How to Read a Real Estate Brochure: What It Tells You and What It Leaves Out
A buyer's guide to decoding a Pune project brochure: what to trust, what is indicative, what is usually missing and which questions to put to the sales team.
Key Takeaways
- Brochure images are usually indicative artists' impressions, not the finished product.
- Prices are often missing from premium brochures, which is why projects show 'Price on request'.
- Look for the MahaRERA number, carpet areas, amenity list, possession date and specifications.
- Anything that matters should be confirmed in the Agreement for Sale, not just the brochure.
A brochure is designed to make a project look good. That does not make it useless: a good brochure contains a lot of real information. The skill is knowing which parts are facts, which are impressions and which are missing.
What a brochure usually gets right
- The developer, project name and location
- The MahaRERA registration number, where printed
- Unit types and, often, carpet areas
- The planned amenity list
- The site plan and tower layout
- Indicative possession timelines
What is indicative
Renders, elevations, interiors and landscape images are usually marked as artist's impressions. Distances to landmarks are often approximate and travel times depend on traffic. Treat them as a guide, and verify anything important on site and in official records.
What is often missing
- Price and the complete cost breakdown
- Floor-wise and tower-wise availability
- Exact RERA carpet area for each unit
- Details of charges beyond the agreement value
- The precise specifications and brands
That is why on this website, where a developer has not published a price, we show 'Price on request' instead of guessing.
Red flags to watch for
- No MahaRERA number on the brochure
- Only super built-up area quoted, with no carpet area
- Phrases such as 'proposed', 'planned' or 'subject to approval' applied to key features
- Claims about future infrastructure without any official source
Turn the brochure into questions
Use what you read as a question list for the sales team:
- What is the RERA carpet area of the exact unit on offer?
- What is the total cost, including every charge?
- Which amenities are sanctioned, and which are planned?
- What is the registered completion date?
- Where in the agreement will these promises appear?
Keep the final word for the agreement
Whatever a brochure says, the Agreement for Sale is what binds the developer. Compare the two carefully before you sign, and ask for anything significant to be added.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a brochure legally binding?
A brochure is a marketing document and is usually marked as indicative. The Agreement for Sale is the binding document, so get every important promise written into it. Section 12 of the RERA Act also gives buyers a remedy if they suffer loss because of a false statement in an advertisement or prospectus.
Why do brochures not show prices?
Prices vary by floor, tower, view and payment plan, and they change. Many developers prefer to share prices through their sales teams.
Authoritative References & Legal Sources
- Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 - Section 12 (obligations regarding information in advertisements)
- Official Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) Portal
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