Most property listings on Nigerian portals receive few enquiries not because the property is unattractive, but because the listing itself gives buyers and tenants nothing to act on. A well-written listing converts browsers into enquirers at a significantly higher rate. This guide covers the specific elements that separate high-performing listings from ignored ones in the Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt markets.
The Title is the Most Important Line You Write
Your listing title determines whether a buyer clicks through from a search results page. Include the property type, bedroom count, key estate or neighbourhood, and the closest major road or landmark. "3-Bedroom Flat, Lekki Phase 1, off Admiralty Way" outperforms "Lovely 3-Bed Flat for Rent" in every measurable way — it tells a qualified buyer exactly what they are getting before they click.
Avoid superlatives like "gorgeous", "stunning", or "classic" — these add no information and Nigerian property buyers have learned to filter them out. Use the character limit to add one concrete detail instead: "Newly Renovated", "24hr Light", "BQ Inclusive", or "Swimming Pool".
Lead with the Buyer's or Tenant's Biggest Concern
In most Lagos and Abuja markets, the first question a buyer or tenant has is about power supply, security, and access. Open your description with the two or three facts that answer those questions directly. "This flat is in a fully-serviced compound with 24-hour generator backup, a security guard, and CCTV at the gate" eliminates hesitation faster than any amenity list.
Identify the single most compelling fact about the property and lead with it. For short-let listings it might be internet speed. For family homes it might be proximity to a specific school. For commercial properties it might be generator capacity and parking spaces. Do not bury the key selling point on line four.
Write the Description in Logical Viewing Order
Describe the property the way you would walk a viewer through it: compound/estate first, then entrance, living spaces, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, outdoor spaces, and then estate-level amenities. This structure helps buyers mentally occupy the property, which is a precondition to making an enquiry. Jumping between rooms and back to the compound creates confusion.
For each room, state the most relevant physical detail: "large living room with tiles and a fitted AC unit", not just "spacious living room". For kitchens, state whether it is fitted, open-plan, or has a preparation area. For bathrooms, state whether they are en-suite. These details answer the questions buyers would otherwise need to call to ask.
Always State the Key Qualifying Details Upfront
Include service charge amounts, agency fees, and caution fees clearly in the listing or indicate that they apply. Buyers and tenants who enquire and then discover an unexpected ₦500,000 service charge feel deceived, and this destroys trust in your listings over time. Transparent fee disclosure produces better-qualified enquiries from people who are genuinely prepared for the total cost.
State parking availability (number of spaces, whether it is covered), generator type (central or tenant-supplied), water source (borehole, estate supply, or Lagos State), and whether there is a security gate. These are the details that determine whether a specific type of tenant qualifies the property — providing them upfront saves you and the enquirer time.
Use Precise Location Language
Never list "Lekki" as a location for a property that is in Ajah, Sangotedo, or Awoyaya — these are 15–30 minutes apart during traffic. Buyers who visit a property described as "Lekki" and find themselves deep into an unfamiliar area do not call back, and they leave negative mental associations with your name. Use the correct estate name and nearest junction: "Orchid Road, off Chevron Drive, Lekki" is unambiguous.
For less well-known streets, include the nearest landmark that appears on Google Maps. "3 minutes from Shoprite Sangotedo" tells a buyer more than a street address they cannot geocode. Agents who provide reliable location information build a reputation for professionalism that generates repeat enquiries.
Photographs Determine Whether Anyone Reads the Description
A listing with no photographs or with dark, poorly composed images is skipped by most browsers before the description is read. A minimum of 8 photographs — with at least one exterior, one living room, one kitchen, one master bedroom, one bathroom, and one view of the compound or estate — is the baseline for a listing that gets considered. The exterior shot should be the cover image: it is the first impression on every portal results page.
Shoot in daylight, open curtains and blinds before photographing, and clear visible clutter. A phone camera in good natural light produces usable listing photographs. Poor photographs of a genuinely good property generate fewer enquiries than good photographs of an average property — the photograph is the first filter buyers apply.
End with a Clear Single Call to Action
Close every listing description with one action: call, WhatsApp, or schedule a viewing. Agents who list multiple contact options with no preferred channel often find enquiries split across channels and some missed. Pick your fastest-response channel as the primary CTA and state it explicitly: "WhatsApp for fastest response." Listings on Cabans surface your verified profile alongside your listings, so your credentials are visible to every enquirer at the moment they decide to contact you.