Reviews about leading property developers

This review gives a good insight on the problems faced by apartment dwellers.

Mantri:
Contrary to popular belief and opinion Mantri has received a lot of negative feedback. I’ve heard a number of people complaining about quality of construction especially in Residency and some in Elegance and Paradise also. Their ethics are also questioned.

First:
Mantri is forcing the owners of flats in Mantri Elegance to sign two registration papers. In order to save tax for itself (not owners), Mantri has divided flats greater than 1500 sft into two and taken approval from BDA using such plans.
The crux is that people with flats > 1500sft technically own two flats which have been combined to a single flat. Although it has made life easier for Mantri, it has complicated life for the owners - seems like the owners can apply for tax rebates only for one flat! Moreover, since the plans are not as per the approved plans, BDA can object to it anytime. Even though it'll be difficult for BDA to take any drastic measures, it may impose fines etc on the residents for bending the approved plans
People who are resisting signing two registrations are being compelled to do it - Mantri is alleging it would increase registration rates shortly!!
Additionally, lots of people who have gotten woodwork done in Mantri flats (residency, elegance) say that the carpenters are complaining about the wall alignment not being proper.
I have been speaking to owners of flats in various Mantri projects and they all seem to be echoing one thing - either make Mantri mend it's ways (it's arrogance, delivered quality, timelines etc.) or back out from the project. It is not worth paying high premium to Mantri when its construction does not live up to what it advertise.

Second:
-Rhythm project: Approvals not coming for almost a year while his less known neighbors have been getting them. There are firing noise problem from defense area as well. However location wise this project seems to be pretty good.


Purvankara:
Issues at Purva Heights…

Pre Buying Factors
Only 68% carpet area (sales guy said 78%)
Poorly planned landscaping - no way for heavy vehicles transporting luggage, when ever some shifting happens those concrete tiles break.
White Elephants - Fountains (which are rarely operated), much Hyped Security System - never worked till date
Extra amenities promised do not exist - like Grocery shop, Laundry, beauty parlor, ATM (they say it was only a conceptual offering on their broacher, and it is not legally binding). Even if they are opened, they will be open to public and since they are within the complex, open to public means security risks.
Club house charges - They charge initial amount + monthly maintenance + usage charges, so overall it turns out to be quit expensive
Closed parking at Rs.175000
Skewed payment pattern (heavy payment initially, payment schedule not linked to progress)
They claim uninterrupted power supply, while actually you get only 50W of back up power per apt and that also only in a pre-designated point.
They try to monopolize on the vendors providing services to apt, i.e., no other vendor can come! (Like Satyam has pathetic broadband service, but Purva guys are not allowing another vendor to lay Internet cables). Same with other services also.
Very high charges for customization

Post Buying
Un-thoughtful electric connections (LAN cable in hall, bathroom light switch inside, geyser switch outside, etc)
Extremely bad tiling work - cracked tiles, not leveled properly, not filled properly (they crack later), diff shades of tiles used in same room
They continued work long past the promised date of delivery, so plan your shifting accordingly. Clubhouse took many months more
Tarnished tap fittings (apparently while acid washing the tiles they spilled acid on taps tarnishing the chrome finish)
Security system inadequate (provided on 1 balcony door and not on other balcony door) - but any way the security system doesn’t work till date
Lots of cracks in walls, apparently it was not cured properly
There are no luggage lifts and the existing Lifts cannot be used for transporting luggage so it has to be manually lifted up.
During heavy rains water comes inside the lobby and the Lifts!
Smell through drains in bathroom / Kitchen
Seepage reported in couple of apts
Extremely bad after sales service
If it matters to you, very low occupancy rates, about 40% of apts are still not occupied

-At Purva Fairmont as Purva seems to be pushing buyers to sign 2 agreements for apts>1500sq ft.



Sobha:
Advantages:
-High reputation. Lot of Infosys work done by Shobha
-Known for it’s good quality
-Premium and expensive builder
Disadvantages:
-High rates
-Carpet area only 73%. Many people wouldn’t observe it but if you compare it with carpet area of 80% which many builders would give you, the actual price goes even higher approx by 9%.
-Asks for 2.5 years for completion from launch
-Not very good at choosing locations. Many projects on the main road itself.
-First installment of 25% required against 10-15% average.

