Many buyers in Nigeria still rush through property sale agreements because of excitement or pressure from sellers/agents. This often leads to painful disputes, lost deposits, or unfavorable terms later.
Here is an updated 2026 practical checklist of the 5 most critical things you must carefully verify or negotiate before signing any property sale agreement.
1. Title Documents & Ownership Status
What to Check:
- Confirm the seller has clear, verifiable title (C of O, Governor’s Consent, or Deed of Assignment with root of title).
- Ensure there is no pending litigation or family dispute.
- Verify the survey plan matches the actual land.
- Seller only has photocopies.
- Title is in a different name from the seller.
- Vague or incomplete ownership history.
Action: Do an independent title search before signing.
2. Payment Structure & Milestones
What to Check:
- Clear payment schedule and what happens at each stage.
- Whether an Escrow account or lawyer’s client account will be used.
- Penalty for late payment and interest on balance (if any).
- Demand for large upfront payment (more than 10–20%).
- No clear milestone-linked payments.
- Pressure to pay everything at once.
Protect Yourself: Tie payments to verifiable milestones (e.g., title perfection, foundation level, roofing, etc.).
3. Developer/Seller Obligations & Timeline
What to Check:
- Exact completion date and what “completion” means.
- Who is responsible for infrastructure (roads, power, water).
- Penalty clauses for delays.
Red Flags:
- Vague timelines like “within 12–18 months”.
- No penalty for delay.
- Developer avoids committing to infrastructure delivery.
Action: Include specific deliverables and liquidated damages for delays.
4. Exit / Termination Clauses
What to Check:
- Conditions under which either party can terminate the contract.
- Refund policy if the buyer wants to exit or if the developer defaults.
- What happens in case of force majeure.
Red Flags:
- No exit clause or very one-sided terms.
- No refund of deposit even if developer defaults.
- Heavy penalties only on the buyer.
Protect Yourself: Negotiate a fair refund clause (at minimum, refund of 70–90% of payments made if developer is at fault).
5. Dispute Resolution & Governing Law
What to Check:
- Which court or arbitration method will handle disputes.
- Governing law of the agreement.
- Who bears legal costs in case of dispute.
Red Flags:
- Agreement silent on dispute resolution.
- Forces you to go to a far-away court.
- One-sided jurisdiction clause.
Action: Insist on Lagos or Abuja courts (depending on location) and include mediation/arbitration before litigation.
Final Thoughts
Signing a property sale agreement is a major financial commitment. In 2026, with increasing cases of delayed projects and disputes, taking time to review these 5 critical areas can save you significant stress and money.
Never sign under pressure. Have a competent property lawyer review the agreement before you put pen to paper. A few extra days of due diligence is far better than years of regret.
Remember: The best time to negotiate strong terms is before you sign, not after.
Have you ever signed a property agreement and later wished you had checked something more carefully? What lesson did you learn? Share in the comments to help other buyers.
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