Convincing photos and an urgent tone do not prove that an offer is real. Check several independent signs before you hand over money or sensitive documents.

Match the people and the property

Check that the address, the contact details and the sender's role are consistent with each other. Do not treat a document sent by a stranger as proof of their authority in itself. If in doubt, stop and ask for an independent check.

Keep the stages of communication separate

The first enquiry, the viewing, the review of your application and the contract each have different purposes. Do not hand over excessive information in exchange for a promise of priority. Unusual payments and time pressure call for extra checks, not a faster reaction.

Which checks are truly independent

A new message, a copy of a document and a link from the same sender are not three independent confirmations. Compare the information with a contact you already know and with publicly available information about the property or company. If someone is acting on another person's behalf, find out separately what their authority is based on. Do not try to offset doubts with the number of your own documents: handing your passport to an unknown party does not make them more trustworthy. If anything does not add up, stop the next step and check the facts through a channel that is not controlled solely by the new sender.

How to respond to pressure to act quickly

Distinguish between genuine competition for a flat and a demand to do something unusual immediately. First write down exactly what you are being asked to pay or hand over, on what basis and to whom. Save the listing and the correspondence. Do not enter access codes or payment confirmations following someone else's instructions. If the check is not complete, postpone the action, even if you are told you will lose your priority. Disputed terms are best discussed with a professional on the basis of the actual documents, not the other person's confidence or attractive photos.

What to check

  • Check bank details through a known channel.
  • Never share passwords or confirmation codes.
  • Save the listing and the correspondence.
  • Clarify the basis for any payment.

Example situation

A request to urgently transfer money to a new account after a change of contact is a reason to stop the transfer and check the recipient independently.

Next step

A safe search relies on verifiable links between the property, the person, the document and the action.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.