Buying land is usually the largest single decision in a building project, and it is the hardest one to undo. A short, structured site visit, ideally with an architect or engineer, can reveal issues that would otherwise appear only after you have paid.

Access and road

Measure the actual width of the access road, not just what the seller describes
Check whether the road is public and recorded on the cadastral map
Ask the municipality about planned road widening and the setback it would require
Confirm vehicle access for construction trucks and, later, for daily use

Land and soil

Walk the boundaries and compare them with the trace map
Note the slope; steep plots need retaining walls and cost more to build on
Look for signs of filled ground, which may need deeper foundations
Ask neighbours about waterlogging or flooding during the monsoon

Setbacks and restrictions

Check distances from rivers, streams and canals, which carry their own setbacks
Look for high-tension power lines over or near the plot
Confirm the land-use zone allows the building you plan
Check for heritage or conservation-area rules near monuments

Services

Water supply and the depth of nearby wells or boring
Electricity connection and distance to the nearest transformer
Sewer or septic options
Mobile signal and internet availability

Documents

Lalpurja in the seller's name, matching the plot number
Recent tax clearance
No outstanding loans or legal disputes recorded against the plot

Bring a professional

A one-hour feasibility visit from an architect can tell you how much you can realistically build on a plot, and roughly what it will cost, before you commit. Book one with Ripple and we will bring the checklist.

Site visit checklist before purchasing land