Compare the same details on every apartment
Ask for the building name or map pin, unit number, floor, bedroom count, floor plan and completion status. Get the apartment’s usable interior area in writing and check which figure the advertised price per square metre uses. Balconies, shared areas and parking can make two advertised sizes hard to compare.
Ask what comes with the quoted price. An assigned parking bay, a finished kitchen and a lift that reaches your floor make a material difference. If you are choosing between two or three bedrooms, check the dimensions of the smallest room and space for a wardrobe before paying for the extra room.
Put the full cost on one page
For each offer, write down the quoted currency, price, what is included, payment dates, fees the seller expects you to pay, and the monthly building charge. Ask when the price can change, who carries any exchange-rate cost and whether a reservation fee is refundable. Get written answers tied to the same unit and quote date.
When you compare two offers, separate one-time purchase costs from monthly running costs. Ask the building manager what the service charge covers and whether any major work is planned, such as lift replacement, waterproofing or repairs to a generator.
Inspect the unit and the shared areas
Start outside the building and follow the route you would use each day. Check access at the entrance, stairs and lift, mobile reception, water pressure, natural light and noise with windows open and closed. Ask which sockets and common areas work on backup power and how the building handles water interruptions.
If you are overseas, ask for one continuous video from the street to the exact unit. Have a trusted local representative or an independent inspector see the unit before you commit. Ask them to photograph defects, test fixtures and confirm that the apartment shown matches the unit on the paperwork.
Check the documents before paying
Ask the provider for the seller’s identity, authority to sell, the ownership or registration documents for the specific unit, and the written reservation or sale terms. For a project still being built, ask which approvals and completion documents are available, when each instalment falls due, what proves a milestone has been reached and what happens if handover is late.
Use the Addis Ababa landholding agency’s service directory to find the relevant registration or authenticity service. Have an independent Ethiopian property lawyer review the documents and explain which checks apply to the transaction. Start with the Addis Ababa apartment buyer page if you’re still deciding which kind of property to ask about.