₦airaland Forum

money121:
Sorry brother.. but next time request for Tfare.. serious client will surely pay for Tfare

Like I did abi?

Unserious ones who can not afford tfair should apply for Money121 N5k weekly giveaway

EgunMogaji2:
I don’t operate this way at all Sir.

Frankly I’m shocked that you did .0001% of what you did.

People will never tell you what I do on their jobs. They’ll tell you one thing I didn’t do!

EgunMogaji2:
I don’t operate this way at all Sir.

Frankly I’m shocked that you did .0001% of what you did.

Sigh!

To think I’ve not even shared up to the 20% of the DUMBO things I did to satisfy a nairaland client and you already gave up on me.

It’s safe to say I should stop here then.

I thought I should share my story for us to learn that even if you chose to kill yourself for people here, they’ll still come for your head for just no reason!

Some people are so poor the only thing they have is money. ~ Brabus

michlins:
people dey see something here oh. Thank God for all the clients who don't suffer us to give us jobs

Yes.

We see a lot as much as preparing a complete new drawing for a project because the client already had a fallout with the original designer of the project and he failed to release critical documents required to do the project.

The same client came up with a flimsy excuse to terminate his project after we’ve helped prepared a new drawing

Some people should be labeled the definition of scam in here.

_______

We too dey build na and we don’t make people suffer.

My main carpenter is using a phone that’s 3 times more expensive than the phone I use. I bought it for him because he said it’ll help him do better.

The reason I invest in tools for my workers is not because I have too much money but I just want people to do better.

That’s all that matters to me. That’s why I keep the same team for years!


________

All my lead workers had a house as far back as 2015. I made sure they achieved something worthwhile while working with me.

Even those doing labourers have a room of their own or land to build on.

EgunMogaji2:
One size does not fit all o Oga mi

Business principles, due diligence on client, etc

YMMV.

Prior to preparing my baba lati bill, I asked for the construction route (owner-managed or contractor managed) so that I can know what I’m covering and preparing bill for.

The client asked for contractor-managed approach and I prepared my bill accordingly putting some unbelievable cost-shaving measures in place.

After my baba lati quote was approved, and notice to proceed (NTP) was issued, I went ahead to prepare the project schedule in accordance with the scope of work and best construction practices.


DUMBO 2

I sent in my final bills and my client said he’s not making any provision for Preliminaries on the project.

I repeat “No Provision for Preliminaries”

So what do Preliminaries really cover in projects? In layman understanding, Preliminaries covers things which includes but not limited to hose, water tank, storage, provision of electricity, site signboard, site security etc.

Why did the client say he’s not taking care of the Preliminaries?
Because of the build approach (I being the General Contractor), the scale of the project and some level of pre-construction activities that has been carried out on the project site.
The client felt if I am truly who I say I am on NL with all the number site support equipment I claim to have and use on my projects, then I should be able to handle this without stress.

He said I was considered for the job because of the way u do my sturvs blah, blah.

I was wowed (yinmu) and told my guys “Leggo do some magic. Move Everrrrrythinnng including staple pins. ”

That was how we walked into a “No Commitment, No Contract” project.

I love doing some things to gather experience to teach younger ones. This was just one of it!

____________

After we moved Olympus to the project site, my chairmo said ”I’ve not seen anything na! Is this all you brag about online?” Until a serious commitment has been made, we won’t start.

I smiled and asked for a contract to be signed officially. My Oga stylishly deflect this with a “Let’s tidy up all the bills and make adjustment to the new reviews made.”

Unfortunately I wasn’t on the project with my laptop to immediately edit the bill and do a review. So I have to wait to settle down and do the review.

During this period, I felt it makes no sense to just sit without doing anything. I decided to commence some skeletal pre-construction activities.

My Oga came again “Can we go ahead with the project while you move your command center to the site because we have no time to waste.”

Remember there was no contract because we are awaiting a review of the final bill and I’m already on the project site with some tools and guys to commence preliminary works based on project schedule.

So I felt, moving ahead with the project as suggested by the client is a good way to prevent waste of precious time

@Egunmogaji2 how much time do a contractor need to draw conclusion a client has some skeleton in his sleeves.

At point of negotiation? At the beginning of the project? The way issues are managed? Or after things has gone south?

I suspected foul-play at the point when mine said he’s not taking care of preliminaries because I’m a BiG contractor who needs to prove to the world I am who I really claimed I am.

______

My client came up with “You can order all you need for the project while you tidy up your preliminaries.”

