₦airaland Forum

vickzie:
extend the two windows behind the entrainment center to the extreme so you can have enough space to mount the TV and it's accompanying accessories. as for the columns, every edge should have one. excavate all foundation walls, you don't want to have cracks on any wall without a footing, though it's not a rule cast in stone.

Supported.

As a first time supervisor, I wouldn’t expect you to be looking for areas to compromise.
Foundation is a stage of work where everything need to be quality upfront.

The few naira’s you’ll save today might lead to structural failure that’ll cost your client a lot more tomorrow or in the future.

Do it right the first time.


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Pic 1 - 3 shows a foundation without footing. You can’t see the crack and the deflections of the wall as a result of settlement.

Pic 4 shows a foundation with footing. No issues.

spyder880:
That's good savings there. What we need to do more is to listen to them clients, do our best to satisfy them and when it doesn't work, we need to apologise and move on. We should do our best to do exactly what they want, where possible.
The place we usually have problems, is not where we think its generated from. Sometimes it's the surrounding people around the jobs that causes clients/contractors fracas.

When it comes to finishes, client determines everything.

Some few years ago, I installed the door in pic 1 (4ft Turkey Door) below in my clients house. When he came he said he does not like it and bought door in pic 2 (3ft Door) to replace it.

Guess what? I thought I don chop gbese.

He dashed me 2 of the doors I installed. Don’t ask me what I did with the doors

Most times it’s not always about cost or quality, it’s about clients choice.

Right now, I tell my client to chose whatever they like on their project, buy it and I’ll install or supervise whoever will install.

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I really thank God some of us built our houses live on this forum before building for any other person here. Otherwise, the stories won’t be funny at all!

gbadexy:
Same reason I ask the people try to intervene with an open mind.
A client that I volunteered to give extra paint free posted here that I did a good job but he was still angry that I didn't bring his complete paint but I shouldn't worry. On advice by hajj mufutau, I quickly asked him how he meant and quickly explained I was the one that volunteered extra free to him but he couldn't wait and got the extra elsewhere.
If I just let it slide as a harmless post or nothing serious, people would read different interpretations to it and draw their own conclusion.
Although in my own case, the client most likely meant the paint I wanted to give him as the incomplete paint supplied, we have to bear in mind we have people of various characters amongst contractors and clients.

The Broken Shower Cubicle

Anyone who’s here in the 2011 will know about this story.

The shower cubicle in the picture below was originally purchased for a project in 2011 and the client rejected it because he/his spouse doesn’t like the flowers on it.

We took it off and replaced it with another type which has the design my client wanted unfortunately it got broken while someone we don’t know was doing fasholaholmes on the newly installed cubicle.

Well 10 years later, I found the rejected shower cubicle inside my store and installed jejely in one of my personal project.

I don’t like flowers too but for me it’s functionality over form. So far people can use it. I’d put it where those who have no choice over design on the glass stays in the building.
The shower cubicle is serving its intended purpose and it looked very nice!

It has saved me almost 50k as I got it around 20 - 21k in 2011.

I think some of us homeowners should be calming down small small. Contractors too are human being.

But does this qualify for a fraud case? If the client went to buy the cubicle and someone’s came into the house and said “I hate stripes, it makes people in cubicle look like baby Zebra.” Will it still be fraud?

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Pic 1 - The rejected shower cubicle inside my personal project I took this picture yesterday and this was bought 10 years ago. Still look bam!
Pic 2 - The design my client wanted.

BIGGIE121:
YOU CAN CONTACT US FOR THE FOLLOWING SERVICES, LANDSCAPING, INSTALLATION PRODUCTION AND SUPPLIES OF INTERLOCKING STONES AND KERBS, GENERAL CLEANING , TILE'S, STAMP CONCRETE , ETC . Y .

A question on concrete stamp was asked above. Can you attend to it?

agarawu23:
Same old stories and drama that turned this thread to a war Zone 4 years ago. I hail all my oga's in the house.

Abeg I wan ask something. Does stamped concrete has any maintenance after finishing? and how long will it take the color to fade?

cc: nabiz

Long time chief!

folmus:
Hmm! This is getting interesting.

