Practical broker authority guide
Ready and off-plan property require different evidence disciplines.
A broker who is strong at new launches may not have building-condition or resale experience, while a ready-property specialist may not routinely analyse developer obligations and staged payment risk. The transaction type should shape the expertise test.
Quick answer
For ready property, test building, title, tenancy, condition, comparable and transfer knowledge. For off-plan, test project registration, permit, developer, escrow, contract, construction and payment-schedule analysis.
Reviewed: 12 July 2026
Criteria to define before the conversation
A broker who is strong at new launches may not have building-condition or resale experience, while a ready-property specialist may not routinely analyse developer obligations and staged payment risk. The transaction type should shape the expertise test.
- Uses evidence suited to the transaction type
- Explains where physical condition can or cannot be inspected
- Distinguishes transfer steps from initial-sale registration
- Compares total cash timing rather than headline marketing terms
Questions that test the expertise
Ask for specific answers that can be connected to your brief and later evidence.
- 1Which checks differ between this option and a completed unit?
- 2What can be inspected now and what exists only in documents?
- 3Which registration and payment route applies?
- 4What completed alternative provides a realistic benchmark?
Evidence to retain
Separate what you observed, what the broker stated and what a document or official source proves.
- Ready-property condition, occupancy and transfer records
- Off-plan project, permit, registration and escrow checks
- Transaction-specific agreement and payment schedule
- A comparison that states uncertainty rather than hiding it
A practical decision process
Use the steps in order and pause commitment when a material gap appears.
- 1Choose the transaction type before choosing the specialist
- 2Ask for one same-type and one cross-type comparison
- 3Verify the relevant official records
- 4Bring in legal or technical expertise for gaps outside brokerage
Neither ready nor off-plan is automatically safer or more suitable. The question is whether the evidence, cash timing and risks fit the buyer's objective and capacity.
Frequently asked questions
Can one broker cover both ready and off-plan?
Yes, but ask for transaction-specific evidence. Broad access to inventory is not the same as depth in both processes.
Is a show unit evidence of the unit being bought?
No. Treat it as a presentation reference and verify the contracted specification, plans, project records and terms for the actual unit.
Why compare with a completed property?
A ready benchmark can expose differences in usable space, building operation, location maturity and current ownership cost.
Official sources and references
Procedures and fees can change. Confirm the latest position with the official source before a transaction.