Below are *SEVEN TIPS TO SAFELY BUY A LAND OR HOUSE IN NIGERIA*

*1 - Schedule a site visitation.* Go with a Surveyor or use a GPS to pick the coordinates of the site. Ensure the land you visit falls within the coordinates stipulated on the survey plan.

*2 - Request for title documents.* Ask for a copy of the survey plan and get a Surveyor to ensure the site you visited fall within the stipulated survey plan. Also ask for a copy of other land documents. Check the authenticity of land documents at the Land Bureau at Alausa, Ikeja. A real estate lawyer can help with the necessary due diligence.

*3 - Use the coordinates to confirm the approved use of the land.* A lands use can be residential, commercial, agricultural or industrial. Ensure the use you're buying the land for is the approved use of the property.

*4 - Ask questions about the property.* Ask who is selling? Why the seller is selling? Is there any dispute on the property? etc. If all questions are satisfactorily answered, you may proceed.

*5 - Documentation is vital* Get a real estate lawyer to draft vital documents to guide the sale process. The Deed of Assignment, Contract of Sale, etc should be drafted and necessary documents collected like receipt and survey plan.

*6 - Pay to the owner or to the company* Do not pay to the agent, the owner's brother or the owner's Secretary. Pay directly to the owner of the property.

*7 - Perfect your title documents.* Ensure you do the requisite perfection at the earliest possible time. Your Survey Plan, CofO, Governor's Consent, etc must be done as soon as possible.

For more information on any of the above, please contact:

Ayobayo Babade
Tope Babade & Co
(Real Estate Consultants)
5B, CMD-Jubilee Rd,
Beside Value Exchange Superstores,
Shangisha, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel/WhatsApp: +2348138344488.

HOW TO SELL YOUR HOUSE FAST IN NIGERIA

Often, selling a house can be an overwhelming challenging – let alone having to sell it fast. However, with good preparation and the correct approach, you will be surprised at how easy the task can turn to be. Read on for our tips on how to sell your house swiftly.

1. Find an Experienced Real Estate Agent

A good and experienced real estate agent can help you in securing a fast sale. Selling any property calls for in-depth knowledge of the local market, takes time, and great negotiating skills. This is why getting a good agent is recommended. When picking your agent try and find out his or her skills levels, experience and, of course, their fees.

2. Offer a Reasonable Price

Perhaps nothing is as important as choosing the right price when it comes to determining how fast the house is sold. And this is precisely where an experienced real estate agent becomes indispensable. Many house sellers like bypassing the commission agent believing that in the long-run it saves money. This may not always be true as a good and experienced realtor can help you in setting the best price for your house.

3. Advertise in Major Listing Websites

Nowadays everybody resorts to the Internet for what they want. If you really want that house sold pretty fast, then advertise online. This modern channel is now reaching millions quickly and is also very affordable. Look for major property sites and post your advert there and you will be amazed at the quick result.

If you want to go the old and tested way, why not simply have a “For Sale” sign post erected in front of the property? Everyone passing by will know your house is on sale and the word of mouth will also help in spreading the news.

4. Improve Your Curb & Exterior Appeal

Curb appeal is a key factor in terms of drawing potential buyers. Also important is how the exterior appears to a potential buyer of your house. To attract people interested in buying your home, it must look good not just from the inside but also from the outside. The truth is that many will first see your home as they drive by before making any further moves to contact you. If what is outside doesn’t appeal, odds are high that they may never even bother getting in touch to see what the inside looks like. To improve the curb appeal quickly, you can plant flowers, make sure the lawn is mowed, clean up any debris, freshen up an any railings or painted exteriors with a quick coat of fresh paint.

5. Fix and Clean

Cleaning should go beyond the daily and routine cleaning job. For purposes of a quick sale, you may need to even consider hiring outside or professional assistance. Get those windows professionally cleaned or if doing it yourself ensure they are washed inside and out. Dirty windows are easily noticed and prospective buyers are definitely going to notice them.

Get rid of any limescale, repair and clean wooden floors, tile grout, and eliminate all lingering odors. This not only makes the house more appealing but also allows prospects to begin imagining themselves living there. If necessary, make any minor repairs- broken door/cabinet knobs, holes in walls, cracked tiles, and torn carpets.

6. Depersonalize Your House

Depersonalizing the place means getting the house ready for prospective new owners. This could be done by removing very personal items such as collectibles and family photos. Remember, that the objective is to make prospective buyers feel welcome and to begin visualizing themselves in their house not yours. Keep the place as neutral and simple as possible. Make the house clean and warmly welcoming. De-clutter the house and get rid of excess junk and trinkets. The whole idea is give the incoming owners a blank canvas where they visualize their vision and dreams.

For more information, please call/WhatsApp Ayobayo Babade on +2348138344488. Thank you.

Adapted from Adapted from 9japroperty.com

*FOR SALE*

5 Bedroom fully detached house with 1 room BQ and Gate house FOR SALE at Science Street, Off Council Crescent, Unilag Estate, Magodo Phase 1, Isheri, Lagos.

Description:
GROUND FLOOR consists of Waiting area, sitting room, dinning room, kitchen (fitted with cabinets), store, a room (ensuite with wardrobe) and guest toilet.

FIRST FLOOR consists of another sitting room, three rooms (all ensuite with wardrobe) and the Masters Suite.

The COMPOUND is large enough to conveniently park 9 cars. There is a BOYS QUARTERS at the back and a Gate House.

Price: #60Million (Or Nearest Offer)

Title: Certificate of Occupancy (CofO)

For inspection and more information, please contact Ayobayo of Tope Babade & Co (Real Estate Consultants) on +2348138344488.

See some of our the services we offer here

FIVE DOCUMENTS YOUR PROPERTY MUST HAVE

Ownership of real property is to be supported by documentary evidence. There are five documents every property must have. If you do not have any of them, there is a need to discuss with a real estate consultant at your earliest convenience. They are:

1. Purchase receipt: A purchase receipt is a written acknowledgement of the recipient of payment for a property. It may be required as an evidence of ownership or acquisition of property in certain circumstances.

2. A registered Survey Plan: A survey plan is a diagram that describes the margin and precise dimension of a parcel of land. A surveyor is an expert who is concerned with the official assessment for evaluation and measurement of land. The survey is expected to be lodged (registered) at the Surveyor General’s office of the state in which the land is situated.

3. Deed of Assignment: A Deed of Assignment is a document that shows the new legal owner of the property; i.e. the property has been transferred from the buyer to the seller. It is a contract from the seller to assign the property to the buyer.

4. Certificate of Occupancy (C of O): The C of O is a justifiable consent from the government that the property is in your possession. It is issued by the land bureau of the state in which the property is situated.

5. Approved Building Plan: This is an endorsement to proceed with the construction or reconfiguration of a particular structure in a specific place, in accordance with the approved requirement. It is very essential that you ensure that the structure of the property corresponds with what is shown on the plans.

Written by Ayobayo Babade and Olakunbi Yakub. Ayobayo Babade is the Legal Adviser & Head, Business Development of Tope Babade & Co (Real Estate Consultants). Olakunbi Yakub is the Online Marketing Coordinator & Deputy Head, Business Development of the firm.