Situated in one of the prime areas of South Delhi is an area called Saidullajab in Saket, which often becomes a small pond during monsoon. This area is very well-connected with Metro, however, people living here still face issues in their day-to-day commute during the monsoon season.
Sailesh Kumar, 56, regrets investing his money in a property based in this locality.
"The area is quite convenient during all seasons except when it rains. I have struggled to go to the office. My children have struggled to reach the 400-meter away metro station just because the area becomes a small river," Kumar recalls his struggles.
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"Had I been aware of the condition of this area during monsoon, I don't think I would have invested in this property despite the good metro connectivity." Kumar made the purchase decision just by visiting the apartment a few times.
Kumar's situation raises one question, i.e. how does one recce the area and property they are planning to buy? Which is where renting before buying comes into play.
If you are planning to buy a property in an area, experts advise that it is better to live in that area, if not the property, to get acclimatised to it.
To Rent Is To Recce Before Buying A Property
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You can rent for a few months to a period of one year to figure out if it is worth investing or not. Sanjeev Arora, Director of 360 Realtors, says: "It will also offer the actual information of elements that are frequently ignored during brief visits, such as the daily commute, amenities, cost of maintenance, and noise levels. Making a better selection can be aided by this probationary phase, which can uncover hidden problems. It also gives you time to learn about local real estate trends and price swings. In essence, renting before purchasing reduces risks, increases buyer confidence, and guarantees that the investment fits with one's comfort level, long-term objectives, and lifestyle."
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Umesh Bhati, Director of Operations at Bayside Corporations (BCS), says: "It allows buyers to assess real-world variables, daily commute times, neighbourhood behaviour patterns, and actual build quality, before making a long-term financial commitment."
A 2023 Knight Frank study found that 35 per cent of urban Indian homebuyers prefer a 'live-before-you-buy' approach, highlighting a growing shift towards experiential evaluation over speculative investment.
"No marketing brochure or virtual walkthrough can replace the lived experience of a home," says Sagar Gupta, Director-Head of Sales Trisol Red Group of Companies, while speaking in support of the renting before buying the property approach.
Renting Before Buying Helped In Decision Making
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Shraddha Patil, 49, Homemaker, lived in Amrapali Eden Park, Noida, on rent in a 3-BHK apartment for about 1.5 years before she and her husband bought a 3-BHK property in the same apartment.
Patil's rationale was that she wanted an area that was well-connected with Delhi, but she also needed a place that was quiet.
She had shifted from Dwaraka, Delhi, where they lived on rent, to Noida. "We decided the area of our property to be Noida. But living here made it easy to go on property hunts, staying in touch with brokers and interested people who are willing to sell their property."
She was also looking in nearby areas but ended up buying a flat in the same society where she was renting. "I explored other sectors and realised that these societies were full of hustle and bustle, which was against our needs. At this age, we didn't want to put our money in a property that we would go on to regret. Renting first, then buying later, made that decision easy and accurate," she adds.
Owning a house is a dream of many individuals or families. Everyone wants to get it right. However, every individual may have different needs. Thus, making the scrutiny of the area or a property extremely crucial.
"You have the opportunity to hear the noise levels, experience commute accessibility, ventilation, sunlight, and even the responsiveness of the property management, all before committing to a long-term financial investment. It also provides you with time to realise price movements and assess the real value of the asset in turbulent markets," says Sher Singh Rathore, Founder, Bric-X Infra.
Pratham Mishra, 28, an Associate at a Gurgaon-based Investment Banking Firm, recently bought a property in the area where he grew up. According to him, the familiarity helped him in many ways.
Speaking on his rationale behind the move, Mishra says, "The electricity power cuts, the water clogging in the city, the cleanliness, the water supply are a few important points that you know inside out when you buy property in an area you already live in. The community is known, after all, humans are a social animal."
He adds: "During renovation or construction, you can be near your place and have things under your control rather than being far. The due diligence is rather easy as compared to when you are far-fetched."
Before committing to a long-term investment, renting lets you live the experience. From morning joggers and children playing to the way festivals are celebrated, spending time in a community gives you a front-row seat to its daily rhythm. It's the most reliable way to find out whether a place fits your lifestyle without the pressure of ownership.
Following the same mantra, Amrita Marik, 39, a Softskill and POSH Trainer, bought her house in Faridabad. Marik says: "Renting first helped us assess whether the area met our needs, especially for my elderly parents, who need to feel comfortable and familiar with their surroundings. When you rent, you also build local connections through brokers or neighbourhood groups, which helps us understand the true market rate and identify serious sellers. That kind of local insight is hard to get otherwise. It also gave us a clearer sense of whether the society was improving or on the decline. These are the things you only discover by living in a place, not just visiting."
"We rented space in South Delhi, East Delhi and then Faridabad," she adds. Eventually, she decided to purchase a property in Faridabad after assessing all three locations.
Why Renting Before Buying Makes Sense?
A society might look good on paper, but the reality often lies in the small details. Renting gives you a chance to see how well the property is managed day to day. Are the elevators in working order? Is the pool clean and accessible? Do maintenance teams respond quickly to issues? These are not just conveniences; they're indicators of how well your investment will hold up over time. Renting lets you see the full story.
Buying a home isn't just a financial decision; it's a personal one that shapes your daily life for years to come. That's why it deserves more than a quick visit or a glossy brochure. Renting before buying gives you the breathing room to observe, evaluate, and decide without pressure.
A site visit might show you the amenities, but it won't tell you what the neighbourhood feels like on a rainy weekday or a quiet Sunday morning. Renting gives you that perspective. It reveals the real atmosphere, whether the streets are noisy at night, if the building stays cool in summer, or how safe you feel walking home after dark.
Catch the Details That Matter
Living in a place, even temporarily, exposes the small but crucial details brochures leave out. Is the morning sun too harsh in the bedroom? Do you hear traffic at 6 AM? Does the apartment feel cramped after a week, or just right? These insights can only come with time, and time is what renting gives you.
If you're stuck in a dilemma between buying outright or waiting it out, consider a smarter third option, i.e rent first. You'll gain firsthand knowledge of the lifestyle, the property, and the community, so when you do decide to buy, you'll know exactly what you're signing up for before investing in the property.
