Better decisions begin
with better questions.

How to build a property shortlist that actually helps

Before browsing, write down three must-haves, three preferences and three deal-breakers. Add your preferred location range, budget ceiling and target timing. This makes it much easier to reject attractive properties that do not fit the real brief.

Useful shortlist questions

• What is non-negotiable: location, configuration, possession timing or budget?
• Which compromises are acceptable?
• Is the property mainly for end-use, investment, business use or a combination?
• What information must be verified before a site visit?

A site visit should answer questions, not create more confusion

Carry a simple checklist. Note access, surrounding development, natural light, practical layout, parking, common areas, construction/finish quality where observable, and anything promised verbally that needs documentary confirmation.

Do not treat a site visit as a substitute for legal, technical or financial verification.

Own-use and investment are different commercial searches

An office for your own team may prioritise commute, usable layout, visibility, parking and operational convenience. An investment search may focus more on tenant appeal, lease structure, building quality, liquidity and total acquisition economics. Define the objective first.

Land due diligence needs more than a location pin

Access, intended use, title/document history, measurement, zoning/planning context, utilities, physical constraints and surrounding development can all matter. These items are property-specific and should be independently reviewed by appropriate professionals before a transaction.

Write the investment brief before you compare returns

Specify the amount you are comfortable deploying, expected holding period, need for rental cash flow, liquidity preference, financing assumptions and risk tolerance. Then compare suitable asset types rather than chasing a single headline return number.

Marketing material is not the same as verification

Brochures, advertisements and sales conversations are useful for discovery. Transaction decisions should rely on the relevant agreements, approvals, RERA information where applicable, title/document checks, tax/finance advice and other property-specific evidence.