How and where can I make an appointment with a broker?

The best way to make an appointment is to call or visit our Skanska Home Center. If you want information about a property, which is still under construction, a meeting can take place at the offices of the Skanska Home Center (Hvězdova 1734/2c, Prague 4).
If you are interested in an already completed property, the meeting can take place directly at the site (the given house or apartment). 
 
How can I make a reservation for a particular property that I want?

Properties can be reserved through a verbal reservation, which is non-binding and good for three days. You can do this through one of our agents or online (website). Binding reservations must be accompanied by a reservation contract, which also involves the payment of a reservation fee. The fee must be paid via bank transfer within five (5) days of signing the reservation contract. 
 
If I´m a foreign national, can I buy a house or apartment in the Czech Republic?

As of May 1, 2009, both the citizens of EU member states and the citizens of other countries can acquire and transfer the ownership to a property in the Czech Republic without any restrictions. You are no longer required to provide proof of permanent residency or to have an EU citizenship card or required to set up a corporation in order to have a property recorded in your name at a Czech land registry office.
 
What types of contracts will I have to sign; what do they look like; and, when will I be signing them?

As the first step, you will be asked to sign a reservation contract and pay the reservation fee within five (5) days of the signing of the contract by transferring the funds to the account listed in the header of the reservation contract (use your birth registration number or business ID number as the variable symbol payment identifier). The reservation fee goes toward the property purchase price. The property and its purchase price (excluding VAT) will be specified in the reservation contract. Next, you will sign an agreement on the commitment to sign a future purchase contract, which must take place within twenty (20) days of the signing of the reservation contract. In the agreement, the future buyer and the future seller will call out the terms and conditions for the future purchase transaction, which is to take place between the future seller and the future buyer (i.e. how the future seller will supply the given property, how the future buyer will be paying for the purchase and under what terms and conditions the parties will be signing the purchase contract). The last step is the signing of the actual purchase contract under which the title of ownership to the property will be transferred from the seller to the buyer. This final contract contains a specific description of the subject property, its final price (including VAT), any client upgrades the parties have agreed to and how the purchase price will be paid. The purchase contract is usually signed 2-3 months after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. 
 
What types of deposits have to be made during the property purchase process?

The 1st deposit of CZK 60,000, including VAT (apartment + garage parking), or CZK 55,000, including VAT (apartment without parking) is paid by the future buyer in the form of the reservation fee after the two parties have signed the reservation contract.
The 2nd deposit is an amount equal to 15% (or anywhere from 0-15%, depending on the size of the downpayment) of the purchase price (including VAT). This deposit must be paid within the timeframe called for on the deposit request slip (this is 14 days if the funds are coming out of the buyer´s own pocket and 60 days if the money is coming from the bank). The deposit request slip is issued by the future seller after the parties have signed an agreement on the commitment to sign a future purchase contract.
The 3rd deposit is an amount equal to 65% of the purchase price less the amount paid as the 2nd deposit (if applicable), including the applicable VAT, must be paid in the timeframe called for in the deposit request slip (this is 60 days if the property is being financed through a mortgage or 14 days if the funds are coming directly from the buyer).The deposit request slip issued by the future seller after the completion of the roof above the last floor of the given building.
The 4th deposit is an amount equal to 30% of the purchase price (including VAT) and the payment must be made within the timeframe called for in the deposit request slip (14 days) that is issued by the future seller after the completion of the finishing of the interior walls in the given unit.
The balance of the purchase price (including VAT) is paid by the future buyer after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
Before any of the individual payments are made, the buyer always has the option to inspect the respective stage of the work at the project site.
 
When does the handover of the property to the buyer take place?

The handover of the property to the buyer takes place on the basis of the property handover record, which is signed by an authorized representative of the seller and by the buyer within two (2) weeks of the signing of the purchase contract and the filing of an application to record a change of ownership and the given purchase contract with the land registry office (this assumes the full payment of the purchase price, including VAT, to the seller has taken place).
 
Who pays the property transfer tax?

The party responsible for the payment of the property transfer tax is the seller. New construction, which is being transferred into the ownership of the first buyer, is exempt from this tax (i.e. there is no tax due on this transaction). The legal provisions governing the property transfer tax can be found in Act No. 357/1992 Coll. on estate, gift and property transfer taxes (the property transfer tax is 3% of the total assessed value for taxation purposes). 
 
Can I finance the purchase through a mortgage? And, if so, what are the steps?

Yes, the developer Skanska a.s. has an exclusive financing partner, HypoSka, s.r.o., which can offer tailored mortgage financing options to every one of our clients. Our company has general agreements with all major banks, which offer mortgages. Under these general contracts, we are able to offer our clients especially attractive financing terms and conditions. 
For more information, please contact Lukáš Vondráček, the HypoSka Sales Manager.
 
Is it possible to make changes to the standard fittings and finished such as the type of tile or flooring in the unit?

Yes, the buyer has the option to request client upgrades, which can involve interior layout changes to the given house or apartment and changes to the standard fittings and finishes. The building´s standard features are replaced with those selected by the buyer. All client upgrades are normally handled and discussed at the Skanska Home Center (located at the Hvězdova 1734/2c, Prague 4), where the buyer meets in person with one of our client upgrade coordinators. The final deadline for the ordering of client upgrades is called out in the agreement on the commitment to sign a future purchase contract. 
 
Where can I see what the building standards for fittings and finishes look like?

