A preliminary contract is often signed with the feeling that it is only a temporary step and that the real issues will be settled later. In practice, however, this is the moment when the parties take on the most serious obligations. If the wording is unclear or important checks are missing, the trouble starts long before the final transfer.
Where people most often go wrong
The most common mistake is signing based only on what the seller, broker, or developer says. Before that, ownership, encumbrances, and supporting documents should be checked carefully, and the description of the property should match the actual situation. In new developments this matters even more, because unit numbers, areas, and appurtenant rights can change.
Another frequent problem is a price clause that looks simple but says very little. If the payment schedule is vague, or it is unclear whether a sum is a deposit, an advance, or part of the price, those details become critical the moment the deal runs into difficulty.
Why deadlines and liability matter
Phrases such as “within a reasonable period” sound convenient, but they almost always create room for dispute. It should be clear when documents are produced, when financing is secured, when the parties appear before the notary, and what happens if one side delays or refuses to perform. If the contract does not say so, each side will later read it in its own favour.
What a well-prepared contract should do
A good preliminary contract is not the longest one. It is the clearest one. It should describe the property accurately, regulate the payment method, set out the document status, deal with encumbrances, allocate costs, fix the closing deadline, and address practical risks such as bank financing problems or missing papers.
The right time to involve a lawyer is before the signature, not after. That is when risky clauses can still be revised, missing documents can still be requested, and expensive mistakes can still be avoided.