₦airaland Forum

spyder880:
Let brotherly (and sisterly) love continue. Good morning Sir.

spyder880:
TRUST!

If only we know how strong these five letters are in this world. Those five letter are the foundation on which most successful businesses are formed, and retained. Everyone needs trust, trust builds goodwill, which is one of the essential ingredients for success in every business transaction. The contractors and workmen needs trust, the clients needs trust, the suppliers needs trust also.

The big question is; how do we know who to trust?

Trust is such a tricky trait that many people fake it, suppliers of materials can be supplying you with genuine products until one day, Blam! Out of the blues, they hit you with a severe fake product, or run away with your money entirely. Happens with contractors and clients too.

Many of us are products of the trust people reposed in us, I have been working for many years as a contractor, there have been good clients we worked for. In fact, excellent will be a better description. I was lured out of my full time well paying work at a popular multinational company by a client from this forum. The client convinced me to come and build his house in 2013, he paid me even before I started the work, and when I failed with the quotation going against me, he saw it as my inexperience in working in riverine areas, and promptly asked me to redraw a budget, then he paid me again to complete the work.

This same client was there to help me with every bit of information and advice, even technical skills as he was also in the engineering industry. My second and third major projects here were in that same estate, connected by the same client. I remember the day he convinced his colleague to transfer a huge amount of money to me for another new project, the client was afraid, but he told the client that if I defaulted, he will pay back the money. Such trust was rare, and I know it was God's love working. I just resigned from my then employment and went full time, building houses. I am eternally grateful to this young man, and have called him in the past to always express my appreciation for his helping me to start strong.

I have also trusted in my subordinates, the young professionals I brought into the industry, the young graduates I hired to work with me, the skilled workers who did every bit of work. Some turned out good while some, well, did what they wanted. Some old workers of mine walked away with my money in a site this year, but it's his own loss, not mine. I have brought and guided the ones that I can trust here online and many of them are actively building houses and practicing here and elsewhere, some very successful already.

I won't deceive myself to think it's just luck, or hardwork. I think its because of the help of the almighty God, the author and finisher of our faith. He is all able, almighty and the all and all.

Clients could be very difficult, but like I was taught in a Super-management training course in my former company, the customer is always right. We should only be careful not to lose money while observing their rights, we should try to please them in every way, and when we fall short of pleasing our clients, we should be open and ready to amend the situation. We are all humans and although its difficult, we can at least get a pass mark for our services.

We should also be honest, and upfront with the services we intend to render, if I am painting a house for a client for instance, I will ask for details of who goes home with the empty drums after painting, or what happens with the used planks and wood after the project is finished. These details will help in sorting out issues in the future. And when all else fails, if taking some small loss in the project won't kill us, let's take it and walk away far, to avoid problems. Such small losses will pay our tuition fees for the next few jobs, teaching us in vivid terms, how to avoid more losses.

I have taken a fair amount of losses in this field, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I always try to stay within the budget. My family will never forget April - July 2011, when I used my 4 months salary from my day job to be doing a clients work because I under quoted, and I wanted to complete the work. We went hungry and didn't have food in the house. I have also been saved from taking serious beatings when costs go against me. God bless all my clients, they have sometimes come to my rescue, paying up hundreds of thousands when it's clear I misquoted, or the market turned against our agreed budgets. God will bless you all.

I also remember paying back hundreds of thousands of naira, even millions in some cases, when I am overpaid by mistake. The client I completed his 6 flats this year in Enugu East, overpaid me by over N740,000 for some groups of jobs in the finish of the house, I called him and asked how much he paid, my Oga was sounding annoyed and insisting that he has completed the payments, I called him again to please check the amount he paid, because he paid for everything in the list, even when two of the items on the list are options to the others, when he realised he has overpaid me, he was very happy that I pointed it out, because a lot of people will just pretend they didn't see it, and go ahead and spend the money on themselves. This happened again this year, on the tall bungalow I am building now, this one is an overpayment of N366,900. I pointed it out and the client just added it in the next payment and deducted his money, with thanks. Honesty is a very good policy. The best policy in fact.

I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses I have seen while growing up, were the ones where people can trust the dealer, and leave a lot of money in their business till when they need it. And the businesses use the money wisely, returning value to the investors and customers whenever they need the goods, or their money back. I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Spyder880".

May God grant us health and happiness while we work to achieve all these, may we get more clients and customers that will understand us, and work with us like we are their blood relatives. Amen.

spyder880:
TRUST!

