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Use the sequence below before making a substantial payment or signing the final conveyance. Check records with the issuing authority, have a local property lawyer review title and sale documents, and use a qualified building professional for structural or technical concerns.
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What “ready to move” does—and does not—mean
In India, “ready to move” usually means construction is substantially complete and the seller is offering immediate possession. It may be a newly completed developer unit or a resale apartment that is already occupied. The phrase is a marketing description, not a legal certificate.
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A completed-looking unit can still have an unresolved title issue, a mortgage, unpaid dues, deviations from the approved plan, incomplete common services, or no valid occupancy approval. Treat readiness as a claim to verify rather than as evidence. Your checks must cover:
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- Transferability: the person or company selling the flat has the right to transfer it and can execute registrable documents.
- Lawful occupation: the correct occupancy certificate (OC), completion certificate (CC), or locally required equivalent covers the relevant building and phase.
- Conformity: the unit and project correspond to sanctioned plans, approved specifications, and the sale agreement.
- Condition: plumbing, drainage, electrical fittings, finishes, doors, windows, and shared services work as represented.
- Handover: keys, meters, parking, dues, repair commitments, and association or society records are documented.
These checks are distinct. An OC does not establish clean title; a registered sale deed does not prove the flat is defect-free; and project registration under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) does not resolve every unit-level question.
Documents to collect before paying a substantial amount
Ask for readable copies early enough for independent review. Do not rely solely on a brochure, a salesperson’s message, or a certificate image sent over a messaging app.
| Document or record | What to verify | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Registered sale deed, conveyance deed, or prior transfer documents | Seller’s name, unit number, tower, floor, area description, boundaries, registration details, and the chain of relevant transfers | Names or unit identifiers do not match, missing links in the chain, or only an unregistered agreement is offered |
| Encumbrance information | Whether mortgages, charges, attachments, or other recorded interests affect the property; confirm the applicable search details with a local lawyer | A vague “no loan” statement without an independent record or a clear explanation of a registered charge |
| Loan closure and lender release papers | For a past or current mortgage, how the lender’s release will be recorded and when original documents will be delivered | Outstanding loan with no documented closure process or insistence that you pay the seller before lender arrangements are clear |
| State RERA project record, where registration applies | Project identity, promoter disclosures, approved information, and the building or phase relevant to the flat | Project details differ from the offered tower or the seller treats registration as proof of individual title |
| Sanctioned plan, layout, and written specifications | Unit position, carpet-area description, balcony or terrace details, parking, fixtures, finishes, and promised amenities | Requests to accept “minor” changes without an approved drawing or written variation |
| Tax, utility, and maintenance statements | Amounts due up to transfer, meter status, maintenance start date, and who pays each outstanding item | Unexplained arrears, disconnected utilities, or no agreement on the handover date for dues |
Trace the seller’s title and authority to sell
For a developer purchase, establish the documents showing the promoter’s right to develop and convey the project and the particular unit. For a resale, trace the relevant registered transfers from the current owner back through the chain your lawyer considers necessary. Check that the legal names, unit identifiers, boundaries or description, and registration particulars match the flat you inspected.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf an attorney, company representative, executor, or family member signs, verify the authority behind that signature. The exact documents depend on the transaction and state law, so have a local property lawyer review the conveyance package rather than treating a builder’s statement as a title opinion.
Check encumbrances and any mortgage release
Obtain the applicable encumbrance information from the competent authority or record system and ask specifically whether a lender has security over the flat or project. The relevant search period and record format are not a universal fixed rule; your lawyer should determine what must be searched for the property’s location and history.
Where a loan existed, require a written plan for closure or release. Confirm how the lender’s release will be reflected in the records, when the original title documents will be handed over, and whether any payment is being routed directly to the lender as part of completion. Do not infer that the absence of an obvious issue in one certificate proves that no private or contractual claim exists.
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Use RERA records as project context, not as a substitute for diligence
When RERA registration applies, check the project through the relevant state RERA authority. Compare the registered project name, promoter, tower or phase, approved information, and completion disclosures with the flat being offered. RERA gives allottees access to specified project information and imposes duties on promoters, but registration alone does not certify the resale seller’s title, remove a mortgage, or prove that the individual flat has an occupancy certificate.
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Reconcile the approved plan with the promised flat
Obtain the sanctioned plan or layout and the written specification sheet that applies to your unit and project phase. Compare the unit number, floor, orientation, carpet-area description, balconies, parking, storage, fixtures, finishes, and listed amenities with the sale agreement and the physical apartment.
Ask for written approval or documentation for any change from the sanctioned plan. Under RERA, the promoter is expected to develop the project according to approved plans, layouts, and specifications, subject to the Act’s provisions. A verbal assurance that a deviation is harmless is not a document you can register or enforce easily.
