The term “biome” refers to the various types of land. Desert, woodland, grassland, and tundra are the four divisions of these.
The types of animals that live there, the vegetation that grows there, and the climate, including temperature and rainfall, serve as typical descriptors of land biomes.
An attribute of land that can be measured or estimated is referred to as a land characteristic.
Examples include slope angle, rainfall, soil texture, water storage capacity, vegetation biomass, etc. Resource surveys identify land mapping units, which are typically characterized in terms of land features.
Different Land Uses;
Agriculture is the earliest human use of land, and it involves raising crops and animals.
For homes, residential land is used. Businesses are constructed on commercial property. The use that people make of the land they own or occupy is known as land usage.
We categorized the uses of land into Seven categories and they are: Residential, Institutional, Industrial, Roadside, Park, and Forest. Land is regarded as the main production component.
Coal, water, and petroleum are abundant throughout the land and are used to produce electricity. Building factories and industries is necessary to carry out the production process. Land is of enormous value to mankind.
Generally, flat territory is referred to as “plain land”. One of the main types of terrain on Earth are the plains. More than one-third of the world’s land surface is covered by Plain lands.
In Nigeria, purchasing land might be a very challenging choice. However, I will highlight in this post, the items you need to look at in order to make better decisions.
There are a few things you should carefully consider before buying land.
1. Location
The most important factor to take into account while purchasing land in Nigeria is location. Other things you need to examine are built on top of this.
The location will affect the land’s future worth because a piece of land in a developed area will be more expensive than one in a developing one. You should also consider if the area where the land is located attracts quick development when purchasing the land.
There is no one that will like to purchase a land in a slow-growing area. If you are attempting to make an investment, don’t buy land that has no potential for resale.
Don’t purchase land that is completely cut off from potential clients if you want to launch a business. Don’t purchase land that you can’t build on if you want to build a house.
2. Genuineness, Budget and Affordability
The first factor to take into account while purchasing land is the budget.
The most crucial thing is to have a budget, regardless of where you have decided to purchase a land be it in Lagos or any other region of the nation. The true question to ask yourself is: Do I have the available money to purchase a piece of property?
No matter how much money you may have saved, it is always necessary to do your study on the cost of purchasing land and the additional costs related to it. A budget acts as a road map and enables you to use your resources as efficiently as possible.
Examples of additional expenses to take into account when creating your budget are;
5% of the cost of the land is typically spent on legal expenses; 5% is also spent on agency fees; The cost of installing a fence to secure your land after purchasing it (you definitely don’t want to leave it bare),
and the cost of obtaining all the necessary documents from the government, such as the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), Governor’s consent, etc. Including Survey plans depending on the location you choose, they typically cost between N100,000 and N300,000.
These are just a few of the extra expenses you should add to your budget right away in order to avoid any financial difficulties while purchasing land. Take into account the land’s authenticity, value, and intended purpose, and make sure it is within your means.
3. Mode of Payment
When purchasing land, the method of payment is crucial and could be the deciding factor in knowing if you have been defrauded or not.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, NEVER PAY FOR A LAND IN CASH.
From the price of the land to the receipt for survey fees, you must make sure everything is accurately documented. Only by keeping track of every payment will you be able to spare yourself future stress.
It is crucial to keep track of every payment you have made, no matter how small it is. As indicated before, this is done to prevent hiccups in the future. It is advised to pay with checks or bank transfers rather than cash to avoid losing your hard-earned money to scammers.
In the event that something goes wrong, you can readily follow your payments made while purchasing land from any agency in this way. It is also crucial to hire a lawyer to draft a purchase receipt that can be signed by all parties to acknowledge payments made through any bank channel.
This eliminates the chance that a seller will dispute the amount paid, the day it was paid, or the reason it was paid. There are no templates to recognize a possible fraudster based on their skin tone or facial features.
When purchasing property, one of the typical mistakes individuals make is believing in or placing their trust in the relationship they have with the land seller. People with cases of relatives or sisters defrauding them over a land deal frequently appear in court.
In order to avoid the danger of being misled, it is crucial to take this into consideration when purchasing land for investment or any other purpose.
When you make payments through a bank, you can follow them if something goes wrong. It can also be used as a minor piece of evidence in court. As opposed to when you pay cash and the landowner denies knowing anything about the transaction.
4. Neighborhood, Strategic Siting and Major Landmarks
You should engage the neighborhood before purchasing any land in Nigeria. Most persons makes this common error before purchasing a land.
The neighborhood’s landmarks hold the key to how quick an area will grow and how much the value of the land will increase. Before purchasing land in any location, you should try to look five to ten years into the future to see what the neighborhood will look like.
To determine the speed at which the area will develop, Make enquiries to see if there are any notable public or private projects that are in the works or that have already begun.
You are set to proceed in a case where a neighborhood has up to five World Class Landmarks, not minding if they are operational or still being built.
For instance, the value of your land will increase if the government or a private party decides to construct a famous monument nearby, such as a factory or university. You should therefore give this a careful thought before purchasing land.
For those who need to buy and build a residential house, taking this into consideration will also help you determine if you can handle the eventual development in the region; but, if you are buying to resell, then the development will be a big benefit to you.
For instance, some people would be unable to understand why others adore having a jet continuously flying over their heads. You should determine if the land is strategically located to fulfill the intended use.
