The point about being specific is so true. I once booked a Lagos shortlet based on several five-star reviews that said nothing more than “great stay.” When I arrived, the generator did not work and the hot water was inconsistent. None of that was mentioned anywhere. A few honest lines from previous guests would have saved me the experience

Talking to current residents is underrated advice. I once ignored a few negative reviews about water supply problems in an estate I liked, thinking the reviewers were exaggerating. A conversation with someone who lived there confirmed it was a genuine recurring issue. That ten-minute conversation saved me from a very frustrating tenancy.

The point about visiting completed projects in person is something people genuinely underestimate. A developer can show you beautiful 3D renders and a slick website but what they have actually delivered to previous buyers tells the real story. I asked a developer to take me to one of their finished estates before I committed. They hesitated for…[Read more]

The point about utility costs is so relevant and often missing from articles like this. My rent itself is manageable but the generator levy, water levy, and service charge on top of it push my total housing spend much higher than people assume. Negotiating those charges directly with the estate management is something more tenants should try…[Read more]

The distinction between gross and net yield is something that trips up a lot of first-time investors in Nigeria. I have seen people quote impressive gross yields without factoring in agency fees, caretaker costs, service charges, and the months the property sat vacant. Once you apply those deductions, a property that looked like a 10 percent…[Read more]

I wish I had understood the total investment figure properly before my first property purchase. I calculated ROI using only the purchase price and it looked excellent on paper. When I added legal fees, development levies, and the renovation I had to do before the first tenant moved in, the actual number was significantly lower. Include every naira…[Read more]

Negotiating rent is genuinely underused in Nigeria. Most tenants treat the asking price as fixed and non-negotiable, especially when dealing with agents rather than landlords directly. I once got two months knocked off my annual rent simply by offering to pay six months early and committing to another year. The landlord agreed immediately. You do…[Read more]

This is the article I wish I had read three years ago. I invested in an off-plan project in Lekki based entirely on the developer’s brochure and a friend’s recommendation. The project stalled after eighteen months. When my lawyer finally checked the land registry, the title was not even in the developer’s name. The entire process you described…[Read more]

The point about visiting at different times of day is something I genuinely wish I had done before signing my last lease. The estate looked lovely on a Sunday afternoon but the generator noise from a nearby business made weekday mornings unbearable. A few honest reviews from residents could have flagged it. Now I always read reviews and visit on a…[Read more]

I always make a point to mention the check-in process in my reviews because it is the first thing that sets the tone of a stay. I have had hosts who were incredibly responsive and made arrival seamless, and I have had ones who took hours to respond to basic questions. Future guests deserve to know which type they are dealing with

The Google Business Profile point is one that almost every Nigerian agent ignores completely. I set mine up properly about eight months ago, added photos, collected reviews, and updated my services. I now get between three and five direct inquiries every week from people who found me through Google Maps alone. It is completely free and the results…[Read more]

The point about Lagos landlords demanding two or three years rent upfront is something so many people just accept because they do not know it is illegal under the Tenancy Law. The law says one year maximum for yearly tenants and yet landlords collect two years routinely. More tenants need to know they can push back on this legally.

Question nine about Governor’s Consent is the one that catches the most buyers off guard. People execute a Deed of Assignment and feel the transaction is complete, not knowing that without that consent the transfer is legally incomplete. I have seen this cause serious complications years later when owners tried to resell or use the property as…[Read more]

The diaspora targeting strategy is genuinely underutilised and the numbers justify it. Nigerians abroad are often sitting on foreign exchange and actively looking for secure investments back home. A simple Facebook campaign targeted at Nigerian communities in the UK and Canada at a modest budget can reach buyers with more purchasing power than…[Read more]

The self-help eviction point is critical. I have seen landlords remove doors, disconnect electricity, and show up with area boys to intimidate tenants into leaving without a court order. Every single one of those actions is unlawful and the tenant has a right to sue for damages. Document everything the moment a landlord begins acting outside the law.

The flooding question is one I cannot stress enough. I bought a property in 2020 without asking this and discovered during the first rainy season that the entire ground floor flooded badly. The agent showed me the house in the dry season and I never thought to ask. That single oversight cost me almost ₦2 million in remediation work. Always ask a…[Read more]