Last reviewed: 22 June 2026
A developer review should make the project easier to question
Developer background matters most when the buyer is considering an off-plan or under-construction project. The buyer is not only buying a floor plan; they are relying on delivery, communication, payment milestones, handover standards and the legal structure behind the project.
When we review a developer or project, we look for enough information to help the buyer ask better questions before reservation: who is behind the project, what has been delivered before, what stage the current project is in, what documents are available and how the payment plan works.
Who is responsible
The buyer should understand the developer, project company, seller or authorised representative before relying on instructions or payment requests.
What has been delivered
Completed projects, active sites, handover record and visible construction progress help a buyer understand delivery context.
How the buyer proceeds
If the project fits, the next step is to request current availability, documents, payment milestones and agreement terms for review.
Developer identity and project role
A Nairobi project may involve a developer, landowner, project company, sales agent, contractor and professional team. The buyer should know who is responsible for the project, who is authorised to communicate, and who can issue formal documents or receipts.
This is especially important where a buyer is dealing through WhatsApp, a third-party agent or a remote diaspora process. Before payment, the receiving account and written instructions should match the authorised transaction process.
- Ask who the developer or project company is.
- Confirm who can issue reservation forms, invoices, receipts and updates.
- Check whether the person sharing payment instructions has written authority.
- Keep all project and payment communication in a clear written record.
Track record and delivery signals
Past delivery does not remove all project risk, but it gives useful context. A developer with completed projects can be assessed by construction quality, handover history, management outcomes and whether previous buyers received what was promised.
For newer developers, the buyer should ask for stronger project evidence: approvals, professional team details, contractor information, site progress, financing clarity where available and agreement protections.
- Look at completed or active projects where possible.
- Ask whether the current project is at approval, excavation, structure, finishing or handover stage.
- Review whether payment milestones match visible progress.
- Ask how delays, changes and defects are handled in the agreement.
Documents and payment structure
Developer review becomes useful when it leads to the right documents. A buyer should ask what can be reviewed before reservation and what is provided after reservation. The payment plan should make sense against construction stage and the buyer's own cash-flow position.
The advocate should review the legal file, agreement terms, land or project position, default clauses, handover obligations and payment protections before the buyer commits significant funds.
- Request current payment-plan details before discussing reservation.
- Ask what documents are available for advocate review.
- Confirm what happens if completion moves beyond the expected date.
- Check whether handover, snagging and defect responsibilities are clear.
How buyers should use developer information
A developer profile should help the buyer decide whether to proceed to documents and viewing, not create blind confidence. If the developer and project information are clear, the buyer can move to the next practical step with better questions.
For a serious buyer, that may mean requesting current availability, asking for the payment plan, comparing other projects in the same area, booking a site visit or sending documents to an advocate.
Buyer Questions
Does developer verification mean the project cannot delay?
No. It means the buyer has better context before proceeding. Construction timelines can still move, so the buyer should review delay clauses, payment milestones and handover terms.
What should I ask a developer before reserving?
Ask for current availability, the payment plan, project stage, available documents, expected completion, handover process, delay terms and who is authorised to receive payments or issue receipts.