Transferring money for land purchase before completing thorough due diligence is the single biggest mistake property buyers make in Nigeria. Excitement about securing property, pressure from sellers, or fear of losing opportunities causes buyers to skip critical verification steps, often resulting in devastating financial losses.
This comprehensive 15-step checklist ensures you’ve verified every essential aspect before making payment, protecting your investment from fraud, disputes, and costly surprises.
15-step checklist
Step 1: Verify Seller Identity and Authority
Confirm the person or company selling the land has legitimate authority to do so.
What to verify: Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration for companies or valid government-issued ID for individual sellers. Proof that the seller actually owns the property through original Certificate of Occupancy, deed of assignment, or government allocation papers. Authorization letters if dealing with agents or representatives rather than direct owners.
Visit Viva-Gold Real Estate offices to verify company registration and meet authorized representatives who can demonstrate clear authority to sell properties like The Prideland Estate at Golf Annex Phase 2 or The Wealthy Place near major Enugu landmarks.
Never transfer money to sellers who cannot prove identity and ownership authority through original, verifiable documents.
Step 2: Conduct Comprehensive Title Search
Title searches at the Enugu State Land Registry reveal ownership history and any encumbrances affecting the property.
What title searches reveal: Complete ownership history from original allocation to present. Any mortgages, liens, or debts attached to the property. Registered easements or restrictive covenants. Court judgments or legal disputes involving the land. Government acquisition notices affecting the property.
Step 3: Verify Survey Plan Authenticity
Fake or altered survey plans are common in property fraud. Verify your survey plan is authentic and registered.
Verification process: Visit the Office of the Surveyor General of Enugu State with the survey plan. Confirm the plan number exists in their records and matches your document. Verify the coordinates, dimensions, and boundaries are accurately recorded. Check that the surveyor who prepared the plan is licensed and the plan is current (preferably less than 5 years old).
For properties like Royal Garden & Resort in Neke Odenigbo, legitimate developers provide registered survey plans that government offices can verify immediately.
Step 4: Physical Property Inspection
Visit the actual land multiple times at different times of day to observe conditions that might not be apparent during single visits.
What to inspect: Physical boundaries match the survey plan dimensions. No encroachments from neighboring properties. Access roads are passable and legal. No flooding, erosion, or environmental hazards. Topography is suitable for your intended development. Infrastructure availability, electricity poles, water sources nearby.
Bring a licensed surveyor during inspection to verify boundaries and identify any discrepancies between documentation and physical reality.
Step 5: Verify Property Location and Landmarks
Confirm the property is actually located where the seller claims and near stated landmarks.
Location verification: Use GPS coordinates from the survey plan to locate the exact property. Verify proximity to landmarks mentioned in marketing, schools, hospitals, commercial centers, government facilities. Check that the area matches the seller’s description regarding development level and accessibility.
Properties near Transmission Company of Nigeria, Ugwuaji, Enugu Golf Course, Centenary City, or Primary Health Centre Obeagu should be physically verifiable near these landmarks, not in entirely different locations.
Step 6: Check for Government Acquisition Notices
Verify the property isn’t subject to government acquisition for public projects.
Where to check: Enugu State Ministry of Lands for acquisition registers. Local Government Area offices for planned infrastructure projects. Office of the Surveyor General for recent government survey activities. Ministry of Urban Development for master plan information.
Land under government acquisition becomes unusable regardless of what you paid, making this verification critical before purchase.
Step 7: Verify Community Clearances
Ensure all community-related obligations have been fulfilled and no traditional disputes exist.
What to verify: Letters of no objection from recognized traditional rulers. Receipts for development levies paid to legitimate community organizations. Confirmation from community leaders that the sale has no opposition. Family consent documentation if dealing with family land.
At Viva-Gold Real Estate, comprehensive community engagement before development eliminates these concerns for buyers of properties across our estates.
Step 8: Review All Documentation Thoroughly
Examine every document for consistency, authenticity, and completeness.
Critical documents to review: Certificate of Occupancy or government allocation papers. Deed of assignment showing ownership transfer chain. Registered survey plan. Receipts proving seller paid for the property. Building permit or approval (if applicable). Power of attorney (if seller is represented).
Have your lawyer review all documents before you sign anything or make payment. Look for inconsistencies in dates, names, property descriptions, or signatures that might indicate fraud.
