Plot Buying Checklist: What to Check on Site Before You Book

Before you leave for the site

• Ask for the exact location and the plot number you want to see
• Carry a copy of the layout plan and compare it with what you see on the ground
• Go in daylight and take photos and notes
• If you can, visit again at a different time of day - or after rain - to see how the site behaves

Approach road and connectivity

• Width and surface of the approach road and of the internal roads
• Whether the road is a public road with legal access to your plot
• Travel time to schools, hospitals, markets and your workplace, tested at the hours you would actually travel
• Availability of public transport or shared transport nearby

The plot and its boundary

• Plot number and dimensions match the approved layout and your papers
• Boundary marks or pillars are visible; measure the sides if you can
• The land is level and not low-lying or prone to waterlogging
• No sign of encroachment, disputed claims or someone else using the land - and ask neighbouring residents

Utilities and infrastructure

• Electricity: is a line or pole available and how is a connection obtained?
• Water: what is the source and how is the quality?
• Drainage and sewage arrangements
• Internal roads, street lights, parks or common areas: see what is already built and what is only planned

Surroundings

• What is on the neighbouring land - houses, farmland, industry, a dumping ground, high-tension lines?
• How many plots around are already built and occupied?
• Noise, smell or traffic that would bother you every day

Questions to ask the developer

1. Which authority approved the layout, and can I see the approval?
2. What is the total cost including every charge?
3. What are the payment stages, and what happens if I need to cancel or if you are late?
4. When will the registry happen and when will I get possession?
5. Who maintains roads and common areas after handover, and at what cost?

Before you pay

Do not pay a booking amount until you have seen the documents. Ask for a written receipt and terms, compare at least two or three projects, and take your time - a genuine seller will not mind.