My payment plan is 30% within 30 days, 10% in December, then final 60% on completion.
Trouble is, I dont see the contract until I've paid 30%.
I think that,s pretty standard in Dubai (?), but then they can put the completion date as any time they like, and set the service charges at whatever, after I have paid a third of the price.
Sorry , not exactly sure what you mean about charging on net area?

hi all,
regarding the areas conflict
there are two types of areas
one is the NET AREA and GROSS AREA
net area is the area that you actually see in the apartment
and gross area is calculated including the walls.

thank you
Regards,
Yasin

Gross area ( sometimes called super built up area ) generally includes the common areas like passages, staircase..etc. etc.

Carpet area as the name suggests actually accounts for living space within the apartment. To make it downright simple: If you had to lay out a wall-to-wall carpet in your entire house, how much area would it cover? That's your carpet area.

Built up area accounts for areas including walls and in some cases even balconies

Regards

Roshan

And what are we relating the gross or net area to?
This particular flat is classed as 980sq.ft, so obviously thats what i'll pay maintenace charges etc on. (12dhm per sqft or something)
Whether that is the actual liveable area, I dont know for sure, it includes the balcony i believe.

This info can be got from the developer. Mind you, the developer also could make some mistakes. Ensure gross or nett is mentioned in the contract.

One of my friends bought a commercial from a so called reputed developer and he was told nett area while the actual selling was on gross.

I kept on insisting that they were selling gross since I also had obtained info from them. In the end my friend was finally told that it was gross they were selling.

Got to watch out for this.

Regards

Roshan

Sixgun
Regarding profile , I was told by them that they are selling at net area, but when I got floor plan from them just for my study and research as a usual habit before I jump into anything, I calculated area based on their dimension, it was gross . So dont worry about it , it is a gross area.But still their area calculation will be better than other developers , who are removing almost 20 to 25 % from gross , here they get only 10 to 15 % from gross what u ve been quoted . Also , check the contract whenever u get it.I think u should have asked them before buying about all this things , mainly area in net , contract , refund in case of delay , additional expenses etc

Thanks to all the above posters, some valuable info there.
mpat, I have a standard copy of proposed contract, so I'll look through it, I haven't paid 1st 30% yet.
Interesting, but 4 months ago I actually let a Damac deal fall through because of these reasons. I had put deposit on a 2 room Lago vista apt, which I was told would be 1420sqft, about 135m2.
When I saw a deatiled floorplan with exact measurements, I worked it out to be closer to 110m, I also had an architect friend check it out, who agreed.
I could not get any reaonable explanations for weeks, and in frustration and disgust, let it go.
Mind you, it was at just over 2 million dhms , and now they're 2.7 mill, or nearly 100,000 pound more, so I wish i'd just shut up and gone ahead obviously.
Thats why with attempt no.2 , I'm being a bit more laid back, thinking "well it's the same for everybody" with the expectation that the investment will grow on completion anyway, regardless of the small (maybe not so small) details.
Any thoughts on that (general) reasoning ?

Everybody can quote or see 100,000 GBP on paper. It's actually when you sell, that's what counts.

A good developer will always sell on nett areas - OR - atleast will tell you upfront that it's gross. When they don't tell you and it's gross, then don't you feel cheated.

You should believe in destiny. I booked a Springs villa on the first day Emaar launched - Phase 1. I booked a villa for Dhs 745,000. I eventually decided to give it back. Had I kept that villa, today I would be looking at an appreciation to almost Dhs 3.0 million.

The only way I convince myself is that it was not in my destiny and that's a fact. What's not meant for you, come heaven or hell, it'll not be yours.

Regards

Roshan

You're right Roshan,
A good attitude to have.
My mother always told me "What's your's wont get by you": same philosophy.
Many people will say how they missed the boat, but the best day for investing is always today.
I'm sure there are many horror stories in Dubai, of buying and selling early, all part of the learning process.
If Dubai achieves it's goals between now and 2015, I think we'll all be happy.

It's best to assume gross area in Dubai unless specifically told otherwise, as the majority of developers seem to work on gross areas. It's the same for everyone who buys and sells in that particular development, so it only really affects service charges, as sixgun says.