The right people you select for your building determine the life-span of your structure.

Civil/Environmental specialist have been mixed up today by people which has direct/indirect effects on their choice of choosing a right person for their project.

Let me start with:
1. Urban & Regional Planning/b]They have a popular name known as [b]"Planner" They are the one whose responsibilty is to maped out/carried out a regional survey plan, they plan the city by marking out all the areas that Government may make use of in the future i.e Airport, stadium, railway lines, high ways e.t.c and they approve individual residential building plans. You can consult them to know a particular land that belongs to goverment or where government will make use of in the future
2. Land Survey:- They have a popular name known as "Surveyor". They are the one that responsible for individuals land planning called "Survey plan" that shows all the natural & artficial features of a partcular land/site. You need them to produce your survey plan
3. Architectural:- They have a popular name "Archi/Architect". They produce Building plans i.e floor, 4 elevations, roof, 2 sections, and schedules & specifications. Also, sometimes, they provide a Modelling "a small scale design of how the building will looks like when completed" An Archi will need your SURVEY PLAN & your BRIEF before proceeding.
4. Quantity Survey:- They have a popular name known as "Estimator/Building Accountant". They prepared building estimate using BOQ(Bill of Quantity) and Build Up Rate to determine the TOTAL cost of your project.
5. Building Technology/Engineering:- They have a popular name known as "Builder". They are specialist who responsible for buildability and maintenability. They supervise your project right from inception to completion and continue to carry out maintenance on the building. They work with all plans and document produce by other professions.
6. Estate Management:- They are called "Estate Valuer" they place value on your properties and compare it with the current economy of a state (that is why Land & Building are great asset), and act as a caretaker. (You need them if your property is to be demolish)
7. Contractor:- They are not specialist, they can be individuals, firm (private & govt). They just have opportunity not that they are specialist though they may/may not have any experience of construction. "You too can become a contractor"
8. Civil Engineering:- They are called "Civil Engineer", sometimes people refers to them as a BUILDER but they are not because their own work is more wider than building. They have three options; Structure, Highway/Road, and Water. It is the structural aspect that people confused with Building. Structural Engineer's design types of foundation and other structural elements i.e columns, beams, slabs e.t.c. But they can't construct it, like "Architect".

Why all these?
Before you embark on buying a land, do a little research, go to urban & Regional Department in that L.G and ask for the "master plan". Master plan indicates all the nearest future development, GRA, population growth, and posibly the traffic growth. To eliminate any future obstruction against goverment plans.

Then, the service of those you need to handle your project.

Don't foget all the document you need from each specialist.

Don't forget to approve your Building plans & survey plan.

Finally, don't employ wrong people to handle your project. "Not all specialist are expensive"

Wiseword "5 naira you failed to spend today may cost you 1000 naira tomorrow"

In thinking of who to employ and how to go about it, in case you need them. This is an opportunity for you to make a good decision on whom to choose.