₦airaland Forum

NwaAmaikpe:



Banky W is a typical example of a Lazy Nigerian Youth.

Ordinary Adesuwa, e no fit give belle,
But he wants to be called Mr. Capable.

Is that not the same thing the dullard was talking about?

Hahahahahahahaha
baddest!!
this guy is sick ooh

Land fraud is a big issue in Nigeria and the reason is simple – Nigerians like you do not find the idea of losing their hard-earned money to scam agents who pose as agents and landowners.

In the past, all a scam agent needed to defraud unsuspecting buyers like you was to pose as a wealthy man also known as a ‘big man/woman’ and get his/her hands on some fake documents. Today, however, a lot has changed and so have scam agents. Scam agents have become more creative and innovative in their criminal acts.

To cut down the chances of falling prey to these voracious entities, we will take you through top 5 tips that safeguard you from losing your money to scam agents and double-dealing homeowners.

Don’t Be in a Rush
One of the most successful tactics scam agents deploy when trying to add you to their list of victims is that they try to rush you. Rushing you is designed to place you under the mindset that the offer is for a very limited time and that if you don’t pounce in good time, you might lose out on the deal. This is not true. A good deal is not worth rushing.

No matter how mouth-watering a deal is, if the agent or property owner does not give you ample time to evaluate your choices and decision, it’s not worth it.

As long as you have not paid for a land that a fraudulent agent is trying to sell to you, the scam is not successful so you should always hold on to your money and buy yourself as much time as you need to verify the owner’s numerous claims.

If the owner tries to rush you, counter this with an explanation of how you carry out due diligence before you make payment. Don’t be afraid to let the property owner know that you do not like being pressured into making important decisions.

Never Make Payment For a Land You Have Not Inspected
Physical inspection of a land you are interested in incredibly important. Never put yourself in a situation where you have to pay for a land that you have not created time to inspect.

Some people might take such a risk and be lucky enough to get away with it but this increases your risk of getting scammed greatly.

Before you pay for any land at all, you must not just see the land physically but you must carry out an inspection of the property. An inspection lets you know how much value you are getting for your money.

In a situation where you are outside Nigeria and you want to inspect a land, send someone whose judgement you fully trust to carry out an inspection for you.

Cheap Land Should Raise Flags
Buying land is not cheap. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Land in Nigeria can be affordable but not cheap. For instance, if a seller tries to sell land to you at a price that is ridiculously cheap, tread with caution.

If a land is listed at an excessively cheap price, it is probably fraudulent. One of the factors that determine how much a land sells for is its location. This explains why a plot of land in Banana Island is more expensive than the same land space in Ikorodu in Lagos.

The only exception to cheap land is when the owner is someone you have a personal relationship with. For example, a wealthy uncle/aunt could give you the gift of a plot of land.

Get Help From a Real Estate Expert
The safest way to avoid land fraud is to work with a real estate professional. Let an expert guide you with his/her wealth of experience within the real estate space.

A reliable property expert will ensure you get the best value for your money. Many of the things to look out for before buying land will be provided by the real estate expert.

Final Thoughts.
In addition to the tips we have shared, when buying land, avoid paying cash. Always ensure your payment can be traced. Don’t pay through a transfer through your mobile App. it might be a smart way of making payment for other things but when buying land, it isn’t a smart thing to do.

Make the payment within a banking hall. When you deposit the money into the seller’s account with a teller to show for it. The teller would contain the name of the seller. If something goes wrong, you are not left hanging.

Finally, when buying land, ask for a receipt. On the receipt, ensure ‘payment for land’ is boldly written on it.
https://www.privateproperty.com.ng/news/land-fraud/

We are into properties.

Things that happen when a house is about to collapse

There are quite a number of reasons why a building collapse could happen. It could be as a result of an act of terrorism, a structural failure or natural disasters like an earthquake, hurricane, flooding, landslide, tornado or a mudslide.

Nigeria has suffered its share of building collapse in the past with several cases of buildings collapsing and killing scores of people. On December 10, 2016, Nigeria was hit by a tragedy when a church collapsed in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom; killing over 200 people.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel was among the lucky survivors of this tragic incident when the church building collapsed right in the middle of a Saturday service.

