Developer narratives are built to sound like the deal of your life. That is their job. It is not a reason to believe them.
Before you buy into a story, check the evidence. You can do that yourself, in about an hour, for free.
Look Back at Projects That Already Launched
Search for the same developer’s past launches. Look at projects that were announced several years ago, for example in 2015 or 2017. Those projects have had time to be built, so they are the best evidence you have of what this developer actually delivers.
Then compare the launch materials with the finished result. Were the renderings close to what was built? Were the amenities delivered? Did the timeline hold? A developer’s past is more reliable than their present pitch.
Check the Site Itself
Open Google Maps or Google Street View and go to the location of the project. If the building is complete, you can see what was actually built, from the street and from nearby angles. If it is under construction, you can see how far the work has progressed.
Look for the gap between the developer’s original vision and what stands on the site today. Compare the massing, the height, the setbacks, the amenity areas, and the surroundings. That gap is the most honest measure of the project you have.
Look for Fly-Throughs Online
Search for the fly-through renderings of the project. Many remain online long after the sales campaign ends. Compare them with the built site and with the floor plans. A fly-through that shows a view or a feature that the building cannot deliver is a sign to slow down.
Buy the Data, Not the Dream
The right basis for choosing a unit is data: the floor plan, the dimensions, the orientation, the views from each window, the finishes, the building’s track record, and the progress you can verify on the ground. Choose your unit from that data, not from the most beautiful rendering.
If the developer does not give you that data, that is a red flag. If they give you very little data and a lot of dream, that is a red flag too. A confident developer shows you the information you need to decide.
Don’t buy the narrative.
Buy the data.
A Simple Checklist
Before you commit, check whether the developer’s past projects were delivered as shown. Check the built site on Google Maps and Street View. Find the fly-throughs and compare them with the floor plans. Confirm that you have the data for your specific unit. If any of those answers is missing, treat it as a red flag, not a detail to forgive.
See what unit-level data looks like when a developer shares it openly.
Mario Comando
A buyer sees a project they love, but there’s this voice in their head saying “but is it real?” Most developers ignore that voice and make the dream sound better. I think that’s backwards. I built SuitesFlow to let buyers answer that question themselves. Not through brochures. Through certainty. Turns out that works better than any pitch.
File No. PS–26 · Don’t Buy the Narrative · How to verify a presale with past launches, Google Maps and Street View, and online fly-throughs, and why missing data is a red flag.
Want developers to show the data? See how SuitesFlow does it