter or developer name
Project location
Registration validity
Proposed completion date
Available project details
Declared phases
Complaints or regulatory orders, if any
Project updates available on the portal
Do not depend only on the number printed in the brochure. Confirm that the registered information matches the project being offered to you.
RERA registration is an important verification point, but it does not replace complete legal, financial and technical due diligence.
2. Does the Builder Have the Legal Right to Develop and Sell the Property?
Ask whether the builder owns the land or is developing it through an agreement with the landowner.
Depending on the project, relevant documents may include:
Title deed
Development Agreement
General Power of Attorney
Joint Development Agreement
Ownership history
Encumbrance Certificate
Land-use or conversion documents
Arrange for a qualified property lawyer to examine the title and the builder’s authority to construct and sell the apartments.
Do not treat the sales team’s verbal assurance, project brochure or bank tie-up as complete legal verification.
3. Which Building and Project Approvals Have Been Obtained?
Ask the builder to provide details of applicable permissions and sanctioned plans.
Depending on the location and project, these may relate to:
Building permission
Approved layout
Sanctioned building plan
Number of permitted floors
Fire-safety requirements
Environmental permissions, where applicable
Water and drainage provisions
Access-road requirements
Other planning-authority approvals
Compare the approved plan with the proposed tower, floor and apartment you intend to purchase.
If you are considering a completed project, ask about the applicable Occupancy Certificate and other completion-related documents.
4. What Is the Exact Carpet Area of the Apartment?
Ask the builder to clearly explain the difference between:
Carpet area
Built-up area
Saleable or super built-up area
Balcony area
Utility area
Common-area loading
The advertised square footage may not represent the space you can actually use inside the apartment.
Ask:
What carpet area will be mentioned in the agreement?
Is the balcony shown separately?
Is the utility space included?
How was the saleable area calculated?
Which area is used to calculate the price?
When comparing apartments, focus on usable carpet area and floor-plan efficiency rather than only the advertised square footage.
5. Can You Provide a Complete Cost Sheet?
Ask for a detailed written cost sheet before paying a booking amount.
The cost sheet should clarify:
Basic apartment cost
Floor-rise charges
Preferential-location charges, if applicable
Parking charges
Clubhouse or amenity charges
Corpus fund
Advance maintenance
Utility or infrastructure charges
Applicable taxes
Documentation charges
Registration-related expenses
Any other mandatory payments
Ask the builder to identify which charges are mandatory and which are optional.
Do not compare two projects using only their basic price. Compare the final amount required to acquire and occupy the apartment.
6. Are There Any Additional Charges Not Included in the Quoted Price?
Ask directly whether any amount is excluded from the initial quotation.
Potential additional expenses may include:
Stamp duty and registration
Maintenance deposits
Electricity or water connection charges
Legal or documentation charges
Move-in charges
Interior work
Extra parking
Clubhouse membership
Power-backup usage
Home-loan charges
Request confirmation in writing. A transparent cost sheet should help you understand the complete financial commitment before booking.
7. What Is the Current Construction Stage?
For an under-construction apartment, ask the builder to explain the actual construction progress.
Find out whether the project is at:
Excavation stage
Foundation stage
Structural stage
Brickwork stage
Internal services stage
Finishing stage
Near-completion stage
Compare the physical progress with the payment schedule and proposed possession date.
Ask whether construction updates are shared regularly and whether buyers receive photographs, progress reports or site-visit opportunities.
Do not enter an active construction area without the builder’s permission and appropriate safety precautions.
8. What Is the Committed Possession Date?
Ask for the proposed possession date and check whether the same date appears in the project documents and Agreement of Sale.
Also ask:
Is there a grace period?
Under what conditions can possession be extended?
What happens if the project is delayed?
When will registration take place?
When can interior work begin?
When will all essential services become operational?
Will amenities be completed at the same time?
Plan your rent, home loan, school admissions and moving arrangements with a financial buffer. Do not depend only on an informal possession estimate given during a site visit.
9. What Happens If Possession Is Delayed?
Review the delay-related clauses before signing the agreement.
Ask:
What remedies are stated in the agreement?
How will buyers be informed about delays?
Does the agreement define a grace period?
What happens to payments already made?
Is the buyer allowed to cancel under specified conditions?
What refund process is mentioned?
Which conditions are treated as events beyond the builder’s control?
Have a qualified lawyer review these clauses. The agreement, applicable law and facts of the situation determine the buyer’s available remedies.
10. What Is the Source of Water for the Project?
Water availability can significantly affect daily living in an apartment community.
