What makes promoters of new condos and homes uncomfortable? We asked four people representing residential projects to answer some of our trick questions... and whether or not there were questions that made them uncomfortable. The results were surprising!

Read: 8 questions to ask in the sales office

Guide Habitation: We have a few questions to ask you that could be considered "trick questions". We'd like to know your reaction, what you'd answer if a potential buyer asked the following questions...

First question: Do you have a copy of the construction permit?

Jean-Philippe Després, real estate promoter, Capital Després: It depends at which step of the process... If we're still in presales, my answer will be "we"ve made the request and the permit should be here in X months." If the project is currently in construction, it's certain that I don't have a copy of the permit. It's on the construction site - I don't have it with me in the sales office.

Jean-François Brunet, real estate consultant: Certainly. Of course, it depends on what step of the project we're at but, yes. Always.

Claudie Dubreuil, real estate promoter, Collections Dubreuil: Yes, but we rarely give that to the customer.

André McDuff, sales representative, MontrealDevelopers.com: Very good question: Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't! Generally speaking, I have it with me. If I know that the permit isn't out yet, I'll simply tell the custoemr that we'll have it in the next few weeks.

Second question: Do you have a copy of the warranty accreditation?

JPD: 97% of the time, it's in the sales office. It can happen that we haven't received it yet, but in that case, we only take a small deposite and make the buyer sign a reservation sheet instead of the actual contract.

JFB: Yes, it's hanging on the wall in the sales office. But we have to be careful: warranty plans are in transition at the moment and some are no longer valid! Since January 1st, 2015, all warranty plans are under guardianship by the government.

CD: Yes, it is up in my office.

AMD: I've never been asked that question... I would not do business with a promoter that isn't accredited!

Third question: Do you need a 50% sell rate to start construction, and where are you currently with sales?

JPD: The details concerning the number of units sold are on our web site. In the event that sales aren't very far along, our units are much cheaper, so it remains advantageous for buyers nevertheless.

JFB: Presently, we have started construction before reaching 50%. That makes it a relatively easy question: the sales rate is on Guide Habitation!

CD: We work in blocks of three, so we don't need presales to start building.

AMD: It's a common question. We always need a certain percentage of presales, but it varies based on the size of the project.

Fourth question: How many condos has your builder built in the past?

JPD: That's a relatively easy question to answer. The number will be approximative unless we've had to follow up recently...

JFB: Hundreds and hundreds! I don't have the exact number. I would mostly point out to the potential buyer the last identifiable accomplishments.

CD: We have been building for five years. We don't give numbers.

AMD: I do know, approximatively. I can give a fairly accurate number.

Fifth question: Is the price negotiable?

JPD: I think it's always negotiable. Often, some builders say that new constructions aren't negotiable... but they're not selling much at the moment. Obviously, it's a case-by-case situation, and a global strategy is required.

JFB: That's a new question! In the case of a project that's going excessively well... we can talk about it, but not much!

CD: Never. We always display the best prices.

AMD: It depends... if it's a condo that's already built and there are only a few units left, my answer would be yes. In a situation where it's a project that's still being built and the sale is otherwise regular, I always answer that the price isn't negotiable, but we can look at getting options, extras or upgrades at no extra cost. The promoter always has the last word.

Read: How to Negotiate Efficiently the Purchase of Your Condo

Sixth question: Is it really the right time to buy?

JPD: If the price is right, it's always the right time to buy!

JFB: With interest rates being the way they are right now, it's definitely time to buy!

CD: Interest rates are low! It definitely depends on the project's location.

AMD: I don't have a crystal ball. "Is the condo's value going to go up?" "Are prices going to go down?" I never venture in those waters. I don't want to make false promises.

To finish our conversation, are there questions that may disturb or inconvenience you?

JPD: Not necessarily questions, but rather common misunderstandings. Take, for example, the expression "liveable square footage". When a builder puts up an ad to sell a condo, they'll mention gross square footage, while a real estate broker will mention net square footage. The difference could be between 8% and 14%. The builder will rarely mention it... and buyers of new condos with experience in the field will ask the quesiton immediately: what is the difference between the net and gross square footage?

JFB: The "warranty" portion of transactions can be problematic, especially since everything about it is changing this year. Warranty plans are often very misunderstood. Trick questions often revolve around the warranty.

AMD: It's always a little uncomfortable when a customer asks for a project's delivery date. Buyers often want a precise date, or even a precise hour at which they can take possession of their unit. It can be uncomfortable: we might be able to give a date, but it can happen a few weeks before, a few weeks after... there are unpredictable factors, things we can't control. The exact day is a trick question!