How buying and building
with Ecoterra works.

About Ecoterra

Who is Ecoterra?

Ecoterra Green Development Limited is a Nigerian real estate company. We sell completed homes and plots in our estates, and we build homes for clients from the ground up. Every sale and every build is handled on this website, from the first question to handover.

Where do you build?

In gated estates in Nigeria. The estates, and where each one is, are listed on the Developments page, which always shows the current list.

What makes buying through Ecoterra different?

You never pay Ecoterra. Every payment goes to an independent escrow firm, a bank or licensed escrow company, and is held there. Title is checked by a separate, independent title firm. Our approach explains how the money is held and released.

Finding a property

How much does a property cost?

Each property's price is on its own page under Buy a home. A price marked "Open to offers" can be negotiated; one marked "Fixed price" cannot. A home we build for you is shown as "from" a price, with what that price covers and the finish level. Prices change, so the listing page is always the current price.

What do Available, Reserved, Allocated and Sold mean?

Available: you can ask about it and request to reserve it. Reserved: it is being held for a buyer while they pay. Allocated: it has been paid for in full and allocated to its buyer, with an allocation letter. Sold: the sale is complete. Only an available property can be reserved.

Can I buy a plot instead of a finished home?

Yes. Build a home shows surveyed, serviced plots with the title already in place. A plot's price covers the plot and the build, and the home is designed and priced with you afterwards.

Can I keep a shortlist?

Yes. When you are signed in, "Watch this home" on a property page adds it to the Watching list in your account.

Viewings

How do I book a viewing?

On the property's page, press "Ask about this property", write your question and tick "I would also like to see it". Choose In person or Video call. You can suggest a time, or leave it blank and an agent will suggest one. You do not need to sign in first. If you are already a client, you can also ask from your project page ("See this property") or from Viewings in your account.

Is my viewing booked as soon as I ask?

No. Asking is a request. Nothing is booked until an agent confirms a time, and when they do you get an email with the confirmed time. Each request gets a reference starting with "VW". A time in the past cannot be requested.

Can I view a property by video call?

Yes. Choose "Video call" when you ask. It is meant for people who are not in Nigeria, and it is treated the same as an in-person viewing.

How do I change or cancel a viewing?

You can cancel it from the project page in your account ("Cancel this viewing"). To change the time, cancel and ask again, or call us. If we ever have to cancel, we email you.

Does asking for a viewing reserve the property?

No. A viewing request is not a reservation and the property stays on the market. To hold it, request to reserve it (see Reserving).

Reserving

How do I reserve a property?

On the property's page press "Request to reserve" ("Request this plot" on a plot). You need an account, and you can sign in or create one in the same box without leaving the page. Requesting costs nothing and does not take the property off the market. It opens a project for you in your account, where you can follow every step.

What happens after I request to reserve?

The team works through the steps with you. Signing the documents is required. Meeting the team and seeing the property are there if you want them. When the documents are signed, Ecoterra places the hold, the property is marked Reserved and taken off the market, and you get an email confirming the reservation.

How long is a property held for me?

A hold currently lasts 72 hours. Your confirmation email gives the exact date and time it ends, and the reservation page in your account shows it too.

What do I have to do while the property is held?

Buying is two payments: the reservation fee and then the balance. Both must reach your escrow firm before the hold ends. The confirmation email lists what is still to pay and the date.

What happens if the hold runs out?

If the payments have not reached escrow by the time the hold ends, the reservation can lapse and the property can go back on the market. If you need more time, call us before the hold ends.

Can someone else reserve the same property?

Several people can ask to reserve an available property. Once Ecoterra places a hold for one buyer, nobody else can buy it while that reservation stands.

Paying

Who do I pay?

Your escrow firm, never Ecoterra. Every payment on Ecoterra is held in escrow by an independent firm; paying Ecoterra directly is not offered. Ecoterra will never ask you to send money anywhere else.

How do I pay?

By bank transfer, from your own bank, to the account your escrow firm gave. Your account shows that account under "Where to send it" on the Record a payment page.

How do I tell you I have paid?

In your account, open Record a payment. Choose what the payment is for, enter the amount in naira and your bank reference if you have one, and upload the transfer slip (a PDF or a photograph). Then press "Record this payment". You need two-step verification switched on to record a payment (see Your account).

When is my payment confirmed?

When your escrow firm confirms the money has reached its account. Until then it is not treated as paid. You are emailed either way: confirmed, or that the firm says it has not arrived.

How much is the escrow firm's fee, and who pays it?

The escrow firm invoices its fee to you separately. It is never taken from the money it holds. The fee is shown before you pay, on the Record a payment page and when you choose your escrow firm under Providers in your account.

How much is the reservation fee?

It is set for each sale and shown on your reservation and in your confirmation email, with the balance still to pay.

Your money and escrow

Who holds my money?

