PREMIUM The costly red flags home buyers should never ignore Reason for disposing of the property provides useful context when the asking price is unusually low. DN2 Just now

But property experts warn that a beautiful house, or a piece of land somewhere at a seemingly attractive price or an eager seller should never replace due diligence.

There may genuinely be other interested buyers, but a buyer should not be pushed into paying a deposit before establishing who owns the property, whether the seller has authority to sell and whether there are issues affecting the transaction.

A seller may offer several explanations, perhaps the property is being subdivided, the family is still processing succession or titles are supposedly being processed, however, the buyer should not allow these explanations to replace documentary evidence.