Let the Oga talk his side of the story.

Sure.

Before we begin to cast aspersions on people, let’s always remember a story does not always start at the end.

In any conversation, I don’t just listen. I listen completely to understand. I don’t listen to reply.


__________

Let’s beat about the bush small. Maybe we will find a very good bushmeat.

In 2013, a client raised an allegation against Brabus that he defrauded him and went ahead to report the case in Special Fraud Unit, Panti, Lagos.

I was invited and like I always do, I went there confidently.

To the rudest shock of the complainant, he thought they would have killed me before he got there but lo I was found waiting for him to arrive and state exactly what happened.

Not all officers are useless. There are very intelligent people in the force and I give it to them.

They asked me “You we’re given money to do some job and you didn’t do it. You just ate the money.”

I smiled and replied “Sir, houses do not start with windows and neither do houses get built in 5 days. I was given money (in tranches) to build a house and I built it over 5 months. We only had issues with delivery of some items which were supplied by subcontractors. If he had brought in those things himself and there was an issue, will he have called it fraud?”

The officer turned to my client and asked “Sir, where’s the fraud part?”

He said “I gave him money for windows and it wasn’t complete. It remain 2.”

The officer replied “That wasn’t fraud na. If you have him money to build a house for you in Port Harcourt and you found the house in Abeokuta, we will quickly get into action because that’s fraud. But here’s a man who stayed in your family house in your hometown for 5 months to build you a house and you’re talking about 2 windows.”
The officer turned to me and asked “When can you bring the remaining windows?”

I told him “They were large windows that has to be fabricated on site. But the issue is, the client is in a rush.”

My client left in annoyance. I stood up and wanted to leave in annoyance too.

Police said “Oga you can’t go o. Is this how rich people behave? .” That was how I and Inspector Alex became friends and Oga refused to come back.

Case closed. No charge. Nothing.

But on nairaland brabus don kill his client o - bla, blah.

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These are verifiable facts. I deal in facts and not some emotional stories.

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## The brabus stories no one will tell you!

Nero2424:
Next time charge your client in $, its a more stable currency.

Someone gave me 5M in 3 installment because he intend to buy cars but i told him he has the option to pay me in $ to buy the cars or pay me in =N=.

He choose to pay me in naira, This was when =N= was about 350. I made him understand his money is deposited as naira and whenever he gives me a go ahead to buy the cars I will work with the current exchange rate.

I did a few project where I charged my clients in $. It was a WIN-WIN for both parties.

It’s 48 hours since allegation was raised against Brabus and the simple request made was that the complainant should tell us how it happened.

I purposely asked so that I can know how to respond to the allegation.

Here’s my account (I do not have all the detailed information on the transaction here but I’ll give a brief account)

- Truly we were engaged to construct a fence in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos state.

- We moved to site immediately we were mobilized.

- On getting to the site, I realized the land has not been cleared and I requested that it should be cleared so that we can know exactly the area we are working.

- The client engaged people to do that and we commence the fence work.

- We started with the right side (when facing land). However on getting midway, we found another old fence which shows someone has done something around that area before a very long time ago. This created a very useless piece of land in between the land we are working on and the old fence found in the bush.

- When we got to the back, we found another fence.

- I informed the client and we continued our job. We proceed to the frontal part of the land.

- As we were about getting to the point we were shown the land ended, some land urchins (omo onile) came to the site and stopped the work.

- I informed the client and he told me one person will come.

- We will get back to site, the dreary guys will accost us in the bush and send us away again and again.

- This continued for a very long time.

- Accessibility was a major issue on the site as we can’t get heavy truck to get to the main site, so we drop granite some distance away from the site.

- For every time we were stopped and left the site, we will notice our materials has been stolen before we got back to site.

- I used NextHome Dump Truck for the delivery of sand which was gotten at Okun, Ibeju Lekki Lagos. I had to park down the truck for weeks awaiting a permanent resolve.

- Whenever we get to site, a faction will tell us the land is here. Another will come and tell us something different. So completing the last side became almost an impossible mission.

