Hyderabad's monsoon exposes problems that are invisible in February. If you can time a site visit for the rains, do. If you cannot, here is what to look for and ask.
Approach and drainage
Does the approach road flood? Ask residents of nearby buildings, not the sales team. On the outer corridors, roads built ahead of drainage are common, and a project can be excellent while its access road is under two feet of water for three days a year.
Where does the site's water go? Large paved podiums and basements need somewhere to drain. Ask to see the storm water drainage plan and where it connects.
Basement flooding history. For any project more than two monsoons old, this is a straightforward question with a checkable answer. Ask residents.
The building itself
Seepage on external walls, particularly at the junction between balconies and the main wall, and around window frames. Staining, efflorescence — that white powdery deposit — or blistering paint all indicate water ingress.
Terrace and podium waterproofing. Ask what system was used and what warranty it carries. Waterproofing failures are expensive and disruptive to fix once residents are in.
Balcony slope and drain placement. Water should run away from the flat. A balcony that pools against the door will eventually push water inside.
Window and door sealing. Driving rain from the west is a real load in Hyderabad. Ask about the glazing system and whether windows were tested.
Inside a completed flat
Look at ceiling corners in the topmost flats, and at the walls of flats below terraces or open podiums. Fresh paint in one specific corner is worth asking about.
Check under sinks and around the utility area. Slow leaks show as swollen skirting or discoloured grout.
What the society tells you
For any project with residents, the society will know. Ask two or three people whether they have had water issues, and where. Residents are far more candid than a sales office and generally happy to answer.
Questions worth asking the developer
Which waterproofing system was used, and what is the warranty period? Has the terrace been treated once or twice? Is there an annual pre-monsoon maintenance schedule, and who pays for it?
A developer with confident answers has thought about this. One who deflects has told you something.
If you are buying under construction
Ask to see the site during or immediately after heavy rain. How the site handles water while under construction is a reasonable proxy for how it will handle water when finished, and you learn more in twenty minutes than in any brochure.
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