Property Due Diligence and Land Verification

What gets checked

These are the checks we expect a buyer's lawyer to complete before any payment:

• The original Certificate of Occupancy, in the seller's name
• Governor's consent: the lawyer confirms whether it applies (it can work differently inside some estates)
• An AGIS search (Abuja Geographic Information Systems) for Abuja property
• A court search, for disputes you cannot see from outside
• The seller's identity: the person's or company's name must match the C of O and the records
• A survey, confirming the plot matches the C of O and, in Abuja, does not encroach on the master plan

What we do

Before we list a property we inspect the site and check the documents. When you buy, we arrange the inspection, in person or by live video, share copies of the documents with your lawyer, and can arrange a structural inspection. We have our own lawyers, but we encourage you to use yours.

It is part of helping you buy, so there is no separate charge for it when you buy through us. If you want a property checked that you are buying elsewhere, ask us.

What it costs and how long it takes

Legal fees are usually about 5% of the price and can reach 10%, depending on the property and the lawyer; agree them in writing first. A survey costs ₦100,000 to ₦500,000. The searches themselves cost little next to the price and are part of what the lawyer's fee covers. They take about two working days in Asaba and three to five in Abuja.

The owner's advice: hire a property lawyer who understands how property scams work. It is the single most important protection you have.