Business Tower Real Estate

Property buyer's guide

From choosing an area to checking the price, these are the main details to compare before buying a unit.

Location and access

An address alone cannot tell you how long it takes to get there or how far you will walk within the development.

Route to the development
Try the route from home or work at the time you would normally travel. Compare the journey time and where your usual services are.
Building location
Use the site plan to find the nearest entrance. For a holiday home, check the walk to the beach. For an office, check the route from the car park to the entrance.
Unit orientation
Ask which way the windows or terrace face and what is in front of them. Two units in the same building may have different views because of their floor and orientation.

A floor plan shows how much space you can use and how the rooms are arranged.

Interior space
Compare room dimensions, door positions and corridors. Ask whether the quoted area includes a terrace, a garden or any shared space.
Choosing a layout
For a duplex, check the staircase and how rooms are distributed between floors. For a chalet or villa, compare indoor space and how it connects to a garden or terrace.
Finishes
Ask for flooring, door and bathroom specifications. If two units come with different finishes, add the likely fit-out cost before comparing their prices.

Check both when you will receive the unit and when you can move in or start operating.

When viewing a completed unit
See the unit, its entrance and the shared areas. Ask whether the facilities and services you need will be ready when you move in.
When buying off-plan
Check the written handover date for the unit. Ask which services should be operating when that phase is handed over.
The cost of waiting
If you will rent a home or business premises until handover, include that cost. Set aside time and money for finishing or fitting out the unit if needed.

Start with the total cost, then compare the payment dates against your budget.

Total price
Ask for an offer for the specific unit that states the full price, down payment, number of instalments and due dates.
Maintenance and fit-out
Ask about the maintenance deposit and any payment at handover. Add the cost of finishes or fit-out if you will pay for them.
Reservation amount
Before paying, ask in writing how much is due, who receives it, and when it is applied to the price or refunded.

Confirm the project and phase. Each phase has its own layout and timeline.

The project on the map
Match the developer name, location and phase number in the offer and site plan. Confirm the building and floor before comparing its price with another unit.
Previously delivered projects
If the developer has finished projects you can see, check what was delivered and how services operate. Renderings show the design. A visit shows the current state of the site.
Written details
Keep the unit offer, floor plan, handover specifications and payment schedule together so you can review them if an offer changes or you compare units.

For a shop, foot traffic and visibility matter. For an office, check ease of access and the layout.

Shops
Check the width of the frontage and the position relative to entrances and lifts. Ask which activities the mall allows.
Offices
Compare usable space and layout, and check the route employees and visitors take from the lift and parking.
Opening date
Ask what is included at handover, what maintenance costs, and which fit-out work you will need to complete before opening.