How to verify a property purchase
A listing is a starting point, not proof of ownership, condition or final cost. Use these checks to prepare questions for the people handling the transaction.
Published by Krista Alanov. Last updated and sources reviewed .
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Transactions differ; ask a conveyancer and other qualified professionals to review your circumstances before you sign or pay.
1. Check who is representing the property
Ask for the full names of the practitioner and firm, and their Fidelity Fund Certificate details. Check the details through the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) certificate portal, or contact the PPRA if you cannot verify them. The PPRA advises consumers to check both the individual and the firm where applicable. A certificate check is one part of due diligence; it does not establish that a particular listing is legitimate or that the property is suitable.
Record: the names checked, certificate information, date of your check, and any discrepancy you need the PPRA or firm to explain.
2. Check the property and the proposed transaction
Ask the conveyancer which registered property or sectional-title unit is being sold and how its description relates to the advertised address. Ask for the title deed and an explanation of restrictions, servitudes or other matters relevant to your intended use. The Western Cape Government's title-deed guide explains the role of a conveyancer and the Deeds Office.
For a sectional-title property, request current levies, applicable rules, planned work and any special levy information. For any home, ask about approved plans, known defects and relevant compliance documents. A seller's or agent's answer is not a substitute for independent inspection or advice.
Which sectional-title costs should you compare?
Ask for an itemised current levy statement and budget, any notices of special contributions or planned work, and the applicable scheme rules. Compare those with the property's municipal rates and services account. For example, the City of Cape Town explains that sectional-title owners have municipal rates and services obligations in addition to body corporate levies. Billing arrangements and amounts must be checked for the particular property.
| Ask about | What to request | How to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Regular scheme charges | Current itemised levy statement and budget | Compare the same monthly period and identify what is included. |
| Municipal charges | Recent rates and service account or written estimates | Check which charges are separate from the levy and which vary with use. |
| Special contributions and work | Notices, relevant resolutions and planned-work information | Ask the conveyancer what has been approved, when amounts fall due and how the sale agreement addresses them. |
A low advertised levy alone does not establish the total cost of ownership or the condition of the scheme. The Community Schemes Ombud Service FAQ discusses scheme financial statements and contributions. Ask a qualified adviser to interpret the current documents and record missing amounts as unknown in your comparison.
3. Separate the purchase price from the cash you need
Ask the conveyancer and lender for written, itemised estimates. Depending on the transaction, costs may include a deposit, transfer duty or VAT, conveyancing and registration charges, bond costs, rates adjustments and moving expenses. Do not assume a tax exemption or add both VAT and transfer duty without advice on the transaction.
The SARS transfer-duty page publishes current rates and payment information. Thresholds can change; ask the conveyancer which rules apply on the relevant date. Use the ownership cost planner to compare your own monthly estimates.
4. Verify payment details independently
Before paying any deposit or fee, ask the conveyancer or registered firm who should receive it, what reference to use, and how the money is protected and accounted for. Independently call a number you obtained from a trusted source, rather than a number in an unexpected message containing changed bank details. The PPRA consumer checklist warns against paying personal bank accounts and recommends verifying the firm and its trust account.
Worked example: compare two homes before an offer
Suppose Home A is advertised for R1,500,000 and Home B for R1,450,000. The R50,000 difference is not enough to decide which is affordable. Ask for estimates using the same deposit and loan assumptions, then compare the cash needed at transfer and the monthly budget.
| Question | Home A | Home B | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised price | R1,500,000 | R1,450,000 | Confirm current asking price and availability. |
| Transfer and bond costs | Unknown | Unknown | Request itemised estimates for each transaction. |
| Monthly rates and levies | Unknown | Unknown | Request current statements and ask about planned changes. |
| Repairs and inspection | Unknown | Unknown | Record questions and obtain appropriate professional advice. |
These are illustrative prices, not current listings or cost estimates. Save homes to your shortlist to enter your own figures and questions. Before signing, use the offer preparation checklist to discuss conditions and deadlines with a professional.
Sources and review
- PPRA Fidelity Fund Certificate portal — practitioner certificate verification.
- PPRA consumer checklist — practitioner and payment checks.
- Western Cape Government: title deeds — transfer and conveyancer context.
- City of Cape Town: sectional-title municipal accounts and CSOS: scheme FAQs — charges and scheme records.
- SARS: transfer-duty rates and payment — current tax reference.
Reviewed 14 November 2026. Official requirements and pages can change; check the current sources and obtain advice for your own transaction.