I had been speaking to this agent for weeks. Every apartment he showed me was either overpriced or just not my style. Then he took me to a place in Ikate.

It was neat, spacious, had good lighting and a decent compound. It ticked every box.

I paid immediately and a week later, I moved in.

That was when I started chatting with neighbours… and someone casually mentioned:

“You know this house has been marked for demolition, right?”

My heart dropped.

I checked around properly and it was true. The building had already been marked. I immediately tried calling the agent and realized I had been blocked.

I tried WhatsApp. Blocked.

That was the moment I realized I had made a terrible mistake.

If you’re house hunting in Lagos, please learn from me:

• Don’t rush because you’re excited to move

• Talk to at least 2–3 neighbours before paying

• Ask about disputes, demolition notices, or government markings

• Verify ownership documents if possible

• Never rely only on the agent’s word

In Lagos, fine house no mean safe house.

If you’ve ever had a crazy house hunting experience in Lagos, share it. Someone else might avoid the same mistake because of your story.