Flat Inspection Checklist for Kolkata Buyers: What to Check on a Site Visit

A ready-to-move flat has one big advantage over a flat on paper: you can inspect it. Professionals call this “snagging”, which means looking for small defects before you accept the flat. Most buyers walk through, admire the rooms and leave. This checklist shows what to look at, area by area, and adds a Kolkata-specific check for the monsoon. For the paperwork side of a purchase, read our checklist of documents to check before buying a flat in Kolkata.

What to bring: a measuring tape, a torch (your phone torch works), a plug or socket tester, a small bottle of water for drainage tests, a phone or camera to photograph defects, a notepad, and a copy of the floor plan and agreement. If you can, bring a family member or an engineer for a second pair of eyes.

1. Walls and ceilings

• Look for damp patches, stains, peeling paint and a musty smell, especially near bathrooms, windows and on the top-floor ceiling.
• Shine a torch along the wall at a shallow angle to show uneven plaster or finishing.
• Note any cracks. Fine hairline cracks in plaster are common, but wide or spreading cracks should be shown to an engineer.

2. Floors and tiles

• Walk across every room and tap tiles lightly. A hollow sound can mean poor fixing, and hollow tiles tend to lift later.
• Look for cracked, chipped, loose or uneven tiles, and uneven joints or skirting.
• Check that wet areas have the anti-skid tiles you were promised.

3. Doors and windows

• Open and close every door and window. They should move smoothly, close fully and lock properly.
• Check the glass, grills and latches, and look for gaps around frames.
• Look for stains below windows, which can be a sign of leaks.

4. Electricals

• Test every switch and socket with a tester or a phone charger, and check that plates are firmly fixed.
• Check the light, fan and air-conditioner points, and that the distribution board is neat and labelled.
• Count the points in each room against the specification, and ask whether the sockets are earthed.
• For a detailed test, ask a licensed electrician to inspect the wiring.

5. Plumbing and bathrooms

• Run every tap and shower, flush every toilet, and compare water pressure between floors if you can.
• Look under sinks and around fittings for leaks, and check that drains clear quickly.
• Pour a little water on each bathroom floor. It should flow towards the drain and not pool or run towards the door.
• Check the geyser and exhaust points, and in the kitchen the sink, the platform and the chimney point.

6. Balcony and terrace

• Check that railings are firm and secure, especially if you have children.
• Pour water on the balcony floor. It should slope towards the drain outlet, and the outlet should not be blocked.
• Look at the walls around the balcony for stains, and if the terrace is accessible, check for pooling and clear drains.

7. Common areas and the building

Your flat is only part of what you are buying. Check that the lifts work, the staircase and railings are sound, fire safety equipment is in place, security is in operation, and the building name and flat number match your agreement. Then check each facility you were promised. These are the amenities Krishna Group lists for its ready-to-move developments:

Use this as a list to tick off on your visit, and ask how shared facilities are maintained.

8. Monsoon and drainage: a Kolkata check

Heavy monsoon rain shows weaknesses that a dry visit cannot. If you can, visit once after a heavy shower:

• Look at the approach road and the area around the building for waterlogging, and notice how quickly the water drains.
• Check the compound, ground floor and parking for stagnant water.
• Look for fresh damp patches or drips on the top-floor ceiling, near windows and around the balcony.
• Ask residents how the building copes every monsoon, and about water supply through the year.
• In Kolkata’s humid weather, look for mould in bathrooms and closed cupboards, and check that rooms are well ventilated.

Our Kestopur locality guide lists more checks for the area.

Check the flat against your agreement

Measure the rooms and compare them with the floor plan and the carpet area in your agreement. Check the fittings, tiles and finishes against the specifications you were promised, and confirm the parking and flat number. Anything that differs is worth raising in writing.

Make a snag list

1. Photograph every defect and note the room and the exact spot.
2. Write it down as a room-by-room list, with the most serious items first.
3. Give it to the developer in writing and ask for dates by which each item will be fixed.
4. Re-inspect after the repairs, before you pay the final instalment or accept possession.
5. Keep copies of the list, the photographs and the replies. Your agreement will set out the process, so read it with your lawyer.

You can do a first inspection yourself with this checklist. A professional snagging inspector or engineer can spot hidden faults, such as problems with waterproofing or wiring, more thoroughly. Once the repairs are done, see our 2 BHK flat interior ideas for Kolkata to plan the interiors.

Inspect a ready-to-move flat at Krishna Group

Krishna Group’s ready-to-move flats can be inspected in person at Krishna Paradise, Krishna Kamdhenu, Krishna Shivangan and Krishna Lakeview. Book a site visit, bring this checklist, and ask to see the documents as well. We explain why a completed flat can also save you GST in our guide to ready-to-move flats in Kestopur.

Where to go next

After your visit, compare flats on price and size in our guides to 2 BHK flats in Kestopur and 3 BHK flats in Kestopur, and avoid the 10 mistakes to avoid when investing in Kolkata real estate. If you plan to borrow, our home loan and EMI guide shows what different loan sizes cost, and our guide to flats for sale in Kestopur shows what each budget buys.

Frequently asked questions