A good property shortlist is three or four options that all pass the buyer’s non-negotiables, compared on the same basis, each with a one-line reason it fits — not ten brochures. Here is the six-step process we built Shortlist around, with a worked example from Gurugram.
1. Write the brief down before you search
Capture the buyer’s budget (with an upper limit), BHK, property type, preferred sectors or roads, possession timeline and purpose — living in it, rental income or appreciation. Ask which of these are fixed and which are flexible. Most wasted site visits come from a “flexible” budget that wasn’t.
2. Filter on the non-negotiables first
Remove anything outside the budget ceiling, BHK, property type or timeline before you think about amenities. Compare the buyer’s budget with the project’s starting total price. A per-sq-ft rate isn’t a price, and “price on request” isn’t one either — keep those aside rather than estimating.
3. Compare like with like
Developer listings describe the same things differently. Three traps we see often in Gurugram:
- BHK counts. One luxury project lists 4 and 5 BHK homes, but its own FAQ explains the 4th or 5th bedroom is meant for domestic staff. Say so up front.
- Area basis. Many pages give sizes without saying carpet, saleable or super built-up. Don’t compare two numbers unless the basis is the same.
- Dates. “Possession” (the developer’s handover promise) and “completion” (often the RERA date) aren’t the same. Label which one you’re quoting.
4. Verify registration and dates
Check each project’s HARERA registration before you send it — see our two-minute guide to checking a Gurugram HARERA registration. Note the date you checked.
5. Present three or four options, each with a reason
For each option, write one sentence linking it to the brief: which requirement it meets and what the buyer should know. If something isn’t published, say “not published” rather than leaving it blank or guessing.
6. Share one link, then follow up
A single page the buyer can open on a phone — photos, prices, possession dates and a side-by-side comparison — gets read. A stack of PDFs in a chat usually doesn’t. Ask which option they want to see first, and update the same link as things change.
Worked example
Brief: a family buying to live in; 3 or 4 BHK apartment; budget up to ₹12 crore; prefers Sector 53 (Golf Course Road side); flexible on timeline.
Two verified options from the developer’s own published figures (October 2026):
- Godrej Samaris, Sector 53 — 3 and 4 BHK, starting ₹9.84 crore. In the preferred sector and within budget. Possession date not published; ask the developer before the site visit.
- Godrej Sora, Sector 53 — 4 BHK, starting ₹11.8 crore, possession September 2032. In the preferred sector, but close to the budget ceiling and a long wait; worth showing only if the family can move in later.
That is the whole job of a shortlist: the buyer sees in thirty seconds why each option is there and what to ask next.