The process of making any decision requires that you weigh the likely outcomes and your expectations. You also have to consider any risks that may be unpleasant. All these, and so much more, also relate to the process of buying a house. Although having a reputable real estate agent or broker makes things quite straightforward when buying a house, it does not simply end at finding a property you like, and having the cash to get it is not the only thing you need to do when buying a house. There are some important questions that you need to ask before you seal the deal!

1. Has the land been excised?

Lands that have no known owners either go under the ownership of the government or get passed on to traditional families. The latter is a situation when the land is excised, through a claim or executive decision. Only such lands can be sold or developed, not lands under government ownership. All lands belonging to the state government are recorded in the gazette, and it is best to confirm that the land beneath the house you are buying is not listed as government-owned in the gazette. If you don’t ask about this, you may end up buying a property that the government has ultimate authority on. And what that means is that the government can decide to carry out demolition on your property if they are carrying out any construction project, because it sits on non-excised land.


2. Where are the property documents?

This is not optional. Before buying a house, you need to confirm the available property documents and their legitimacy. Property documents are the only rightful claims anyone has to a certain property, and if you are not given the correct documents when buying a house, someone else may attempt to claim it. Properties like the Certificate Of Occupancy, Right of Occupancy, Deed of Assignment, and Survey Plan. Your real estate agent should make sure that these documents are available and valid before you buy a house.



3. How are the plumbing and the fixtures?

As basic as it seems, having a proper water supply system is not as common in houses as you would think. Due to the fact that a lot of property developers are more focused on having the house ‘look’ good, they may not necessarily pay attention to the plumbing and water supply of the house. It may sound funny, but be sure to always ask and check out all the plumbing fixtures in the house before buying the house. The last thing you want to do is buy a house and spend the next three months mopping the floors because the plumbing is disastrous.



4. Is there a pre-existing electricity connection?

This is another question that is too important to ignore! One of the most common problems anyone who moves into a new house can face is finding the best electricity connection. If there is a pre-existing electricity connection, you want it to be pre-paid meters. If it is the standard billed electricity connection, you may want to ask an additional question ‘what was the last electricity bill?’ This is very important, especially for a house that isn’t newly built. The former occupants may have run up the electricity bill and if you are not aware of it, it may end up as your bill in the next few months.



5. Is there anything else to know about the property?

At the end of the day, the property description and inspections will only tell you what the property looks like, and the features it has. Details about the age of the property, quality of the materials used in construction, and the developer’s legitimacy are things you can only find out by asking questions.


When shopping for a new house, don’t just focus on the financial part of the transaction. Ask the right questions to get value for your money.


Working with XL Homes & Realty gives you the confidence that you are getting premium value. Our listed properties have been thoroughly inspected and we ensure that the entire process of buying a house is seamless.

After closing over $2M in property sales in less than 365 days, our ability to deliver on your property goals is 1000% guaranteed

Contact us for property/land purchase and professional consultation today! Call/Whatsapp: Adeola +234 809 652 5027