I mean order materials. With what?

“Do I order several tons of reinforcement without a commitment? Or what exactly does this imply?”

“Ha ha, that’s not it na! I just don’t want us to waste time. So it’s fair to order some materials that’ll be needed ahead of your readiness for the project.” My Oga replied.

He added “You know I don’t know you and you don’t know me either. What if paid you and you chose to run away my money tomorrow morning. Just make your orders, funds will be released to you as “materials are delivered.” This looks like a good help to save time while we await the final review of my bill for the project which is also delaying the official signing of the contract

If you’re reading “See the implication of entering into a “No Commitment” contract. You never know who you’re dealing with.

While my client was asking me to make my orders, he already have one of his men who has been well instructed to understudy me (I pretended I didn’t know) to get all the numbers of my suppliers and key contacts
As a matter of fact, I offered him a bed for some weeks in my family house to allow him see me finish

So I made my orders and delivered without a single commitment to the project. I’m talking about order running into several millions.

First, I moved my command base without a single commitment.

Second, I made order for materials for a project without a contract using my leverage.

This was the reason I was smiling when one of my chairman claimed maybe a client didn’t see value in my proposition. He didn’t see value and he’s going behind my back to collect contact details of my supplier and planting a snitch called project supervisor on me
Leveraging on my goodwill!

A lot do people do approach me for consultation and I’d do that without asking for anything in return. Even major suppliers here do ask me to give them link to my suppliers and I do without any strings attached.


So, fund for the goods ordered was released. Can we shout Halleluyah yet


Next is My DUMBO 3


BRB

cash1115:
Is it right to ask your client to send you transport fair if the job is outside your state? I client called me to come and check a job in Edo state I wanted to know the situation of the job by asking her if its just to measure or state immediately, she said she will start as soon as we conlude, so I send her some designs and the price which she accepted, she asked when am coming and I told her 2days time which she said if I can't come the next day I should forget the job, and my wife just put to bed after all the spending I have no money left which am praying to go to bring work, I was happy when she said that. The last question I asked got her annoyed, when I asked her if I should come with my tools and my boys, she said is there anyway I will work without bringing them that if she is not ready she won't call me, I called my boys to get ready for the next day, but due to not having much cash I ran around to get 5k from someone that when I get there I will send them money to come, I got there in the evening, i calling her severally and her number wasn't going even before I left, she pick the call around 5pm when I told her am there already, that am on my way to the site, she changed everything that I didn't call her before coming so am a scam, I can't believe that, I summon courage that I should get to the site first at least I will sleep at the site till the next day I only have 100naira left when the bike man dropped me funny enough is that nothing like site around the location I started calling her she blocked my line from call and WhatsApp. I went through hell that day but thank God I survived it.

Sorry about your experience. That was a painful one but I hope you learnt something from it. Grow through what you go through.




_______

I actually wanted to write my own story but it’s not my character to make a fuss out of nothing. So I’d just highlight some of the dumbest things I did as a not-so-typical naija businessman.

DUMBO 1

I got an anonymous client from here on my DM requesting for a quote for a very BIG and competitive project.

The brief of the project was forwarded to me and all the necessary document. So I took time to go through the docs and asked the client “What do you require of me?”

He said “We need your proposal for this project.” And I was like a project of this magnitude must definitely have a professional BOQ prepared by client’s QS. Why is he not using that?

So I foolishly went ahead to pay N200k to prepare a professional bill of quantity for a job I’m not even sure the client have fund to complete.

Guess what? The professional bill was rejected. and my baba lati bill that cost me almost nothing but 4 hours of sleep was approved.

Well I gained something good from the experience! I’ll share later.

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@diordavies if you bash me ehn? I won’t continue the rest of my story.

yungmin:
By flat roof I believe the person referred to concrete roof exposed to the environment. The truth is, it is always prone to water seepage. The picture you posted showed you covered the roof with sheets. This is the best way to avoid water from retaining on the concrete.

One of the thing I do is to use my personal build for experimental projects. So it’s not as if I’m reading it from the book

I have a concrete roof (24sqm) with POP ceiling beneath. You won’t even see any sign of water issues.

I’m not close to it, I’d have share pics and video of the roof. It’s 10 years old and I’ve old had to retouch the POP ceiling once.

With a gentle slope, you can avert 99% of water issues on concrete roofs.

Just show the water where to go!

bixton:
Please baba in your write up try accommodate the contractor is at the mercy of the client.
It's NL unwritten law.

