Booking a shortlet in Nigeria can either go very smoothly or ruin your entire trip. The difference is usually in what you check before you send the money. Here are five things you should never skip when booking a shortlet in Nigeria.
1. Ask for a Live Video Walkthrough
Pictures lie. Videos lie less. Real hosts will happily send a fresh, unedited walkthrough of the apartment if you ask. Not a promotional Reel from six months ago. A live walkthrough, filmed today, with the host talking as they move through the space.
If the person on the other end delays, sends you old clips, or gets defensive, that is your answer. Save yourself the trip.
2. Reverse Image Search the Listing Photos
Save one of the listing photos. Drop it into Google Images. If the same photo appears on ten different listings, or shows up on someone else's Instagram from two years ago, the listing is cloned.
This one check takes less than a minute and catches most of the popular scams doing the rounds in Nigerian booking WhatsApp groups.
3. Verify the Address on a Map
A serious host will send you the exact street address, plus a Google Maps pin. A scammer will send you a landmark and refuse to give more detail until after you have paid.
If someone insists the address will only be revealed after payment, close the chat. That is not how legitimate short lets in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, or Benin work.
4. Refuse the Pay-in-Cash to a Private Account Request
If the agent asks for the full amount, upfront, into a private account, with a same-day deadline, you are being set up. Real businesses accept payments into named business accounts or through booking platforms that hold the money until you check in.
The urgency line, "another person is about to book this apartment," is the classic pressure squeeze. Ignore it. If the property is real and the price is fair, it will still be available tomorrow.
5. Get Every Fee in One Written Message Before Paying
The caution fee ambush is one of the most common complaints about Nigerian short lets. The booking is confirmed at one price, but on arrival a caution fee, a cleaning fee, a security fee, and an electricity top up appear.
Before you pay a single naira, ask the host to send one message listing: the room rate, the caution fee, the cleaning fee, any other charges, check-in time, check-out time, refund policy, and cancellation policy. If they will not send this, do not send them your money.
The Easier Way, If You Want It
If the checklist above sounds like too much work for a weekend getaway, that is fair. It is exactly why Nigerian booking platforms like StayAssist have started building verification into the app itself. On a platform that shows you verified stays with the full fee breakdown before you press book, most of the checks above are already done for you.
The same app also handles airport pickup and day car hire, curated experiences, and event tickets, so the entire weekend runs through one payment history. And if you own an apartment and want to list it, there is a separate portal for property owners.
Whether you use a platform or do the checks yourself, the principle is the same. A short let is a contract. Treat it like one. Ask for the details, get them in writing, and never send money you cannot afford to lose to a number you cannot verify. Have a good trip!
