FAQ's - Real Estate Guru- Kenya | Property Advice and Listing Platform

How Can I Sell My Property on RealEstateGuru?

For property agent’s, you MUST first be registered and have an account on our website in order to list your property(ies) here for sale or rent. If you wish to register, use the panel on Registration Form to submit your details or email property[@]realestateguru.co.ke.

For retail clients and individuals looking to sell their property here, simply contact us or email details of the property to the email address property[@]realestateguru.co.ke and one of our appointed agents will contact you.

What should I prepare before I list a property?

It’s always good practice to prepare the following before listing a property:

Relevant property documents. This should include relevant ownership documents (relevant documents of the owner, title to the property), records of property taxes (ground rent and rates)
A good portfolio of photos of the property. This is particularly true for furnished rental properties.
Short descriptions of the property (as regards size, facilities, access to mains utilities, property tenure and so on).

For property sales, if you have past or current valuation reports, it would be important to avail these as well.

Which property agent shall be assigned to sell, rent or act as your buyer's representative?

The default agency for all property transactions is Midas Capital Group Limited.

A seller, buyer or landlord may also nominate their preferred property agent listing properties from among any of the registered property agents on our website who they may prefer to work with.

Must I register on this website in order for me to list a property for sale or rent?

The requirement for registration is only mandatory for property agents.

For individual property owners who would wish to have their property listed, you may contact the default property agent for this website on 0720428928 or on 0202350000; or otherwise, direct your queries directly via email to property[@]realestateguru.co.ke.

What documentation is required to facilitate the letting of property?

Landlords must provide proof of ownership and must sign the authority to lease the property. In addition, they will also be required to provide a draft tenancy lease agreement along with the standard identification documents, mains supply details for both water and electricity and banking details.

For the purpose of showing the property, the owner of the property shall also provide access to the property to be determined at the time of providing authority to let the premises.

What happens to a listed property once it has been sold or withdrawn?

Once sold or rented, the registered agent who had listed the property can proceed to mark the property as sold and to archive the listing.

In the alternative, the agent can request to have the property archived by sending an email with the reference details of the listing to property[at]realestateguru.co.ke

What marketing channels are available besides listing here?

All properties listed on this website are marketed directly on our social media pages.

Prospective agents and sellers have the added advantage of taking out paid advertisements and targeted on social media networks to enhance their marketing effort through targeted campaigns and direct marketing to our listed clients.

Agents can contact property[at]realestateguru.co.ke for more details.

Is it mandatory for all properties for sale to be valued before listing?

Not at all. It would be ideal and highly recommended to have a professional valuer assess the property and complete a valuation in advance of the proposed sale. However, this is not a requirement. Instead, a fair assessment of the property’s open market value can be ascertained from data of current and previous sales values in the same market for similar properties.

It is obviously important to ensure that you offer your property at a price that is indicative of its open market value to meet with both your expectations and those of the market.

What documentation is required to facilitate the transfer of property?

We encourage both sellers and buyers to understand the processes involved in property transfers. To this end, we have developed a property market advisory series in our blog.

In particular, we encourage you to read the articles here:

It is also important to understand the regulations that govern interactions between sellers, buyers and property agents, specifically with regard to the scale of agents fees as prescribed in law and respective roles in the transfer process.

All properties listed here are only approved upon proof that a seller or buyer has contracted the relevant property agent and provided them with the authority to represent them in soliciting for a buyer, seller or renter.

THE 5 KEY THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE LEASING LAND IN KENYA

Because of the commercial interest, you will potentially create around the land you intend to lease, the need for assurance that you will enjoy unfettered use of land for the duration of time that you have agreed to contract it out on lease from its owner(s) is paramount. What steps should you take to ensure that the lease you enter into protects and asserts your rights?

BUYING PROPERTY IN KENYA: TRANSFER, REGISTRATION PROCESS – PART 1

Understanding the process of transfer and registration of property is critical to property acquisitions in any market. What are the different land tenure, regime systems, the key regulations, players, and professionals you are likely to engage in the process?

TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY IN KENYA – PART 2

What are the due-diligence measures to successfully complete the transfer and registration of property you are acquiring? What is the standard for private ownership of property and what are your rights and responsibilities once the transfer is complete?

WHY ENFORCING YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IS SO IMPORTANT

Property ownership is secured and administered by law, which also clearly defines ownership, the rights and responsibilities that attach to it. The single greatest threat to property owners rights might just be inaction on their part in securing those rights by duly exercising the obligations created by the mere act of ownership.

UNPACKING PROPERTY SCAMS & THE RED FLAGS AROUND THEM

Scammers’ typically “hide” in plain sight. However, their intentions are always hidden, making it notoriously difficult to foil their schemes. So what renders seemingly rational individuals hapless to their wiles? What in our human nature makes us susceptible to these schemes?

WHERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY IN VACANT LAND?

Why is vacant land so wildly popular in our market? Without clear investment objectives, vacant land acquisitions may not provide the optimal use of resources at your disposal. Knowing what drives growth in property values will help you position your acquisitions strategically

UNDERSTANDING LAND BANKING INVESTMENT SCHEMES

Land banking is a real estate investment scheme that promises above-average returns at a predetermined future date. Equally, for the high returns they promise, they carry significant risk because there is no “real” transfer of the property to the investor. But do they deliver?

BARGAIN HUNTING FT.5: KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTING

What key takeaways would a successful real estate investor offer? Roadmaps are a great tool for providing direction. There isn’t one way to do anything successfully. The knowledge and skill of those more experienced can be helpful in navigating the journey.

BARGAIN-HUNTING FT 4: INVESTING IN DISTRESSED, BANK-OWNED PROPERTY

Mortgages naturally fall into default when borrowers become financially incapacitated. When this happens, financiers take measures to recover outstanding debts. In this ignominious space, the tenacious property investor can find the opportunity for growth.

WILL THE ONGOING TITLE CONVERSIONS AFFECT YOUR LAND OWNERSHIP RIGHTS?

Heard about title conversions? Well, if you own land in Nairobi (and eventually across the country) – including an interest in land situated within Nairobi – then you need to be appraised of this recent development. Title conversions are being implemented across the country as part of the social and administrative land reforms.

ADVERSE POSSESSION: WHY YOU COULD LOSE YOUR OWNERSHIP RIGHTS TO SQUATTERS

Are you aware that the law may allow someone who has lived on your property for longer than 12 years in open contravention to your rights to legally challenge your right to ownership over that property? What exactly is adverse possession and as a property owner, how can you protect your assets?