How often have you passed by a piece of advertising for a project or property that is ludicrous? Not because of how unaffordable it is, but quite the opposite. Hoardings across the city today advertise down payments that cost less than the average couch, fully furnished flats that can supposedly be purchased at the drop of a hat, and endless views that would cost a pretty penny all at your doorstep.

This is a stepping stone to the ‘dark side of marketing’ (a real thing!), where you haven’t been fully manipulated yet, you aren’t technically being lied to, and you convince yourself against all prevailing experience that this is an achievable promise. It isn’t.

If today you were verbally told that you could secure a home for less than 30 lakhs, you would not be convinced, because it is human nature to believe that if something is ‘too good to be true’ it’s because it usually is. However, take that same information, aesthetically designed, splashed on a hoarding, and protected by endless asterisks- your brain starts to play tricks on you- suddenly it becomes a lot more believable.

So let’s look at the inherent safety tips, not the ‘home buying tips’ but those which can protect you, your family, and your hard-earned money. The safety tips for first (and seasoned) home buyers.

Choosing The Right Developer:- There is no shortage of developers in the city which can be both a boon and a curse. A highly sought-after business, anybody with a plot of land and who want to cash in on it is capable of developing their piece of land. So with such a selection of developers available to you, why should that be a problem? Because it is easy to fall into business with a one-time developer (somebody looking to develop just their single plot of land) who may not be as well-versed or experienced in the industry. Choosing renowned developers in Mumbai can be beneficial for first-time buyers as they always instil a lot more faith in the client as they can be certain their money is being invested with a veteran from the industry.

As a first time buyer, dipping your toe in the real estate pool, it is always a better option to play it safer with a known developer with a delivery track record than take a risk.

Understand The Jargon:- It’s a fair assumption to make that the average person is not going to understand the nuanced jargon associated with an industry they are not involved in. If the first time buyer in question is unclear on the details of terminology, it is very easy to take terms at face value. For example, if a client is in the market for a 2BHK flat in Dahisar East, they would rightly be aware of the areas advertised in the locality. If the flat is advertised as approximately 700sq.ft. first time buyers can sometimes overlook a very telling clarification; is that 700sq.ft. of usable carpet area? How much of that 700sq.ft. is occupied by internal walls?