₦airaland Forum

Finding an apartment is already stressful when you're in the same city. Now imagine trying to find one when you're in another state or living outside Nigeria.

You see a nice apartment online. The pictures look good. The price seems reasonable. Then the questions start coming. Is the apartment still available? Is the agent genuine? Does the apartment really look like this? Is the area actually where they said it is? And should I send money before I see it?

These are valid questions.

The good thing is that you don't necessarily have to travel around looking at apartments before you can start your search. You can do most of the research from your phone or computer and only make arrangements to physically inspect the places you're seriously considering.

Start with the area you want.

Don't begin by searching for just "apartment in Nigeria." Nigeria is a big country, and even within the same city, different neighbourhoods can have very different prices and living conditions.

If you're looking for an apartment in Lagos, for example, you might already have areas in mind such as Lekki, Ajah, Yaba, Ikeja, Gbagada, Surulere, Festac or other neighbourhoods.

Start with two or three areas that suit your lifestyle and budget.

Think about where you'll be working, going to school, running your business or spending most of your time. Also consider transportation, road access and the general environment.

Sometimes the apartment itself isn't the problem. The location is.

Once you know where you want to live, start checking property listings online.

This is much easier than contacting random agents one after another and asking, "Do you have a two-bedroom apartment?"

Online property marketplaces allow you to browse different apartments, compare prices and narrow down your options.

For example, you can search for a two-bedroom apartment in your preferred area and compare several listings before contacting anyone.

Maxaba is one option Nigerians can use to search for properties for rent and sale across Nigeria.

But there's an important point to remember. Seeing a property online doesn't mean the property has been verified.

An online listing should be the beginning of your search, not the final confirmation.

We've all seen those beautiful apartment pictures online. The living room looks huge. The kitchen looks perfect. Everything looks brand new.

Then you arrive and discover that the pictures were taken years ago, or that the apartment looks completely different.

That's why you should ask questions.

Request recent pictures and videos of the apartment. If possible, ask the person to take you around the property during a live video call.

If you can't be there physically, a live video inspection can be very useful.

Don't just ask someone to send you a video they already have. Ask them to call you while they're at the apartment.

Have them show you the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, compound, parking area, entrance and street outside.

You can also ask them to turn on the taps, check the lights or show you anything you're particularly concerned about.

Of course, a video call doesn't prove that the person has the legal right to rent out the property. It simply helps you determine whether the apartment itself looks like what was advertised.

An agent might tell you that the apartment is just five minutes from Ikeja, very close to Lekki or not far from the express.

Don't rely on descriptions alone.

Ask for the location and check it yourself.

Look at the surrounding area, road access and nearby landmarks. If you're moving to the area for work or school, check how far the apartment is from where you need to go.

If possible, ask someone who lives nearby about the area.

They may tell you things an advertisement never will.

One mistake people make is looking only at the advertised rent.

You might see ₦2,000,000 per year and think that's all you need.

It may not be.

Depending on the property and the transaction, there could be additional charges such as agency fees, legal fees, caution fees, service charges or other agreed expenses.

So ask the agent or landlord, "What is the total amount I will need to pay before I can move in?"

Get the breakdown in writing.

That way, you know exactly what you're budgeting for.

Before you pay anyone, establish whether you're talking to the landlord, a real estate agent, a property manager, a developer or someone acting on behalf of the owner.

If it's an agent, ask for their details and information about the agency they represent.

Don't assume that someone is genuine simply because they have a nice Instagram page, WhatsApp Business account or plenty of followers.

Online appearance isn't verification.

If you're outside the city or outside Nigeria, having someone you trust visit the apartment can make a big difference.

If you have a trusted friend, family member or professional in the area, ask them to inspect the apartment for you.

They can check things that are difficult to judge from a video call.

Is the road accessible? Is the area noisy? What is the water situation? How is the electricity? Does the neighbourhood look like what you were shown online?

Having someone physically inspect the property gives you another layer of confidence before making a decision.

This is probably the most important part.

Don't rush to send money.

If someone tells you to send the money now because another person is coming, take a step back.

If someone asks you to pay for an inspection before showing you the apartment, ask questions and understand exactly what you're paying for.

And if you're being asked to transfer a large amount to an unfamiliar personal account, don't just proceed because you're afraid of losing the apartment.

Verify everything first.

A good apartment is not worth losing a large amount of money over.

Once you've found an apartment you want, don't treat the tenancy agreement as something to sign quickly just because you're excited to move in.

Read it.

Make sure you understand how long the tenancy lasts, how much you're paying, what other charges apply, who handles repairs, what happens when the tenancy ends, how renewal works, notice requirements and any rules attached to the property.

If there is something you don't understand, ask before signing.

When you're dealing with an apartment remotely, keep copies of everything.

Save the original property listing, photos and videos, WhatsApp conversations, emails, payment requests, receipts, tenancy agreements and agent information.

Don't delete important conversations after you've made payment.

Having proper records can become very useful if there is ever a disagreement.

If you're living in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or another country, the process isn't completely different.

You can start your search online, speak with agents, arrange video inspections and have someone visit the property on your behalf.

The key is not to let the distance make you careless.

In fact, when you're far away, you should probably verify more, not less.

You don't have to wait until you're back in Nigeria before you start looking for an apartment.

Whether you're living in another Nigerian city or abroad, you can begin your search online, compare different apartments and narrow your options before arranging a physical inspection.

Platforms like Maxaba can make the first part easier by bringing property listings together so you can search based on what you're actually looking for.

Just remember that finding an apartment online is only the first step.

Take your time. Ask questions. Inspect the property. Verify who you're dealing with and understand exactly what you're paying for.

That little extra effort can save you a lot of stress and potentially a lot of money.