What to ask a developer before buying a flat

Whether we are buying a flat on the secondary market or directly from a developer, we should know as much as possible about our prospective four walls, so as to avoid unpleasant surprises that may be waiting for us once we have moved into the new home. What questions should we put to the developer to find out everything that matters most?

1. Technical matters

Questions about matters connected with the construction itself are absolutely essential! The answers will give us a full picture of what our new flat, and life in it, will be like.

If we are thinking of buying a property that is still under construction (or at the planning stage), the list of questions we should ask the developer responsible for it is really long. Let us not be afraid to ask about the basic matters concerning the unit: the planned layout of the rooms, the area and location of the balcony, or the position of our flat in relation to other units. Let us also ask the developer to show us the plans for the layout of the building and its surroundings: let us ask about access to the cellars and lift, the location of the bins, and plans for the car park or underground garage.

We should have far fewer doubts when viewing a flat in a building that is already finished. A walk-through and a careful inspection of the nooks and crannies of the unit should answer most of the basic questions. Even so, it is still worth asking for technical details, concerning, for instance, the standards of the materials used, the insulation of the building or the quality of the finish of the flats.

2. The agreement: what will it look like?

If the flat that interests us turns out to meet all our needs, we can begin to think about signing an agreement. But before that happens, we should get to know its details thoroughly. The obvious question is the final price stated in it, but that is not all that should interest us! Our agreement should contain, among other things, the developer's obligations and guarantees and information on the standard of finish in which the property will be handed over to us. Let us make sure that the agreement gives us access to additional spaces: a cellar, a drying room or a room for pushchairs and bicycles. And let us not forget to look at the deadlines, including the date on which the keys to the finished flat are planned to be handed over.

3. Getting to know our developer

Finally, before we decide to sign an agreement to buy a new flat, it is worth finding out as much as possible about the developer we want to negotiate with. Any financial or legal problems of the company may later affect our purchase, so let us be sure to find out whether the developer is solvent and the property being built is fully financed. Let us also not be afraid to check the land and mortgage registers (księgi wieczyste) to be sure that the property's legal status is beyond doubt. If anything is unclear, we can always rely on estate agencies in Katowice, which work only with developers who are trusted and have been vetted beforehand.