What to check when you inspect a property in Lagos

A listing shows a property at its best. An inspection is where you find out what it is like in June, when it has been raining for three days.

Go when it has rained

Flooding is the single biggest issue in large parts of Lagos and the only reliable way to assess it is to see the street wet. Ask neighbours directly. People are usually honest about water because they live with it.

Power and water

Ask what the estate does about power: is there a shared generator, an inverter setup, or nothing at all? Ask what the monthly service charge actually covers, and ask to see a recent invoice rather than taking a number verbally. For water, find out whether the property is on a borehole, how deep it is, and when it was last serviced.

The building itself

Look for cracks that run diagonally across walls rather than straight up, damp patches at the base of walls, and doors that do not close square. Check the roof from outside for sagging. Run the taps and flush the toilets. Turn on every socket you can reach.

The compound

Measure the parking realistically. A compound described as taking four cars often takes two plus a lot of manoeuvring. Check the gate, the fence line and whether the drainage in the compound runs away from the building.

Before you leave

Ask for the survey plan and confirm the boundaries match what you have just walked. Ask who the immediate neighbours are and whether there is any ongoing dispute over the boundary or access.

Zenthos inspects every property before it is listed, and a broker goes with you when you view. Inspections are free, and you are never asked for money to see a property.