Six Documents to Verify Before You Pay Any Advance

Most property disputes trace back to a document nobody checked. These are the ones worth insisting on before money changes hands.

Verification is unglamorous and it is the single highest-return hour you will spend on a property purchase.

The title deed establishes that the seller owns what they are selling. Trace the chain back far enough to be confident there is no gap, and have a lawyer read it rather than relying on a summary.

An encumbrance certificate shows whether the property carries an existing loan or legal charge. It is inexpensive to obtain and it surfaces problems that are otherwise invisible until registration.

The approved layout and building plan confirm that what has been built matches what was sanctioned. Deviations are common and not always serious, but you want to know about them before you own them.

For completed construction, the occupancy or completion certificate matters for utility connections and for resale later. Property tax receipts and, where applicable, a no-objection certificate from the relevant authority round out the set.

None of this replaces professional advice. Treat this as the list you bring to your lawyer, not a substitute for one.