Apartments have now grown to be a ubiquitous feature of the urban landscape across Sri Lanka, springing up in the hearts of cities as well as their suburban arteries. With this glut in supply, buyers are left with the difficult decision of narrowing down their choices and identifying which apartment matches most or all of their needs. So, how do they accomplish this? The first thing any apartment hunter needs to find is a good developer with a reputation for quality and deliverability. It is vital that your chosen developer provides what they promise. There are a lot of developers in the country, but not everyone delivers the product which they promise. While some may do this, others fail to meet this promise, and surprisingly, some do not deliver anything at all. Prime has taken 25 years to come to where they are now and their roots are wider, deeper, and stronger today. We take the full responsibility of protecting our customers and their hard-earned money. A developer should always look to deliver what is promised. As a prospective buyer, that is the first thing one should consider – whether you are actually going to get what you are promised. There are many developers in the country that are incapable of doing this. To reach a particular level, you need deep expertise across the board, sound financing, and inspired architects. But most of all, you need experience. The experience derived from multiple projects lends a developer the technical know-how required to understand and overcome many of the recurring challenges associated with constructing an apartment in Sri Lanka. These include delays that might crop up while seeking approval from external parties such as utility providers. Furthermore, experienced developers also provide prompt and dependable after-sales service since they appreciate just how important it is to build and maintain a reputation for reliability among current and potential apartment owners. Ultimately, a competent developer would provide the most important guarantee of the entire process – a high-quality product. An exemplary developer would achieve this through best practices governing the supervision of construction, selection of suitable building materials, and maintenance of deadlines. After nailing down a developer, the second crucial step for a prospective buyer is selecting a suitable location. This decision hinges on considerations such as travel, safety, and convenience. The third most vital aspect that should be considered before investing in an apartment is perhaps the first thing that pops into anyone’s mind ahead of a prospective purchase – a suitable budget. This requirement links to the previously outlined goal of finding a fitting location and meeting other relevant necessities. This calls for careful planning instead of hasty spending which could result in a heap of wasted expenditure. Once these options are in place, you have to study and devise a proper architectural plan. You have to ensure the plan is user-friendly and matches all your requirements. For instance, if you have three kids, you may need three bedrooms. If you need your apartment as a studio or holiday home, one or two rooms are enough, but if you are going to live your entire life there, you may need a bigger apartment. You have to go through a similar process when gauging a property’s facilities, understanding just how much bang you are getting for your buck, whether your apartment offers features such as a gym, swimming pool, adequate parking, ample security, a backup power supply, high-speed internet, and proper garbage disposal. The Prime Group fulfils all of these requirements and through this, we have built a strong reputation as a respected developer that delivers all that it promises. (Shaminda Hewapathirana is the General Manager – Engineering at Prime Lands Residencies (Pvt.) Ltd.)