Verify the paper trail
Confirm ownership through the patta and the current sale deed, then trace the title backwards through parent documents to establish a clean chain. Pull an Encumbrance Certificate for 13–30 years to check for mortgages and transfers.
Match the survey number, extent and classification across the patta, FMB sketch and sale deed. Any inconsistency deserves an explanation before you proceed.
Verify the land on the ground
Visit the site and confirm the boundaries physically match the FMB and the seller's claim. Where the corners matter, a DGPS survey removes doubt.
Check access — is there a legal approach road? Confirm the land classification allows your intended use, and that it is not earmarked for any public purpose.
Verify the seller and the sale
Confirm the seller's identity and their right to sell — check for joint owners, legal heirs, power-of-attorney limits and any pending litigation.
Get a professional legal opinion that reads all of this together. Only then negotiate the advance, and always route payments in a traceable way with a written agreement.