Q: I purchased a pre-sale condo. The completion date is this week and here is my dilemma: The suite does not have the same layout as the display suite. Do I need to close?

A: This is really a question for your lawyer. But you very likely will have to close.

Many developers got burned in early 2009, when many buyers did not wish to close. Today’s contracts are much tighter and perhaps rightfully so. After all, the developer has taken a lot of risks based on the fact that he had pre-sales.

But this question brings home the fact that we really need to sit down and ask serious questions of our pre-sale condo salesperson: What exactly is the square footage? Do you include balconies, terraces, and hallways in that calculation? What exactly will the view be? Do I own or lease the parking space? What are the closing costs? Strata costs -what guarantee do I have they will be what is quoted?

What is the builder’s reputation? Can I call buyers in previous buildings?

Get as much detail as possible … and take photos of the show suite.