Buying a house through a developer offers a convenient process, making it a preferred choice for those who want to own their own homes. However, you must be cautious not to fall into the trap of fraudulent individuals. In Indonesia, there are quite a few cases of such scams. So, let's take a look at how to check housing developers to find the best and most reliable ones and avoid potential issues.
Developer Identity
The first thing to check when choosing a housing developer is their identity. Don't hesitate to ask for the identity of the agent marketing the property when you're looking at house units. If necessary, you can even request developer registration data such as office address. In general, professional developer companies have provided various information like this on brochures, websites, or social media.
The more complete the information provided, the better. This indicates that the developer truly exists and operates according to what they inform. If the information is minimal and you still want to buy a house from that developer, make sure to inquire about several necessary pieces of information first from the housing developer.
Developer Legality via SIRENG
Another way to check the legality of housing developers to avoid scams is related to their legality. You can check the legality of developers through the SIRENG application. SIRENG (Development Registration System) is part of the efforts of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to oversee the quality of subsidized housing built by housing developers.
The purpose of creating the SIRENG application is to ensure that the houses built meet the standards of habitable housing. Through SIRENG, you can also check whether the developer is registered or not. Checking is easy because SIRENG can be accessed online through its official website at sireng.pu.go.id. Later, you can enter the developer's name to check.
Developer Through Association
Through the 'Association Contacts' menu in SIRENG, you can also check the legality of developers. This method of checking housing developers can be done if you cannot find registration status and developer addresses when checking through SIRENG in the usual way.
The Association Contacts menu is located on the right side of the SIRENG page. Click on the available menu, then contact one of the listed contacts. You can inquire about the developer's status to ensure its legality. In addition to providing information about the developer, association contacts can also assist if you encounter problems during the construction process.
Location of the House
Make sure to visit the construction site directly if you plan to buy a project that is still in the design stage. This way, you can survey how many units have been built, as well as assess the transportation access available in the area. And it will be even better if there are real house examples so you can see what the houses will look like when completed. You can also see what facilities are already available. From here, you can think about what facilities can be added to create your dream home.
Previous Developer Projects
Knowing the project history and track record of the developer is important. This method of checking housing developers needs to be done to prove their credibility. A credible developer will undoubtedly have a good track record. This means that the property prices offered match the results, the construction is completed on time, and the projects are never abandoned.
In this regard, professional developers who are legal will not hesitate to show their portfolios. Many even don't hesitate to invite potential buyers to see completed projects directly. If possible, you can ask residents who have purchased homes through the developer directly.
Find Out Bank Partners
Next, what you need to do to avoid fraudulent developers is to find out about bank partnerships. This step is taken to ensure that payment transactions for purchasing houses or other transactions can be done more safely and comfortably. Moreover, developers who collaborate with banks can usually offer discounts and facilitate home mortgage applications.
In addition, developers who collaborate with large banks have relatively more credible reputations. Because the cooperation ensures that the relevant bank has already checked the developer's legality, completeness of land certificates, business permits, tax identification numbers (NPWP), telephone numbers, and headquarters addresses.
Characteristics of Fraudulent Developers
It is important to be aware of the characteristics of fraudulent developers, which can also be a way to check housing developers. These scammers usually have their distinctive characteristics. There are at least three characteristics you can observe:
Firstly, there may be differences in the details of information provided by customer service and brochures. So make sure to contact customer service and compare the information they provide with the information in the brochures.
Secondly, fraudulent developers usually sell at unrealistically low prices that are far below market value.
Thirdly, as can be seen from the above points, the developer has questionable permits and credibility.
Indeed, there are many conveniences provided when buying a house through a developer. However, make sure you choose a trustworthy developer to avoid scams, especially since a house is not a cheap purchase. So follow the steps above before making any agreements and payments.
