3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Off-Plan (Or Walk Away)

If a developer refuses to show you certain things, walk away from the deal. It does not matter how beautiful the brochure is. When you buy off-plan, you are buying something that does not exist yet, and a brochure is designed to sell, not to inform. These three questions help you see past it.

1. What is the view from my exact unit?

Not the view from the penthouse. Not the view from the rooftop in the renderings. You want to know the view from your own unit, and from every window and every room in it.

The view is one of the things you cannot change after you buy. Two units in the same building can have very different views depending on the floor and the orientation. Ask for the view that belongs to the unit you are actually signing for.

2. What projects have you already delivered?

A developer's past work is the best evidence of what they will deliver to you. Ask for the list of projects they have completed, then check them yourself:

• Look them up on Google Maps and see what the buildings look like today.
• Better still, visit them in person if you can.
• Compare what was promised with what was built.

A developer who is proud of their past projects will be happy to point you to them.

3. What do similar units cost in the area?

The price only makes sense when you compare it. Look for units in the area that are truly similar to yours:

• A similar layout.
• A similar quality of construction and finishes.
• A similar floor.
• A similar orientation.

If you only compare by square footage, you may be comparing very different products. The closer the comparison, the better you can judge whether the price is fair.

When to walk away

Asking these questions is reasonable. A serious developer should be able to answer all three. If they avoid the questions, change the subject, or send you back to the brochure, treat that as information. A refusal to show you the view, the track record or the comparable prices is a reason to walk away.

This is my view from working in new construction, not financial advice. If you are about to buy your first off-plan property, or you are investing in presales, start with these three questions before you sign anything.