Buying Guide · Legal Guide
How Found Verifies Properties So You Can Buy and Rent With Confidence
Property fraud costs Nigerians dearly. Here's what Found does to verify properties, what the Verified by Found badge really means, and why you should always check with Found before committing to any property.
By Stanley Ebosie · 7 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Almost everyone in Nigeria knows a story. The land that was sold to three different people. The house with a mortgage nobody mentioned. The "owner" who turned out to be a caretaker. The family that appeared after payment to say the sale was never theirs to make.
Buying or renting property should be one of the most exciting decisions you make, not one of the most frightening. At Found, safety is the foundation of everything we build. Here's exactly what we do to protect you, and the one thing you should always do yourself.
First, an important distinction
A listing being live on Found does not mean it has been verified. Realtors can list properties before completing our verification process, so that buyers and tenants can see what's available.
Only properties carrying the green Verified by Found badge have been through our complete verification process.
That's why our most important advice is this: before you commit to any property you find on Found, check with Found. Whether a listing has the badge or not, contact us at admin@found.ng and we'll help you take it through complete verification before you pay a kobo.
1. Listings are reviewed for quality
Our team reviews listings for accurate details, genuine photos and a clear location, and removes listings that don't meet our standards. This is a quality check, not full verification. That comes next.
2. Realtors complete a pre-verification checklist
Before a property can be verified, the realtor must complete our pre-verification checklist. They tell us:
- The type of title. Is it a Certificate of Occupancy, Governor's Consent, Registered Deed of Assignment, Letter of Allocation, Gazette, or something else? And whose name is on it?
- Their relationship to the property. Do they own it, or are they acting for the owner? If they're acting for someone else, they must provide the owner's letter of authority.
- Any encumbrance. Is the property mortgaged or charged to a bank? Is there a court case, a government acquisition notice, a family dispute, a caveat on the title, a sitting tenant or unpaid charges? If there is, they must tell us, with details.
- Copies of the documents. A copy of the title document is required, along with survey plans and other supporting papers where available.
Finally, they sign a declaration that everything they've told us is true, and that Found may check it with the relevant land registry.
3. Found reviews the documents
Our verification team reviews every checklist and its documents. We look for gaps and inconsistencies, ask questions, and send it back to the realtor if anything needs changing. Where needed, we can confirm details with the land registry or arrange an inspection.
Those documents stay private. They're never shown on the listing, only to Found's verification team.
4. The Verified by Found badge
Only once a property has passed these checks does it carry the green Verified by Found badge on its listing card and property page. Realtors who complete our annual verification also show as verified realtors.
When you see the badge, you know Found has reviewed the title, the encumbrance declaration and the realtor's authority to deal in that property.
No badge? Talk to us first. If you're interested in a property that doesn't carry the badge yet, don't walk away and don't go it alone. Contact Found and we'll help you get it fully verified before any money changes hands.
5. Agent-referred deals run through Found
Many buyers reach a property through one of our agents. When that happens, Found coordinates the transaction directly: answering questions, arranging inspections and keeping every party accountable. Nobody is passed from stranger to stranger.
6. Verified shortlets for guests
On Found Apartments, every host and apartment is vetted before going live, and each booking is reviewed and confirmed by the host. Guests see clear prices upfront: nightly rate, cleaning fee and VAT.
7. Fair, transparent fees
Agency fees on Found are capped at 10%, so you know what you're paying before you commit.
How to stay safe on any property deal
Verification goes a long way, but these habits will protect you on any transaction, on Found or off it:
- Always check with Found before you commit. Ask us to help you verify any property you're interested in, with or without the badge.
- Look for the Verified by Found badge. Remember that a live listing is not the same as a verified one.
- Always inspect the property in person before paying anything.
- Ask to see the original title document, and compare it with the copy you were shown.
- Do an official search at the land registry. For large purchases, use a qualified property lawyer.
- Never pay into a personal account you can't link to the owner or a registered company.
- Get everything in writing: receipts, agreements and the deed of assignment.
- If something feels rushed or too good to be true, pause and talk to us at admin@found.ng.
Our promise
Property is often the biggest investment a family will make. We take that seriously. Every check, every document and every badge on Found exists for one reason: so you can find the right property and close the deal with confidence.
Found a property you like? Contact Found or email admin@found.ng before you commit, and we'll help you verify it.
Warm regards,
Stanley Ebosie
Founder & CEO, Found Projects & Realty Limited
