BUYER’S GUIDE
Before you begin viewings, set a complete budget—not just a purchase price. Include the cost of legal support, valuation or survey work where needed, stamp duty, registration, utilities, repairs, furnishing, and any estate or service charges. If you are financing the purchase, ask your lender for a clear outline of the required deposit, repayment terms, valuation conditions, and timelines.
Decide early whether you are buying a completed home, an off-plan property, or land with a building project. Each route has different risks and paperwork, so compare the developer’s track record, delivery schedule, payment milestones, and the exact specification of what you will receive.
Do not rely only on an agent’s brochure, a site visit, or an allocation note. Engage a qualified Ghanaian property lawyer to review the seller’s authority to sell, the title documents, the site plan, and any restrictions, charges, disputes, or outstanding obligations affecting the property.
A search with the Lands Commission is a key part of due diligence. The Commission’s Land Registration Division maintains land registers and provides services including title registration, deed registration, certificate search, and certified true copies. A professional surveyor can also help confirm that the property on the ground matches the documents and site plan.
Once the checks are satisfactory, have your lawyer prepare or review the sale and purchase agreement. It should identify the parties, property, price, deposit, payment schedule, completion date, included fixtures, handover conditions, and what happens if either side defaults. For an off-plan purchase, add construction milestones, quality standards, delay remedies, and a process for inspecting the finished home.
Avoid making large cash payments without a written trail. Use traceable payment methods, obtain receipts, and keep copies of every signed document, search result, plan, and correspondence. Your lawyer can advise on a secure completion process and on the taxes and fees that apply to your particular transaction.
After completion, ensure the transfer instrument is properly executed, assessed for the required duties, and submitted for registration. Registration is not a formality: it is how the relevant land interest is recorded in the public system. Keep the final registered documents and receipts safely, and confirm any consent requirements where the property is leasehold or state land.
Before moving in, inspect the house carefully. Record meter readings, confirm keys and access cards, test essential systems, and agree in writing on any outstanding repairs. Property transactions can be complex, so use qualified legal, survey, and financial professionals for advice tailored to the property and your circumstances.