If only we know how strong these five letters are in this world. Those five letter are the foundation on which most successful businesses are formed, and retained. Everyone needs trust, trust builds goodwill, which is one of the essential ingredients for success in every business transaction. The contractors and workmen needs trust, the clients needs trust, the suppliers needs trust also.

The big question is; how do we know who to trust?

Trust is such a tricky trait that many people fake it, suppliers of materials can be supplying you with genuine products until one day, Blam! Out of the blues, they hit you with a severe fake product, or run away with your money entirely. Happens with contractors and clients too.

Many of us are products of the trust people reposed in us, I have been working for many years as a contractor, there have been good clients we worked for. In fact, excellent will be a better description. I was lured out of my full time well paying work at a popular multinational company by a client from this forum. The client convinced me to come and build his house in 2013, he paid me even before I started the work, and when I failed with the quotation going against me, he saw it as my inexperience in working in riverine areas, and promptly asked me to redraw a budget, then he paid me again to complete the work.

This same client was there to help me with every bit of information and advice, even technical skills as he was also in the engineering industry. My second and third major projects here were in that same estate, connected by the same client. I remember the day he convinced his colleague to transfer a huge amount of money to me for another new project, the client was afraid, but he told the client that if I defaulted, he will pay back the money. Such trust was rare, and I know it was God's love working. I just resigned from my then employment and went full time, building houses. I am eternally grateful to this young man, and have called him in the past to always express my appreciation for his helping me to start strong.

I have also trusted in my subordinates, the young professionals I brought into the industry, the young graduates I hired to work with me, the skilled workers who did every bit of work. Some turned out good while some, well, did what they wanted. Some old workers of mine walked away with my money in a site this year, but it's his own loss, not mine. I have brought and guided the ones that I can trust here online and many of them are actively building houses and practicing here and elsewhere, some very successful already.

I won't deceive myself to think it's just luck, or hardwork. I think its because of the help of the almighty God, the author and finisher of our faith. He is all able, almighty and the all and all.

Clients could be very difficult, but like I was taught in a Super-management training course in my former company, the customer is always right. We should only be careful not to lose money while observing their rights, we should try to please them in every way, and when we fall short of pleasing our clients, we should be open and ready to amend the situation. We are all humans and although its difficult, we can at least get a pass mark for our services.

We should also be honest, and upfront with the services we intend to render, if I am painting a house for a client for instance, I will ask for details of who goes home with the empty drums after painting, or what happens with the used planks and wood after the project is finished. These details will help in sorting out issues in the future. And when all else fails, if taking some small loss in the project won't kill us, let's take it and walk away far, to avoid problems. Such small losses will pay our tuition fees for the next few jobs, teaching us in vivid terms, how to avoid more losses.

I have taken a fair amount of losses in this field, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I always try to stay within the budget. My family will never forget April - July 2011, when I used my 4 months salary from my day job to be doing a clients work because I under quoted, and I wanted to complete the work. We went hungry and didn't have food in the house. I have also been saved from taking serious beatings when costs go against me. God bless all my clients, they have sometimes come to my rescue, paying up hundreds of thousands when it's clear I misquoted, or the market turned against our agreed budgets. God will bless you all.

I also remember paying back hundreds of thousands of naira, even millions in some cases, when I am overpaid by mistake. The client I completed his 6 flats this year in Enugu East, overpaid me by over N740,000 for some groups of jobs in the finish of the house, I called him and asked how much he paid, my Oga was sounding annoyed and insisting that he has completed the payments, I called him again to please check the amount he paid, because he paid for everything in the list, even when two of the items on the list are options to the others, when he realised he has overpaid me, he was very happy that I pointed it out, because a lot of people will just pretend they didn't see it, and go ahead and spend the money on themselves. This happened again this year, on the tall bungalow I am building now, this one is an overpayment of N366,900. I pointed it out and the client just added it in the next payment and deducted his money, with thanks. Honesty is a very good policy. The best policy in fact.

I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses I have seen while growing up, were the ones where people can trust the dealer, and leave a lot of money in their business till when they need it. And the businesses use the money wisely, returning value to the investors and customers whenever they need the goods, or their money back. I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Spyder880".