Verify the occupancy or completion approval
Identify the certificate your local law requires
Ask for the occupancy certificate (OC), completion certificate (CC), or the locally applicable equivalent. The correct name and issuing body vary by state, municipality, development authority, and project type. The document should identify the correct project, building or tower, phase, and relevant approval details.
Under the central RERA framework, the promoter has responsibility for obtaining the applicable completion or occupancy certificate and making it available to allottees. That duty does not eliminate your need to verify the document.
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- Read the certificate for the project name, address, survey or plot identifiers, tower or block, phase, date, and issuing authority.
- Compare those identifiers with the sale agreement, sanctioned plan, and the tower containing your flat.
- Use the authority’s official record, online portal, or written verification channel where available. If the record is not public, ask the authority how a buyer can authenticate it.
- Ask whether the certificate covers the entire building or only a portion, and whether any conditions, exclusions, or pending works are noted.
- Keep the verified copy with your transaction file and record the date and method of verification.
A certificate for a different phase or an image that cannot be authenticated should be treated as unresolved, not as a technicality.
Understand local process examples without generalising them
Published guidance from the Delhi Development Authority says a building or part of a building should not be occupied before an occupancy certificate is granted. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority describes an application process involving construction completion, document scrutiny, and a site inspection for deviations. These examples show why the issuing authority matters; they are not a universal checklist for every city. Confirm the current procedure for the property’s jurisdiction.
Align possession with the certificate and agreement
Kerala RERA’s published summary of allottee rights reproduces a provision referring to possession and conveyance, including a two-month period after the occupancy certificate. The central Act also contains possession and conveyance obligations. Check the current state rules, the agreement, and the certificate date before assuming a particular handover deadline applies to your transaction.
Inspect the actual apartment, not a model unit
Schedule the inspection when utilities are available and take the approved layout, specification sheet, phone camera, notepad, and a simple measuring tape if useful. A tape measure can record approximate dimensions for your notes; it is not an authoritative carpet-area measurement or a substitute for checking the approved plan.
Walls, ceilings, and floors
- Look for cracks, damp patches, water staining, mould, blistered paint, and fresh paint that may conceal a repaired stain.
- Check tile lines, uneven floors, hollow-sounding tiles, loose skirting, chipped edges, and unfinished joints.
- Photograph each issue with a room reference and a scale object where that helps show size.
Water supply and drainage
- Run every tap and, where possible, test pressure at more than one fixture.
- Look below sinks and around pipe connections for leaks or swelling in cabinets.
- Flush each toilet and watch for slow refill, overflow, odour, or seepage.
- Pour or run water in bathrooms and balconies to observe drainage and pooling.
Doors, windows, and balconies
- Open and close every door and window; test handles, locks, hinges, seals, and latches.
- Inspect glass for damage and frames for gaps or signs of water entry.
- Check balcony drainage, visible cracks, railings, and water marks.
Electrical systems and fixtures
- Compare lights, switches, fans, sockets, sanitary fittings, and other fixtures with the written specification and inventory.
- Operate switches only when the installation appears safe and dry. Do not open panels or touch exposed wiring.
- Ask a qualified electrician to investigate repeated tripping, heat, sparks, exposed conductors, or unexplained power loss.
Kitchen, storage, and ventilation
- Check counters, cabinet alignment, hinges, shelves, drawer movement, sealant, and promised appliance or fitting inventory.
- Inspect plumbing connections under the sink and test ventilation where it is safe to do so.
- Record missing, substituted, damaged, or lower-grade items against the specification sheet.
Common areas and essential services
- Observe lifts, corridors, stairways, fire exits, lighting, water supply, waste areas, parking access, and listed common amenities.
- Ask which amenities are complete and operational, which remain under construction, and who is responsible for them.
- Request documentary clarification for safety-critical approvals instead of relying on a visual tour.
This is a practical walkthrough, not an official building survey or a certification of structural safety. Visible conditions can justify further investigation but cannot rule out concealed defects.
Turn observations into a written snag list
Record every issue while you are in the flat. A dated, specific log is more useful than a general complaint that “the finishing is poor.” Use a table with these columns:
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Location | Room, wall, fixture, floor area, balcony, or common area reference |
| Observed condition | Objective description, such as “water remains near the balcony drain after five minutes” |
| Photo number | File name or sequential number tied to the image |
| Urgency | Safety, water ingress, essential service, functional, cosmetic, or document issue |
| Responsible party | Seller, promoter, contractor, association, utility, or another identified party |
| Promised action | The exact repair, replacement, document, or test agreed |
| Target date | A calendar date, not “soon” |
| Closure evidence | Repair photograph, test result, invoice, authority record, or signed acknowledgement |
Send the list by email or another durable written channel to the seller or promoter. Ask that agreed repairs and unresolved items appear in a dated email, annexure, or handover record. Do not sign an unqualified acceptance if material issues or promised documents remain outstanding; have your lawyer align the wording with the sale agreement.
