The Plot-Buying Checklist: What to Verify Before You Pay

An empty plot is simpler to build on than an existing structure, but it carries its own set of risks that are easy to overlook when you're focused on location and price.

Title and ownership verification

Confirm the seller's name matches the registered owner in the relevant land record (Fard/registry extract), and that there's no pending litigation, competing claim, or unresolved inheritance dispute attached to the property. This is the single most important check and the one worth paying a lawyer to verify independently rather than taking the seller's word for it.

Development authority approval status

For plots in a private housing scheme, confirm the scheme itself has proper development authority approval (LDA, CDA, or the relevant provincial authority) — an unapproved or informally-developed scheme can leave you unable to get utility connections or, in the worst case, facing demolition risk if the scheme is later regularized against you.

Physical possession matches paperwork

Visit the actual plot and confirm its physical boundaries and location match what's on paper — plot numbers can occasionally be misrepresented, especially in newer or less-developed phases of large schemes where physical demarcation isn't yet clear on the ground.

Utility and access confirmation

Check that the plot has an actual road, and confirm the realistic timeline for electricity, gas, and water connections if they're not already available — schemes sometimes sell plots well ahead of utility infrastructure actually being ready.

Know your size standard before you compare

Once you've verified the plot itself, make sure you're comparing its advertised size against other options using the same Marla standard — see our piece on why Marla isn't one size and use the land area converter to normalize everything to square feet before comparing.

Budget for the full transfer cost, not just the plot price

Once you've decided to proceed, use the Property Transfer Total Cost Calculator to see stamp duty, registration, and advance tax on top of the plot price — so the number you budget for is the number you'll actually need to pay.

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