May God grant us health and happiness while we work to achieve all these, may we get more clients and customers that will understand us, and work with us like we are their blood relatives. Amen.

money121:
I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Money121". C.E.O ImranRoofing

Oga @Spyder880 I swear you motivate me.. Nothing beat Honest, integrity, Trust matter alot but lot of young what to make money and leave that behind reason why they keep complaining no job in the country since there are not ready to start from somewhere..

Let just thank God Ko easy but we keep thanking him

spyder880:
TRUST!

If only we know how strong these five letters are in this world. Those five letter are the foundation on which most successful businesses are formed, and retained. Everyone needs trust, trust builds goodwill, which is one of the essential ingredients for success in every business transaction. The contractors and workmen needs trust, the clients needs trust, the suppliers needs trust also.

The big question is; how do we know who to trust?

Trust is such a tricky trait that many people fake it, suppliers of materials can be supplying you with genuine products until one day, Blam! Out of the blues, they hit you with a severe fake product, or run away with your money entirely. Happens with contractors and clients too.

Many of us are products of the trust people reposed in us, I have been working for many years as a contractor, there have been good clients we worked for. In fact, excellent will be a better description. I was lured out of my full time well paying work at a popular multinational company by a client from this forum. The client convinced me to come and build his house in 2013, he paid me even before I started the work, and when I failed with the quotation going against me, he saw it as my inexperience in working in riverine areas, and promptly asked me to redraw a budget, then he paid me again to complete the work.

This same client was there to help me with every bit of information and advice, even technical skills as he was also in the engineering industry. My second and third major projects here were in that same estate, connected by the same client. I remember the day he convinced his colleague to transfer a huge amount of money to me for another new project, the client was afraid, but he told the client that if I defaulted, he will pay back the money. Such trust was rare, and I know it was God's love working. I just resigned from my then employment and went full time, building houses. I am eternally grateful to this young man, and have called him in the past to always express my appreciation for his helping me to start strong.

I have also trusted in my subordinates, the young professionals I brought into the industry, the young graduates I hired to work with me, the skilled workers who did every bit of work. Some turned out good while some, well, did what they wanted. Some old workers of mine walked away with my money in a site this year, but it's his own loss, not mine. I have brought and guided the ones that I can trust here online and many of them are actively building houses and practicing here and elsewhere, some very successful already.

I won't deceive myself to think it's just luck, or hardwork. I think its because of the help of the almighty God, the author and finisher of our faith. He is all able, almighty and the all and all.

Clients could be very difficult, but like I was taught in a Super-management training course in my former company, the customer is always right. We should only be careful not to lose money while observing their rights, we should try to please them in every way, and when we fall short of pleasing our clients, we should be open and ready to amend the situation. We are all humans and although its difficult, we can at least get a pass mark for our services.

We should also be honest, and upfront with the services we intend to render, if I am painting a house for a client for instance, I will ask for details of who goes home with the empty drums after painting, or what happens with the used planks and wood after the project is finished. These details will help in sorting out issues in the future. And when all else fails, if taking some small loss in the project won't kill us, let's take it and walk away far, to avoid problems. Such small losses will pay our tuition fees for the next few jobs, teaching us in vivid terms, how to avoid more losses.

I have taken a fair amount of losses in this field, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I always try to stay within the budget. My family will never forget April - July 2011, when I used my 4 months salary from my day job to be doing a clients work because I under quoted, and I wanted to complete the work. We went hungry and didn't have food in the house. I have also been saved from taking serious beatings when costs go against me. God bless all my clients, they have sometimes come to my rescue, paying up hundreds of thousands when it's clear I misquoted, or the market turned against our agreed budgets. God will bless you all.

I also remember paying back hundreds of thousands of naira, even millions in some cases, when I am overpaid by mistake. The client I completed his 6 flats this year in Enugu East, overpaid me by over N740,000 for some groups of jobs in the finish of the house, I called him and asked how much he paid, my Oga was sounding annoyed and insisting that he has completed the payments, I called him again to please check the amount he paid, because he paid for everything in the list, even when two of the items on the list are options to the others, when he realised he has overpaid me, he was very happy that I pointed it out, because a lot of people will just pretend they didn't see it, and go ahead and spend the money on themselves. This happened again this year, on the tall bungalow I am building now, this one is an overpayment of N366,900. I pointed it out and the client just added it in the next payment and deducted his money, with thanks. Honesty is a very good policy. The best policy in fact.

I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses I have seen while growing up, were the ones where people can trust the dealer, and leave a lot of money in their business till when they need it. And the businesses use the money wisely, returning value to the investors and customers whenever they need the goods, or their money back. I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Spyder880".

