How to spot genuine pre-launch discounts in Chandigarh?

Not proud of this but I almost got duped by a pre-launch scheme. I'm looking at Altus Space Builders for a 2BHK, maybe in Sector 34B or nearby, and the 'early bird' offers always sound too good. Just moved into my current place in Mohali last month, and seeing the difference between initial quotes and final costs has me questioning everything. Is there a real way to tell if builders actually offer spot discounts or if it's just a tactic? I hear some builders have a 'no price drop' policy, but then suddenly there's a 'limited time' offer. How do you guys read those moves? Also, the super area vs carpet area thing is genuinely confusing. How much can builders really inflate numbers? Trying to maximize ROI here, so every sqft counts.