Buying or renting property involves real money and real risk — this explains exactly how NaijaMart's trust engine protects both sides.
Overview
Property deals are negotiated, not one-click — you and the agent or landlord agree the price and payment stages together, on the platform, before any money moves. Once you've agreed, the same trust engine that protects every other transaction on NaijaMart holds your money until each stage is genuinely confirmed.
Finding and contacting an agent
Browse listings as normal and message the agent or owner directly — WhatsApp, phone, however you prefer. Nothing about the trust flow changes how you find or view a property.
Agreeing terms together
Once you're ready to proceed, either side can start a trust engagement from the property page. You'll go through the same 5-step process every trust engagement uses:
- 1
Parties
Confirm who's involved and the total amount.
- 2
Terms
Agree who covers the trust fee.
- 3
Arbitrator
NaijaMart's default arbitrator, or one you both choose.
- 4
Milestones
Break the total into stages that fit how the deal actually works — a deposit, then balance on move-in, for example.
- 5
Review & confirm
Both sides sign off before anything is funded.
Milestones and payment stages
Most property deals aren't one payment — a holding deposit, then the balance once you have the keys, is typical. Each milestone is funded, confirmed, and released separately, so a disagreement over one stage never freezes the whole transaction.
Paying into trust
Once a milestone is agreed, the paying party funds it into a dedicated virtual account shown on screen — the exact bank, account number, and amount, with a countdown until it expires. Property deals use their own dedicated holding account, separate from every other vertical on the platform.
Confirming and releasing funds
The agent or landlord submits proof (a photo, or documentation for that stage). You confirm with a delivery code only you can see. Once confirmed, funds release to their verified payout account — never to a manually-entered account at the point of release.
Disputes & arbitration
Either party can raise a dispute on a milestone before it's released. The milestone freezes, an arbitrator reviews the evidence from both sides, and the decision — release, refund, or split — is final and binding.
Why property never auto-releases
Deliberately different from other verticals
Frequently asked questions
Can I use trust for a shortlet, not just a purchase or long-term rental?
Yes — the same negotiated flow works for any property arrangement where you and the other party agree the terms together first.
What if we disagree on the split into milestones?
Nothing is funded until both sides confirm the milestone breakdown — negotiate off-platform if you need to, then set it up once you're aligned.
Why does property use its own dedicated account instead of the general pool?
Given the amounts typically involved, property transactions are held completely separately from every other vertical's funds, for extra assurance.
Found a place you like?
Reach out to the agent, then start a trust engagement when you're ready.