May God grant us health and happiness while we work to achieve all these, may we get more clients and customers that will understand us, and work with us like we are their blood relatives. Amen.

money121:
God save Nigeria from Nigerians

n3xt:
Sure I will. I share my experience here for others to learn.

spyder880:
TRUST!

If only we know how strong these five letters are in this world. Those five letter are the foundation on which most successful businesses are formed, and retained. Everyone needs trust, trust builds goodwill, which is one of the essential ingredients for success in every business transaction. The contractors and workmen needs trust, the clients needs trust, the suppliers needs trust also.

The big question is; how do we know who to trust?

Trust is such a tricky trait that many people fake it, suppliers of materials can be supplying you with genuine products until one day, Blam! Out of the blues, they hit you with a severe fake product, or run away with your money entirely. Happens with contractors and clients too.

Many of us are products of the trust people reposed in us, I have been working for many years as a contractor, there have been good clients we worked for. In fact, excellent will be a better description. I was lured out of my full time well paying work at a popular multinational company by a client from this forum. The client convinced me to come and build his house in 2013, he paid me even before I started the work, and when I failed with the quotation going against me, he saw it as my inexperience in working in riverine areas, and promptly asked me to redraw a budget, then he paid me again to complete the work.

This same client was there to help me with every bit of information and advice, even technical skills as he was also in the engineering industry. My second and third major projects here were in that same estate, connected by the same client. I remember the day he convinced his colleague to transfer a huge amount of money to me for another new project, the client was afraid, but he told the client that if I defaulted, he will pay back the money. Such trust was rare, and I know it was God's love working. I just resigned from my then employment and went full time, building houses. I am eternally grateful to this young man, and have called him in the past to always express my appreciation for his helping me to start strong.

I have also trusted in my subordinates, the young professionals I brought into the industry, the young graduates I hired to work with me, the skilled workers who did every bit of work. Some turned out good while some, well, did what they wanted. Some old workers of mine walked away with my money in a site this year, but it's his own loss, not mine. I have brought and guided the ones that I can trust here online and many of them are actively building houses and practicing here and elsewhere, some very successful already.

I won't deceive myself to think it's just luck, or hardwork. I think its because of the help of the almighty God, the author and finisher of our faith. He is all able, almighty and the all and all.

Clients could be very difficult, but like I was taught in a Super-management training course in my former company, the customer is always right. We should only be careful not to lose money while observing their rights, we should try to please them in every way, and when we fall short of pleasing our clients, we should be open and ready to amend the situation. We are all humans and although its difficult, we can at least get a pass mark for our services.

We should also be honest, and upfront with the services we intend to render, if I am painting a house for a client for instance, I will ask for details of who goes home with the empty drums after painting, or what happens with the used planks and wood after the project is finished. These details will help in sorting out issues in the future. And when all else fails, if taking some small loss in the project won't kill us, let's take it and walk away far, to avoid problems. Such small losses will pay our tuition fees for the next few jobs, teaching us in vivid terms, how to avoid more losses.

I have taken a fair amount of losses in this field, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I always try to stay within the budget. My family will never forget April - July 2011, when I used my 4 months salary from my day job to be doing a clients work because I under quoted, and I wanted to complete the work. We went hungry and didn't have food in the house. I have also been saved from taking serious beatings when costs go against me. God bless all my clients, they have sometimes come to my rescue, paying up hundreds of thousands when it's clear I misquoted, or the market turned against our agreed budgets. God will bless you all.

I also remember paying back hundreds of thousands of naira, even millions in some cases, when I am overpaid by mistake. The client I completed his 6 flats this year in Enugu East, overpaid me by over N740,000 for some groups of jobs in the finish of the house, I called him and asked how much he paid, my Oga was sounding annoyed and insisting that he has completed the payments, I called him again to please check the amount he paid, because he paid for everything in the list, even when two of the items on the list are options to the others, when he realised he has overpaid me, he was very happy that I pointed it out, because a lot of people will just pretend they didn't see it, and go ahead and spend the money on themselves. This happened again this year, on the tall bungalow I am building now, this one is an overpayment of N366,900. I pointed it out and the client just added it in the next payment and deducted his money, with thanks. Honesty is a very good policy. The best policy in fact.

I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses I have seen while growing up, were the ones where people can trust the dealer, and leave a lot of money in their business till when they need it. And the businesses use the money wisely, returning value to the investors and customers whenever they need the goods, or their money back. I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Spyder880".