Sure. On this one I didn’t just accommodate, I chose to play a complete foolish over-pleaser.

A lot of lessons to learn from my story.
One good thing with me is I learn from different situations and it gives me a better understanding of the world we live.

When I read some of the stories people make noise about here, I keep asking myself “Am I truly a Nigerian?”

I’ll be right back with my story.

Let me buy this space for something interesting.

Baba @diordavies I’m coming back for your input on this my foolish please-me business approach.

Baba @egunmogaji2 you might want to chip in one or 2 thing in this use-your money to run client business strategy because I did and I just have to laugh.

I’ll be right back. I’ve been extremely busy on an extreme makeover project.

diordaves:
There are clients that are bad market. This you should know. So to filter out bad market, next time these are processes you should carry out before moving to site:

#1. If the client is from Nairaland, look up for how long they've been on Nairaland. If they've been on Nairaland for a good length of time, take some comfort in that. Good information about their personality will be here on Nairaland by their posts and the forums they frequently visit. Be wary of those who register today, today to contact you for work. Just be wary. It doesn't mean this is not possible. Just be wary because you don't know jack about them. ALWAYS research your client upfront before accepting any job. Ask them for their name. I will come to 'name' again in point three.

#2. Be attentive to the way they address you or talk to you in messages. Be wary if they are unduly and unnecessarily harsh in their communication to you. As if they are doing you a favour. It is not a favour. It is a working relationship. Yes, you are soliciting for work, but you have a right to be addressed with some respect and kindness. All that ORDER to come to site or forget the job is not necessary. It is a tell-tale sign of a tortuous job and a potentially difficult client going forward. And there are difficult clients out there. I speak as a client.

#3. ALWAYS ask for a mobilization fee BEFORE moving to site. This is standard and good practice. Any client that argues with this na bad market. Move on. I have said previously in researching the client you should ask for their name. If you ask for a mobilization fee and they agreed, make sure payment is by bank transfer and that the payment account details match with the name the client told you. If the bank details don't match for some reason (maybe the client is abroad and they don't have a Nigerian bank account), ask more questions about who made the payment and ask to communicate with whoever made the payment. Your client should KNOW you in true colour and same as you.

Don't be desperate to please to land a job. On the flip side, if a client asked you to come to a site that is so far away for investigation or consultation with a potential view of awarding you the job, ask for a reasonable non-refundable fee in lieu of the cost of visiting the site and tell the client that this fee is non-refundable if you do not get the job eventually but if you got the job, this fee is included in the final fee.

This is profound! Thanks.

dapotemi:
I have not done woodwork.... Done with lintel and leveling.. Am not in a hurry... Location is mowe

Perfect! Even if he’s not going to handle your woodwork, he’d have a look at your design and work with your carpenters to do exactly what’ll give a perfect install.

I’ve shared his contact here many times.

+2348062444363 Nnamdi McBasil

Let him know you’re from Bosun. He’d give your project a preferential treatment.

Currently in the East now.
_________

Once again if you’re in a rush, don’t bother to contact him because he’s in high demand.
But if he makes his way to your site, your job will be completed within 3 days max to your utmost satisfaction.

dapotemi:
Can you recommend someone that can do a flat roof for me.. Someone that will do a good job.

Have you done your woodwork? I can give 100% money back guarantee on his installs.

Ask @Thomaths for the quality of his work.

When it’s clean, neat and solid, I give it to him. No matter the complexity of the design, he’ll surely deliver.

We’ve been together since 2009.


Please note, he’s a man extremely busy type. If you’re in a hurry, we have the fast and furious guys too
________

Pic: Roof with double attic window done in 2013 or 14 for a nairalander. If it’s leaking I know I’ll have been called

The same applies to concrete roof. My concrete roof hasn’t pose a single problem over 10 years of its installation. And we never had to apply any treatment on it. No felt. No waterproofing solution.

Just a gentle slope to direct the water off the slab.

Simple as ABC!


_______

A good design transcend time.

shedy03:
So, it does matter if the guage is 0.45 or 0.55?
Am working on a 3bedroom bungalow.

Once again, a good roof design matters more than the cost of materials used.
If you like use 1mm gauge, if your design is bad, the roof will leak!


______
Just last week, we worked on an industrial gauge roof in Ibadan. It was badly installed and badly repaired using the regular flashband

We had to pull and did reconstruction of the woodwork to correct the problem.

shedy03:
What guage is the roofing sheet, 0.45 or 0.55?

