The questions to ask before you reserve off plan

The best off-plan decisions are made before the showroom visit, with a short list of unglamorous questions.

About the project: Who is the developer, and what have they actually handed over? Is the advertising permitted — every legitimate listing carries a Trakheesi permit number. Where do the payments go? The only correct answer is: directly to the developer, into the project's escrow.

About the money: What is the full payment schedule, in writing? What fees sit outside the price — registration, community charges, utility connections? If the plan mentions projected rental figures, ask what assumptions sit behind them. Projections are potential, not promises — anyone who says otherwise is not being straight with you.

About your plan: Is this for yield, for capital growth, for a Golden Visa path, or to live in? The right project differs for each goal, and an honest consultant will tell you when a famous name is the wrong fit for yours.

Bring us the hard questions. Explaining them is the job.