Buying a home in Nigeria is less about finding a pretty photo and more about confirming that the land and the seller are what they claim to be. This checklist is the set of questions we hear serious first-time buyers ask, and the ones we wish more people asked earlier.
1. Confirm the title
Ask what document sits on the land: a Certificate of Occupancy, a deed of assignment, a governor’s consent in progress, or something else. Each one has a different risk profile. A clean C of O is not the only acceptable path, but you should know exactly which path you are on and who is responsible for completing it.
2. Match the survey to the plot
A survey plan should identify the plot you are actually buying, not a neighbouring one, and not a layout that only exists on paper. If you can, walk the beacons with a surveyor before money moves. Encroachment and “shifted” plots are among the most expensive surprises in this market.
3. Know who you are paying
On Ilé, payment is made directly with the listing agency or developer, not through the platform. That is intentional. Still, treat the first transfer as a legal moment. Get a written offer, a receipt, and a clear statement of what the payment covers (deposit, infrastructure levy, legal fees).
If a listing offers an installment plan, read the deposit, monthly amount, term, and interest on the property page before you commit. Development levy and infrastructure fees, where they apply, are usually payable on top of the plan and are not spread across the monthly payments.
4. Budget the extras
The headline price is rarely the full cost. Ask about:
- Legal and agency fees
- Survey and perfection of title
- Development or infrastructure levies
- Service charge, if the home is in an estate
5. Visit before you wire
Use the contact button on the listing to arrange a tour with the agency. Photos can be honest and still miss flooding, access roads, or a building that is further behind schedule than the brochure suggests.
If you want help narrowing a search before you visit, ask Kunle on the site for areas, budgets, and payment plans, then go see the shortlist in person.