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Complete the handover record
At possession, record the condition and the items that change hands. Include:
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- Electricity, water, gas, and other meter readings, with photographs where possible.
- Number of keys, remotes, access cards, mailbox keys, and security devices.
- Parking slot number, location, and the document or plan establishing the allocation.
- Utility connection status and account-transfer responsibilities.
- Maintenance commencement date, amounts due, deposits, and the party responsible for arrears.
- Copies of the possession or handover letter, OC or CC, approved plan or relevant extract, warranties, manuals, and the final snag list.
- Association or society formation and common-area handover status, where relevant.
Make the handover document identify unresolved snags and the promised completion dates. Keep the signed record, emails, photographs, receipts, and authority confirmations together; they form the evidence trail if a dispute develops.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Know the RERA defect protection—and its limits
Section 14(3) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 provides an important post-possession baseline for covered defects. It states: “it shall be the duty of the promoter to rectify such defects without further charge, within thirty days”. The provision concerns a structural defect or another defect specified under the subsection when the allottee reports it within five years from handing over possession, subject to the Act’s terms.
The protection is not a replacement for inspection. It does not convert every disagreement about design, wear, maintenance, title, or a resale seller’s conduct into a section 14(3) claim. Preserve the possession date, defect notice, photographs, correspondence, and repair records, and obtain local legal advice on whether the facts fall within the statutory provision and applicable state procedure.
RERA also addresses sanctioned plans, approved specifications, promoter duties, project information, and possession-related rights. Those provisions operate alongside your separate obligations to verify title, encumbrances, local approvals, physical condition, dues, and contract terms.
When to use professionals
Property lawyer for title and conveyance
Use a local property lawyer before signing or paying a non-refundable amount, especially for a resale, inherited property, power-of-attorney transaction, company seller, disputed family ownership, or mortgaged flat. Ask for a written review of the title chain, encumbrance information, lender release, sale deed, authority to sign, dues allocation, and registration conditions.
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Qualified building professional or structural engineer
Bring an independent professional when you see significant cracks, repeated dampness, settlement signs, unsafe electrical work, drainage failure, suspected unauthorised alterations, or a disagreement about whether a defect is structural. A brief buyer walkthrough cannot certify structural safety.
A bank’s loan approval can be useful transaction information, but it is not proof that every buyer-specific legal, approval, or physical check is complete.
How to compare two ready-to-move flats
Use the same evidence for each property. If a fact is missing, mark it unresolved rather than awarding the flat a positive score.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Comparison axis | Evidence to record | Decision question |
|---|---|---|
| Legal readiness | Verified OC or CC, applicable approvals, authority confirmation | Can lawful occupation be established for this building and phase? |
| Title and transaction readiness | Registered seller title, relevant chain, encumbrance position, loan release, dues | Can the seller transfer the flat and deliver registrable documents? |
| Promised versus delivered | Sanctioned layout, unit identifiers, written specifications, fixtures, parking, documented changes | Does the physical flat match the contract and approved records? |
| Observed condition | Snag count and severity, water and drainage tests, finish quality, likely remedy | What must be repaired, by whom, and before which payment or handover step? |
| Handover quality | Meters, keys, utilities, common services, repair commitments, document package | Will you receive usable evidence and operational access on possession? |
A flat with a lower asking price but unresolved title, approval, or major water issues is not comparable on price alone. Keep legal readiness as a threshold: do not trade an unverified transfer or occupancy document for better finishes.
Stop, clarify, or proceed: a practical decision rule
- Stop the transaction if the seller cannot establish authority to transfer, a material mortgage or claim has no documented release path, or the applicable occupancy approval cannot be authenticated.
- Pause and obtain advice if the plan, unit identity, area description, parking, or specifications differ; if there are serious cracks or water failures; or if substantial dues are disputed.
- Proceed conditionally only when the lawyer has cleared the documents, the issuing authority’s record is verified, material snags have written remedies and dates, and the sale and handover documents allocate remaining obligations clearly.
- Retain evidence after registration and possession. Store the title package, certificates, plan, correspondence, photographs, receipts, meter readings, and closure proof in more than one secure location.
The safest purchase is not merely a flat that looks finished. It is a flat whose transfer rights, lawful occupancy, approved configuration, physical condition, and handover promises are all supported by records you can independently verify.
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