Kenya’s real estate sector has been experiencing quite a boom over the years. Unfortunately, this growth also means that there has been an increase in real estate scams in Kenya. Well, the best way to avoid getting conned off your cash is to work with a legit real estate company Kenya.
You are probably wondering how you can discern the best real estate company in Kenya from one that is looking to rip you off.
We’ve compiled a quick guide to take you through some of the ways to know if a real estate company is legit.
Check if It’s a Registered Legit Real Estate Company in Kenya
For starters, you must check if the company you are dealing with is registered in Kenya in the first place and that it has a physical location.
You can start by visiting the company’s official website and looking for key indicators of legitimacy, such as a professional website design, clear contact information, company history, and details about products and projects like plots for sale in Kenya.
Most legit real estate companies in Kenya like Fusion Estates will have an official address, including street address, city, and postal code, on their website’s “Contact Us” or “About Us” page as shown below :
You can even go a step further and do a company search to find out if the business is legit and registered to operate in the country.
Here are some quick steps for doing an official real estate company search in Kenya:
- Step 1: Create an eCitizen account and login to your account.
- Step 2: Once logged in, navigate to the Business Registration Service section and select “Make Application.”.
- Step 3: Choose the appropriate option, that is, “Official Search Cr12” for a real estate company
- Step 4: Enter the company’s business name or registration number and your details to make the application.
- Step 5: Make the payment and download the search results
Review the Real Estate company’s Reputation & Track Record
Customer reviews and references can also help you find a legit real estate company Kenya.
The beauty is that you can scrutinize the real estate company’s reputation using free online platforms like social media and Google.
You can search with a simple Google search to see what comes up about the real estate company.
Here is an example of a search Fusion Estates on Google search:
As you can see, there is a Google My Business (GMB) listing of our parent company Fusion Capital Limited and some of our projects, the Zahara Gardens plots in Kikuyu and Brookhill Gardens Plots in Kikuyu.
The listings have wonderful customer ratings as well.
You can also look for the company’s official social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Here is an example of searching fusion estates to find out if there are any pages matching our query on popular social media platforms in Kenya.
Here is the search query we used for this:
fusion estates site:facebook.com OR site:instagram.com OR site:twitter.com OR site:linkedin.com
Note: You can replace fusion estates with the term you would like to search for.
Generally speaking, a top real estate company in Kenya will often have an active presence on social media, with regular updates and engagement with customers.
Tip: Visit the social media pages and take time to assess their credibility, including how long they have been in business.
How Not to Get Conned When Dealing With a Real Estate Company in Kenya
Once you have established the real estate company, you’ll still want to exercise caution as you engage them to avoid getting conned.
Here are some of the ways to stay safe when buying land or any other property/product from a real estate company.
Go for a Site Visit
Seeing is believing, but this does not mean that you believe every listing you see online. Most scammers usually use enticing photos of land for sale in Kenya, buildings and properties to lure you to rush into making payment.
It is vital that you don’t take their word as truth when it comes to deciding on a real estate company in Kenya.
Legit real estate companies offer site visits to their clients for them to go and confirm if what they saw on their website is actually what is being sold.
This will not only help you to personally inspect the property and see if it meets the conditions of what you are looking for, but also allows you to envision yourself owning the property.
Avoid Unrealistic Prices
When it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Most of the scammers purporting to be the best real estate companies in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya usually post fake properties in their listings and price them at lower prices so that they can attract their victims.
Before you even engage with a real estate company about what they are offering, it is important that you conduct market research to know the price range of the type of property that you are looking for.
Legit real estate companies price their properties according to the market value of the area.
Avoid Cash Transactions
It is also worth emphasizing the importance of maintaining a paper trail when it comes to real estate transactions in Kenya. The best real estate companies in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya, for that matter, usually involve the use of reputable bank accounts and experienced lawyers to ensure secure and seamless transactions.
If a real estate company in Kenya is asking for cash payments, especially without providing legitimate reasons or documentation, it could be a sign of potential fraud or unethical practices.
In such a scenario, you ought to proceed with caution! In fact, you are better off seeking safer alternatives to protect yourself from potential fraud, legal risks, and financial losses.
Buy Land From the Best Legit Real Estate Company Kenya
In a nutshell, just like any other industry in Kenya, the real estate niche has scammers who are after your money if you are not diligent enough. It is thus crucial to remain vigilant and take certain precautions to protect yourself from falling victim to common scams. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you vet real estate companies in Kenya and only work with a trusted company with a proven track record like Fusion Estates.
Contact us via +254 723 97 97 97 or sales@fusiongroupafrica.com if you are looking for the best real estate services in Kenya, today!
