Begin with ownership, not appearance
Ask for the current title deed and the documents through which ownership moved to the seller. Names, plot identifiers, area and boundaries should remain consistent across the chain. Where a company, attorney or legal heir is selling, verify that the person signing has valid authority.
An encumbrance search and a lawyer-led title review can reveal registered mortgages, charges, court attachments or earlier transactions. Revenue entries support the review but should not be treated as a substitute for a valid title deed.
- Current sale deed and prior title documents
- Seller identity and authority to sell
- Encumbrance and litigation checks
- Relevant revenue and mutation records
Match the paperwork to the physical plot
Visit with a surveyor when boundaries are unclear. Compare the deed, approved layout and revenue map with existing markers, neighbouring possession and the actual approach road. A small difference in frontage or depth can materially change usable area and value.
Check for occupation, informal paths, utilities, drains or structures crossing the site. Speak to adjoining owners when appropriate; local facts often surface issues that are not obvious in a document set.
Confirm access, land use and buildability
A visible road is not automatically a legal right of access. Confirm whether the approach is public, recorded in the title or supported by a registered right of way. Review road width, frontage and any proposed widening that could affect the plot.
Permitted land use, zoning, development plan reservations, environmental restrictions and local building rules determine what can actually be built. Agricultural land, controlled areas and plotted colonies may each require different approvals.
- Recorded access and right of way
- Permitted land use and conversion status
- Approved layout or colony permissions where applicable
- Setbacks, height, coverage and road-width requirements
Calculate the true acquisition cost
The quoted price is only the beginning. Add stamp duty, registration, brokerage, legal review, surveying, conversion or approval costs, boundary work, utility connections and site preparation. Difficult soil, filling requirements or a missing drainage solution can change the economics quickly.
Write the payment schedule and document conditions into the agreement. A meaningful deposit should follow—not precede—satisfactory verification of the matters that are essential to your purchase.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Property records and approval requirements vary by location and transaction. Use qualified local professionals for document verification before committing funds.