Choosing a plot in Punjab: what to check before you buy
The plot decides more about your future house than any drawing does. A few checks before you pay can save lakhs later, and they cost almost nothing.
1. Is the colony approved?
Buy only in a colony approved by the development authority or the local body, and ask to see the approval letter and the layout plan. Plots in unapproved colonies can be refused a building plan, a water and sewer connection or a bank loan.
2. Which side does the road face?
In Punjab the road side becomes your main façade and usually your main glass. A north or south road is the easiest to shade. A west road means strong afternoon sun on the front rooms, which can be handled with a deep verandah, fins or a front court, but it needs to be designed for from the start.
3. What does the bye-law let you build?
The building bye-laws set front and side setbacks, ground coverage, floor area ratio, height and parking. On a small plot these can take a surprising share of the land. Ask for the rules that apply to your plot size before you fix a budget, and remember that approval drawings must be signed by a registered architect or a licensed engineer.
4. Who are the neighbours?
Existing two- or three-storey walls on the sides will shade your plot and block windows on those sides. That is not always bad: it can make a courtyard house the natural answer, with light coming from above instead of from the sides.
5. Ground, water and drains
Look at the road level against the plot level, and where rain water goes during heavy rain. Ask neighbours how deep their foundations went and whether they found filled soil. Check the depth of the water table and whether there is a sewer line in the street.
6. Size and shape
A plot with a sensible proportion, around 1:2 to 1:2.5, is easier to plan than a very narrow or very deep one. Odd shapes are possible but cost more drawing time and often waste floor area.
If you are comparing two or three plots, we are happy to look at them with you on a call before you decide.