Agreement for sale checklist: what to check before you sign
By Ambish Singh, Founder · Facts checked October 2026
In shortThe agreement for sale decides your rights. Check the carpet area, total price and what it includes, the payment schedule tied to construction stages, the possession date with the penalty for delay, the specifications, and the refund terms, and get a property lawyer working for you to read it.
Why this document matters more than the brochure
A brochure is marketing. The agreement is the contract. Whatever the sales team said about amenities, views, possession or parking only counts if it is written in the agreement. RERA also prescribes a model form for the agreement, so a very different draft is worth questioning.
Clauses to read slowly
- Area: carpet area is the usable area inside the walls. Check that the price per square foot is on carpet area, not an inflated super built-up figure.
- Price: the total, what it includes, and every extra charge listed separately.
- Payment schedule: instalments should be linked to construction stages, with the maximum percentage payable before the agreement is registered kept within what the law allows.
- Possession date and delay: the date, any grace period, and the interest or compensation payable if the promoter is late.
- Specifications and amenities: flooring, fittings, brand names, and the amenities and their completion date.
- Defects: the promoter's liability to repair structural defects reported within the statutory period after possession.
- Cancellation and refund: what happens if you cancel, or the project is delayed beyond a limit.
- Title and approvals: the land title, the approved plans, and any pending litigation.
Who should read it
Use a property lawyer who is paid by you and not by the developer or the person selling to you. Give them several days, not an afternoon. A good lawyer's fee is small next to the cost of a missed clause.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between carpet area and super built-up area?
Carpet area is the area you can lay a carpet on, inside the walls. Super built-up adds a share of common areas. RERA requires sale on carpet area, so compare prices on that basis.
How much can the builder ask before registering the agreement?
The law limits the advance a promoter can take before the agreement for sale is registered to a small percentage of the cost. Ask your lawyer to confirm the current limit.
Can I change clauses in the builder's agreement?
Standard clauses are fixed, but you can ask for additions, such as specifications or dates, to be written in. Anything you are promised should be in the document.
Official sources
Check these yourself. They are the regulators' own sites, not ours.
- MahaRERA (Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority)Look up a project's registration and its promoter before you pay anything.
- Dubai Land DepartmentCheck broker licences and property services; Dubai's property regulator, RERA, is part of the Department.
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This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rates, thresholds and rules change, so confirm them with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you decide.