How to choose an apartment in a new building

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Life hacker and interior design service for developers Flatplan DVLP figure out how to buy an apartment that you will be satisfied with.

Buying an apartment in a new building is like a pig in a poke. The house is just being built, you don't know what will happen in the end. Therefore, it is difficult and scary to choose. There is always a chance that the new apartment will not like it or turn out to be bad. For example, with thin walls or poor quality repairs. It also happens that the house is not delivered on time and the construction is delayed for months or even years.

Therefore, before you buy an apartment, it is important to check everything. We will tell you what to look for and how to distinguish a conscientious developer from a bad one. This is a serious matter, so there is a lot of advice. They are broken down into three difficulty levels, from browsing Instagram to checking documents.

Easy level

At this stage, you study the developers, form a general impression of the new construction market and choose the companies that are closer to you.

1. Look at the developer's website for pictures of the house and interior

You should like them and be original, not downloaded from the stock. It's easy to check: right-click on the photo and click "Find picture (Google)". The function works in Google Chrome. If there are a lot of such photos in the search engine, this is a stock or someone "borrowed" a picture from the owner. Such a developer is not right for you.

2. Explore the developer's social media pages

Instagram, Facebook, VKontakte - go to social networks, look at publications and read user comments. This will help to form an overall impression of the company and its projects.

3. Read forums and social networks

If the developer rented out apartments with defects or delayed the construction time, most likely there is information about this on the Internet. Therefore, read reviews about the company on the forums.

In addition, many residential complexes have pages on social networks where new settlers discuss everyday problems. Read messages and comments, ask the residents about the quality of construction and impressions of new apartments. It is possible that you will be horrified and cross the developer off your list.

Average level

4. Look at the developer's finished homes

Reviews and comments on the Internet will not replace your own opinion. You need to understand whether you like the developer's apartments and in what condition the new buildings, which he rented out a year or two ago.

Go to the entrance, take a closer look at the walls and ceilings. Does the elevator work, what is the quality of the finishing, what is the condition of the yard? If one house is poorly built, then the other is likely to be the same. Chat with the concierge and locals. So you will understand whether you want to live in such a house and whether it is worth taking an apartment from this developer.

5. Ask about the decoration of the apartment and go to the showroom, if there is one

The repair must be of high quality, so that in a year you do not have to redo everything. Therefore, ask the manager about the finishing options, the quality of building materials and the warranty period. Developers also have showrooms where you can see the wallpaper, parquet, tiles that you will have in your apartment. It is much easier to choose this way, and besides, there is confidence that the repair will be done well.

Don't be afraid to buy a finished apartment: good developers attract professional designers who create cool interiors. For example, Flatplan DVLP, with which we wrote this material.

The interior of the apartment in the residential complex "Spassky Most", developed by Flatplan DVLP

Flatplan DVLP is an interior design service for developers. The company not only develops interiors for apartments in new buildings, but also monitors the completion of finishing work. Thanks to this, the apartment turns out the way it was intended: with an interesting design and high-quality repairs.

6. Find out what makes up the price of an apartment

You need to know how much and what you are paying for. How much is a square meter, how the floor and the view from the window affect the price, how much they charge for finishing. All surcharges and conditions must be specified in the contract.

Also find out if there are discounts and installments. At different stages of construction, the price is different, so if the manager tells you a specific cost, check if it will change in 2-3 months. In sales offices there are credit brokers who will tell you where it is more profitable to get a mortgage and help you collect documents.

Advanced level

When you have decided which developer you will buy an apartment from, go to this level. The main task here is to sort out the documents and choose an apartment. This is the most crucial stage.

7. Check the documents on the developer's website

Any construction company has constituent documents: charter, certificate of state registration, certificate of tax registration, annual reports and audit reports. They can be on the site, but if you have not found them, then ask for them at the sales office. According to the law, Federal Law of December 30, 2004 N 214-FZ (as amended on December 31, 2017) "On participation in shared construction of apartment buildings and other real estate and on amendments to some legislative acts of the Russian Federation" you must provide certified copies of these documents …

There must also be a building permit, a project declaration, the developer's right to a land plot. This is important because without them building a house is illegal.

It is better to buy an apartment under a shareholding agreement, that is, on the basis of the aforementioned Federal Law No. 214. This will guarantee that the house will be completed and you will receive your apartment, and will not get into the news story about defrauded equity holders.

8. Find out the rating of the construction company

Check the rating of the construction company on the website of the Unified Register of Developers. You can choose to filter developers by region or search for a specific company by name. The maximum rating is 5, which means that the house must be completed on time. The lower the rating, the less likely it is to be put into operation on time (the minimum score is 0.5).

9. Check the bankruptcy of the developer

Find out if the developer is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. This can be done on the website of the arbitration court. You shouldn't buy an apartment from a company that is about to go bankrupt.

After you have checked everything, you can choose an apartment in the new building you like and conclude an agreement.

Over the past few years, the demand for new housing has been less than the supply. Therefore, developers try to please the buyer in order to sell the apartments. New buildings with interesting interiors and high-quality finishes appear on the market, even in the economy class. Therefore, do not hesitate to demand a good repair: you pay millions of rubles and have the right to get decent housing.

It also happens that the developer rents out apartments without finishing or offers boring options. If this is your case, you can order an interior design for a new apartment on Flatplan.design and make a cool renovation on your own. Fixed price - 29,990 rubles. It includes an interior design project, an estimate and a step-by-step renovation plan.