HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BUYING PROPERTY WITH FRAUDULENT TITLE?

Being aware that land scam is real and how they work is usually not enough. Land fraudsters tend to target unsuspecting clients, so if you are on look out for them, you are far less likely to fall victim.

Take the following steps and you can be sure of safe transaction.

a) Approach every property sale with caution, regardless of how that contact is made.

b) Get an experienced property lawyer (e.g. http://omonilelawyer.com/ ) to thoroughly investigate ownership and handle transaction.

c) Get to confirm the titled documents (governor’s consent or C of O) in
Land Registry. It is not enough to stop here,there are countless illegal title documents (obtained with fraud in Lands)


d) Consult an honest registered surveyor to inspect property

i. To find out status of property and to determine that the survey and titled documents are for the land or property to be sold to you.

ii. To find out if survey plan annexed to titled document properly defines and describes the property.

iii. To possibly determine size (area) of property. This is to ensure you get value for your money.

e) Insist on getting all information about land sale before you agree to buy property.

f) Resist high pressure sales tactics. Agent pushes you to buy quickly, giving you ‘warnings’ about competition from others buyers or rising prices.

g) There is no small issue concerning any land matter, it is usually bigger than it literally seems to be. It is also important and good practice to meet actual owner of property before payment.

As a point of principle, when buying property, always seek advice from independent parties- i.e. someone not acting for the seller. Get an experienced property lawyer and surveyor. I just can’t begin to state how important it is to have competent, honest and qualified professionals working on your behalf.

Surveyors who foresee possible problems with survey can be a valuable asset to their clients. Those who carelessly fail to protect or inform the client in all survey matters may find themselves burdened with defending negligence.

Getting a site inspection survey at the time of purchase can save time, money and protect you from having bad investment in long run. The importance of a land survey inspection before you make the most important financial decision of your life has never been greater. No one can locate your property boundaries on the ground, map and certify that location except for a registered land surveyor.

Do not entrust the most valuable asset you have on this Earth, your real property, to chance[font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]. Call a registered surveyor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(http://landsurveyslagos..com/)

Mr. Folarin N.O is a registered surveyor in private practice in Lagos. He dedicates his time to provide solutions to real property needs and continuing education to clients and professional service providers on land matters.
For further information or in case you have any comment or feedback, don’t hesitate to contact the author.
Mobile: +234(0)8028541100, Email: folynoa@yahoo.co.uk, landsurveymatters@gmail.com

Verifying a title document .

Sometimes title documents do not match the location of the property or land you want to buy.It could be a result of incorrect,inaccurate or fraudulent survey plans used to process the title document.It is crucial to verify that the survey plan annexed to C of Os or governors consent properly define the property you want to purchase,otherwise you might be heading for a big trouble in future.

One of the hardest concept of the Nigerian property laws for the land surveyor,lawyer,judge and property owner is difference between the title and location of property.When the title document does not match location it creates a great amount of confusion over what to do about the situation.
In my years of experience in practise, as a surveyor ,when such situation arises,fraud is most likely embedded.

However bad you think land scam is, it is even worse.Watch out for next captivating article!

Approach every property sale with caution, regardless of how that contact is made.

Land scam is real!