Key Questions To Ask Existing Residents Before Buying a Ready-To-Move-In Property

When someone is about to buy a ready-to-move-in home, there’s a big difference between what the builder shows on glossy brochures and what people actually live with day to day. Existing residents, the ones who’ve been dealing with the lifts, the security guards, the water pressure, and the endless notices from the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA), are the real insiders. Talking to them is not just helpful, it’s critical. They’ll tell you the things no builder’s sales team will admit. They’ll also confirm whether the place actually lives up to its promises or if it’s just a cleverly staged tour.

Maintenance status

This is where buyers often get fooled. A new coat of paint in the lobby doesn’t erase years of leaking pipes or elevators that break down every other week. Residents know how often complaints are brushed off and how responsive or downright unresponsive the builder or management actually is.

The kind of blunt questions buyers should throw at residents include:

• How fast does management respond to repairs, or do they just pass the buck?

• Any recurring nightmares like electrical failures or sewage backups?

• Do the common spaces look neat only during festival season, or is cleanliness consistent?

Under the law, specifically RERA Section 14(3), developers are bound to fix defects for five years after handing over possession. But on the ground, residents will tell whether the builder sticks to that promise or wriggles out of it with excuses.

Safety factors

It’s not enough to know if the gate has a guard. The real question is: does anyone feel safe walking home late at night, or do residents quietly warn newcomers about thefts and fights that never make it into brochures?

Buyers should ask residents straight:

• Is the area genuinely safe, or do people double-lock their doors every night?

• Is the neighbourhood family-friendly, or are there regular disagreements that soured the atmosphere?

• Is there any history of serious incidents, and if so, how were they handled?

Safety is partly about infrastructure, CCTV, proper lighting, and compliance with local rules. But it’s equally about the lived environment, the sense of trust and peace that residents either confirm or quietly deny.

Utilities and amenities

A clubhouse and swimming pool look wonderful in a walkthrough, but ask the residents how often the pool is actually usable. Often, gyms gather dust, and power backup works only on paper.

Key questions to throw in:

• Does the water supply ever get cut off, and for how long?

• Is the internet reliable, or do people curse their providers daily?

• Are the promised amenities really functional, or just a photo-op?

• How’s the waste management smooth or a daily headache?

Legally, until the RWA takes charge, the builder is responsible for maintaining these facilities. Residents will tell whether that responsibility is met, or whether complaints vanish into endless “work in progress” excuses.

Hidden costs or extra charges

This is the trick many buyers discover too late. Beyond the advertised “sale price,” there are all kinds of recurring charges. Maintenance, parking, security, even surprise “development” fees. These extras can drain a monthly budget.

The sharp questions to ask:

• What’s the actual monthly maintenance, and what does it really cover?

• Do residents pay extra for parking, or is it bundled in?

• How transparent is the property tax system here, with clear rules, or confusion every year?

RERA demands full disclosure of these costs. But residents will tell whether the paperwork matches the reality. Many times, buyers hear “all-inclusive” during the sales pitch, only to face a bill breakdown that keeps growing year after year.

Project registration under RERA

No buyer should skip this step. A RERA registration isn’t just a formality, it’s a safeguard. It means the builder had to declare sanctioned plans, timelines, and ownership details.

But beyond checking the official portal, it’s smart to ask residents:

• Is the project actually registered and compliant, or were there delays and disputes?

• Has the project faced penalties or legal tangles?

RERA requires transparency, but residents live with the fallout when promises aren’t met. Their answers cut through polished assurances.

Parking facility

In many urban buildings, parking is the battlefield. Promises of “ample space” often translate into endless fights between neighbours. Cars crammed into corners, guest vehicles with nowhere to go, and theft or damage disputes are common.

Questions worth asking:

• Does every resident actually get the space they paid for?

• Are there extra charges, and are they clearly stated?

• How is guest parking handled on weekends or festivals when visitors pour in?

Parking might sound like a small issue compared to the cost of the flat, but anyone who has lived in a crowded complex knows it can become the daily sore point.

Resale value of the property

Even if someone buys for personal living, future resale value matters, this is where resident insights matter again they’ve seen how the property’s worth has shifted over time.Buyers should probe:

• Has the property value here gone up at a steady pace, or does it stagnate?

• Any upcoming metro lines, malls, or highways nearby that could change things?

• How easy is it to sell an apartment here compared to other localities?

The resale question forces buyers to think long term. It’s not only about living comfort today but also whether tomorrow’s buyer will find the place appealing.