Buying land or a house is a major investment. Never let urgency, discounts, or pressure from an agent replace proper due diligence. 1. Buying without verifying the title - Don't rely on photocopies or verbal assurances. Verify the property's ownership and title with the relevant land registry. The Land Use Act also makes Governor's consent relevant to certain transfers of rights of occupancy.
2. Paying before conducting a search - Before making a substantial payment, conduct a proper title search and confirm that the seller actually has the right to sell. 3. Trusting only the real estate agent - An agent can introduce you to the property, but independent legal and technical due diligence is essential. 4. Ignoring the survey plan - Confirm the property's coordinates, boundaries, size and location with a qualified surveyor.
Make sure the land you inspect is the same land described in the documents. 5. Failing to investigate government acquisition - A property may be affected by government acquisition, committed areas, road expansion or planning restrictions. Check with the appropriate state authority before buying. 6. Buying because the price is “too good to be true” - An unusually cheap property may have title, ownership, location, access or dispute issues.
7. Not checking for existing disputes - Ask questions about family ownership, previous sales, litigation, tenants, inheritance and competing claims. 8. Paying into a personal account without proper documentation - Ensure the transaction, seller and payment instructions are properly documented. Keep receipts, agreements and evidence of every payment. 9. Skipping a written sale agreement - Don't depend on WhatsApp messages or verbal promises.
Have a property lawyer prepare or review the relevant agreement. 10. Assuming a C of O automatically means everything is fine - A document should still be authenticated and checked against the relevant registry and transaction history. 11. Ignoring development and planning restrictions - Before buying land to build, establish whether your proposed development is permitted and whether the location has relevant planning restrictions.
12. Not inspecting the property physically - Visit the property yourself. Check access roads, drainage, flooding risk, electricity, neighbourhood development and surrounding properties. 13. Buying from someone who isn't the actual owner - Establish who legally owns the property and whether the person selling has authority to act for the owner. 14. Forgetting additional costs - Budget for legal fees, survey, searches, documentation, registration, taxes/charges and other transaction expenses, not just the purchase price.
15. Allowing pressure to make the decision - Statements like “another buyer is coming tomorrow” should not make you skip due diligence. The Golden Rule: Verify the property → Verify the seller → Verify the documents → Verify the location → Get legal advice → Then pay. For a Nigerian property buyer in 2026: never pay substantial money for land or a house until a qualified property lawyer and surveyor have independently checked the transaction.
