Home buying guides · · 6 min read · By Sorrel Buildcon
25 Questions to Ask a Builder Before You Book
Quick answer
The questions to ask a builder before booking fall into five groups: the company and its approvals, the full cost and what is extra, the specific home and its area, the timeline and delay terms, and life after handover. Ask all of them in one meeting, then ask for the important answers in writing before you pay anything.
Ask them all at once, and ask for writing
Most buyers ask four or five questions spread over three visits, which lets a weak answer slip past. Take the whole list in one sitting instead. You are not being difficult; any builder who sells directly and has its papers in order will get through this in forty minutes.
Two rules make the exercise worth doing. First, write the answers down as you go — in your own notebook, in front of them. Second, after the meeting, email the five or six answers that actually decide your money and ask for confirmation. A verbal assurance about a possession date is worth nothing; the same sentence in a reply email is worth a great deal.
Where you are dealing directly with the developer rather than a chain of brokers, the answers come faster and with fewer layers of "I will check". Sorrel Buildcon sells direct, without middlemen — see customer trust factors.
Group 1: the company and its approvals (Q1–5)
- What is the project's UP RERA registration number, and until when is it valid? (Then verify it yourself — see how to verify a UP RERA project.)
- Which company is the promoter, and what is its CIN? For Sorrel Heights it is Sorrel Buildcon Pvt Ltd, CIN U45209UP2019PTC115780.
- Is the building plan sanctioned, and may I see the approved drawing for my floor?
- Which projects has the company delivered, and can I visit one and speak to residents?
- Who holds the land title, and may my lawyer see the title documents?
Sorrel Buildcon has four projects in Greater Noida West — Sorrel Homes and Shree Suresham delivered, Sorrel Heights and Sorrel Samriddhi under construction — which makes question four easy to act on. See Sorrel projects.
Group 2: cost, payments and what is extra (Q6–11)
- What exactly does the quoted total cost include?
- What is charged over and above it — GST, stamp duty, registration, legal documentation, meter charges, maintenance deposit?
- How is PLC calculated for floor and facing, and what is it for the unit I want?
- Which payment plans are currently open, and does the price differ between them?
- In whose name are payments made, and is there a designated project account?
- What is the interest rate on late payment, and what do you pay me if possession is delayed?
At Sorrel Heights, total cost is BSP plus PLC plus meter charges, GST is 1% extra, stamp duty and registration are payable at offer of possession, and special BSP plans exist depending on payment timing. Prices are indicative, shared by Sorrel Buildcon and revised from time to time — ask for the current sheet on price list & payment plan and read how the payment plans work.
Group 3: the actual home (Q12–18)
- What is the carpet area of this unit under the RERA definition, and what is the loading?
- Which floors and facings are still available in this layout?
- Are the room dimensions on the plan final, and will they be measured again at completion?
- Which brands are used for sanitaryware, wiring, switches, the lift, steel and cement?
- Is parking included in the price, and what are the dimensions of the bay?
- Is there lift access to every floor, including the duplex level?
- How many homes share each floor and each lift?
For reference, Sorrel Heights is a low-rise with lift access to all floors and five homes per typical floor, UN-1 to UN-5 — the arrangement is explained in the typical floor guide. The brands listed include Cera, Tata Steel, UltraTech, Ambuja Cement, Johnson Lifts, Anchor Panasonic, Havells, Birla White, Rathi Steel, AKG and Sakarni; the full specification is on Sorrel Heights specifications.
Group 4: timeline, and what happens if it slips (Q19–22)
- What is the construction stage today, and what will be complete six months from now?
- What possession date is stated in the agreement, and what is the grace period?
- How does the agreement define force majeure?
- Will the payment plan be construction linked, so my money follows visible progress?
Ask question nineteen on site, standing where you can see the building. Then compare the answer with the quarterly progress filed with the authority, which is public. The clauses that govern all four answers are covered in agreement for sale clauses to read.
Group 5: after handover (Q23–25, and three more)
- How are defects handled after possession, and for how long?
- What will monthly maintenance be, who will run the building, and what does the charge cover?
- Can I transfer or sell the booking before possession, on what terms and at what fee?
Three more worth adding: what is the cancellation and refund policy and how long does a refund take; which banks have already funded homes in this project; and may I read the draft agreement before I pay the booking amount?
That last question is the single most revealing one on the list. The answer tells you almost everything about how the rest of the relationship will go.
A scorecard for comparing two builders
| RERA and approvals | Number given without hesitation? Portal record matches? Plans shown? |
|---|---|
| Cost transparency | Written cost sheet with every head, or a single number quoted verbally? |
| Carpet area | Stated in writing for your unit, or only super area? |
| Delivered track record | Projects you can visit, residents you can speak to? |
| Specifications | Brand-level list, or vague adjectives? |
| Delay terms | Symmetrical interest, or only a penalty on you? |
| Documents before payment | Draft agreement shared, or "after booking only"? |
| Who you deal with | Developer directly, or a broker chain? |
Score each project out of eight. In practice, the project that scores well here is usually also the one where the site visit goes well — take the site visit checklist with you.
Bring the list, and get the answers on paper
Print these questions to ask a builder and carry them. Ask Sorrel Buildcon for the current price list & payment plan sheet and the specification list in the same meeting, walk through the layouts on the floor plans, and book a slot via contact the Sorrel team — D-161, Sector 3, Greater Noida West, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, +91 99907 27612. The stage-wise sequence you are agreeing to is set out on buying process.
How to judge the answers
- Clear and written — good. Ask for the answer on email or letterhead.
- Vague ("don't worry", "standard") — ask again for specifics.
- Refusal to share documents — a red flag.
Print this list
Print the 25 questions and tick them off during your site visit. Keep a column for the answer and one for proof (document name or email date). Use the same sheet for every project you compare, so the decision is based on facts, not on the best sales pitch.
Where Sorrel answers are written down
Specifications, cost inclusions, GST, stamp duty timing and delay interest are all in the Sorrel Heights brochure terms — see price list & payment plan and Sorrel Heights specifications. Company registration and addresses are on Sorrel Buildcon.
Facts about Sorrel Heights on this page come from the official brochure and Sorrel Buildcon. General guidance is for information only — confirm rules and rates with the relevant authority before you act.