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Smart tips: Botswana

Before buying land or building

Title checks, notary, intermediaries, staged payments and remote control.

  1. 01

    Never pay for land without a title check

    Check with the competent land office that the title exists and who holds it, involve a notary and a surveyor, and be wary of rushed sales or unusually low prices. Pay nothing to an intermediary without proof of their mandate.

    Practical adviceServAfrica experienceVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidence
    Next review: 10/2/27
  2. 02

    Do not fund a construction remotely without checks

    Pay in instalments tied to verified progress (dated photos, a visit by a trusted third party), keep every receipt and allow a margin for the unexpected. AfriPilot's Remote control tool lists useful measures.

    Remote control
    Practical adviceServAfrica experienceVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidence
    Next review: 10/2/27
  3. 03

    Do not depend on a single person on site

    Family, friend or manager: entrusting all your errands, money and keys to one person creates a risky dependency. Keep control of your accounts, get several opinions and keep proof of every payment.

    Practical adviceServAfrica experienceVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidence
    Next review: 10/2/27
  4. 04

    Put any local partnership in writing

    Partner, manager, supplier: define roles, money contributed, account access and how to part ways in writing. Never give all access to a single person.

    Practical adviceServAfrica experienceVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidence
    Next review: 10/2/27
  5. 05

    Compare money transfer fees

    Pension, salary or savings: compare fees and exchange rates between your bank, transfer services and local accounts. A small difference per transfer adds up over a year.

    What changes the gain: Depends on the amount, frequency and exchange rate applied.

    Practical adviceServAfrica experienceVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidence
    Next review: 10/2/27
  6. 06

    Ask for written quotes and references

    Tradesperson, mover, agency: ask for several written quotes and client references, and pay only a reasonable deposit, with the balance at the end of the job.

    Practical adviceServAfrica experienceVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidence
    Next review: 10/2/27

Botswana guides to read

Useful AfriPilot tools

Practical advice drawn from ServAfrica's experience and field feedback: methods, not guaranteed figures. Prices and rules vary by city; always check them locally.