The presence of scammers in the real estate business is not new in Nigeria, including Awka. There have been many testimonies of the victims of land scams online and offline. These sad experiences can have a long-lasting negative effect on the victims, such as fear and finding it difficult to trust again.
To drastically reduce the success of these fraudsters, we need to have the right information, which is why this article exists.
When it comes to staying safe when investing in a land, you must be able to differentiate genuine offers from ungenuine ones. After digesting the information in this article, you will know how to identify and avoid land scams in Awka.
Take Your Time
One of the major ways land scammers operate is by mounting pressure on you. They present the offer like it will disappear the next minute if you don’t hand your money to them.
Pressure is a great tool for scammers, so any offer that doesn’t give you the time to think things through is a red alert; you must be careful. For example, they may tell you that other people are ready to pay more for the land, but they want to sell it to you for one reason or another.
Take your time when you want to invest in land. The land scammers lack patience; therefore, you can easily see their motives if you don’t rush the process. So, no matter how innocent a land seller appears, don’t compromise on doing your due diligence. Make them understand that you are not in a rush to own land.
Also Read: Why You Should Invest in Awka as a Real Estate Investor
The offer is Too Good
They sometimes bring offers that are too good to be true. If something is too good to be true, it is probably not true. For example, when you see an offer for land in a fully developed area going for a low price, you should know that something is wrong.
For example, it is a scam offer if you see land strategically located at Aroma, Awka, along the expressway, going for five million naira. The land cost in this area is far higher than that and won’t be sold for that amount even in distress.
Also, they may give you an unnatural payment plan; for example, the land costs two million naira, and they tell you to make an initial payment of one million five hundred thousand, then spread the remaining five hundred thousand across twelve months.
Once an offer feels unnatural, you should take a step back and review it.
Is the Land Registered?
When you want to buy land, ensure that you search with the state Ministry of Lands. Lands are registered with the ministry, and a search with the ministry will review critical data about the land, such as the owner of the land.
Through the search, you will know if you are discussing with the land owner.
Not all the land is indeed registered with the Ministry of Lands, such as with ancestry land in the rural part of Awka; in this case, you should conduct your search with the locals and the traditional governing body; that way, you will know if the land is genuinely for sale and who the actual owner is.
Where is the Survey Plan for the Land?
You should ask for the survey plan of the land. Every land registered with the Ministry of Lands must have a survey land. This is because the size of the land is one of the required information for registering land; therefore, always request the survey plan.
A land survey plan will show you if the seller’s size quotation is the land’s actual size. This is to prevent the situation where you are sold a 300sqm land in the name of 600sqm.
When you receive the survey plan, crosscheck the information on the document to ascertain its authenticity.
Also Read: 7 Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Property in Awka
Involve a Property Lawyer
It is always better to involve a property lawyer when buying land because it will save you from a lot of stress. A property lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in the legal management of properties. The lawyer ensures that a property is genuine in the sight of the law.
The property lawyer will scrutinize the documents and conduct the necessary research to ascertain the genuineness of the property and ensure that the land is in line with the government’s ultimate plan for the area.
Inspect the Land Physically
Always ask for a physical inspection of the land. Sometimes, these fraudsters don’t have land. This is common when you are outside the town. They provide pictures and videos but don’t part with your money without physically inspecting the land.
They may try to convince you against inspecting the land if they have no land. However, if you insist, they will give up. Through physical inspection, you can confirm that the images in the photos and videos tally with the land.
If you can’t visit the site by yourself, ensure that you appoint someone you trust to represent you. When the person gets there, he or she should make a live video while at the site.
Conduct the Transaction Through a Bank Account
In this era in which banking has advanced with the adaptation of technologies, conducting your land transactions through the bank is safer. When you have done your due diligence and are about to pay, never pay in cash.
Demand for account details. Ensure that the name on the bank account is the name of the company or the rightful owner of the land.
This will help you track or retrieve the transaction information for future reference.
Don’t Jump the Process
In all, don’t dismiss any step you need to take to ascertain the authenticity of the land before buying. The process may be boring, but remember that those boring steps will save you from tears and stress in future.
Your focus should be on the final goal of only buying genuine land suitable for your plans.
Also Read: What You Need to Know about Buying a Property in Anambra
Conclusion
Land scams exist in Awka, but you can identify and avoid falling victim by utilizing the information you have gathered.
Scams, most times, capitalize on greed. Don’t pay for land because it is cheap or by seeing just photos and videos. Always confirm the current situation of lands in the area. A typical example is the average price of land and properties in the area.
Confirm the condition of the land through physical inspection. Ensure you get all the necessary documents using a property lawyer.
Would you like to buy a property anywhere in Anambra, call me on +2349072987151. My name is Franklin and I can help you avoid land scams in Awka
