The Budget Buffer: Costs Flat Buyers Often Forget to Plan

Bhatia Group

October 16, 2026 · 5 min read

The Budget Buffer: Costs Flat Buyers Often Forget to Plan

You have done the maths. The price fits, the loan is approved and the family is excited. Then the extras begin to arrive: a registration bill here, a parking charge there, a quote for curtains and wardrobes that is bigger than you expected. None of these costs is unusual. The only surprise is that they were not in the plan. If you are looking at upcoming projects in Borivali, the smartest thing you can do before booking is build a budget with a buffer. This guide lists the costs buyers most often forget, explains when each one appears and shows how to keep a cushion so a small surprise never becomes a big stress.

Quick Answer

What costs do flat buyers forget?

Usually stamp duty and registration, applicable taxes, parking, the maintenance deposit, legal and loan charges, interiors and furnishing, moving costs, and rent or EMI overlap if possession is delayed. Add them all to the base price, get each figure in writing or as a quote, and keep a separate buffer for what you cannot predict.

Facts at a Glance

Location of the project used as an example: SV Road, Borivali West, Mumbai
Listed: 36 storeys; 2, 3 and 4 BHK homes; 30+ amenities
Starting price listed: ₹2.5 Cr* (terms and conditions apply)
Developer: Bhatia Group, building homes in Mumbai since 1987

Why Does the Headline Price Mislead?

A headline price is a starting point, not a final bill. It is the number that fits on a hoarding. The real cost of owning includes government charges, developer charges, finance charges and the cost of making the flat liveable. Buyers who add these early choose calmly.

Costs That Come With the Purchase

These are tied to the transaction itself:

Stamp duty and registration. These are government charges, and the rates and rules can change, so confirm the current figures with your lawyer or the registration office.
Applicable taxes. Ask the sales team which taxes apply to your purchase and whether they are in the cost sheet.
Parking. Ask whether it is included, how many spaces you get and what it costs if charged separately.
Maintenance deposit and advance maintenance. These are often collected around possession.
Society formation, legal and documentation fees. Ask what is charged and by whom.

A written cost sheet should list each of these. If an item is missing, ask whether it is included or additional.

Costs That Come With the Loan

If you borrow, the loan has its own price tag:

Processing and documentation fees charged by the lender.
Valuation or legal checks that some lenders arrange.
Pre-EMI interest during construction, if your loan is released in stages. Ask the bank how it works.

Compare offers from at least two banks, and ask for all charges in writing.

Costs That Come With Moving In

This is the category buyers forget most:

Interiors: kitchen, wardrobes, lighting, flooring touches and painting.
Furniture and appliances, including air-conditioners and curtains.
Moving costs, such as packers and transport.

Interiors can be a large sum on their own, so collect two or three quotes before booking, not after.

Costs That Come From Delays

If possession is later than expected, you may pay rent and EMI at the same time. Plan for this possibility. Check the possession date on the MahaRERA portal, read the delay clause in your agreement and keep some savings aside for an overlap.

How to Build Your Budget Buffer

Start with the total cost sheet, not the headline price.
Add the loan costs from your chosen bank's written estimate.
Add interiors and moving from real quotes.
Add a delay cushion of a few months of rent, if you rent now.
Keep a separate emergency reserve that stays untouched by the purchase.

What the Project Page Lists

The developer's page for Auriga 9 describes a 36-storey residential tower on SV Road, Borivali West, with 2, 3 and 4 BHK homes, 10-ft ceilings, sun decks, Mivan construction and 30+ amenities, with prices starting at ₹2.5 Cr*. The page does not give the full cost sheet, parking terms or deposits, so ask the sales team for each in writing and verify the project on the MahaRERA portal.

Budget Reminder

Prices start at ₹2.5 Cr*, and the final figure depends on the configuration, the floor and the offer at the time of booking. Beyond the base price, plan for stamp duty, registration, applicable taxes, parking, a maintenance deposit, legal review and interiors. If you will use a home loan, compare offers from at least two banks, and ask about the home loan support that Bhatia Group lists among its services.