How to verify the developer before you make payment

Before you pay for an apartment, the person or company building it matters as much as the apartment itself. A developer with a verifiable track record is a guarantee; an unknown one with no documents is a risk. Here’s how to check — starting with the method that tells you more than any online rating.

1. Go to the buildings they’ve completed (the best method)

Don’t judge a developer by the showroom, the model, or the promises — judge them by the buildings they completed years ago. Ask to visit a finished building by the same developer and see with your own eyes how it’s kept several years after handover: the stairwells and entrances (clean or damaged?), the yard and green spaces, the elevators (do they work, are they maintained?), the lighting and rubbish management. The quality of yesterday’s delivery is the best predictor of what you’ll get tomorrow.

2. Check maintenance — the question no one asks

Maintenance after handover is the criterion no developer advertises and every buyer feels years later. When you’re at the completed building, ask the residents: who manages the building after the last apartment was sold? Who pays for repairs to shared spaces — the elevator, the roof, the stairwells? How quickly are problems fixed? A developer who leaves behind well-maintained buildings, with clear management, is a much stronger signal than any advertisement. We do not publish any claim about a developer’s maintenance without the editorial team verifying it on site, with a date and method — and the method is the same for everyone.

3. Ask for the permit and the ownership

Ask for the building permit issued for the property and information on the land ownership. Without a permit, the construction has no legal basis. For ownership, see how the property possession certificate (fletëposeduese) works.

4. Ask about technical acceptance

For completed phases, ask about the official technical acceptance — the confirmation that the property has been accepted under the legislation. Some developers highlight this step; treat their claim as something that needs to be documented, not taken for granted.

5. Public ratings on Google

Ratings on Google Maps are one of the public data points worth checking: note the rating, the number of reviews, and the date you checked, and read the comments yourself, not just the average. Treat them as part of the overall picture — alongside completed buildings, documentation, and maintenance — not as the only proof. How a building is kept several years after handover still tells you more than any online rating.

Our comparison as a starting point

To get started, see the best residential complexes in Gjilan, where the comparison is based on verifiable public criteria. It is a starting point, not a substitute for your own on-site verification.