MANZILIBefore you reserve an off-plan home
If a developer sends you a picture of a balcony, ask for the number of the flat it belongs to. That one question takes us from talking about a project to talking about what you might actually buy.
Which flat are we discussing?
Arada describes New Damascus on its project website and sets out the types of homes it plans. A published masterplan is a good place to start asking questions. For a particular purchase I’d ask the authorised sales team for a dated availability sheet with the phase, building, floor, unit number, orientation, area measurement and cash price in writing. Ask which drawing belongs to that unit and for its revision date.
Arada’s own description of New Damascus
What could I see if I visited on Tuesday?
Ask the seller to distinguish the sales office, a furnished show flat, the building site and the actual unit. If your floor has yet to be built, ask for a permitted visit to the site and a dated progress record tied to your building. Have an independent professional compare the evidence with the programme. Keep what you could inspect today separate from the promised handover condition, including lifts, utilities and access.
What would my reservation money secure?
Before agreeing to pay, ask for the reservation terms and draft sale agreement. Mark the unit, specification, recipient, currency, instalments, what releases each payment and what happens if handover slips or the reservation is cancelled. Have an independent local lawyer review the land rights, permissions, seller’s authority and any protection claimed for your funds. Ask both banks about the proposed payment. A sales deadline is a poor reason to leave the refund clause unread.
What I still need to verify locally
For a named unit I need written authority to introduce it, current availability and permission to see the relevant site. I’d ask the developer for evidence of approvals, funding for that phase and progress, then identify which items an independent lawyer or engineer has checked. I have no verified unit or sales mandate for New Damascus to offer through this guide.
“Which exact unit would this reserve, who receives my money, what can I inspect now, and where in the agreement does it say when I can get the reservation payment back?”