Paying a deposit safely

The most common loss in property deals is a deposit paid too early, to the wrong person. Reported cases include reservation fees sent by mobile money before any viewing, “refund” tricks after a deposit, and agents who collect money for units they do not control.

A safer routine: - View the property first. Never pay to reserve a place you have not seen. - Sign a written agreement before any deposit. - Pay only into the seller’s advocate’s client account, and confirm the account details by calling the advocate’s office on a number you found yourself. - Never pay an agent or a personal mobile number for a purchase. - Keep every receipt and note its reference.

Deposits on land purchases are commonly around a tenth of the price, but the amount is whatever your contract says, so ask your advocate. Dami does not hold purchase money. The purchase tracker in your dashboard records each payment and its reference.