– Get a basic geotech/soil test done before token advance. Prefer plots with firm, well-drained soil; be cautious with black cotton soil (swells in monsoon, shrinks in summer), low-lying sandy loam, or filled land.
– On-site checks: dig 2–3ft pits to see moisture/compaction, look for salt efflorescence, termite mounds, or recurring waterlogging marks on compound walls.
– Ask neighbors about past cracking/settlement issues and water table depth.