The difference between successful real estate investment and devastating financial loss often comes down to one critical step: properly verifying the company you’re dealing with before parting with your money. Nigeria’s real estate sector includes both legitimate developers and fraudulent operators, making verification essential for protecting your investment.
Following a systematic verification process helps you distinguish trustworthy companies from scammers who disappear with your deposits.
Check Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Registration
Every legitimate real estate company in Nigeria must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. This registration provides basic legitimacy verification and establishes the company as a recognized legal entity.
Verification steps: Visit the CAC online portal or physical office to search for the company’s registration. Verify the company name matches exactly what appears on their marketing materials and documents. Check the registration date, newly registered companies warrant extra scrutiny compared to those with 5+ years history. Confirm the registered address and compare it with the company’s claimed office location.
Request the company’s CAC certificate and RC number, then independently verify these details with CAC records. Legitimate companies readily provide this information; evasiveness suggests problems.
Viva-Gold Real Estate, like all reputable developers, maintains current CAC registration and transparent business documentation that clients can verify independently.
Visit Physical Office Locations
Fraudulent operators avoid physical offices, preferring to meet clients in hotels, restaurants, or other neutral locations. Legitimate companies maintain proper offices where clients can visit, ask questions, and review documentation.
What to look for during office visits: Permanent office space with clear signage, not temporary or shared workspace. Professional environment with staff, furniture, and business equipment. Display of completed projects, property documentation, and company credentials. Availability of multiple staff members who can answer questions about properties and processes.
Be suspicious if the company insists on meeting only in public places or provides vague excuses about office accessibility. Companies developing estates like The Prideland at Golf Annex Phase 2 or The Wealthy Place near major Enugu landmarks maintain professional offices because they have nothing to hide.
Review Online Presence and Reputation
Legitimate real estate companies invest in establishing credible online presence that scammers typically lack.
Online verification checklist: Professional website with detailed property information, company history, and contact details. Active social media accounts with regular updates and customer engagement. Google Maps listing with reviews from actual clients. Independent reviews on property forums and business directories.
Search for the company name combined with terms like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint” to identify any red flags from previous clients. While a few negative reviews are normal for any business, patterns of fraud allegations warrant serious concern.
Inspect Completed or Ongoing Projects
The best indicator of a company’s legitimacy is physical evidence of successful project delivery. Visit their claimed completed or ongoing developments to verify they actually exist and match marketing promises.
Project inspection steps: Request addresses of completed projects and visit them unannounced. Speak with property owners who purchased from the company about their experiences. Verify that infrastructure promised in marketing materials actually exists, asphalted roads, water supply, electricity, drainage systems, and gated security. Check if the company’s branding appears on-site through signage or estate markers.
For Royal Garden & Resort in Neke Odenigbo or estates near Transmission Company of Nigeria, Ugwuaji, and Centenary City, physical visits confirm that promised infrastructure exists and development is genuine rather than just marketing claims.
Request and Verify Property Documentation
Before making any payment, insist on reviewing complete property documentation and verify its authenticity with relevant government agencies.
Essential documents to request: Survey plans registered with the Surveyor General’s office. Certificate of Occupancy or government allocation papers. Deed of assignment templates showing what you’ll receive. Evidence that the company
Legitimate developers like Viva-Gold Real Estate provide comprehensive documentation packages including land title, land documents, deed of assignment, power of attorney, and registered survey plans for independent verification.
Check for Professional Affiliations
Membership in recognized professional bodies suggests legitimacy, as these organizations typically require verification before accepting members.
While membership isn’t absolute proof of legitimacy, it provides additional verification layer and demonstrates the company’s willingness to operate within industry standards.
Conclusion
Verifying real estate companies requires visiting CAC for registration confirmation, inspecting physical offices, reviewing online reputation, visiting completed projects, independently verifying documentation, and checking professional affiliations. This process takes time but protects you from fraudulent operators who cost Nigerian investors billions annually.
Ready to Invest with a Verified, Transparent Developer?
Viva-Gold Real Estate welcomes verification. Visit our offices, inspect our completed and ongoing projects, review our CAC registration, and speak with satisfied clients who’ve successfully purchased properties. Contact us today at vivagoldrealestate.com for real estate investment backed by transparency and proven delivery.
