There are a few quick surveys that are undertaken before you finalise to buy an apartment.

 Here I shall list out the checklist that should assist you in finalising your purchase.

I have tried my best to go further then the mundane checks. Here we go.

01. TYPE

More than. The construction quality what needs to be checked is the type of the apartment building.

Is it a Single or a standalone building or is a tower that is a part of a community or group of  buildings, is it a  High rise or low rise. These information act like markers & point towards your thought / idea of an apartment. Want to be in a socially connected life or cut off from the neighbours. What are you interested in?

02. Current users

A small check on the user type in the building will reveal what kind of neighbourhood it is. Are all the units of the same type [like a quarters] or there a mix of different types. Average age group of the uses. why are these people living here. what is their reason? is there a hospital nearby and that’s why you see a lot of senior citizens here. Are all the users the owners of place or are they tenants. knowing general information will give you a fair idea of whom you and your family is going to interact with.

03. The Commons

How are the corridors & staircases, lift lobbies, entrance to a tower,transition spaces. Are there

any amenities like a gym, Swimming pool, play courts for basketball, badminton etc. How are all these amenities addressed in design and how are they maintained. is there a clubhouse and community hall facility? How big are they? when compared to total residents how do these common facilities fair? Do they seem to be apt? To check these up you may visit the apartment a few times at different times of the day, especially during the morning rush hour and evening children’s play hour. very significant is to see how is the car parking & basement & columns placement, the drive way. You may not alter the decision of buying based on parking only.But not being aware of the situation may hinder your decision making power. Also its better to have a check on the amount of open space wrt built spaces and how are these treated.

04. THE PLAN

The set up of many towers on a large site, or the way the common space ends up at the unit, or the way the spaces are organised in the unit, all these become points to be noted while analysing the plan. This analysis helps you arrives how the apartment will work for you. Not all apartment buyers are same.  The unit has to suffice adaptable four lifestyle. The degree of privacy from the living to dining to kitchen or what do I see from the balcony of my bedroom. Does the common toilet open directly into the living? The main door, when open, doesn’t have any visual barricade between the interiors of the house and the corridor. These are all the questions to be answered at your present home on the plan with a pen and the experience of visiting the site or a model apartment. You may also get a copy of master plan to understand the relation of built and open spaces of the campus, way in and out, children’s play area with the units, and many more. Key decisions have to be made comparing the apartment unit and your lifestyle. There can be adaptation on both sides, your family & thr apartment. But do not forget the apartment can be customised to suit you better if there are any concerns. Consult an architect who will give you a comprehensive customisation plan, interior design and furniture design.Do it before finalising so that you may get a better perspective and opt the better unit as per his advice.

05. THE SPACES

is there a healthy choreography of spaces? It should not happen that the utilitarian areas are sacrificed to accommodate a vanity space. It has been a practise to avoid a utility  to control

the total built up area or a prayer space is omitted to generalise the scheme. All of us are familiar with balconies adorned with clothes hung to dry. It might be a balcony of the main space of the house-the living. A dirty or wet space is necessary in a Indian home. our lifestyle and food habits call for Such a dirty space.The balcony should be used to visually connect with the exteriors and get in some light and air. such a balcony should not be filled up with junk or used to dry clothes. Have a check where can you dry the clothes or stove away junk. which part of the apartment can be used to keep messy things and which cannot. Have a reality check with the amount of items / thing that are used very less often and where do you store them when not used.Type & kind of spaces become very significant.