Brigade:

There were two negative feedbacks only:

I had purchased an apt in Brigade Millennium and believe me the entire process was a nightmare for me. They have failed to deliver what was promised at the time of booking. There are quite a few issues, which were faced by many of the owners. For me, Brigade guys are a group of crooks!! I would never recommend them to anyone else.

Adarsh:
They are good with the construction quality. However the pace is slow and if you have paid up the amount it will take immense follow-ups to do little things. They have delayed the handing over of the property by almost a year. People should always have a milestone-based agreement with them. Also if the delay is there in the committed dates, the builder at times will make it a part of the agreement to pay your rent if there is a delay after the agreed completion date.

The site (construction and maintenance) people are polite however their marketing office crew is very rude and unfriendly.


L&T Southcity

First:
I have some things you might want people to know about L&T.

· They have an issue with the maintenance charges -
§ They first took a life time deposit
§ The people who did pay had to pay again monthly once L&T found that the initial deposit was not “invested / utilized” properly.
· Yes access road is an issue.
· The Registration / “other charges” for registration are a little fuzzy.
· Finish in bath tiling, door / window frames is just OK - better expected out of L&T.
· Block B1 had seepage problems last monsoon.
· Bath fittings - Jaguar promised - there were cases where some inferior stuff was sneaked in. - Towel Racks etc…
· Finish of bath fixtures was not good -
§ sink - gap between granite top and sink fixed in it.
· The water pressure was not regulated - in a 19 storied building with the water tank on the 20th floor, the water pressure on floors below 15 or 14th floor was enough to burst water heaters / bust flexible connections to washing machines etc… -
§ They claim to have fixed pressure regulators - they never worked…if they did these problems should never occur.


BUT finally I have booked there -
Space utilization & design are great.
Construction technology is new - no other builder uses this kind of construction
L&T cement used -
The construction division has strict standards and norms - with an active quality cell.
Many more flats are planned in the south city complex - so for the next few years we can be assured of good upkeep of the place by L&T to ensure good sales!!
Second:
I bought apartment at L&T and I had very bad experience with L&T Marketing person with whom we deal. They are not at all bothered about customer and their behavior is too rude. I saw other colleagues also complaining about different marketing guys over there and it looks like so many people have tough time dealings with them.
There is one, Geetha who looks to be more responsive and I will suggest new buyers to avoid Durand/Satish and approach Geetha.
Third:

If you leave aside access road (which is not a major issue), L&T is No. 1


Oceanus:
I had booked a flat with Oceanus I’ll be getting possession in June end or July, my exp. With them so far has been very pleasant. I do not see any quality related problems in their work so far. Their specs and facilities provided are superior to most other builders.

I personally did not like Shoba much as they do not leave sufficient area on their properties for landscaping, children’s play area etc. Also they don’t make a separate club house usually, just convert a ground floor flat in their buildings to a clubhouse. Prestige was definitely good, but most of their properties were too far for my comfort. Adarsh similarly have to be somewhere at the top.
Mantri is not worth its price. That’s the impression I have picked up from people who R staying in mantri places.


Akme Harmony:

AKME is a new company, But the builders are B.L.Kashyap Group, who have done lot of apartments in Blr. There project completion timeline is good, trying to compete with the “so called” upper crust construction companies in blr - i.e Sobha and Mantri - priced only slightly lesser than Mantri and Sobha because of new entry. First project coming up in Sarjapur road. This will definitely be of very high quality especially since this will be project showcasing!! Also there is evidence of quality construction.

RISK: - New company,…

Strengths - Their tie up with B.L Kashyap - known for timeliness and quality. Also need to have very high quality and customer friendliness because this industry is by word of mouth..

Weakness - Probably cost needs to be more competitive to make people prefer their project instead of SOBHA’s and MANTRI’s,

P.S - I have booked an apartment after research on cost. Plus - very good attitude of marketing personnel, good follow up and customer friendly, (probably because they NEED people to accept and advertise). Mantri and Sobha treat customers like dirt because of the volume of business even without advertising.


Ittina:
Seems to be a low end builder with the apartments they’ve constructed on Sarjapur Road(Soupernika). Design/architect and construction quality is pathetic.