Step 9: Verify Infrastructure and Amenities
Confirm that promised infrastructure actually exists and isn’t just marketing claims.
What to verify physically: Asphalted or graded roads providing property access. Water supply infrastructure, boreholes, connection points, or planned systems. Electricity supply, transformers, poles, or connection availability. Drainage systems to prevent flooding. Gated estate entrance and security structures if advertised. Recreational facilities or amenities mentioned in marketing.
For The Prideland Estate with government allocation priced at ₦25 million, infrastructure including asphalted roads, water supply, electricity, drainage systems, and gated security should be visible and functional during site visits.
Step 10: Speak with Neighboring Property Owners
Neighbors provide invaluable information about the area, the seller, and potential problems.
What to ask neighbors: How long they’ve owned their properties and if they experienced any issues during purchase. Whether they know the seller or development company and their reputation. If there are any disputes, community problems, or security concerns in the area. About infrastructure reliability and any planned developments. Whether they’ve encountered anyone else claiming ownership of the land you’re considering.
Neighbors often reveal information sellers won’t disclose voluntarily.
Step 11: Verify Payment Account Details
Ensure you’re transferring money to legitimate company accounts, not personal accounts of individuals.
Account verification: Confirm the bank account name exactly matches the registered company name. Verify the account is a corporate account, not a personal savings or current account. Request official letter from the company on letterhead specifying the payment account details. Never pay to personal accounts regardless of convenience claims or promises.
Fraudsters often request payment to personal accounts to avoid traceability and make fund recovery impossible.
Step 12: Check for Existing Leases or Occupants
Verify no one currently occupies or has legal rights to use the property.
What to check: Physical inspection confirms the land is vacant without unauthorized structures or occupants. No existing lease agreements that continue after your purchase. No tenant rights that might complicate taking possession. No ongoing agricultural use with traditional claims to continued access.
Land with existing occupants or lease obligations becomes problematic even if you technically own it.
Step 13: Verify Building Approval Feasibility
Confirm you can actually obtain building approval for your intended development.
Verification steps: Visit Enugu State Physical Planning Board or relevant Local Government Area. Submit preliminary building approval inquiry for the property. Verify the land’s zoning allows your intended use, residential, commercial, or mixed-use. Check if any planning restrictions limit building height, design, or density.
Land you cannot develop serves no purpose regardless of ownership documentation.
Step 14: Review and Understand the Purchase Agreement
Never sign purchase agreements without complete understanding of all terms and obligations.
Critical agreement elements: Total price and payment schedule clearly stated. Specific property identification with plot numbers and boundaries. Timeline for documentation transfer after full payment. Default provisions if either party fails to fulfill obligations. Dispute resolution mechanisms. Warranties from the seller about clear title and absence of encumbrances.
Have your lawyer review and explain every clause before signing. Negotiate unfavorable terms rather than accepting everything as presented.
Step 15: Obtain Professional Legal Opinion
After completing all other steps, get a comprehensive legal opinion from your property lawyer before final payment.
What your lawyer should provide: Written legal opinion on the property’s title quality and marketability. Assessment of all risks identified during due diligence. Recommendations on whether to proceed with purchase. Suggested contract modifications to protect your interests. Confirmation that all documentation is authentic and legally binding.
After Completing the Checklist
If all 15 steps reveal no serious problems and your lawyer advises proceeding, you can transfer payment with confidence. However, even after payment, maintain vigilance by obtaining official receipts for every payment, securing copies of all signed documents, following up on documentation transfer timelines, and maintaining regular contact with the seller until complete documentation is in your possession.
Properties from Viva-Gold Real Estate including The Wealthy Place with comprehensive documentation packages, land title, land documents, deed of assignment, power of attorney, and registered survey plans, facilitate smooth due diligence because verification reveals legitimate, properly documented properties.
Conclusion
This 15-step due diligence checklist protects you from fraud, disputes, and costly mistakes. While completing every step requires time and money, these investments are minimal compared to potential losses from purchasing problematic land. Never let urgency, pressure, or excitement override systematic verification.
Ready to Purchase Land That Passes All Due Diligence Tests?
Viva-Gold Real Estate properties withstand the most rigorous due diligence because we verify everything before offering land for sale. Our estates welcome your comprehensive verification, title searches, physical inspections, documentation review, and independent legal assessment.
Contact us today at vivagoldrealestate.com to discuss properties that pass every due diligence test with complete transparency and legitimate documentation.