Ask:
Is a municipal water connection available?
Does the project depend on borewells?
Will tanker water be required?
Is there a water-treatment system?
Is a Sewage Treatment Plant available?
Where will treated water be used?
What is the expected water-storage capacity?
How will water usage be measured?
Are water charges included in maintenance?
For a ready-to-move project, speak to existing residents about the actual water supply, especially during summer.
11. How Many Lifts Will Serve Each Tower?
This question is especially important when buying a high-rise apartment.
Ask:
How many passenger lifts are available per tower?
Is there a service lift?
How many apartments will each lift serve?
What is the lift capacity?
Is power backup available for lifts?
What is the maintenance arrangement?
How will residents manage when a lift is under repair?
Can emergency services access the required floors?
The number of lifts should be evaluated in relation to the tower height, number of floors and apartments per floor.
12. What Power Backup Will Be Provided?
“Power backup available” can mean different things in different projects.
Ask whether backup covers:
Lifts
Common-area lighting
Water pumps
Security systems
Clubhouse
Parking areas
Selected points inside apartments
Complete apartment load
Also ask:
Is backup included in maintenance?
Are usage charges collected separately?
What load is allocated to each apartment?
Is the backup system operational at possession?
Request the specifications in writing wherever possible.
13. How Will Car Parking Be Allotted?
Do not accept a general statement that parking is included.
Ask:
What type of parking is provided?
Where is the parking located?
Is the slot numbered or specifically allotted?
What are the slot dimensions?
Is it close to the lift lobby?
Is visitor parking available?
Is two-wheeler parking separate?
Are EV-charging provisions available?
Are additional parking slots available?
What parking conditions appear in the agreement?
Review the applicable project documents and agreement to understand the exact parking rights and conditions.
14. What Will the Monthly Maintenance Cost Be?
Amenities and large common areas may increase monthly expenses.
Ask:
What is the estimated maintenance charge?
Is it calculated per square foot or per apartment?
When will maintenance billing begin?
How much advance maintenance must be paid?
Is there a separate corpus fund?
Are water charges included?
Is power-backup usage charged separately?
Are clubhouse charges included?
Who will maintain the project initially?
When will maintenance transfer to the residents’ association?
Include expected maintenance in your household budget along with the home-loan EMI.
15. When Will All Promised Amenities Be Operational?
A brochure may show a clubhouse, swimming pool, gym, sports courts, landscaped areas and other facilities. Ask whether these amenities will be operational when your apartment is handed over.
Confirm:
Amenity completion timeline
Whether amenities belong to the current or future phase
Clubhouse access conditions
Membership charges
Usage charges
Maintenance responsibility
Changes permitted in the proposed amenity plan
Important promises should be reflected appropriately in the project documents rather than remaining only in marketing material.
16. Will Future Towers or Phases Affect This Apartment?
Ask for the complete project layout, including proposed future phases.
Check whether future construction could affect:
Balcony view
Natural light
Ventilation
Privacy
Internal traffic
Noise and dust
Access roads
Amenities
Open spaces
Maintenance expenses
A flat that currently has an open view may face another tower later. Ask about the distance between towers and the sanctioned or proposed development around your selected unit.
17. Which Banks Are Processing Home-Loan Applications for the Project?
Ask which banks or housing finance institutions are currently processing applications for the project.
However, remember:
A bank’s project assessment is performed for its lending requirements.
Bank processing does not replace independent legal verification.
Your personal loan eligibility is evaluated separately.
Approval, interest rate and sanctioned amount depend on the lender’s policies.
Ask the lender about:
Fixed or floating interest rate
EMI
Loan tenure
Processing charges
Disbursement schedule
Conditions in the sanction letter
Impact of an interest-rate reset
My Home Cunsultant does not directly provide or sanction home loans. We understand the buyer’s requirement, refer the available application file to a relevant bank and assist with communication and application coordination.
The respective bank independently determines eligibility, approval, interest rate, sanctioned amount, tenure and disbursement.
18. What Are the Booking Cancellation and Refund Conditions?
Before paying a booking amount, understand what happens if you decide not to proceed.
Ask:
Is the booking amount refundable?
Are any deductions applicable?
Within what period can cancellation be requested?
How long can the refund process take?
What happens if the home loan is not approved?
What happens if legal verification identifies a concern?
What documents must be submitted for cancellation?
Are cancellation conditions included in the booking form?
Do not rely on a verbal promise that the amount will be fully refunded. Read the written booking and cancellation terms carefully.