- At a point we started digging a place and they told us the land was beyond the line.

- Sigh!!!

- Eventually we did the blinding and raising of 3rd side and the issue wasn’t resolved. The land wasn’t fully cleared. So we left.

- Months after I got a call from someone on behalf of the client and guess what it was DSS inviting me for fraud.

- I went there and they said the client said I collected his money and didn’t do his work. I smiled.

- My client can use DSS against me but can’t provide ordinary vigilante or police to protect us when we were being disturbed in the thick forest. What an irony!
Well, we are first Nigerian before we travel go obodo oyibo land.

- That I got a contract to construct a fence, does it automatically invested power of attorney in me to act anyhow on the land?

- My question has always been “What should I have done?”

- To continue working on the land when I’m not the land owner, not the surveyor, nor member of the omo onile family?

- To stage a serious fight against the omo oniles because I want to impress my client? If I die, I’d be given a state burial abi?

- To park my granite, sand and other materials in my bag and take them to safety until all issues are resolved?

- When the client asked for refund, I asked myself. Am I supposed to tell the granite supplier that “Sorry o! we didn’t use all the granite because omo onile stopped us so the client need a refund?”

- For anyone who’s familiar with Ibeju Lekki land urchin, you’ll know how dreary they are.


Let me stop here. Let’s hear from the other side.


Can I ask my Oga if all these claims are lies?


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While we were on this project, my client made a double payment of over a million naira to my account and I called his attention to it and transferred the money back to him.


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Part 2: Communication Palava

A lot of people in diaspora do one funny thing I’d like to share. They’d use a line no one can reach them on to call their contractors/family members/friends etc so anytime there’s something urgent and important you have to wait for their call.

It’s the most useless thing I’ve ever seen. Please don’t work with people you don’t trust. Work with your family members or trusted allies and make communication as easy as possible.

Life is not difficult if we chose to live simple.

Isn’t it shocking that I just got to know the userid my client after almost 5 years? In fact, the userid just followed me 2 days ago and we were working together on multi-million naira project.


More updates on this in Part 2.


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Part 3 - Photobomb

vickzie:
none. but I charged based on the prevailing economic conditions at that time, this month makes it a year I'm supposed to have received payment. the suppose money can currently afford half of what it's supposed to have afforded 12 months ago. does that mean he can withhold the payment till 2050 when it's would probably be worthless and still be justified. if it was the other way around whereby I withheld his funds for the 12 months, and abandoned the project, if I request for more funds and he refuses, can he take legal action against me since no contract was signed, just gentleman agreement.

Hmm! The issue you’re raising here is cogent one. A lot of people got into business without full understanding of what it takes and how to protect themself.

A lawyer friend met me one day and he said “Bosun, you’re too greedy. You’re doing big projects and you just didn’t lawyer up to protect yourself and your business. It won’t take more than 1-5% of your contract sum.”
Since that day I have a rethink about how I conduct my business.

I’ve done a project that I state exactly when I’ll receive funds for every new milestone. If payment is delayed by one day, the client pays N50,000 for each day fund is delayed.
To protect the client too, I gave a date when each milestones will be completed and we agreed if I exceed by one day, I’ll be paying N50,000 for each day the job is delayed unless it’s excusable delay (unfavorable weather conditions, civil unrest, sickness, conditions beyond contractors powers, government restriction order etc).


Guess who default? (Default with flimsy excuses)

davodyguy:
A contract or agreement can either be in black and white or implied.

Yes, if it can be proven that you suffered losses due to someone else's action.

Definitely not because his client earn in dollars. They didn’t transact in dollars.

Would he have accepted less if naira appreciate against dollars?

Just got banned again for posting this.

Till tomorrow evening. Thank you sirs/mas.

ArcToyin:
Imagine, same scenario happened to this my Client. He was given a tax of #150,000 last year November, he refused to pay and was dilly-dally on it. We went together to their office to protest the amount. You wont believe that what was on the original receipt requested by the government was just #5000 whereas they brought #150,000.