5. Environment and security
Since you don’t want to live in a polluted atmosphere, checking the environment will help you determine if the land you wish to use for housing purposes is safe to live around.
To ensure your safety while residing there, you must take into consideration the environment in which the land is located and understand how it is currently affecting those who are presently residing there.
Verify that there are no dangerous compounds in the neighborhood, such as refuge disposals or poisonous farm odors.
Additionally, confirm that there are no recurring flooding issues in the region you are considering purchasing land in Nigeria. Before purchasing land there, you must ascertain the level of security in the area.
Check to determine if the government has offered that region appropriate security. Additionally, determine if the neighborhood has a strategy for dealing with security issues.
You can also question those who live nearby to know if the region is safe and does not experience
harassment from hoodlums and robbers.
When purchasing land, security is a crucial concern that must be taken into account. The local way of life should be taken into account while buying land for either commercial or residential use.
If you are thinking about building for residential use, this is crucial. You must consider the way of life. For example, if you are planning to start a family there, ask yourself this question. Is it a place I would want to raise my children?
6. Document on Demand, Availability, Buy and Build
Purchasing land without obtaining the required paperwork is a recipe for disaster. The same reason you would ask for a diploma after finishing a course is the same reason you must obtain the required paperwork.
To assert full ownership of a piece of property, specific documents are required. It does more than merely display advertisements for various lands located throughout the nation.
Is a crucial consideration when purchasing land to know if the land seller have the right to sell the land.
Are they actually the owners? It is easy for a thief to pretend to be the owner, take photos of the property, and designate them as “property for sale”.
When purchasing land in Nigeria, you must make absolutely certain that the property is legitimately registered.
Many individuals believe that the C of O is the finest document to look for (Certificate of Occupancy). However, the fact that any land in Nigeria with a C of O has just 100 years to be used before returning to the government is not ideal.
Therefore, if the land you intend to purchase has been occupied for 30 years prior to now, that means, you will have only 70 years to put it to use.
The Survey Plan, Deed of Assignment, Excision, and Gazette are the essential papers to look for. With the aid of these documents, you will be able to determine if the land is publicly owned or free, as well as what it can be used for.
Despite this, you are still allowed to purchase a plot of land and register it on your own; just make sure you do so from a legitimate seller.
Before engaging in any transaction, it is imperative that you request ownership documentation from the seller. It is a red flag and requires pulling out of the transaction if a seller cannot provide sufficient proof. There are chances that you are about to enter into fraudulent transaction.
This is possible because he/she does not have the right to transfer the property.
Under no circumstances should you get into a transaction when the vendor cannot show ownership documentation.
In the same spirit, you must make sure you have all the proper paperwork on hand after the deal to avoid unnecessary problems with the government or land speculators. Be sure that the land is available for sale and it is ‘buy and build’, to avoid issues.
7. Soil Characteristics and Quality, Suitability for Residential or Commercial Purposes, Government Zoning Restrictions.
How you build your new home or factory depends on the type of soil you have. When the time comes, it will specify how much more money you will spend on the land. It will inform you if any land filling is required.
The following are effects of soil composition on construction:
The price of laying a foundation, Needed amount of earthworks, Stability and preservation of land.
Thus, be sure to be aware of this information before purchasing land in Nigeria. Look for table lands that are affordable and suitable for construction.
Knowing the zoning permissions for the area where you are looking to acquire land is crucial since it will let you know what the government’s plans are for that region.
You will not be able to develop a factory where the government has already marked for residential building.
You must be aware of this in order to avoid future conflicts with the government. Even if the land is designated for residential construction, be aware of the kind of structures that the local government approves.
Building a skyscraper in a neighborhood where the government has ordered bungalows will cause you to clash with the authorities. Verify to know if the environment would be favorable for your goal, especially if it is for commercial use.
8. Accessibility, Land Size
You may be claiming that this is unimportant, but if the land you purchased is inaccessible and you must beg your neighbor for access, then you will understand how crucial it is to inspect.
Before purchasing land, always check to see if the location has a good road network that is accessible.
Additionally, you should confirm that the land’s dimensions match what the owner claims. The only way to do this is to hire a surveyor to come out and measure the land in question.
Do not assume that simply because the owner says it is one plot, it is one plot; always double-check. Even though it will cost you money, doing it and being certain of what you are purchasing is better.
Therefore, we advise purchasing land from an estate because doing so will simplify matters and ensure that you are free of Omonile Wahala (problem).
9. Town Planning Laws and Regulations, Family Land
When the intended use of the land conflicts with the goals of town planning law, town planning laws and regulations may restrict the conveyance of that land.
A family land: One should make an effort to determine if the piece of land is communal or family land before purchasing it.
When buying communal land, the head of the community’s consent is required, however when buying family land, the family head and key members’ consent is required. Any alleged sale made by a member of a group or family without the required approval is voidable.
10. Traditional Land Owners, (Omonile)
The Yoruba phrase “Omo Onile,” which translates to “landowner,” designates the group of people who held a customary claim to land prior to the passage of the Nigerian Property Use Act of 1978. When attempting to acquire ancestral or customary land, buyers of real estate deal with them.
We will be talking about Omoniles in our other article… All listed above are compulsory things to consider before buying a land or piece of property.
SEE ALSO: A STEP BY STEP IN PURCHASING A LAND