The standard fittings, finishes and materials to be used in your unit are on display in our showroom, which is part of the Skanska Home Center, where you can meet with our consultants and discuss these standard features, as well as the options for possible upgrades.
To what extent will I be able to change and upgrade the standard fittings and finishes in my unit?
Skanska gives its customers the option to change and upgrade the standard fittings and finishes used in its units in terms of both the layout of the unit and the interior fittings and finishes. All of these upgrades must be arranged through the Skanska Home Center. The extent to which the standard features in the unit can be changed and upgraded depends on the particular project and buyers can find out more information on the options available for the given unit from either the Skanska Real Estate Agency or the Skanska Home Center, where customers can select from a wide range of optional upgrades. Skanska´s individualized approach to each customer - in order to address their particular needs - is an important part of our business philosophy and we let our customers choose from a wide range of partner contractors. Our optional upgrades are not restricted to just a few upgrade packages and our buyers are given a maximum degree of freedom in terms of customizing the features of their new home. 
 
What should I do if I´m interested in optional extras and upgrades?

As soon as possible, after you have signed the agreement on the commitment to sign a future purchase contract, you should contact the Skanska Home Center and one of our consultants will arrange for you to have a personal appointment where they will go over with you the subsequent steps in the client upgrades process.
 
What steps are involved in arranging for client upgrades?

Please contact the Skanska Home Center immediately after the signing of the agreement on the commitment to sign a future purchase contract to arrange for your first meeting with one of our consultants with whom you will then be in contact throughout the entire process of selecting and completing your client upgrades. During the first meeting, our consultant will explain to you what make up the standard fittings and finishes in the unit and let you have information about the different options and the related time requirements for your different upgrades. You will be able to choose from a number of different products and materials that are on display in our showroom. After you´d made your final selection of upgrades you want, our staff will provide a cost estimate, which you will need to respond in five (5) days. Afterwards, you will sign an amendment to the agreement on the commitment to sign a future purchase contract, where your particular client upgrades will be called out in writing. 
 
What should I do if I want to have kitchen pre-installed in my unit?

At the Skanska Home Center showroom, you will see a number of different kitchen cabinetry choices, with different fittings, finishes and appliances (our suppliers include the domestic cabinet company JN Interiér and the foreign kitchen suppliers Impuls, Alno and EWE). Our consultants will coordinate the ordering of your kitchen to make sure it is ready to use at the time of move-in. 
 
What should I do if I am interested in having built-in closets, cabinets and other features?

At the Skanska Home Center (or through one of our externally contracted suppliers), you will have a wide range of choices for kitchen cabinets, finishes, fittings, appliances, built-in cabinetry and furniture, specialty window treatments, etc. For additional information, please contact the staff at the Skanska Home Center . 
 
What type of warranty do you provide on your homes and apartments?

We provide an extended warranty for all of our units and the common areas of the building. The warranty period starts from the date of takeover of the apartment. The length of the warranty period is 36 months for the construction parts of the building and five years for the roof. The items and equipment installed in the unit have a warranty period, as listed on the respective individual manufacturer´s warranty certificates.
 
What is the length of the warranty period for the apartment and related facilities?

The length of the warranty period is called out in the purchase contract and in the homeowners manual. For the construction parts of the unit, we provide a 36-month warranty and for the roof, we provide a minimum of a 60-month warranty. The warranty period starts on the issue date of the certificate of occupancy.
 
What do I do if I want to file a claim?

The procedures for filing a claim are described in homeowners manual. The claim must be submitted to us in writing to the contact person or claims officer listed in the homeowners manual and also on the notice board in your building. In the event of an emergency, you can also report a problem by phone. 
 
What does and doesn´t qualify as a valid claim?

The general rule of thumb is that any problems caused by the use of improper construction procedures or technologies or the use of defective materials will be fixed by Skanska under its warranty. Skanska will cover the cost of any such repairs. On the other hand, problems due to the occupancy and use of the unit are excluded from coverage under the warranty. Similarly, the warranty doesn´t cover any work that has been done in your unit by personnel that were not authorized to do the work by Skanska. This would apply whether or not the unit would otherwise be covered by the warranty. 
 
What should I do if there is a technical emergency?

You should immediately try to do whatever you can to mitigate any possible consequences of the emergency (e.g. close the main water shutoff, etc.). Next, you should immediately contract our Customer Service and Warranty Department. The list of particular contact numbers and persons can be found on the notice board in your building and also in the homeowners manual. If the problem occurs after regular business hours (e.g. at night, on a weekend or holiday), immediately call the given emergency technical service (e.g. gas emergency, etc.). Again, the related contact information can be found on the notice board in your building and also in the homeowners manual. 
 
Who should be the person to file a claim?

Claims involving defects in individual units must be submitted by the owner of the unit. Claims involving problems in the common areas of the building are filed by the facility manager or by designated members of the homeowners association. 
 
What tasks is the facility manager responsible for handling and what is handled by the homeowners association?

This depends on the terms and conditions of the contract between the facility manager and the homeowners association. Generally, problems that occur in the common areas of the building (such as stairways, hallways, lobbies, the parking garage and the outside areas belonging to the building) are reported by the facility manager. This however doesn´t mean that the homeowners association or even the owner of a particular apartment can´t report such types of problems. The facility manager also handles routine matters related to the maintenance and upkeep of the building - all of which would not be considered a warranty defect (such as the replacement of light bulbs, the configuration of automatic sensors, water pressure and heating system adjustments, etc.).