Buying a home off-plan in Abuja: a checklist
Ten checks to make before you pay a deposit on an off-plan home in Abuja, from title documents to payment schedules.
Buying off-plan means paying for a home before it is finished. Done well, it can secure a better price and your choice of unit. It also asks you to trust the developer, so check the basics first. This list works for any estate in Abuja, including ours.
Before you pay anything
- Visit the site. Look at the land, the access road and the work already done. Renders show the plan, not the progress.
- Ask for the title document. In the FCT this is usually a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or a Right of Occupancy. Ask for a copy.
- Run a title search. Your lawyer can confirm the document with the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and check for disputes or charges on the land.
- Check building plan approval. Ask whether the plans are approved by the FCT Department of Development Control.
- Read the contract of sale. It should name the exact unit, the price, what is included and the completion date.
When you agree terms
- Get the payment schedule in writing, including what happens if a payment is late on either side.
- Pay into a company account, never a personal one, and keep every receipt.
- Ask about service charges for security, waste and shared areas once the estate is occupied.
- Agree the finishing schedule: fittings, kitchen, tiles and what is left for you to choose.
- Know the handover steps: inspection, snag list, keys and the documents you receive.
Use a lawyer
A property lawyer will do the search, review the contract and handle the transfer. The fee is small next to the price of a home.
If you are looking at Emily Ville Estate, book a site visit and bring this list with you. We will walk you through each point.