Also known as Expression of interest
Builders collect EOIs to gauge demand and give priority in unit selection at launch. Terms — refundability, validity, adjustment against booking — vary by project.
Example
A launch in Gurugram
Before a launch in Sector 79, Gurugram, a builder collects EOIs of ₹5 lakh per buyer for 3 BHK units. Buyers who pay an EOI get a priority slot in the allotment, the EOI is adjusted against the booking amount if they proceed, and it is refunded within the stated days if they do not. The terms sheet sets out all three.
Figures are illustrative, not market rates.
Questions about EOI
Is an EOI the same as a booking?
No. An EOI registers interest and buys a place in the allotment queue; no specific unit or final price is fixed yet. A booking reserves a particular unit at an agreed price and payment plan, and is followed by the agreement for sale.
Can a builder take EOIs before RERA registration?
Section 3 of the RERA Act bars promoters from advertising, marketing, booking or selling in a project that must be registered until it is registered. Collecting EOIs for an unregistered project can fall foul of that bar, so buyers should check the RERA number first.
What happens to the EOI if I don’t get a unit?
The terms should promise a refund within a fixed number of days if no unit is allotted or the buyer withdraws before booking. Check whether the refund carries interest, whether any part is deducted, and how it will be paid back.
Sources
Reviewed