Planning to buy a new apartment? Let’s begin with online research

Planning to buy a luxury apartment? The first step is to research. Back in the days, people just short-listed their preferred area and took two days off to check out the locality, talk to prospective neighbors; discuss the roads, the weather and a little politics with the owner/agent before sealing the deal. Today, things are different. For starters, there are many more options and not enough time to inspect all of it. Thankfully, there’s also a solution to that problem. Now, home-seekers begin their preliminary research online and that has worked well. Here are a few ways to gather information about a new property online.

1.       Property websites

Before turning to your real-estate agent, go through a few property sites in India to get a fair idea of the market out there. Sites like 99Acres, MagicBricks, CommonFloor, and the like gives the low-down on prices based on the type of home and the locality. For instance, a luxury 2 BHK flat in Gurgaon may be priced more than a 2BHK in Faridabad. Browsing through various properties allows you to shortlist a few areas and make a well-thought decision in terms of the type of house (apartment, stand-alone), the built-up area, and locations based on your budget.

2.       Get Personal Feedback

According to a Google study, based on findings by marketing firm Zinnov, the internet influenced purchase decisions of homebuyers amounting to up to USD 31 billion. The finding included not just metropolitan cities but also tier-two cities. Before buying property in India, consider connecting with friends and acquaintances who live in the locality. Enquire with them to gain first-hand feedback on different builders, homes, and rates. You can also find a number of forums where people voice their opinion. Do your homework and gather relevant details before making a choice.

3.       Vet before you buy

The real-estate market has drastically expanded with more properties available and a lot more builders vying for your attention. As such it’s imperative to vet the builder and the property before moving further. Do a thorough check to make sure there are no impending litigation charges. You can do this by simply scanning the news or checking up with real-estate research firms and publications. You could also employ a personal lawyer to make sure that everything is in order with that brand-new luxury apartment before proceeding.