Many people go for land inspection like it’s a tour. They take pictures and videos and go home.
Meanwhile, they miss the most important things. If you’re serious about buying land, this is what you should do:
- Don’t go alone, go with a professional, preferably a lawyer or surveyor. Experts will guide you to own professionally. They will help you avoid common ownership pitfalls.
- Ask: “Who truly owns this land?”, the legal owner. Is it family land or succession land, community land, or owned by a company? The legal owner is the only one who has the rights to transfer ownership to you.
- Request to see beacons (corner markings) If the land has no clear boundaries, you may be buying boundary disputes, not land.
- Check for signs of disputes Are there buildings half done? Is anyone farming there? Are there warning signs like “This land is not for sale”? Any squatters on the land? Don’t ignore these.
- Observe the environment Is the land waterlogged? Is there proper road access? Don’t buy land you can’t access or build on (Ask for Zoning restrictions).
- Verify the layout and location Does what you’re being shown match the layout or mutation plan? Some people are shown Plot A and allocated Plot Z later.
- Talk to people around Local information is powerful. Ask questions. You may hear what the seller won’t tell you. Go there alone without the seller.
- Don’t pay on the spot No matter the pressure or “promo.” Go back, verify documents, and carry out due diligence first. While paying use traceable transactions. Cash payments is not encouraged in land purchase process, have bank deposit receipts or Mpesa transactions as a proof.
Final Note: Land inspection is not just “go and see.” It is your first line of legal protection.
