Advice for people building houses in Bangalore.
Points 1-6 our experience with construction companies.
Points 7-15 few things that helps to be alert.
Beware of construction companies in Bangalore. They entice customers with flashy videos on YouTube/Insta and then trap them on a suffering loop. One such company is Cherish Happy Home in RR Nagar.
These companies, make you sign a very biased contract with no exit clause. When you question them on contract, their marketing team will brush you off saying it's just standard boiler plate language and verbally asure you of many things which are not put in contract. Once an unsuspecting customer signs it and pays initial payment, it's game over for them and the suffering begins.
Structure like column have honey comb
Roof structure are weak cause of cheap material and technique.
They wait and heir labourers who have no experience cz they are cheap.
They delay work a lot cz they juggle same set of labourers between different site.
They do not respond to calls/ messages or even personal visit to office cz for them you are one of many bakras. They openly threaten that they have bigger legal team than we can ever afford.
Nor can you backout cz then they deman more money (in lakhs) to provide NOC.
At this point you have no option unless you are a big shot yourself. So basically I urge everyone to stay vigilant. Here are few points based on our experience that helps to stay alert.
Never trust a marketing person. No matter how friendly they are or how important they make you feel.
Always run the contract document by your lawyer. Most people only heir lawyer while buying land. But it's most important you heir them even while signing these construction documents. Company may say it's standard boiler plate language but say NO and ask them to update it if needed. In case they refuse, RUN .
Most companies take upfront of 70k to 80k for designing and then ask you to sign contract if you like design. They act as if this is a favour. But this is a bait. Once you have paid 70k they coax you to sign the major contract even if you don't like design. So before making huge payment, make sure how many iteration you can make to the design and what happens if you don't like it. My advice is never make huge payment and say you will pay only after they have given you a design that you approve of.
Always get Design of plumbing, electric work etc along with structure design. Your payment actually includes all of these. Infact request for interior design team's involvement, so you know where exactly switches must come. Never let the company decide for you.
Always have a good exit clause put in the agreement. Like what happens if the company delays construction, what happens if there is defect in structure. This is VERY important.
Also put a clause for what happens if material cost increase during time of construction, who will bear that cost.
After laying of each roof/ major structure get an independent test done on structural strength and quality of material used.
Also in initial phase before signing contract ask the company to show already running project. Take feedback from client personally, don't just see the structure and come back. Ask to see atleast 3 project which are in different phase like plint laying, roof lying, completed etc.
Ask to meet the team that would work on your project before hand. Your rapport with them is important.
If all these points feel tedious to you better go with individual mestri. Trust me, it's better than these corporate companies, atleast you don't have to beg them to come out of your own project.
P.S others in similar situation, please feel free to share your experience.