An independent escrow firm, a bank or licensed escrow company, that you choose. Ecoterra never holds your money. Our approach and Providers explain who the firms are.

Can Ecoterra take my money without my agreement?

No. The money is never in Ecoterra's account. On a build, money is released only for a stage you have accepted. The release has to be approved by a second Ecoterra officer, and only your escrow firm can pay it out.

Is any money released before I accept the work?

No. On a build, each stage's money stays with the escrow firm until you accept that stage. If you dispute a stage, nothing is released for it.

Title and documents

What title do your properties have?

Each property page shows its title, for example C of O, Governor's Consent, Deed of Assignment or Excision.

Who checks the title?

An independent title verification firm, separate from your escrow firm. Its check covers a registry search, survey charting and a physical inspection. Title verification is part of every project.

When is the title checked on a build?

Building can start before the title check is complete, but no money is paid out of escrow until the title firm has recorded the title as in order.

Where do I see my documents?

In your account, under Documents. It shows each document, where it stands and its history, and the letters from your providers.

When do I get the title documents?

At handover, with the allocation letter and the keys, in your name.

Building with us

What can Ecoterra build for me?

We handle a build end to end: land procurement, title perfection, architectural design, project management, construction, renovation and remodelling, green retrofit (solar, borehole, water treatment, insulation), and facility management after handover. You can start at whichever of these you need. How building works describes each one.

How much does it cost to build?

It depends on the location, the size and the finish level. Ask for an estimate on the Request an estimate page: tell us where you would start, and optionally your site, budget and timing. Asking commits you to nothing, and we aim to reply within one working day.

How does a build work, stage by stage?

A build runs in stages, such as foundation, structure, finishing and handover. When a stage is finished, it is submitted to you with photographs and records, and you review it. Your project shows each stage, what it covers, its share of the price and how long you have to review it.

What if I am not happy with a stage?

Do not accept it. Dispute the stage, or flag the particular faults, and the review clock stops. Ecoterra reviews the dispute; if you are right, the work goes back to be put right and the stage is submitted to you again. The stage's money stays with the escrow firm throughout.

What happens after handover?

There is a defects period after handover, shown on your project. Report any faults you find during it on your project.

Can you build on land I already own?

Yes, you can ask us to. Building on your own land is not offered as a listing on the site yet, so tell us about the land on the estimate page or by contacting us.

Buying from abroad

I live outside Nigeria. Can I still buy or build?

Yes. Everything is done on this website: questions, viewings, reserving, recording payments, reviewing build stages and your documents. You can view a property by video call, and a build's stages come with photographs and records you can review from anywhere.

What time zone are viewing times in?

Yours. When you ask for a viewing, your time zone is recorded with it, and the confirmation gives the time where you are. 2 pm in London stays 2 pm in London.

Can I pay from outside Nigeria?

You pay your escrow firm by bank transfer to the account it gives, and record the payment in naira with the transfer slip, the same as anyone else. Ask your escrow firm about sending from your country.

Your account

Do I need an account?

Not to ask a question or book a viewing from a property page; we set one up for you when you send it. You do need to sign in to reserve a property, record a payment or follow your project.

How do I create an account or sign in?

Press "Create account" or "Sign in" at the top of any page. You can sign in with your email and password, or ask for a sign-in link by email. A sign-in link works once and lasts 15 minutes.

I have forgotten my password.

Use "Forgotten your password?" on the sign-in page. We email you a link that lasts an hour and works once.

What is in my account?

Overview (what is waiting for you, and payments), Projects (each property being built or transferred to you), Reservations, Watching (your shortlist), Viewings, Documents, Providers (choosing your escrow firm and seeing its fee) and Security.

What is two-step verification and why do I need it?

A code from an authenticator app on your phone, as well as your password. It is needed to record a payment or accept a build stage, so nobody else can do either in your name. Set it up under Security in your account.

Emails from us

How do I get the newsletter?

Enter your email in the newsletter box on the home page (or another page that has it). We email you a confirmation link, which works for 7 days; you are on the list only after you click it. The newsletter is weekly: Nigerian property news, tips and new listings, and a person at Ecoterra approves every issue.

How do I stop the newsletter?

Use the unsubscribe link at the foot of any newsletter email. It stops the newsletter only.

Will I still get emails about my reservation or viewing?

Yes. Leaving the newsletter does not stop messages about things you are doing with us, such as a reservation, a viewing or a project.

Talking to a person

How do I reach a person?

Call +234 803 658 1922, or send a message from the Contact page. Every property page also has a WhatsApp button.

How quickly will you reply?

We aim to reply within one working day. When you send a message you get a reference straight away, and an email confirming we have it. Quote the reference if you call.

Can you reply on WhatsApp?

Yes. On the contact form, tick "You can reply on WhatsApp" and give your WhatsApp number. Otherwise we reply by email.