November 20, 2020
Most people buy housing only once in their lifetime, so the choice must be approached very responsibly. If a new apartment has significant flaws or defects, life there can become unbearable. Many construction companies focus buyers' attention only on the advantages of their property. The downsides are either not displayed or are carefully hidden.
That is why it is better to find out in advance what you need to know when buying an apartment in a new building. This will help you spot builder mistakes in time. The condition of the future apartment must be assessed already at the first construction stage.
The start of construction
Before construction begins, the developer prepares project documentation. It contains text and graphic materials that define the architectural, functional-technological, engineering and structural decisions used in the construction of the specific property. Buying an apartment from the developer starts with signing a contract. The contract is the main document regulating relations between the buyer and the financial company (manager). The manager, in turn, operates on the basis of an agreement with the developer.
The investor must carefully read all clauses of the contract and review the extract from the technical documentation in the sales album. He also has the right to find out whether the construction company has technical conditions for carrying out works from energy supply companies.
The project documentation will allow the future owner of the home to obtain information about the building materials from which the house will be constructed. After finishing works, it will be difficult to determine what and by what technology the exterior and interior walls were built. A model of the building helps the customer assess the location of the apartment and the view from the window. Before construction begins, you need to ensure that the developer has obtained all necessary permits from organizations whose communications run through the site. If the building is constructed without permits, it may later not be connected to gas, water or heating networks.
Final stage of construction
Many people do not know what to pay attention to when buying an apartment. They make sure that the works are carried out on time and stop there. However, the buyer must check the quality of construction after its completion. Inspect the joints between walls and ceilings. There should be no cracks or stains on the surface of panels and floor slabs.
Inspecting the apartment after finishing works
Assessing finishing works is very important when buying premium housing. The cost of such property largely depends on the quality of the finish. The buyer should carefully inspect the finishing materials and systems installed in the apartment. Their characteristics must match the parameters specified in the contract and project documentation. Some developers install cheaper radiators, ventilation systems, glazing units, doors and windows to save money. A cursory inspection is usually not enough to detect substitutes. Specialists can help check the quality of finishing works. Their advice when buying an apartment in a new building will be very useful.
Ways to assess the quality of finishing works.
There are several tests that allow you to assess the level of quality of finishing works.
- A flashlight will help determine how evenly the plaster has been applied. The beam is directed along the wall — all irregularities of the plaster layer become clearly visible in the light. If walls are prepared for painting, the plaster layer must be perfectly even. Before wallpapering, walls do not need to be leveled so meticulously.
- A plumb line will help determine the verticality of the walls. It can be made from an ordinary thread and a small weight. The slope of floor and ceiling is determined with a level. Deviations from vertical and horizontal must not exceed 15 mm (10 mm for improved finishing, 5 mm for premium quality).
- The quality of plaster and painting should be assessed during daylight, preferably on a sunny day. The shade of the surface should be uniform.
- Wallpaper is applied edge-over-edge in the direction from the dominant light source (window). The upper side edges should be oriented toward the window. Wallpaper should not cover door frames or skirting boards.
- The quality of tile work is checked with a ruler. The ruler must lie flat against the tiles along its entire plane. Tile fixing is checked by tapping — a ringing sound indicates voids. There should be no large or deep gaps in tile seams, even in room corners. All defects must be identified before signing the acceptance-transfer act. They must be reported to the developer.
