The short answer
Arrange independent legal review before you become bound or a condition expires. General guides cannot interpret your specific agreement.
01 / Field notes
Assemble the entire agreement
Ask for the purchase contract, plans, specifications, schedules, disclosure documents and proposed amendments together. Identify the legal seller and exact property. Ask your lawyer which documents control if a drawing, brochure and contract disagree. Important promises should be addressed in the signed documents; do not rely on a conversation being remembered the same way months later.
02 / Field notes
Map money and deadlines
Have the deposit amounts, due dates, holder, refund conditions and any applicable protection explained. Ask what happens if financing changes or the existing home has not sold. Financing pre-approval and a builder’s preferred-lender offer do not automatically protect you under the contract. Your lawyer and lender should review how conditions, appraisal, approval expiry and completion funding interact.
03 / Field notes
Understand change and delay provisions
Ask how the agreement handles substitutions, area or plan changes, price adjustments, buyer selections, extensions and termination. Confirm how notices must be delivered and what triggers a deadline. A target month, substantial-completion milestone and legally defined possession date may be different things. Ask your lawyer about remedies and obligations instead of assuming a universal cancellation period or compensation entitlement.
04 / Field notes
Run a single change register
For each change, record the drawing or specification affected, quoted amount, tax treatment, payment deadline, approval and schedule impact. Keep the signed version alongside the original contract. During construction, route questions through the agreed contact and follow site-access rules. Your advisor can coordinate milestones and questions; only your lawyer can advise on the legal effect of a disputed clause or missed deadline.
05 / Field notes
Turn the review into a deadline calendar
After professional review, record each obligation, the responsible person, the required document and the notice method. Put the actual contract deadline in the calendar and set an earlier reminder to obtain advice. Keep acknowledgements showing that notices and amendments were received. If a verbal discussion changes a decision, ask how it will be documented; do not silently replace the written date in your calendar with an informal estimate.
06 / Field notes
What to do when an answer is unclear
Pause the affected decision and send the specific question to the right professional. Ask the builder for factual clarification, your lender about financing conditions, and your lawyer about legal consequences. Avoid treating a sales representative’s explanation as independent advice about your rights. If deadlines are approaching, tell your lawyer immediately. This guide is a question framework and does not determine whether a deposit is refundable or a particular clause is enforceable.
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Sources & scope
Practical questions and checklists are REP editorial guidance. The official resources below support the regulatory or technical context. This is general education, not legal, tax, mortgage, engineering or inspection advice. Confirm the rules and documents that apply to your purchase.
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