12 Things Every Buyer Must Check Before Signing
A practical, printable pre-purchase checklist your lawyer will thank you for.
Title and Ownership
Obtain a chain of title for at least the last 30 years, verify the current owner's Aadhaar and PAN against the sale deed, and cross-check the encumbrance certificate for any outstanding loans or liens.
RERA Registration
Every project above 500 sq.m or 8 apartments must be RERA-registered. Verify the registration number on the state RERA portal, and match the promised amenities, timelines and carpet area with the RERA-filed brochure.
Approvals and NOCs
Ask for the commencement certificate, sanctioned plans, environmental clearance, fire NOC and, where applicable, airport authority NOC. A missing approval is not a paperwork gap, it is a legal exposure you inherit.
Loan Sanction Letters
A property approved by a top-three private bank has already cleared their legal and technical scrutiny. This is your quickest sanity check on the underlying title.
A single unresolved item on this list can cost more than the entire deal in future litigation. Spend two additional weeks on diligence, save two decades of regret.
