What to ask before you pay the booking fee
A booking fee is small enough to pay on impulse and awkward enough to get back. Twenty minutes of questions before you pay saves most of the regret that follows.
About the development
- What is the exact lease expiry date, or is the title freehold?
- Is the land title residential or commercial, and is the development under the Housing Development Act?
- Is the advertising permit and developer licence current, and what are the numbers?
- How many towers and phases in total, and which phase is being sold now?
- What is the target completion date written into the agreement, not the brochure?
About the unit
- Which direction does the unit face, and what will be built on the land it looks at?
- Is the quoted built-up area inclusive of balcony and air-conditioner ledge?
- How many units share your lift core, and how many lifts serve them?
- How many car park bays come with the unit, and are they numbered or allocated later?
- What is the ceiling height, and where do the structural beams fall in the living area?
About the money
- What is the estimated maintenance charge per square foot, and what does it cover?
- What is the sinking fund contribution?
- Which fees is the developer absorbing, and is that in writing in the booking form?
- What is the payment schedule, and when does the first progressive payment fall due?
- Which banks have panel arrangements for this project?
About the developer
Ask for the last three completed projects by name, then look at them. Whether they were delivered on time, how the common areas have aged, and what the current maintenance charge is tell you more than any brochure.
A developer that hands over the list readily is telling you something. So is one that does not.
Frequently asked
Is a booking fee refundable in Malaysia?
It depends on what the booking form says. Some developers refund it if the loan is not approved; others treat it as forfeited. Read that clause before paying, not after.
What maintenance charge should I expect?
It is quoted per square foot per month and varies with the facilities. More facilities mean a higher charge, carried for as long as you own the unit.
How do I check a developer's licence?
Developer licence and advertising permit numbers must appear on marketing material, and can be verified with the housing ministry.
Does the built-up area include the balcony?
Often yes. Ask for the breakdown, because two units quoted at the same size can differ noticeably in usable internal space.
