New Chandigarh: Broker promises vs. reality post-possession?
Just got possession of my 3BHK in New Chandigarh last month and honestly, things nobody told me. The broker from X Ecosystem Solutions Llp jo deal karwa raha tha, usne bahut baatein gol mol kari thi. PLC aur floor-rise ke alawa, bahut saare 'miscellaneous charges' nikle at the time of OC. Matlab, stamp duty toh pata tha, but society maintenance setup, electricity meter charges, sab milake ₹2L upar se lag gaye. Broker ne bola tha sab included hai. I'm wondering if direct builder se deal karna better hota? Ya fir koi checklist hoti hai for all these hidden costs jo brokers chupa jaate hain? Kya aap logo ko bhi aise extra charges dene pade after possession? What's your take on dealing directly vs. through brokers for new projects in New Chandigarh?
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My broker told me
Did you check if your broker is RERA registered, OP? And the builder? RERA mandates transparency in pricing. These miscellaneous charges should ideally be disclosed upfront in the agreement to sell. Did you get a detailed cost breakup before signing the agreement?
U9, you need to push them for a detailed breakdown. Don't be afraid to walk away if they're not transparent. For projects in New Chandigarh, the market is hot right now, so builders feel they can get away with this. But remember, it's your hard-earned money. Demand a proper cost sheet for everything, including the exact amount for electricity meter, club, maintenance advance, etc. Don't settle for 'standard charges'.
Exactly! I'm looking at a project near Rasulpur, and the builder's sales team is also being very vague about 'other charges'. They just say 'standard charges apply'. What does that even mean? How do we get them to be transparent?
U7 is right. This is where RERA comes in. Usually, the 'Agreement to Sell' should list all charges, even if estimated. If the broker verbally promised 'all inclusive' but it's not in writing, it's hard to prove. My lawyer always advises getting a full cost breakdown, including all potential charges till possession and even post-possession, like society setup, in writing from the builder or broker. Many builders have their own 'preferred' brokers who are just extensions of their sales team.
OP, you're not alone. This happened to me with a project in Mullanpur Garibdass two years back. The broker literally said 'all inclusive' and then at the last minute, 'club membership fees', 'IFMS (Interest Free Maintenance Security)', and even 'power backup installation' charges popped up. It was a good ₹1.5L extra. I think they intentionally keep these hidden to make the initial quote look attractive. Always, always get a detailed, itemized cost sheet in writing.
Brokers are a necessary evil sometimes, but this is daylight robbery. So glad you shared your experience, OP.
Haan bilkul! This is the standard playbook. They lure you in with a low price and then ambush you with these 'mandatory' charges. It's so frustrating as a first-time buyer.
Just got possession of my 3BHK in New Chandigarh last month and honestly, things nobody told me. The broker from X Ecosystem Solutions Llp jo deal karwa raha tha, usne bahut baatein gol mol kari thi. PLC aur floor-rise ke alawa, bahut saare 'miscellaneous charges' nikle at the time of OC. Matlab, stamp duty toh pata tha, but society maintenance setup, electricity meter charges, sab milake ₹2L upar se lag gaye. Broker ne bola tha sab included hai. I'm wondering if direct builder se deal karna better hota? Ya fir koi checklist hoti hai for all these hidden costs jo brokers chupa jaate hain? Kya aap logo ko bhi aise extra charges dene pade after possession? What's your take on dealing directly vs. through brokers for new projects in New Chandigarh?
Totally feel your pain, bhai. This is a common tactic. Which project was this, if you don't mind sharing? I'm also looking in New Chandigarh and want to avoid such surprises.
Oh my god, same pinch! Brokers are the worst. They only care about their commission.