What to ask before buying off-plan

Buying off-plan means agreeing to buy a home before it’s built, usually with a deposit at exchange and the balance on completion. It can mean choosing the best homes in a building and planning ahead. It also means committing to something you can’t yet walk around.

Questions about the home

Ask for the full specification in writing, not just the brochure. Ask what can change and how you’ll be told. Ask how floor areas are measured, and whether the finished home could be smaller than the plan.

Questions about the timeline

What’s the expected completion date, and what happens if it slips? Is there a long-stop date after which you can withdraw? How is your deposit protected while the building goes up?

Questions about the developer

Visit homes they’ve finished. Talk to the people who live in them. A good developer will welcome these questions and answer them before you’ve paid anything.

A note on advice

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Speak to a solicitor and, where relevant, an independent financial adviser before committing to any purchase.