May God grant us health and happiness while we work to achieve all these, may we get more clients and customers that will understand us, and work with us like we are their blood relatives. Amen.

n3xt:
DUMBO 3 | Economies of Scale
________

In all of these, I didn’t bother to complain because I knew I can tidy thing up within 45 - 50 days and request we go back to the drawing board to make things right.

________

If I can supply over 20 tons reinforcement, a trailer load of cement and ALL tools of trade (because I never had to borrow a single tool on any of my project) to a project without any commitment and the client is still having trust issues. I think he has a more fundamental problem!

Na ordinary N5k matter led us to this topic o.

That was well over N25m to N30m risk being borne by me and I do not worry about the client not been able to pay or abruptly terminate the contract on a flimsy excuse.

n3xt:
All the commitment I made was done within a week. We are not even talking about weeks, months or years.

Talking about using money to do projects for client is not the problem, it’s all about finding and working for men of integrity who honours every single gentleman agreement.

_______

DUMBO 4 >>>

spyder880:
TRUST!

If only we know how strong these five letters are in this world. Those five letter are the foundation on which most successful businesses are formed, and retained. Everyone needs trust, trust builds goodwill, which is one of the essential ingredients for success in every business transaction. The contractors and workmen needs trust, the clients needs trust, the suppliers needs trust also.

The big question is; how do we know who to trust?

Trust is such a tricky trait that many people fake it, suppliers of materials can be supplying you with genuine products until one day, Blam! Out of the blues, they hit you with a severe fake product, or run away with your money entirely. Happens with contractors and clients too.

Many of us are products of the trust people reposed in us, I have been working for many years as a contractor, there have been good clients we worked for. In fact, excellent will be a better description. I was lured out of my full time well paying work at a popular multinational company by a client from this forum. The client convinced me to come and build his house in 2013, he paid me even before I started the work, and when I failed with the quotation going against me, he saw it as my inexperience in working in riverine areas, and promptly asked me to redraw a budget, then he paid me again to complete the work.

This same client was there to help me with every bit of information and advice, even technical skills as he was also in the engineering industry. My second and third major projects here were in that same estate, connected by the same client. I remember the day he convinced his colleague to transfer a huge amount of money to me for another new project, the client was afraid, but he told the client that if I defaulted, he will pay back the money. Such trust was rare, and I know it was God's love working. I just resigned from my then employment and went full time, building houses. I am eternally grateful to this young man, and have called him in the past to always express my appreciation for his helping me to start strong.

I have also trusted in my subordinates, the young professionals I brought into the industry, the young graduates I hired to work with me, the skilled workers who did every bit of work. Some turned out good while some, well, did what they wanted. Some old workers of mine walked away with my money in a site this year, but it's his own loss, not mine. I have brought and guided the ones that I can trust here online and many of them are actively building houses and practicing here and elsewhere, some very successful already.

I won't deceive myself to think it's just luck, or hardwork. I think its because of the help of the almighty God, the author and finisher of our faith. He is all able, almighty and the all and all.

Clients could be very difficult, but like I was taught in a Super-management training course in my former company, the customer is always right. We should only be careful not to lose money while observing their rights, we should try to please them in every way, and when we fall short of pleasing our clients, we should be open and ready to amend the situation. We are all humans and although its difficult, we can at least get a pass mark for our services.

We should also be honest, and upfront with the services we intend to render, if I am painting a house for a client for instance, I will ask for details of who goes home with the empty drums after painting, or what happens with the used planks and wood after the project is finished. These details will help in sorting out issues in the future. And when all else fails, if taking some small loss in the project won't kill us, let's take it and walk away far, to avoid problems. Such small losses will pay our tuition fees for the next few jobs, teaching us in vivid terms, how to avoid more losses.

I have taken a fair amount of losses in this field, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I always try to stay within the budget. My family will never forget April - July 2011, when I used my 4 months salary from my day job to be doing a clients work because I under quoted, and I wanted to complete the work. We went hungry and didn't have food in the house. I have also been saved from taking serious beatings when costs go against me. God bless all my clients, they have sometimes come to my rescue, paying up hundreds of thousands when it's clear I misquoted, or the market turned against our agreed budgets. God will bless you all.

