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Checklist

The pre-purchase checklist: how to choose the developer and the apartment

By the Banesa në Gjilan editorial team

Buying an apartment is one of the biggest financial decisions a family makes, and the market in Gjilan today is quite varied — from older apartments to new complexes still under construction. This list brings together, in one place, all the points that need to be verified before any contract is signed, so that no important detail is forgotten.

The list is meant to be used practically — as a reference during site visits and as a starting point for the questions you ask every developer or seller. The order of the points below follows a logic: from the legal documents, to the developer itself, to the specific unit, and finally to the method of payment.

Documents

Before anything else, make sure the documents are in order. Ask for the seller’s property ownership certificate, to confirm that the property is registered in their name and free of any mortgage or other encumbrance. If the apartment is still under construction, also ask for the building permit issued for the project — without this permit, the construction has no legal basis. The sale contract itself must go through a notary, and its draft should be read carefully before signing; for the full step-by-step process, see how to buy an apartment in Gjilan. For construction phases already completed, ask whether official technical acceptance has been carried out.

The Developer

The developer you choose matters just as much as the apartment itself. Check whether they have other completed buildings you can visit in person — nothing shows more than seeing the previous work with your own eyes and how it’s maintained today: stairwells, yard, elevators. Ask residents who maintains the building after the last apartment was sold, and who pays for repairs — maintenance after handover is the problem you’ll be living with. Public Google reviews are one of the data points you can look at; our full comparison by verifiable criteria can be found at the best residential complexes in Gjilan. Another sign of seriousness is whether the developer openly documents its building materials — for a full guide, see construction materials, and for the verification steps, how to verify the developer. As an example of an individual profile from the market, you can also see the Fidanishtja Prime profile.

The Apartment Itself

Beyond the documents and the developer, check the unit you’re actually buying. The floor and orientation to the sun affect natural light and heating throughout the year. The layout of the spaces should genuinely suit you, not just on paper. Ask about the type of heating system and the window specifications — the number of panes directly affects thermal and acoustic insulation. Verify the availability of parking and, if the apartment is on a high floor, the existence and functioning of an elevator. If you’re torn between a new apartment and an older one, the comparison at new build vs. old can help you weigh the advantages of each. For an idea of price levels in different areas of the city, also see apartment prices in Gjilan.

Payment

Payments for the apartment purchase are usually made by bank transfer, which leaves a clear trail for both parties. If the purchase is financed with a loan, find out early about the bank’s terms (see the mortgage loan). For buyers from the diaspora, the purchase conditions are the same, but the process has a few practical specifics worth knowing in advance — see buying from the diaspora. For off-plan purchases, ask that payments be tied to the actual progress of construction, rather than paying everything upfront.

The Full Checklist

For a quick reference, here’s the full list, point by point:

  • Verified property ownership certificate, free of mortgage or encumbrance
  • Building permit (for apartments under construction)
  • Contract draft read before signing at the notary
  • Official technical acceptance for completed phases
  • Other completed buildings by the same developer, visitable in person
  • Maintenance of completed buildings: stairwells, yard, elevators; who manages the building and who pays for repairs (ask residents)
  • Public Google reviews (number and rating, with the date checked)
  • Open documentation of materials by the developer
  • Floor and orientation of the unit
  • Layout of the spaces
  • Type of heating system
  • Window specifications (number of panes)
  • Availability of parking
  • Existence and functioning of the elevator (if applicable)
  • Method of payment and, if applicable, the bank loan conditions
  • Linking payments to construction progress (for off-plan purchases)

This list does not replace professional legal advice, but it helps you arrive at the notary prepared and informed.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important checks before buying an apartment?

The most important checks include verifying the property ownership certificate and the building permit, the developer's history and their completed buildings, the list of materials used, and a physical inspection of the unit itself — orientation, floor, layout, heating, and parking. No purchase should be finalized without going through these basic points.

How do I verify the developer before buying?

Judge them by the buildings they finished years ago, not by the showroom. Visit a finished building from the same developer, look at how it's maintained today (stairwells, yard, elevators), and ask residents who manages the building and who pays for repairs. Also ask for the building permit and check whether the company openly documents its materials. Also look at the public Google reviews, with the date you checked them, as one of the data points.

What should I check in the apartment itself?

In the unit itself, check the floor and orientation to the sun, the layout of the spaces, the type of heating system, the window specifications (number of panes), the availability of parking, and whether there's an elevator if the apartment is on a high floor. These elements directly affect daily life after buying.