What Every Lagos Property Buyer Must Know About Survey Documents Before Signing

The Documents You Should Always Ask For

Before signing anything or making any payment, request the seller's existing title document, such as a deed of assignment, along with any survey plan already associated with the property. If the seller hesitates, delays, or cannot produce these documents clearly, treat that as meaningful information in itself.

How to Verify a Survey Plan Is Genuine

A genuine survey plan will carry a clear SURCON registration number belonging to the surveyor who prepared it. Independently verifying this registration, rather than simply taking the seller's word for it, is one of the simplest and most effective steps a buyer can take.

Red Flags That Signal a Bad Deal

• Pressure to pay quickly before you have had a chance to verify documentation
• A survey plan with no visible registration number or reference coordinates
• Reluctance to allow an independent surveyor onto the site before payment
• Significant inconsistencies between what is described and what physically exists on the ground

Why a Fresh Survey Still Matters With Existing Documents

Even when a seller provides what appears to be a complete and genuine survey plan, commissioning your own independent verification before finalising payment remains worthwhile. This protects you specifically, confirms current boundary conditions, and gives you direct confidence in the information rather than relying entirely on documents prepared for someone else's transaction.

A Simple Pre Purchase Checklist

1. Request and review all existing title and survey documentation
2. Independently verify the surveyor's SURCON registration number
3. Engage your own surveyor to confirm boundaries before final payment
4. Resolve any discrepancies fully before any money changes hands
5. Keep copies of every document exchanged throughout the process

None of these steps are complicated, but skipping even one of them is how otherwise careful buyers end up in avoidable disputes. A small amount of diligence before signing protects a significant financial commitment.