Here's a conversation we have more often than we'd like. A client has budgeted carefully, found the perfect home, and then the full cost sheet arrives and the number is noticeably bigger. Nothing dodgy happened. They just hadn't been told what sits on top of the base price.

So let's tell you upfront.

Costs you'll usually see on the developer's sheet

  • Base price. Ideally quoted on carpet area, and always compare it that way.
  • Car parking. Sometimes included, sometimes charged per slot.
  • Club membership. A one-time charge for the clubhouse.
  • Maintenance deposit (IFMS). An interest-free security deposit held for the building's long-term upkeep.
  • Advance maintenance. Many projects collect a year or two upfront at possession.
  • Preferential location charges. Sometimes added for higher floors, corner units or park-facing homes.

Here's a real example. Terra Grande's own FAQ for its Kasauli Hills villas lists a ₹5 lakh club membership, a ₹9,000 monthly subscription, IFMS of ₹3.5 lakh per unit, and CAMP (common area maintenance) charges on built-up area. We like that it's published plainly. Not every project is that clear.

Government costs

  • GST. This applies to under-construction homes. Ready homes with a completion certificate generally don't attract it. Ask for GST as its own line on the cost sheet.
  • Stamp duty and registration. These are paid when the property is registered in your name. Rates vary by state — and sometimes by the buyer, as some states offer concessions for women — so check the current rate in Haryana, Delhi, Himachal or Uttarakhand before you finalise.

Costs people forget completely

  • Interiors and furnishing. Even a “fully specified” home needs furniture, curtains and lights.
  • Home loan processing fees, if you're financing.
  • Legal fees for reviewing the agreement.
  • For hill homes: getting there, and what you'll spend each year on upkeep while you're away.

A simple habit that helps

Before you get emotionally attached to a home, ask for the all-inclusive cost in writing: base price plus every charge above, minus only stamp duty and registration, which you'll calculate separately. Then add 10–15% of the home's value for interiors as a rough personal buffer. That's our rule of thumb, not a developer figure.

Ask us for the official cost sheet on any project we cover, and we'll go through it line by line with you. No surprises later.