How do I compare two compounds fairly?

A fair comparison starts with one measuring stick. Two compounds can show similar asking prices and still differ widely once the unit size, the payment terms and the handover date sit side by side. Before you compare anything, write the figures for both projects in one table, for the same unit type, the same number of bedrooms where possible, and the same date.

Which figures must match?

Five figures settle most comparisons: the price per square metre, the down payment percentage, the number of years to pay, the delivery date and the maintenance terms. If one compound asks for 5% down over ten years and the other asks for 10% over eight years, the lower headline price may cost more across the life of the contract. Compare the payment plans as a whole, never one line at a time.

Is the price per square metre enough?

The price per square metre is the most useful single number, because it removes the effect of unit size. It is not enough on its own. Check that both developers measure area the same way: built-up area, or area excluding balconies and roof terraces, as each developer states it. A unit with a large garden can look cheap per metre while its usable space is smaller than the figure suggests. Ask what the area includes before you divide the price by it.

How do delivery dates change the comparison?

A unit delivered in two years is not the same purchase as one delivered in five. Payments made before handover give you no keys, and instalments that run past delivery mean paying for a home you are not yet living in. Note the handover date, the instalment schedule measured from it, and whether the developer has delivered its earlier projects on time.

What about maintenance and extra fees?

Maintenance is set for the compound, not for each unit. It can be a percentage of the price or a fixed amount, paid in one payment or in instalments. Add it to the price before you compare. A compound with a lower price and a higher maintenance charge can end up costing more. Where a compound has no maintenance terms on its page, ask the sales office for them in writing.

Which questions should you put to the developer?

Put the same written questions to both developers: what the price includes, how the area is measured, the payment schedule with dates, the delivery date and the maintenance terms. Keep the replies side by side. A fair comparison is one where both sides answered the same questions, and the written reply is the only figure to rely on when you reserve.