The checks to make, the questions to ask, the contract terms to insist on and the red flags to avoid before you sign with a builder.
Key takeaways
- Visit completed projects and speak to past clients before you sign anything.
- A written, itemised contract with a milestone payment schedule protects both sides.
- Ask who designs the structure and who supervises the site day to day.
- Be wary of quotes far below the market rate — they usually hide lower specifications.
Choosing a builder is the most important decision you will make about your home — more important than the tiles or the paint. The right partner delivers on time, communicates clearly and stands behind their work. Here is how to find them.
A note on where this comes from: KN Builders is itself a construction company. Use this as a checklist for any builder you are considering — including us. You can read about our team and how we work.
How do you check a builder’s past work?
Ask to visit completed projects and, ideally, an ongoing site. A builder confident in their quality will happily arrange it — you can start with our completed projects in Tambaram and Chennai. Pay attention to finishing details such as tile joints, plaster lines and how doors close — they reveal the care taken in the parts you cannot see. On an ongoing site, use our site-visit safety checklist to judge how well it is run.
Speak to past clients if you can. Ask whether the project finished on time, whether the final bill matched the quote, and how the builder handled problems after handover.
Verify the essentials
- Business registration and GST number.
- A portfolio of similar projects in or near your area.
- A qualified structural engineer for the design, and a named site engineer for supervision.
- Client references you can actually call.
- A written, itemised quotation and contract.
- A clear, milestone-based payment schedule.
If you are buying a flat in a larger project rather than building your own house, also check that the project is registered with TNRERA, the Tamil Nadu real estate regulator.
What questions should you ask a builder?
- 1Who is my single point of contact during the build?
- 2Who prepares the structural design, and will I get the drawings?
- 3How often will an engineer be on site?
- 4How do you handle changes, and how are they priced?
- 5What is your typical timeline for a project like mine?
- 6How will I receive progress updates and photos?
- 7What warranty do you give after handover, and what does it cover?
If a quote is dramatically cheaper than everyone else, ask what was left out. Price is usually a signal of specification — compare it against typical construction rates in Chennai.
Want to put these questions to us? Book a free site visit and we will walk you through our specification and contract line by line.
Book a free site visitWhat should a construction contract include?
- Full specification — brands and grades of cement, steel, tiles, fittings and paint.
- Drawings and the built-up area being quoted.
- Payment stages linked to completed work.
- Start date, completion date and what happens if either side causes a delay.
- How variations are agreed and priced — always in writing.
- Defect liability or warranty period after handover.
How to compare three quotes
Put the quotes side by side and check the same lines in each. Differences here explain most of the gap between a cheap quote and a fair one:
| Compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Built-up area quoted | A lower rate on a larger measured area can cost more overall |
| Cement and steel brands and grades | The structure is the one part you cannot upgrade later |
| Flooring, fittings and paint specification | Finishes cause the biggest swings between quotes |
| What is excluded | Approvals, sump, compound wall and interiors are often left out |
| Payment schedule | Payments should follow completed work, not dates |
| Timeline and delay terms | Shows how firm the completion date really is |
| Warranty after handover | Tells you who fixes defects, and for how long |
Building in Tambaram: local checks
A few questions are specific to building in and around Tambaram:
- Which authority approves your plan — the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, CMDA or DTCP depends on where the plot is, and the builder should know which applies.
- Has the builder done a soil test or seen the ground nearby? Soil varies from firm to clayey across Tambaram, which affects the foundation.
- How will the plinth level be set? Low-lying streets need a raised plinth and good drainage before the monsoon.
- Can they show finished homes in your locality — Selaiyur, Chromepet, Pallavaram, Medavakkam?
Red flags to avoid
- Reluctance to put the quote or contract in writing.
- Demands for a large advance before work starts.
- No recent local work you can visit.
- Vague answers about timelines, materials or who will supervise.
- A lump-sum price with no line-item breakdown.
Trust is built on transparency. If it is missing at the quoting stage, it rarely improves once work begins.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a builder is trustworthy?
Check their business registration and GST, visit completed projects, call past clients, and insist on a written itemised contract with a milestone payment schedule.
How much advance should a builder ask for?
Payments should be tied to milestones rather than a large lump sum upfront. A modest mobilisation advance followed by stage-wise payments is standard and fair.
Why are some quotes so much cheaper?
A very low quote usually reflects lower-grade materials, thinner specifications or items excluded from scope. Always compare like-for-like line items.
What should a construction contract include?
The full specification with brands and grades, drawings, built-up area, milestone payment stages, start and completion dates, a written process for variations, and the warranty period after handover.
Written by
Tamil Priya
Founder & CEO, KN Builders