How to Verify a Builder's Credentials and Track Record
Choosing a builder for a ready or under-construction property purchase is as much about trust as it is about the specific unit — a great floor plan from an unreliable builder is still a risk. Verifying credentials and track record properly takes more than a quick web search.
Start with registration and legal standing
- ✦RERA registration for the specific project, verified directly on the TNRERA portal, not just a number quoted in a brochure
- ✦Company registration details (for a corporate builder) — a legitimate, traceable business entity, not just a project name
- ✦Any past or ongoing legal disputes or RERA complaints associated with the builder's previous projects
Visit a completed project, not just the one you're considering
Ask specifically to visit a project the builder completed at least a year or two ago — not the newest showcase project, but one that's been lived in long enough to reveal how the construction has actually held up. Speak directly with residents if possible; they'll tell you things a sales team won't.
Compare promised timeline against actual delivery history
Ask about the builder's past projects' original promised possession dates versus actual delivery dates. A builder with a consistent pattern of significant delays across multiple projects is a real signal about what to expect on your own purchase, regardless of what timeline is quoted this time.
Check financial stability signals, where visible
A builder juggling many simultaneously stalled projects, or one who's had funding difficulties reported, carries higher risk of delay or non-completion on your project too. This is harder to verify precisely as an individual buyer, but published RERA project status, news coverage, and buyer forums or reviews for their other projects can offer real signal.
Get references from actual past buyers, not just the builder's referrals
A builder-provided reference is naturally going to be a satisfied one — try to find independent buyer reviews or residents' association contacts for a past project, rather than relying solely on names the builder's sales team hands you.
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Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RERA registration enough to confirm a builder is trustworthy?+
It's a necessary baseline, not a complete guarantee — RERA registration confirms certain disclosures and compliance requirements are met, but doesn't by itself confirm construction quality or guarantee on-time delivery. Track record verification is still worth doing separately.
How many past projects should I check before deciding a builder is reliable?+
More than one, if possible — a single well-executed project doesn't rule out inconsistency elsewhere. Checking at least two or three past projects, ideally of different ages, gives a fuller picture of consistency over time.
What's a realistic way to check a builder's delay history?+
Ask directly for original promised possession dates versus actual delivery on 2-3 past projects, and cross-check against RERA's registered project timelines where available, which often show the originally committed date.
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First-Time Home Buyer's Checklist for Tamil Nadu
The practical order of operations for a first purchase — budget, pre-approval, document checks, negotiation and registration — for buyers who haven't done this before.