How to Check a Developer: 10 Questions to Ask the Company Before Buying Into a Project

Buying from an off-plan project means trusting a company before the home itself. The delivery date is in the future, but the money is paid today. This article explains which questions to ask and where to verify them.

Why check the company?

The quality of a project depends more on the developer's track record than on the scale model. Two projects in the same neighbourhood can have the same price; but one is delivered on time and the other drags on. It is possible to see this difference in advance.

Developers of the projects on our site

On our project pages the developer company name is stated clearly. For example:

• Nefes Premium and Nefes Corner: İltemir İnşaat.
• Terra Doğa: Pınarlar Grup and Cam-Saş İnşaat.
• Sirius Town, Sirius Level, Coordinat 24: Pınarlar Grup.
• Meridien Nova: Uğurcan İnşaat.

We do not comment on the quality of these companies; we only present verifiable information. With the list below you can check for yourself.

10-question checklist

1. How many years has the company been active? Year of establishment and trade registry details.
2. Previous projects. Addresses of completed projects; can you see them in person?
3. Delivery record. Were previous projects delivered on the promised date?
4. Building permit. Is there a permit for this project? Ask for its number and date.
5. Building inspection firm. Who is it? Is its licence valid?
6. Land status. Who owns the land? Is there a mortgage or attachment on it?
7. Where do the payments go? Payments should go to the corporate company account, not a personal account.
8. Contract. Are the delivery date, delay penalty, scope and withdrawal conditions written down?
9. Title deed stage. Has the condominium easement been established? Is it written when the title deed will be transferred?
10. Authorised sales. Does the person or office selling have authority on behalf of the company? Ask for the written authorisation agreement.

Where is it verified?

• Trade registry and tax information: the chamber of commerce and relevant institutions.
• Title deed record: the land registry office.
• Building permit and iskan: the relevant municipality.
• The selling office's authority: our article on checking the authorisation certificate explains this.

Red flags

• There is no contract, or you are being rushed to sign.
• Payment is requested into a personal account.
• Permit and building inspection information is not shared.
• The delivery date is not clear.
• The price is far below the market.

Why is written authorisation important?

When a real estate office sells a project, the authority to sell on behalf of the company should be documented by a written agreement. On our project pages we state that we hold this authorisation for our projects; ask every office for the same. For the general process see our foreign buyer guide.

Sources: ticaret.gov.tr · tkgm.gov.tr · csb.gov.tr