Thanks to rapid urbanization, independent villas or bungalows in metropolitans have given rise to builder-floor apartments.
These low-rise buildings feature multiple residential floors on the same land.
Each floor is sold to or rented by a different owner. A builder-floor apartment is an excellent option for individuals who want to live in a private, convenient, and custom-built property.
Read on to discover what a builder-floor apartment is and more information that can help you decide whether to purchase and live in one or not.
What Are Builder-Floor Apartments?
A builder-floor apartment is a low-rise residential structure, usually limited to the ground, first, and second floors. Every floor in such a property is a single residential unit.
These properties are typically preferred by individuals or families who need more independence.
They are also chosen by people who cannot afford to live in luxurious high-rise buildings.
The builder typically develops these apartments independently or in collaboration with the property or landowner.
Builder-floor apartments are well-suited for individuals who want to avoid strict living regulations in a group housing society or apartment complex. They offer a quiet life inside a spacious unit.
Who Owns the Builder Floor Unit in a Builder-Floor Apartment?
The ownership of individual floors in a builder-floor apartment depends entirely on the agreement between the buyer and seller. Typically, the buyer has proportional ownership of the plot.
If the seller offers the property on a lease basis, the buyer will have leasehold ownership of the unit.
The sale of a builder-floor apartment unit has to be registered like any other property sale.
With that said, some cities and states don’t allow builder-floor registration.
It’s why you should do your research and not go ahead with such deals where they are not accepted as they will be deemed illegal.
Checklist for Purchasing a Builder-Floor Apartment
When you’re purchasing a property, it’s essential to perform due diligence. After all, you don’t want to become a victim of fraud.
You want to conduct thorough research to make an informed decision.
Here’s the ultimate checklist you need to remember when inspecting a builder-floor apartment before deciding to buy it:
Perform Thorough Due Diligence
The first thing you need to check is the property’s title in the designated registrar’s office. Make sure to verify that the property has no pending legal case.
Also, thoroughly inspect the approved building plan, government permits, permitted Floor Space Index, area ratio, and other requirements and approvals.
Check the Occupancy Certificates
Make sure that completion and occupancy certificates for the builder-floor apartment are authentic. It will help you ascertain that the property is not violating the local developmental laws.
You will also need to check the certificates for water and electricity connections.
If the builder is hesitant to show you the occupancy certificates, remind them that they are legally obliged to do so.
Inspect Water and Other Connections
You will also need to make sure that every floor in the apartment has a separate water, electricity, and gas connection.
Hire a Property Inspector or Surveyor
If you have the budget, hire a professional property inspector or surveyor to check the constructed property.
They will help you assess the building’s age, construction quality, and other essential details.
With a professional in your corner, you can estimate the property’s resale value and determine whether its asking price is worth it or not.
Check the Property Card
This step will help you research the previous owner or find out more about the builder and any loans they might have taken against the property.
Check for Existing Payments
If you’re buying a builder-floor apartment from an existing occupant, make sure that they have cleared all their dues before taking over the property.
This way, you will not be left with water or energy bills to deal with. Likewise, you can find out if they have paid the previous property tax.
Conduct Market Research
Make sure to verify the builder’s reputation and track record before going ahead with the purchase. Reach out to previous property buyers who might have conducted business with them.
You will also need to assess the developer and broker’s reputation before signing any deal. It will help you avoid fraud and potential future trouble down the road.
Check Other Options
It’s a given, but you should always survey the market and check all your options before purchasing a property.
Make sure to study the property price and other features of similar builder-floor apartments.
Look for these apartments in your preferred areas and compare their amenities and prices.
It will help you make an informed decision and keep you from getting duped into paying a higher price.
Pros and Cons of a Builder Floor
Just like any other property, a builder-floor apartment offers its distinctive benefits and disadvantages.
Here are some pros and cons of builder floors:
The Good Things about Builder Floor Apartments
- Builder floors are fairly affordable.
- They offer compelling privacy and independence to the owner as they get a spacious, private residential property without investing in it heavily, which they would have had to do for a villa or a bungalow.
- Many builder-floor apartments do not have maintenance charges.
- Each unit in a builder-floor apartment has separate energy and water connections, which ensures fewer costs and dependency on other tenants or residents in the building.
- They offer a significant resale value in luxurious cities.
- An existing residential property owner can easily turn their property into a builder-floor apartment.
Some Drawbacks of Builder Floor Apartments
- The construction quality of such units can be poor, so you need to be more careful when purchasing them.
- There is no dedicated maintenance support, which means you will have to address all repairs and maintenance yourself.
- Fewer community spaces and amenities.
How Is a Builder-Floor Apartment Different from Multi-Unit Floor Apartments?
Many people do not understand that builder-floor apartments are vastly different from regular apartment complexes that they can purchase through a developer in a housing society.
If you wish to purchase or rent a builder-floor unit, you should understand the difference between such units and units in an apartment complex. It will help you make a better decision.
Here are some stark differences between a builder-floor apartment and a regular apartment complex:
Ownership
When it comes to traditional apartments, the property agreement states that you are only the owner of an apartment unit in the complex unless you buy the entire property.
On the flip side, the buyer agreement might state that you are part-owner of the plot in a builder-floor apartment.
The buyer might offer you the property on a leasehold agreement.
Maintenance
In apartment complexes, the apartment community or housing society takes care of the maintenance and repair needs of all the units in the building.
Granted, you have to pay a maintenance fee to avail of this amenity, but it frees you up from taking care of the repairs yourself. That said, some apartments charge hefty maintenance fees.
On the flip side, builder-floor apartments don’t offer maintenance services. Each floor owner is responsible for taking care of the unit and fulfilling its maintenance and repair needs.
You will have to hire independent services to perform any repairs, maintenance, and upgrades to the floor.
Freedom & Privacy
Another significant difference between apartment complexes and builder-floor apartments is that the latter offers you a lot more freedom and privacy.
You don’t have to deal with a housing authority dictating your move and asking you to follow set rules. You also don’t have to engage with neighbors living on the same floor as you.
Since you have the whole floor to yourself, you can live and move around as you please without disrupting the peace and quiet of your neighbors.
On the flip side, apartment complexes have certain rules that you cannot break. You also have to be respectful of your neighbors and share community spaces with them.
Amenities
Since builder-floor apartments are essentially small residential properties, they don’t offer the amenities that a luxurious apartment complex might offer.
You don’t have access to a community gym, swimming pool, hall, garden, and more.
Floor Plan
Typically, apartment complexes have a designated floor plan, i.e., all the units in a building have a similar design. However, the same is not true for builder-floor apartments.
The floors in a builder-floor building can have different layouts. In fact, the floors can look so different that one can have three bedrooms, while the other only has two.
The design of the builder-floor apartment is in the hands of the owner and how they choose to design each floor as per their convenience.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, a builder-floor apartment is a residential property with up to three floors of individual housing units. They offer you the privacy and freedom to move around as you please.
However, they don’t come with a sense of community, shared amenities, and maintenance services an apartment complex offers.
That said, these units are the ideal choice for families looking for a secluded space that will fit within their budget.
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