What 'ready to move' actually changes for a resale buyer

Buying into a completed, occupied development is a materially different proposition from buying under construction. Some risks disappear entirely. Others simply change shape.

What you stop worrying about

Delivery risk is gone: the building exists, the club exists, the landscaping is grown in. You can walk the corridors, ride the lift, and see what the finish actually looks like after a few years of use rather than in a render. You can also talk to residents, which is the most honest research available and costs nothing.

What you should ask instead

The questions shift towards upkeep. How is the maintenance agency performing, and what is the current per-square-foot charge? Is the sinking fund healthy? Have there been special assessments, and are more expected? What is the water supply arrangement, and how does the backup power work in practice?

Possession is immediate, and so are the costs

Maintenance charges begin the day the flat is yours, not when you move in. Factor them in alongside the purchase price, along with transfer charges and the cost of any refurbishment.

The trade-off

You pay for certainty. A completed flat in an established community generally commands a premium over an equivalent under-construction unit, and that premium is the price of knowing exactly what you are buying. For a lot of buyers — particularly those moving in rather than investing — it is money well spent.