19. Can I Inspect the Apartment Before Possession?
Ask whether the builder permits a pre-possession or pre-handover inspection.
A systematic inspection may cover accessible areas relating to:
Walls and ceilings
Flooring and tiles
Plumbing fixtures
Water flow and drainage
Electrical points
Doors and windows
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Balcony
Utility area
Installed fixtures
Paint and finishing
Record visible defects with photographs and prepare a room-by-room snag list.
Ask:
How should defects be reported?
Who will acknowledge the snag list?
What correction timeline will be provided?
Can the apartment be rechecked after repairs?
A general home inspection does not replace legal verification, structural certification or specialist technical testing where required.
20. Will Every Important Promise Be Confirmed in Writing?
This may be the most important question.
Ask the builder to document significant commitments relating to:
Apartment number
Tower and floor
Carpet area
Total cost
Payment schedule
Parking
Specifications
Amenities
Possession timeline
Maintenance
Cancellation
Modifications
Special offers
Avoid depending on statements such as:
“It will be added later.”
“Everyone receives this benefit.”
“The offer is automatically included.”
“The view will remain permanently open.”
“There will be no extra charges.”
“The home loan is guaranteed.”
If an assurance is important to your purchase decision, request appropriate written confirmation before paying.
Documents to Collect Before Booking
Depending on the project and transaction, ask for access to relevant copies or information concerning:
TG RERA registration
Title documents
Development Agreement
Approved layout
Sanctioned building plan
Applicable permissions
Encumbrance Certificate
Draft Agreement of Sale
Detailed cost sheet
Payment schedule
Apartment floor plan
Specifications list
Parking conditions
Cancellation policy
Have the relevant documents reviewed by an appropriately qualified property lawyer.
Warning Signs Buyers Should Not Ignore
Proceed carefully if:
The sales team refuses to share the TG RERA number
Project details do not match the official registration
The complete cost sheet is not provided
Important promises are made only verbally
The buyer is pressured to pay immediately
The carpet area is not explained
Possession dates differ across documents
Refund terms are unclear
Applicable approvals cannot be explained
The actual site progress appears inconsistent with the claimed stage
The agreement is not provided for review before payment
Home-loan approval is described as guaranteed
A warning sign does not automatically establish wrongdoing, but it should be clarified and independently verified before proceeding.
How My Home Cunsultant Can Assist
My Home Cunsultant assists homebuyers looking for new apartment options in Hyderabad.
Our assistance may include:
Understanding your apartment requirements
Providing information about available apartment options
Coordinating property site visits
Assisting with home quality inspection
Referring available home-loan application files to relevant banks
Coordinating communication during the bank application process
Buyers should independently verify project information, legal documents, approvals, financial affordability and property condition.
Qualified legal, engineering, tax or financial professionals should be consulted wherever specialised advice is required.
Final Thoughts
Do not hesitate to ask detailed questions before buying an apartment.
A genuine sales process should give you enough information to understand the property, payment commitment, possession timeline and important purchase conditions.
Compare written documents with verbal claims, arrange independent verification and inspect the actual apartment before possession whenever possible.
The purpose of these questions is not simply to collect information. It is to help you determine whether the apartment suits your family, budget and long-term plans.
If you need assistance exploring new apartment options in Hyderabad, contact My Home Cunsultant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask first when visiting an apartment project?
Start by asking for the TG RERA registration number, exact carpet area, complete cost sheet, construction status and proposed possession date.
Should I pay a booking amount during the first site visit?
Do not pay only because of time pressure. First understand the property, cost, booking terms and available documents. Obtain professional advice where required.
Is a bank-approved project legally safe?
Bank assessment is carried out for lending purposes and should not replace independent legal verification arranged by the buyer.
Why should I ask about carpet area?
Carpet area helps you understand the usable space inside the apartment. The advertised saleable area may include a proportionate share of common areas.
Can I ask the builder for a pre-possession inspection?
Yes. Ask whether the builder permits an inspection and how visible defects should be documented, submitted and rechecked.
Are verbal promises made by the sales team valid?
Important commitments should be recorded in the appropriate written documents. Do not make a purchase decision based only on verbal statements.
Does My Home Cunsultant provide home loans?
No. My Home Cunsultant does not provide or sanction home loans. We refer the buyer’s available application file to a relevant bank and assist with communication and process coordination.
Does My Home Cunsultant provide legal verification?
The buyer should engage a qualified property lawyer for independent legal verification. My Home Cunsultant assists with apartment options, site-visit coordination, home inspection support and bank-file referral coordination.