What to Check Before Buying an Off-Plan Apartment

An off-plan purchase is a promise about a future home, so the quality of the developer and the contract matters as much as the showroom. Review completed projects, delivery history, company records and the people authorised to bind the developer.

Confirm the development land, planning position, relevant project registrations and environmental approvals. Ask what has been approved, what may still change and which fixtures, floor area, parking spaces and shared amenities are included in your unit.

The sale agreement should set out the completion date, payment milestones, handover standard, defect process, service charges, consequences of delay and the buyer's remedies. Payments should follow verified milestones and documented instructions.

Have an independent Kenyan advocate review the transaction and an independent professional inspect the unit before handover. Marketing material is useful context, but the signed agreement and verified project documents govern the purchase.