The large cause of the problem of this country are the citizens

N5,000 is not what you’ll pay if you go to tax office. What they normally do is to backdate it.

theForth:
Good day, on your next project, I can supply you plumbing materials and sanitary wares, I have a warehouse on the mainland though.

Ok sir.

davodyguy:
Some of the people Ambode sacked at Ministry of Physical Planning in Lagos have found their way to be appointed into office in Ogun State in the ministry of Physical Planning.

They're implementing their revenue drive at they ministry in a terrible way. I had the opportunity of telling the commissioner last year that they need to be more people friendly.

Imagine us being billed ₦7,300,000 as assessment for Gas skid.

We bought the land ₦1,000,000
We spent ₦2,400,000 to put up the skid.
Less than ₦4,000,000 on land and skid

Physical Planning is now asking for ₦7.3m assessment to get approval. Just imagine approval cost higher than land value and cost of development.

How will they attract investment into Ogun State that way?

We have 6-7 projects like that they we would be paying over ₦45m to get ordinary approval.

Note that this is still different from cost of obtaining C of O. By the time Lands Bureau bill you, theirs could be as high as ₦5m to obtain C of O. Cause of revenue, government fees is higher than cost of investment on project

No wonder almost all Gas Plant and Filling Stations in Ogun State do not have approval due to insensitivity of government.

Wouldn't it be better to slash the fees and invite more people to come forward for approval than chasing people away?

I think they’re all out on commercial.

I still know and believe the guys in Ogun state civil service are lesser evil compared to Lagos state.

I’ve been a part of the system for years. As a matter of fact, I’m a service provider to the Bureau of Physical Planning for years.

I still paid less than 230k for the approval of a residential project 2 months ago. Out of the fund, 90k went for Tax/Stamp Duty; Assessment 110k and the rest was for processing.

I think they know LAGOS immigrants and always charge them accordingly.

I was checking list of govt contractors at the Contract Registry few weeks ago and I realize most of the contractors from Lagos state paid more than those from other states. While some are paying as low as 15k, most of the lagosian contractors are paying over 120k though for a different category of contract.

I won’t be surprised if the amount go up in not too distant future because of the influx of Lagos moneybags who always throw monies at every problem.

ArcToyin:
When am not dumb. Am just trying to let you know the unpleasant characteristics that occupied Lagos is now spread to Ogun. It went beyond this even to aspect of revenue and task. All these were known within a week.

The madness get level. We can still cope in Ogun state better than Lagos.

kopell:
The woman added a "sum" personally for herself without naming it ? This part of his experience is what raise my eyebrows to ask that question.

I’ll just ask her a simple question “What’s this for? Is it a bribe or official payment? Because I need to know what to tell my client.”

I know myself sha.

ArcToyin:
Sir, Ogun State is not different from Lagos. Am not condemning the scheme from being truthful, it might yield expectations but human involvement is a problem. I was still at there Revenue office & Town Planning of Ado/Odo Ota this week, come and see the assessment that was worked out. The woman added a "sum" personally for herself without naming it anything. There, you pay cash, they will be the one to lodge it into state account.

Well, she only threw it at you and you accepted it. It’s not written in stone that you must give her kickback.

Enyinne:
Pls who can recommend a good plumber to do this for me . I love the neatness of the job . Classy and chicky

I've shared a contact and nairaland spambot did its thing.

Call Ramon on 0 nine zero 68300 nine nine eight.

He did most of the plumbing jobs in Diamond Estate I & II, Sangotedo

boyestic:
Hello house,please where can i get this barn door kit?thanks in advance.

Mushin

ArcToyin:
It cannever be far from that so far it is in Nigeria. Even if the government has made it low-income earners, the civil servants in the commission will sniff live out of the beneficiaries. I doubt it if it will be easy as next had put it.

Smiles.

I’ll agree with you if this is happening in Lagos but in Ogun or Ibadan or Ondo state where almost everyone can afford to buy land and build a house, this will be as easy as pie.

