It appears early - before the full legal and technical due diligence and before the preliminary contract. This is precisely why the deadline should allow for checks, financing and negotiations, rather than turning a quick payment into a pressure.
It is signed by the person undertaking the reservation and the paying buyer. Check if it is the owner, authorized representative, investor or just a broker and has the right to receive the amount and bind the seller.
The buyer pays before seeing all the documents. A well-drafted contract allows plenty of time for inspection and explains when the buyer can back out and get the money back-for example, if there's a problem with the title, encumbrances, credit, project, or contract terms.
What the document proves
What can you establish from it?
Each document answers a different question. A single document is rarely enough to prove title, completed construction work and the basis for payment at the same time.
What does it establish?
It establishes the agreement between the parties: which property is reserved, for how long, for what amount, what actions follow and in which events the amount is returned, deducted or withheld.
What does it not establish?
Does not prove title, clear encumbrances, approved credit, construction stage or obligation to final sale beyond what is expressly agreed upon. It is not automatically a preliminary contract and the amount paid is not automatically a legal deposit.
What to look for in the document
Which details should you compare?
Check parties and representation, exact identity of the property, price, payee and account, term, checks, draft of the next contract, credit terms, returns, retention and deduction, commission and dispute resolution.
What comes before and after?
Before signing there should be at least a basic check on who is offering the property and on what grounds. After the reservation, the agreed checks and negotiations follow; it should not replace the detailed preliminary contract.
Where the document comes from
Finding and checking it
Mesto does not receive, store or interpret the private reservation contract. The availability of public property data does not mean that the clauses have been verified or that the amount is protected.
Request the project before payment from the seller, investor or intermediary. Don't just rely on a payment order or receipt; keep the signed version, attachments and proof of payment.
When do you need a professional review?
A lawyer is needed before a non-refundable payment, especially for new construction, an unclear recipient, short deadlines, dependence on credit or an automatic reference to an unreceived preliminary contract.
Before you continue
Check these details
Use this list to prepare for a conversation with the seller or a specialist you trust.
- 01
Confirm who is entitled to reserve the property and receive the amount.
- 02
Describe the exact property and price, not just an ad number.
- 03
Write down objective reasons and a deadline for returning the amount.
- 04
Obtain the draft of the next contract before making an irrevocable payment.