Island advice pls!

We have an opportunity to purchase used island. What is the safest way to handle the transfer? I am told to pay a paypall account then the transfer would be sent to LL and we would take possesion in about a week. Is this how it is normally done? I'm usually a very trusting person but there seems to be no recourse if the transfer was not completed. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

You can try to do a NOTARY service, which is available in game.

But really what it comes down to, for everything to go smooth, you should absolutely trust this individual you are doing business with.

Paypal has recourse to such a transaction. Just make sure when you send the money through paypal, you write in the comment line what it is for. Not just a money transfer or something generic. Put the person's SL name or something that it can be traced with between you and the seller.

Then yes... after the money has been received on both ends you both send an e-mail to conceirge stating that the transaction has been made between you and the other person, the name of the Island, and you as the new owner may rename the Island at that time as well.

Good Luck

Thanks for comments so far!

My best advice:

Make a rl contract first. Get rl contact info. Get some sort of verification irl - make them sign an affidavit that they are who they say they are in front of a rl notary and that they intend to enter into a contract with you for the sale of a virtual island in SL for a stated price, and that they will participate and advise LL of the sale, etc.

Then notify LL first that the sale is impending. LL needs to be in on this from day 1. Check the knowledgebase, but there is a procedure for this. Follow it.

Once you have verified rl info an the rl contract is executed, pay the seller and hopefully the seller will come through on his/her end of the bargain and advise LL of the sale.

I read the fine print about not guaranteeing VIRTUAL PROPERTY in paypals transactions.

hmm anyone think it'd be safer to pay in Lindens?

So LL can tell you that you gave So and So a 450,000L gift??

I don't think so.

I'm with Cristalle on this. You asked for the safest way, she gave it to you. Only by making a RL contract that's signed and notarized by both of you will you have any legal recourse. Since we're talking a pretty large amount of money, I would do it.

Thanks everyone!