It makes sense not to be carried away by the appeal of a sample flat alone. Read on

Sanjeev Sinha

Mohit, however, got the shock of his life when the keys of his flat were handed over to him after completion. From the interiors of the house to flooring to doors, from bathroom fittings to kitchen woodwork - everything looked old and of inferior quality. Mohit felt cheated. Initially, he complained and even threatened the builder with legal action, but nothing happened.

Sadly, this is not the case of Mohit alone. Every year, thousands of homebuyers have to face more or less a similar situation, but in most cases they find themselves unable to do anything for various reasons. This explains why, despite the use of sample flats becoming a norm, it makes sense not to be carried away by the appeal of a sample flat alone. Does this also mean that sample flats have become just a marketing gimmick today? Property developers and consultants, however, think otherwise. "Such incidents may happen sometimes, but not always," they say, claiming that sample flats have got their own merits, which shouldn't be ignored.

No wonder, "Sample flats have become a popular tool used by developers worldwide to showcase their residential developments," says Pravin Malkani, president of Patel Realty India Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of infrastructure major Patel Engineering Ltd, adding, "A show flat, if used effectively by the sales team, can actually be one of the most potent sales tool in their hands."

However, while some reputed builders claim their sample flats are an exact replica of what they sell customers that is not always the case. "This is also one of the things which differentiates a reputed developer from a bad one. In fact, any developer who wants to preserve his reputation will not indulge in these practices," says Surendra Hiranandani, founder and MD of Hiranandani group and Hiranandani Upscale.

"Still, there are several instances where developers, who are not careful with their quality control and promises of certain amenities, enter into cost cutting after sale and deliver less than promised. This can morally be termed as letting down or cheating," Malkani observes.

In developed countries, however, the situation is quite different. For instance, builders and developers there are legally more liable, and therefore, have a more professional approach to construction. More often than not, they have a built-in clause with their contractors to rectify and make good the snags, and this gives the purchaser added protection in such scenarios. Also, most developers in developed countries have to have a valid license to build and not making good the snags can jeopardize their continuity in business.

But that is hardly the case in India. Even the legal remedies available to buyers are very limited, and the ones that are possible, take years to take effect. Therefore, it is always better to take some precautions before booking or buying a flat in apartment, which are under construction.

For example, "While buying a house, one always has to have a clear understanding of the offer made by the builder before finalizing it. This includes the exact area of the property, whether the interiors and fittings are complimentary, the colors, parking space, etc. Generally, builders do not provide interior creative’s along with the flat and the sample flat is just a fancy representation to give an idea of how the property would look structurally," says Ketan Sheth, founder and MD of Goldmine Project Consultants.