This is 0.55

Does guage has effect on whether a roof will leak or otherwise?

I can confidently tell you a good installation will give you 100% peace of mind. I used 0.35 gauge on two of my personal build over 9 years ago. We’ve not had to do any maintenance on the roof since it was installed.

Though, we may be quick to say 0.35 gauge a decade ago is the same as 0.50 gauge now. The truth remains there are folks who did their install about the same as mine that have had to replace, repair and reinstall their roofs.

I know someone who replaced his roof almost 3 times in 4 years.

It’s actually an installation issue not really the gauge.


______

Though a lower gauge will most likely have nail point leak issue faster than higher gauge but that doesn’t make it more vulnerable.

money121:
Edakun e patronize wa ooo

Ipolowo Oja is not allowed on this thread.

As discussed, we will hit you up shortly.

When the design is wrong, no matter who install the roof, it’ll definitely leak.

So, pay close attention to your design and its functionality more than you do to budget and aesthetics.

Few days ago, someone asked why is it common for flat roofs to leak and there was really no answer to this question.

The truth is, it’s not the flat roof that leaks but your roof design and the quality of your installation.

Checking out one of our flat roof install at Badore Lagos.

It’s 4 years after installation. No felting. No leakage issue.

_________

In the coming week, I’d be working on 2 new flat roof installations. In one of the install, I’ll be using OSB boards

It’s an experimental project on a personal build though

Nero2424:
What I really mean is, whoever responded to that post was just being humorous or sarcastic. The person did not miss any point.

He’s throwing shades at motivational speakers.

DFAMEGUY11S:
3500 while 2900 for quantity

Thanks. I’ll be in your DM

DFAMEGUY11S:
https://www.nairaland.com/6525569/quality-wall-paper-here-affordable

How much is the wallpaper shown above?

I’m actually looking for few quantity of the design below but I can make use the one you shared in other spaces.

Laugh it off!

Hatesin:
@Blessedsunny2

Make him no forget to answer the questions. Nice one!

Hatesin:
He does not only refuse sharing the prizes but also insults whoever dares to ask about the products he claims to be selling.

Anyways, it's obvious he is not into any business

Ha! @BlessedSunny2 no be like dat we dey do am here o.

The type of client you have here cannot afford to share their contact details with every slow-witted advertisers on nairaland. So you should understand their point of view and not expect them to understand you.

Every business needs to scale up and expand even if you’re already a megadealer. So kindly tailor your approach to fit all type of client.

I love your products.

E fit be Dino

keemzy1:
The more reason i said price as at that particular moment/day..

But, each mallam to his kettle.

I understand you sir. My point is we don’t all visit the thread at the same time.
The price today might change tomorrow due to circumstances beyond the sellers control.

Editing prices every now and then will make the seller look very unserious.

_________

I’d have issues with him if anyone ask for current market price of a product displayed on the thread and he refuses to share the price.

israelinvests:
Hint me up for ur better apartment.. aboru or meiran... Remember, before anything.. mobilization fee its very important.. 3k.


Israelinvests is ready to serve u better...
08101860397... Forbir genuinely Dubai Visa or job opportunity , accommodation, hospitality in Dubai... Contact me... Whatsapp 08038174098

Sharp man!

EgunMogaji2:
I bought at N13,500 yesterday at New Garage.

It’s shocking how things are escalating and we’re simply adjusting and shrugging it if.

I really respect anyone building now. They're legends!

The luckiest ones are those who have completed their build 6 months ago.

somehow:
....

How can I be of help sir?

You have my full attention sir. Please be kind enough to let me know how I can be of help.

Thanks

keemzy1:
But seriously it cost you nothing absolutely nothing to put a price on your products, worst case scenario you put caveat. Something like price as at date and time since we all know current volatility of the market. But not putting price at all is a total turn off, lot of people might not talk but definitely won't patronize.

My one cent.

________

What’s the big deal in putting price though?

If he put out his price today and it changes in an hour or the next day (which is 100% probability), would you expect him to come and update his prices on all threads every minute there’s price increase?

His posts today might be opened and read by one of his customers next month.
I think is fair to make your selection and ASK for price right here or any other medium he provides.

______
We bought marine boards 8k in March 2021. As at today, it’s sold at over 14k and that’s not the end of it.

micgray100:
THANKS OGA n3xt for the commendation....

Always ready for BUSINESS / COMPANY REGISTRATION WITH CAC

Thanks for your professional service too.