Nigeria’s real estate sector offers significant opportunities for investors, homeowners, businesses, and Nigerians in the diaspora. However, the growing market has also created room for property fraud, including disputed land, forged documents, multiple sales, impersonation, and misleading advertisements.
For anyone considering buying or investing in property, verifying the company, property, documentation, and people involved is essential. A professional website, attractive office, impressive branding, or large social media following may create an appearance of credibility, but none of these should replace proper verification. A sound property transaction should be supported by verification, proper documentation, transparency, and due diligence.
Before transferring money or signing a property agreement, take the time to investigate the company, the property, and the people involved.
Here are some important steps to take.
1. Verify the Company’s Registration
One of the first things to check is whether the company is properly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Ask for the company’s registered name and verify the information provided. The name appearing on the company’s official documents and transaction documents should correspond with the registered entity you are dealing with.
However, CAC registration alone does not establish that a company owns a particular property or that a property being marketed is free from legal issues.
In other words, verifying the company is only the beginning. The property itself must also be verified.
2. Look Into the Company’s Track Record
Take the time to research the company’s history and business activities.
Look beyond advertisements and social media posts. Consider its previous projects, completed developments, client experiences, business activities, and the consistency of the information it provides across its various platforms.
You can ask:
- How long has the company been operating?
- What projects has it completed?
- Can its previous developments or transactions be independently verified?
- Does it provide clear information about its business and projects?
- Are its company details consistent across its website, social media pages, documents, and other official channels?
A company’s history can provide useful context, but remember that a long operating history is not a substitute for conducting due diligence on the specific property you intend to purchase.
3. Verify the Title Documents and Inspect the Property
Verify the property’s ownership, title documents, and legal status before making any payment. Depending on the property and location, relevant documents may include a C of O, R of O, Deed of Assignment, Survey Plan, Governor’s Consent, allocation documents, and applicable approvals.
Have the documents independently verified by a property lawyer and conduct appropriate searches to identify any existing claims, litigation, acquisition, or other encumbrances.
If you are purchasing from outside Nigeria or cannot inspect the property personally, consider engaging a trusted representative and appropriate independent professionals to conduct the inspection and verification on your behalf.
Do not rely solely on photographs, screenshots, scanned documents or documents sent through social media. Physically inspect the property to confirm its location, boundaries, access, surrounding developments, and whether it corresponds with the description provided.
4. Check for Encumbrances and Other Legal Issues
A property may have documentation and still be affected by legal or ownership problems. Before making any payment, it is important to determine whether the property is affected by issues such as:
- Existing mortgages or other interests
- Pending litigation
- Government acquisition
- Family or communal disputes
- Multiple claims of ownership
- Previous sales or assignments
- Planning or development restrictions
- Other encumbrances affecting the property
Engaging a qualified property lawyer can help you understand the title, identify potential risks, and review the legal documents involved in the transaction.
5. Visit the Company’s Physical Office
Where possible, visit the company’s office and meet the representatives handling your transaction.
A physical office does not, by itself, prove that a company is genuine, but visiting the office can help you establish who you are dealing with and how the company conducts its business.
6. Ask Questions and Understand the Transaction
A genuine transaction should not require you to make decisions without understanding what you are paying for.
Before committing your money, ask questions about:
- The property’s ownership and title
- The purchase price
- Payment structure
- Additional fees and charges
- Development or infrastructure charges
- Documentation fees
- Allocation procedures
- Contract terms
- Refund provisions, where applicable
- Expected timelines
Pay attention to how the company responds. If important information is repeatedly withheld, documents are not made available for reasonable review, or you are simply told to “pay first and we will explain later,” take a step back.
Transparency should be part of the transaction from the beginning.
7. Be Careful With Pressure and Unrealistic Promises
Urgency is common in real estate. Prices may change, plots may be limited, and promotional offers may have genuine deadlines.
However, legitimate urgency should not prevent reasonable due diligence.
Do not allow sales tactics such as “Someone else is waiting”, “the price will increase in one hour”, “don’t worry about the documents; we will sort them out later”, or “just pay now so you don’t lose the property” to pressure you to overlook important questions. Take the time necessary to verify what you are buying before committing your money.
You should also be cautious about promises of unusually high or guaranteed returns, particularly where the underlying transaction or investment structure is unclear.
If an opportunity appears significantly different from comparable properties or investments in the same market, ask questions and investigate the basis for the claim.
8. Make Payments Through Proper Channels
Before making payment, establish exactly:
- Who you are paying
- The relationship between the recipient and the company
- The purpose of the payment
- The agreed purchase price or investment amount
- Any additional charges
- The documents you should receive
- The agreement governing the transaction
Where payment is being made to a company, confirm the account details through an official and independently verified company channel. Do not make payments into personal accounts.
Keep your payment receipts, agreements, correspondence, allocation documents, and other transaction records. These documents can be important if questions or disputes arise later.
9. Verify the Person You Are Dealing With
Fraudsters can impersonate legitimate companies, agents, executives, and sales representatives.
A company logo, branded flyer, WhatsApp profile picture, or social media account does not by itself establish that a person is authorised to represent the company.
If someone approaches you claiming to represent a real estate company, verify their identity through the company’s official communication channels.
Where possible, contact the company directly using contact information obtained independently rather than relying solely on the contact details provided by the person who approached you.
This simple step can help prevent impersonation scams.
10. Get Independent Professional Advice Where Necessary
For substantial property transactions, professional advice can provide an additional layer of protection.
A property lawyer can assist with legal due diligence, title review, contracts, and other legal aspects of the transaction. A qualified surveyor can assist with issues relating to surveys, boundaries, location, and other technical considerations.
Independent professional verification can be particularly useful when purchasing high-value property, land with a complicated ownership history, or property being acquired remotely.
Verify Before You Pay
A professional website, attractive office, expensive advertisements, or a large social media following may create an impression of credibility, but appearance should never replace due diligence. Before making a payment, verify the company, property, documentation, representatives, and transaction, inspect the property where possible, and seek professional advice where necessary.
A trustworthy real estate company should provide reasonable information and documentation to help buyers and investors make informed decisions. Whether you are buying land, a residential or commercial property, or considering a development opportunity, take the time to verify the details before committing your money.
Don’t just buy property. Buy with confidence.
At JEJE-OLA PROPERTIES NIG. LTD., we believe that a successful real estate transaction goes beyond simply buying property. It is built on trust, transparency, professionalism, and informed decision-making. We are committed to providing clear information, proper guidance, and a transparent process, helping our clients make confident property decisions and protect the value of their investments.
Ready to make your next property move?
Get in touch with us today to enquire about available properties or schedule an inspection.
JEJE-OLA PROPERTIES NIG. LTD.
For enquiries and property inspection,
📱 +234 806 687 3988
📱 +234 810 180 4745
🌐 www.jejeolaproperties.com.ng
📸 Instagram: _jejeolaproperties
