Pressure to “take the property off the market” can make a reservation feel like a harmless placeholder. It may not be. The document can define who holds the money, which conditions apply and when the amount is refundable or lost. Never rely on a verbal summary when the written wording controls the payment.
Pause before transfer
Verify the identity and authority of the recipient, the property description and the bank details through a trusted channel. Understand whether the document is a reservation, deposit, arras agreement or another commitment. Similar everyday words can have different legal consequences.
Put protections in writing
If the purchase depends on finance, legal review, technical inspection, sale of another home or a deadline, ask a qualified independent lawyer how those conditions should appear. Record the completion route, included items and what happens when either party cannot proceed.
Keep urgency in proportion
Losing one property is usually less damaging than entering the wrong contract. Corablanca can help organise communication and the wider route, but the legal meaning of a reservation belongs with an independent qualified professional before payment.