Find the refund and forfeiture clauses and have them explained against the circumstances you are worried about.
Identify the payment and its recipient
Ask whether this payment simply removes the listing from the market, forms part of the purchase price or has a separate contractual purpose. Get the full name of the party receiving it and their role. Check which assets are covered and the date on which the reservation ends.
A reservation form can use a familiar word for a payment that behaves differently under the written terms. Ask your independent lawyer how the Bulgarian text and English translation relate, and confirm which wording governs if there is a disagreement.
Ask what happens in four ordinary situations
| If this happens | Check the clause for |
|---|---|
| Title or building records are unclear | A right to end the reservation, timing and repayment arrangements |
| The proposed buyer cannot acquire the land | Whether the buyer can change and how the deposit is treated |
| The seller changes terms or misses the date | What the buyer can recover and when |
| You need more time for a survey or funds | Whether an extension is possible and how it must be agreed |
Confirm the figures again before transferring funds
Match the payment request to the signed contract. Check the currency, amount, payee and reference. If bank details arrive by email, confirm them through a separate known contact method before sending money. Keep copies of the signed terms and the payment receipt.
Enter a deposit in the cost planner only if it is already paid and credited against the price. Show any reservation charge that will not be credited as an additional purchase cost.