Planning interiors for a new flat in Mumbai: what to do before possession

Most families in Borivali, Kandivali and Andheri start thinking about interiors the week they get possession. By then the builder has already fixed the electrical points, the plumbing and the tiles, and some of those will be in the wrong place for the home you want. Planning early lets you work with the flat instead of against it.

Six months to possession: study the layout

• Get the final floor plan with dimensions, not the brochure drawing. Ask the builder's office for the working drawing of your exact unit and floor.
• Mark how you will actually use each room. Where does the TV go? Which bedroom becomes a study? Where do shoes, bags and the cleaning trolley live?
• List what you are bringing from your current home: sofa, beds, dining table, the almirah you will not part with. Measure them.
• Decide on the big moves early: combining a balcony with the living room, opening the kitchen, turning a utility area into a wash zone. These need the society's and builder's rules checked first.

Three months to possession: plan the invisible things

The expensive mistakes in a new flat are the ones you cannot see once the walls are painted. Plan these before you move in, while the builder can still adjust some of them:

• Electrical points. Switchboards at the bedside, above the kitchen counter for appliances, behind the TV unit, inside wardrobes if you want lights, and for a geyser, washing machine and every AC.
• Lighting plan. Decide where you want a false ceiling, cove light or pendant, so wiring runs to the right place.
• Plumbing. Position of the washing machine inlet and outlet, a water purifier point in the kitchen, and a health faucet in each bathroom.
• Storage. Wall-to-wall wardrobes, loft storage and a shoe cabinet near the door are easier to plan around a clean layout.

Handover day: inspect before you accept

Walk the flat slowly with a checklist before you sign anything. Take photos of every issue and give the builder a written list.

1. Open and close every door and window. Check locks, hinges and that sliding windows run smoothly.
2. Look for cracks, uneven plaster and damp patches, especially on external walls and around windows.
3. Tap floor and wall tiles for a hollow sound, and check the grout lines.
4. Run every tap and flush. Look under sinks for leaks, and check that water drains properly in bathrooms and balconies.
5. Switch on every light and plug point with a small tester or phone charger. Check that the main board is labelled.
6. Check the ceiling below bathrooms and the terrace above, if you are on a top floor, for signs of seepage.

Under RERA, the builder has to fix structural defects and defects in workmanship or quality that you report within five years of possession, without charge and within 30 days of being told. Keep your written list and photos: they are your record.

After possession: the order of work

Once you have the keys, interiors usually follow this order, so no trade damages another's finished work:

1. Civil changes and waterproofing (bathrooms, balconies, any wall changes).
2. Electrical and plumbing changes, then false ceiling framing.
3. Carpentry: wardrobes, kitchen, TV unit and storage, made in the workshop or on site.
4. Tiling or flooring changes, then painting and polish.
5. Lights, fittings, curtains, furniture and the finishing touches.

How we work with new flats

When a family comes to The House of Enlyvn before possession, we start with a walkthrough of the plan and a long conversation about how they live. We then draw the layout, electrical and lighting plan so that the day the keys arrive, work can begin. For the flat you are waiting on in Borivali, Kandivali or Andheri, book a walkthrough or WhatsApp us on +91 91305 47351.