I also remember paying back hundreds of thousands of naira, even millions in some cases, when I am overpaid by mistake. The client I completed his 6 flats this year in Enugu East, overpaid me by over N740,000 for some groups of jobs in the finish of the house, I called him and asked how much he paid, my Oga was sounding annoyed and insisting that he has completed the payments, I called him again to please check the amount he paid, because he paid for everything in the list, even when two of the items on the list are options to the others, when he realised he has overpaid me, he was very happy that I pointed it out, because a lot of people will just pretend they didn't see it, and go ahead and spend the money on themselves. This happened again this year, on the tall bungalow I am building now, this one is an overpayment of N366,900. I pointed it out and the client just added it in the next payment and deducted his money, with thanks. Honesty is a very good policy. The best policy in fact.

I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses I have seen while growing up, were the ones where people can trust the dealer, and leave a lot of money in their business till when they need it. And the businesses use the money wisely, returning value to the investors and customers whenever they need the goods, or their money back. I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Spyder880".

May God grant us health and happiness while we work to achieve all these, may we get more clients and customers that will understand us, and work with us like we are their blood relatives. Amen.

GoodFaith:
The issue with clients and contractors have to do with Nigerians attitude
We Nigerians don't like to do things the correct way
Money na God

"I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses"
by spyder880

Life with honesty not short cut

Jeff68:
My Brother, you are one of a kind! You are so encouraging!! if you only knew the kind of stories clients deal, with,(i speak from that angle because I am one) I had a friend killed in Nigeria because he came home and there was no house built by the said contractor who later conspired with the brother to kill this man. I personally have been taken advantage of because I am not on ground by some on this forum and some not. Nigerians just do not understand that word "TRUST" it has plagued us everywhere we have been in this world. Till date, I am still looking for just ONE person I can "TRUST" in Nigeria, including family members, to complete my project and there is NON! Many promise to be honest until they see money, or its in their hands and the story changes. Off course everyone has their own side of the story.
GOD BLESS YOU

GoodFaith:
My bro bless you for your hard
Keep up hope
save your money and go do what you can on your visit
You need to balance what you want in your life
Because if all your kids are out of Nigeria
Invest in your present location --If you can't buy house in your present location , do stock market
If you have good friends five of you can do it together but you must have contract or all your names must be on the " deed"
It is one step at a time


Yes, yes, family is VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF, Nigeria is just my personal passion, family does even want to come to Naija.

Your family might likely take your properties later

rotecch77:
—-
In other news
We are introducing ACCENT wall into our new branch office.

Last pics is sample.

Finishing still in progress

n3xt:
Nice one. Do you have a space on Addo Road? I think I saw something like Arbo on that road.

rotecch77:
Thanks chief.
We have an office there before at “pump and sale” bus stop.
But we are no more there now.

n3xt:
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

Jeff68:
My Brother, you are one of a kind! You are so encouraging!! if you only knew the kind of stories clients deal, with,(i speak from that angle because I am one) I had a friend killed in Nigeria because he came home and there was no house built by the said contractor who later conspired with the brother to kill this man. I personally have been taken advantage of because I am not on ground by some on this forum and some not. Nigerians just do not understand that word "TRUST" it has plagued us everywhere we have been in this world. Till date, I am still looking for just ONE person I can "TRUST" in Nigeria, including family members, to complete my project and there is NON! Many promise to be honest until they see money, or its in their hands and the story changes. Off course everyone has their own side of the story.
GOD BLESS YOU

n3xt:
All the commitment I made was done within a week. We are not even talking about weeks, months or years.

[/b]Talking about using money to do projects for client is not the problem, it’s all about finding and working for men of integrity who honours every single gentleman agreement. [b]

_______

DUMBO 4 >>>

spyder880:
TRUST!

If only we know how strong these five letters are in this world. Those five letter are the foundation on which most successful businesses are formed, and retained. Everyone needs trust, trust builds goodwill, which is one of the essential ingredients for success in every business transaction. The contractors and workmen needs trust, the clients needs trust, the suppliers needs trust also.

The big question is; how do we know who to trust?

Trust is such a tricky trait that many people fake it, suppliers of materials can be supplying you with genuine products until one day, Blam! Out of the blues, they hit you with a severe fake product, or run away with your money entirely. Happens with contractors and clients too.

Many of us are products of the trust people reposed in us, I have been working for many years as a contractor, there have been good clients we worked for. In fact, excellent will be a better description. I was lured out of my full time well paying work at a popular multinational company by a client from this forum. The client convinced me to come and build his house in 2013, he paid me even before I started the work, and when I failed with the quotation going against me, he saw it as my inexperience in working in riverine areas, and promptly asked me to redraw a budget, then he paid me again to complete the work.

