(The cost of being proactive is always cheaper than the cost of being reactive.)
For the first seven years of my 17-year career, I was a litigation lawyer. I saw, firsthand, the financial and emotional devastation clients faced when a real estate deal collapsed. I watched fortunes lost over a single overlooked clause.
That experience is why Charis Legal Practice exists. We are proactive, not reactive. We are structured to stop the fight before it ever begins.
I recently advised a client in diaspora to walk away from a ₦72 Million property deal in Ibadan, Oyo State. The client’s ₦800,000 investment in our Due Diligence service was the cheapest insurance they ever bought.
The Fatal Flaw: The Illusion of Safety
The deal looked perfect: a prime location, a reputable seller, and all the “necessary” documents including a C of O, a Deed, and a Survey Plan. The client engaged us “just to be double sure.”
A basic, cheap search would have confirmed the existence of the documents, creating an illusion of safety.
But our meticulous, African Excellence Award-Winning investigation uncovered the shocker:
Despite all the official documents, the seller had absolutely no legal authority to sell the property.
Had the client proceeded, they would have faced years of unwinnable litigation and lost their entire ₦72 Million capital.
The Solution: Our Proactive, 5-Step System
The reason we found this fatal flaw is that we replaced cheap assumptions with a non-negotiable system. We don’t just check documents; we look for the fatal legal flaws.
Phase I: The Legal Foundation
Identify Seller & Ownership: Verify their current authority to sell, not just who held the title five years ago.
Chain of Title: Trace the property’s property and legal ownership to ensure there are no missing links .
Physical Location: Conduct an initial check to ensure the physical boundaries match the description in the legal documents.
Phase II: The Technical Assurance
Regulatory Zoning Cross-Check: Verify with government planning agencies that the land is zoned for the client’s intended use, eliminating the risk of future demolition.
Regulatory Approval Check: For developed properties, confirm the necessary building and development approvals are secured.
The Real Lesson for Investors AND Entrepreneurs
This ₦72M loss wasn’t just a “bad title.” It was a critical failure in proactive legal security.
For the Real Estate Investor: This proves your investment in our Due Diligence service is the only thing standing between you and a total loss of capital.
You are not gambling on our fee; you are gambling your entire capital.
Ready to Secure Your next real estate Acquisition or Venture?
Stop gambling your capital on assumptions. Start with a proactive, meticulous plan.
The mandatory first step for all high-value mandates is our Strategic Legal Advisory Session . It is virtual, so distance is no barrier.
In 30 minutes, we will diagnose your risk and map out your path to a scam-proof property
Book Your Strategic Session Now here.
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