If it’s taking so long for a 5k form to be oversubscribed, you should understand that there are many doubters and those who felt they have better alternatives which makes it easier for those who have subscribed.
I did my maths already and I found the N5.5m 2 bed carcass a worthwhile investment when I consider the following:

- Cost of land
- Cost of documentation
- Cost of building a 2 bed apartment expandable to 3
- Cost of providing infrastructure (road, electricity to say the least) There’s fence, water and adequate security.

For me, I knew I’m getting a house or three from the Scheme and it’ll come easy. This ain’t my first buy. I got Laderin in 2009.

Dijita:
So you’re of the opinion, anyone who buy a 200m land in Nigeria is a thief
Go back and read my comment

I think this is kobokobo world so some projects will seem like impossible to many of us.
Come to skyscraper city and see how architects are talking about million dollar projects funded by banks.
This is a different scenario. the discussion is owners funded purchases

If I have 200m, there are areas in Lekki that I’ll like to own a plot and flip within 2 years.
But you don't neither do i. Even in a situation where banks is funding all kind of project you still don't.


If he doesn’t know what to do his money, in order to turn it over and make more money, he’ll assume investing 200m in real estate is a waste of money.

Investment is not waste of money. however investment decisions are based on risk and benefit analysis. Do you think the risk and benefit analysis of investing in Nigeria real estate are better than investing in Tesla, Microsoft, Google, Ali Baba, Square Trade, sales Force, Facebook, etc?

I give up

One thing I can assure you is I know what to do with my money that'll will earn me a lot more than what I’ll get from Tesla, Facebook and the likes.

Next thing you’ll assume, I rob a bank

Dijita:
You failed to address my point. I know a 26 yrs old Nigerian college drop out in US that is worth minimum of $5million (#2billion) that does not mean he is going to come home and buy #200million plot of land. He work for his money and will not waste it like that. I am not disputing that there are people who made money legitimate that can buy #200million plot of land . What we are saying is that they are very few and far in between. majority of those shelling that kind of money are not getting it through legitimate means.

If he doesn’t know what to do his money, in order to turn it over and make more money, he’ll assume investing 200m in real estate is a waste of money.

If I have 200m, there are areas in Lekki that I’ll like to own a plot and flip within 2 years.

200m is nothing bro to what people are investing here. I knew plots of land that goes for billion of naira in VI, yet people are buying and recouping their investment.

For your information, banks will give you any amount to fund any project right now so it doesn’t mean most of these guys dole out their cash. Even Dangote is collecting loans to fund projects.


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I think this is kobokobo world so some projects will seem like impossible to many of us.
Come to skyscrapercity.com and see how architects are talking about million dollar projects funded by banks.

______

So you’re of the opinion, anyone who buy a 200m land in Nigeria is a thief
Issokay!

EgunMogaji2:
The same crew that built my under $500K house in Texas builds $5M mansions across the road. When I joke with them about stuff like they didn’t give me bullnose corners and real hand laid stone facade for the fireplace, they give me a lecture on price per square foot

No argument.

An architect who draw a house with windows as traditional means of achieving thermal efficiency cannot and should not earn same amount as a designer who introduced an atrium or a courtyard to achieve even more (natural light, cross ventilation, strong indoor + outdoor connection...)

One is offering a premium service while the other is just doing the norm.

Okuda:
while it may not be worth it for someone who does not plan to move back to nigeria, it is advised odne does it because nobody knows tomorrow. you are in another mans land and anything can happen at anytime. for me i would say its necessary but not compulsory because the peace of mind you get when you come back aand move into your own house to enjoy your holiday is priceless. no matter how small the house is.

Smiles.

My elder sister had a house before she left Nigeria but she gave it to our baby brother. Today, she stays with us whenever she come visiting because she hasn’t been able to come to terms after 2 decade with building a house in Nigeria.

As a matter of fact, she always shelve the idea of coming home because there’s no place to call home.

I support building a house here in Nigeria. I do not support building a very large house back home. That’s wasteful spending!

Even me sef dey think of downgrading to a 2 bed contemporary build in the next decade.

