Off-Plan Apartments in Zanzibar: Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Off-plan means buying a home before it is finished — sometimes before construction starts. In Zanzibar it is a popular way to enter the market with staged payments. It also carries more risk than buying a finished property. These are the questions we ask on behalf of every buyer.

About the developer

• How many projects has the developer completed, and can you visit one?
• Who are the contractor and architect?
• Is the developer's company properly registered, and who are its directors?

About approvals

• Is the project registered with ZIPA or the relevant authority?
• Is there an approved building permit for the exact design you are buying?
• What rights will you receive — a lease, a unit title — and for how long?

About payments

• What is the payment schedule, and is each payment linked to a construction milestone?
• Where does your money go — an escrow or project account, or the developer's general account?
• What happens if the project is delayed or cancelled? Is there a refund clause?

About the unit

• Exact unit number, floor, size and orientation on the plan
• Specification list: kitchen, finishes, air conditioning, solar, backup power
• Parking and storage

About handover and after

• What is the target completion date, and what penalty applies if it is late?
• What are the service charges, and what do they cover?
• Is there a rental management programme? Ask for the contract — not just the projected return.

Why work with an advisor on off-plan

We visit sites, ask the developer for documents, and tell you clearly when something is missing. See our current off-plan projects, including Infinity Hills Kikwajuni and Kikwajuni Lagoon Park.

Continue reading with the HomesAxis Realty desk — book a briefing to talk to an advisor in Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam.