About to pay a reservation fee? Check the refund terms first.
The agent says the property will be taken off the market. The reservation form is only a few pages long. The payment is described as a simple first step. Before you transfer the money, know who receives it, whether it is refundable, how long the property is reserved, when you must sign the CPCV, and what happens if legal due diligence, financing or the seller's position creates a problem. A Portuguese lawyer checks the payment, refund conditions, deadlines and buyer protections before you transfer the fee.
- Written legal opinion
Why this matters
A short reservation agreement can create a real financial commitment. It may say that the fee is non-refundable, that you must sign the CPCV within a few days, that mortgage refusal does not trigger a refund, or that due diligence must be completed inside an unrealistic deadline.
A buyer should not pay first and understand the refund terms later.
What we answer
The five questions we answer
- 01
Is the reservation fee refundable?
We identify when the fee is returned, when it may be kept, whether refund depends on the seller, agent or buyer, whether a deadline applies, what evidence is needed and whether any administrative charge can be deducted.
- 02
What happens if due diligence finds a problem?
We check whether the buyer can recover the fee if ownership, seller authority, registry burdens, missing documents, licensing questions, condominium debt or another material issue appears.
- 03
What happens if the bank refuses financing?
If the purchase depends on a mortgage, we check whether financing is mentioned, whether refusal triggers a refund, what proof is required, whether low valuation is covered and whether seller-document delays extend the deadline.
- 04
What does the seller promise in return?
We check whether the seller or agent must stop marketing the property, stop viewings, provide documents, provide a CPCV, keep the price and return the fee if the seller withdraws.
- 05
Does the reservation create wider obligations?
We check whether the document only holds the property temporarily or whether it already creates obligations to buy, sell or sign a later contract.
What we check
- buyer, seller, agency and property identification
- exact reservation period
- fee amount and payment recipient
- receipt and payment evidence
- whether the fee is credited toward the deposit or price
- refund and non-refundable wording
- CPCV deadline
- seller obligations
- due diligence condition
- mortgage condition
- property taken off the market
- seller withdrawal
- link to the future CPCV
- documents to be provided before CPCV
- technical inspection condition, where relevant
What you receive
You receive a written legal opinion with a clear conclusion:
- acceptable for payment
- pay only after the listed changes
- do not pay until the stated issue is resolved
The opinion includes a refund-risk summary, deadline check, recommended changes, missing protections and practical next step.
How it works
From reservation form to a clear decision
- 01Send the reservation agreement, property link, payment instructions, reservation amount, CPCV deadline, financing status and main concern.
- 02We confirm the scope.
- 03A Portuguese lawyer reviews the document.
- 04You receive the written opinion.
- 05You decide before paying: sign, ask for changes, request documents, order due diligence, ask to see the CPCV first or decline the reservation.
Price and scope
Reservation Agreement Review — €300
Included
- review of one agreement
- payment and refund clauses
- CPCV deadline
- due-diligence and mortgage conditions
- written legal opinion
- recommended questions or amendments
Not included by default
- property ownership verification
- land-registry review
- seller or company background check
- Pre-CPCV Legal Due Diligence
- CPCV Review
- negotiation
- technical inspection
- mortgage brokerage
- tax advice
- full purchase representation
A broader quote may apply where the reservation is linked to off-plan, staged payments, several agreements, company or SPV documents, escrow, investment structure or urgent same-day work.
When another service is better
- Use Pre-CPCV Legal Due Diligence if you need the property, owner, registry and seller documents checked.
- Use CPCV Review if you already have the promissory contract.
- Use Lawyer Negotiation After Review if you want a lawyer to negotiate refund wording or deadlines.
- Use Off-Plan Buyer Risk Pack if the reservation is part of a developer, SPV or staged-payment purchase.
A reservation may look like a small first step. It can still put your money and your CPCV deadline at risk.
Reservation Agreement Review — €300.