Dijita:
I don't buy into the fact that people can make money through ritual. However there are people doing ritual to make money. In most cases their success is what I can call placebo effect.
However, I am with Zuraking that 99% of people paying 200million to buy a plot of land are not making their money legitimately.
If you disagree with me please educate me on the business these people are doing. remember for a plot to go for that price it means the demand is very high. This is not 1, 10 or 20 people. You are talking of about 100 to 1000 people from the same area. What is Nigeria GDP?

Smiles.

Bros, as at 2012, I met a young guy (a very popular guy) about 32, in the Telecoms industry in Nigeria. We wanted to do his build in Banana Island and the land cost is N300m.

Believe me, he’s not building a 2 floor house on the land.

I got my experience in the construction industry working with developers who built most of the upscale developments in Ikoyi. They buy small plots in choice locations and build MDUs, MTUs and mixed-use developments.

A lot of people said these buildings are vacant but what most people don’t know is that people pay premium to own and keep most these addresses.

It is niche marketing - targeted at selected few. That’s what the likes of Sujimoto are doing.

Dijita:
I think your response did not address the key point raised by Zuraking. His issue is not that many rich people live simple life. His issue is that most people who work hard for their money don't spend it anyhow.

The irony of it is that my biggest projects here are owned by people who have never made any comment on any thread on nairaland.

They knew exactly what they wanted and they simply go for it without making noise.

One would naturally assume someone who spent over 8m to roof a semi-detached building (using longspan roofing) is wasteful.

But here’s the thing, the man understands:

- that to achieve better insulation, you need to spend more. Some other guys felt installing stone-coated roofing and POP ceiling will do the same job as installing acoustic mineral wools on the roof.
- that steel roofs have higher lifespan than other types of roofing.
- that achieving a maintenance free roof has its own cost and opted for a thicker aluminum membrane.

Dijita:
You are saying here that architect does signature builds. what does concept designers do?
I am asking because a former school mate gave me a quotation of about #2million for a job that cost me about #400k on naira land. I don't think the price one pays for a design project necessarily determine the quality of the design. Pls note the emphasis

My bad. Concept designers do signature builds.

You’re right but you’ll agree with me that there’s always a premium price to pay for quality.

Commonsense101:
N2m plan for a semi detached?

Yes. There are concept designers and there are architects. The latter do signature builds.

zuraking:
don't tell me they are spending from their monthly salary or their income working day and night in abroad or businesses they run LEGALLY (that's if they actually exist cos big men with over 500m to buy land won't be here looking for cheap alternatives or DIY)

We know all route where people make such money, we have traveled abroad, we have been to few countries, I have mingle with big people in Nigeria as well, we know where they make it BIG. Government thieves, drug pushers, fraudsters (wire wire crew) and ritualist. It's very hard turning 10m to 100m within few years in Nigeria economy.

We have rich people in Nigeria; yes! accept... but what's their root to the TOP? Nigeria is the only country where anybody can become rich overnight without tracing their source....... people like Invictus Obi, shina pella comes to mind.

Not everyone here is looking for cheaper alternatives.

How do I know?

I have client here who spent as much as N2m to draw a semi detached duplex plan. Most architects here would charge 700k as premium to go same job.

I have those who spent as much as 20m to import unbreakable glass panel for their residential builds. A cheaper alternative would cost less than N4m.

There are people making it legitimately here. They’re just silent.

dongc:
First express is good company atleast you are sure of the guage you are paying for...they get their coils from first aluminum i think...well they used to but not sure now...


I am not sure why everyone is shouting 0,55gauage....0,45 would do the job easily... back in the days while I was IT student at BEST aluminum .... colorcoat or colotek from first aluminum 0,55 are recommended mostly for metal rafters/industrial buildings with highwalls or for places with excessive winds...
Times may have changed but still .... again if you have money to pay for extra guage who are mine...till next time....

That time is no more. That’s why I recommend she buy from a reputable company.

zuraking:
I like it when we feign ignorance even when we actually Know the reality. I want to see anyone here who can be bold of having 200m he/she isn't using and can use to buy 1 plot of land after working for decades home/Abroad

I know about 3 people here but I can't mention their username

The truth is they're not doing small projects on the land.