This same client was there to help me with every bit of information and advice, even technical skills as he was also in the engineering industry. My second and third major projects here were in that same estate, connected by the same client. I remember the day he convinced his colleague to transfer a huge amount of money to me for another new project, the client was afraid, but he told the client that if I defaulted, he will pay back the money. Such trust was rare, and I know it was God's love working. I just resigned from my then employment and went full time, building houses. I am eternally grateful to this young man, and have called him in the past to always express my appreciation for his helping me to start strong.

I have also trusted in my subordinates, the young professionals I brought into the industry, the young graduates I hired to work with me, the skilled workers who did every bit of work. Some turned out good while some, well, did what they wanted. Some old workers of mine walked away with my money in a site this year, but it's his own loss, not mine. I have brought and guided the ones that I can trust here online and many of them are actively building houses and practicing here and elsewhere, some very successful already.

I won't deceive myself to think it's just luck, or hardwork. I think its because of the help of the almighty God, the author and finisher of our faith. He is all able, almighty and the all and all.

Clients could be very difficult, but like I was taught in a Super-management training course in my former company, the customer is always right. We should only be careful not to lose money while observing their rights, we should try to please them in every way, and when we fall short of pleasing our clients, we should be open and ready to amend the situation. We are all humans and although its difficult, we can at least get a pass mark for our services.

We should also be honest, and upfront with the services we intend to render, if I am painting a house for a client for instance, I will ask for details of who goes home with the empty drums after painting, or what happens with the used planks and wood after the project is finished. These details will help in sorting out issues in the future. And when all else fails, if taking some small loss in the project won't kill us, let's take it and walk away far, to avoid problems. Such small losses will pay our tuition fees for the next few jobs, teaching us in vivid terms, how to avoid more losses.

I have taken a fair amount of losses in this field, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I always try to stay within the budget. My family will never forget April - July 2011, when I used my 4 months salary from my day job to be doing a clients work because I under quoted, and I wanted to complete the work. We went hungry and didn't have food in the house. I have also been saved from taking serious beatings when costs go against me. God bless all my clients, they have sometimes come to my rescue, paying up hundreds of thousands when it's clear I misquoted, or the market turned against our agreed budgets. God will bless you all.

I also remember paying back hundreds of thousands of naira, even millions in some cases, when I am overpaid by mistake. The client I completed his 6 flats this year in Enugu East, overpaid me by over N740,000 for some groups of jobs in the finish of the house, I called him and asked how much he paid, my Oga was sounding annoyed and insisting that he has completed the payments, I called him again to please check the amount he paid, because he paid for everything in the list, even when two of the items on the list are options to the others, when he realised he has overpaid me, he was very happy that I pointed it out, because a lot of people will just pretend they didn't see it, and go ahead and spend the money on themselves. This happened again this year, on the tall bungalow I am building now, this one is an overpayment of N366,900. I pointed it out and the client just added it in the next payment and deducted his money, with thanks. Honesty is a very good policy. The best policy in fact.

I urge all the young people in our midst, and indeed all of us, to approach business with honesty, both contractors, suppliers and clients, the most enduring businesses I have seen while growing up, were the ones where people can trust the dealer, and leave a lot of money in their business till when they need it. And the businesses use the money wisely, returning value to the investors and customers whenever they need the goods, or their money back. I want to leave a business name that my children will grow up and inherit, I want my children to stand up and say with pride, "I am the child of Spyder880".

May God grant us health and happiness while we work to achieve all these, may we get more clients and customers that will understand us, and work with us like we are their blood relatives. Amen.

Jeff68:
My Brother, you are one of a kind! You are so encouraging!! if you only knew the kind of stories clients deal, with,(i speak from that angle because I am one) I had a friend killed in Nigeria because he came home and there was no house built by the said contractor who later conspired with the brother to kill this man. I personally have been taken advantage of because I am not on ground by some on this forum and some not. Nigerians just do not understand that word "TRUST" it has plagued us everywhere we have been in this world. Till date, I am still looking for just ONE person I can "TRUST" in Nigeria, including family members, to complete my project and there is NON! Many promise to be honest until they see money, or its in their hands and the story changes. Off course everyone has their own side of the story.
GOD BLESS YOU