More Buying Advice

More Buying Advice

Drawings:  Sketches versus Plans versus Unit

I have now been told sad stories and the current turnover of another building in Makati.  Due to the shock presented to the buyers, I have additional advice.

Past advice has included the obvious talking with many people about the purchase and then getting the book, Guide to Homeownership, by Armando Ang.  Read it carefully as well as the article you may click at the right of this page.  Along with his advice is to get the Master Deed and By-Laws as well as all other significant documents.  I would add that speaking with a lawyer well versed in real estate issues is a good idea if not essential.

Ang's book was last updated in 2009 but is still quite relevant.  Also in 2009, there was the case Valle Verde vs Africa.  So with this and many other matters read at this blog and elsewhere, I would strongly suggest a great deal of conversation and questions written that need to be answered.

As for another suggestion, keep and review your sketch of the floor plan for potential buyers.  Compare that to any follow-up plan given upon turnover and compare both to the unit and what you are paying for as far as square meters which you need to measure.  A troublesome privacy and security issue with the shock some have now seen might be avoided a little earlier.

In addition to the above sketch and plans, go to the city engineer's office and get a copy of the floor plan that would, of course, include BALCONIES & COLUMNS, which are treated for tax purposes in the same manner.  Again, look at all three drawings.  If the city engineer does not have plans or a file as was experienced by someone I know who tried getting such information in Taguig for their building, I know of another place.  Contact me for that source.

Compare all these drawings and then think.  Any emphatic clause about changes ( http://sohocentralcondominium.blogspot.com/2013/12/symposium-needed-on-contract-law-or.html ) would then possibly involve the government.  After your review of the collected information, contact a lawyer for advice.

Again, I no longer trust any sketch plan for ads to entice buyers or the "plans" that are presented at turnover with possible or supposed changes.  These must be compared to the approved architectural/engineering plans at the city engineer's office.  Then you would see precise government approved plans that may have been altered for the sketch and plan at turnover.