On September 22, 2015, a building collapsed in the Lekki axis of Lagos State. In May 2016, a four-storey shopping complex collapsed in Ogun State, which left many dead

In October 2015, a three-storey building collapsed in Lagos. Sadly, there has been an increase in the number of collapsed buildings in Nigeria in the last 10 years.

According to the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Sola Adeigbe, a total of 1,104 buildings were sealed from Between June and October 2016 across Lagos State as a result of defective or illegal construction.

The fact remains that buildings do not just collapse. There are always warning signs. In many cases, the building control agency of several states in Nigeria carry out a non-destructive integrity test.

This test according to real estate professionals is to ascertain the structural stability of the building. This helps the state know if such buildings can be renovated or re-engineered.

In cases where building are detected to have a defect, building owners are asked to take the test before further actions are taken by the state.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of homeowners as well as those who live or work in properties in Nigeria, we have compiled a list of 7 warning signs that should not be taken for granted.

The moment you notice any of the warning signs we will discuss in this article, immediately evacuate the building and make it a point of duty to notify your nearest Local Council Development Area (LCDA)

1. Major cracks in the wall
Thermal movement remains one of the most potent causes of cracks to appear in the walls of buildings. If overlooked, this could eventually lead to the collapse of the building.

A crack in the wall of a building is a natural sign that the structure is unable to accommodate the movement or load to which it is subjected. When cracks appear in the walls of a building, it is either a structural crack or a non-structural crack.

While structural cracks appear as a result of incorrect design, faulty construction or overloading, non-structural cracks appear due to internally induced stress on the materials used in constructing a building.


2. Gaps between floors
When there are gaps between the walls and floors of a building, you must understand that this is a structural defect that could end very badly.

In 1995, a building with gaps between the floors and its walls eventually collapsed and killed three people.

Uneven spaces and sloping floors are not to be taken lightly. For instance, take a look at the house from the street. Is the front entrance straight? For contemporary homes, sloping floors are a really bad sign.

3. Deteriorating support structure
Deterioration can result due to different reasons including;

Substandard materials used: As building components fail, they can directly impact on the exterior walls. The collapse of interior floors can push against masonry exterior walls and this eventually paves the way for the collapse of buildings.

Tears and fissures in foundation structures:This can also happen when fissures appear in welds of steel during construction or over time. A building is likely to undergo progressive collapse when a primary structural element fails, resulting in the failure of adjoining structural elements, which in turn, causes further structural failure culminating in a building collapse.

Deformed siding: Siding is what protects your building from the moisture and the elements. It can be found on the inside and outside the walls of the buildings that are well constructed. When not kept in good condition, it can deteriorate and result in weakening of foundational structures; something that often leads to building collapse.

4. Creaking and popping sounds
When the house you live in begins to make creaking and popping sounds, you should be very worried. In September 2016, a resident heard creaking sounds on the 7th floor of a building, which eventually collapsed.

When a house creaks, what is happening is that the metal parts contract much more than the wood does. As a result, the nails, pipes and air ducts rub against the wood.

Also, the wood rubs and grinds against other wooden parts of the structure, which creates the creaking sounds.

If you ever find yourself hearing weird sounds and cracks especially during strong winds, it’s a sign you should pay attention to.

5. Mould and water stains on walls and collapsing ceilings
There is usually one way mould and rot are caused – Water got to a part of the house that should not be wet. Professionals prefer to call this ‘moisture penetration.’

When there is an excess of moisture that can’t escape within the structure of a house, it is called a damp.

The natural tendency of moisture is to spread out from wet parts of a house to the dry areas. The moisture would also move downwards with the under the influence of gravity. Your house construction should allow for this.

If this does not happen, it could result in clay lump walls collapsing.

6. Moving house
One of the most dangerous warnings of an impending collapse is when the house is moving. The movement here does not refer to the way a human would move. Rather, this means that over a period of time, certain parts of the house have shifted from their original position as a result of foundation problems. Technically, when the foundation of the building shifts, it sets into motion, a disturbing number of serious events throughout the house, which forces the house to move.

Final thoughts
A building does not suddenly collapse in one night without any warning sign. The signs are usually there to be seen. One of the biggest problems with these signs is that if neglected, they make the collapse of the building inevitable. In essence, early warning signs should not be handled with levity.

Source https://www.privateproperty.com.ng/news/building-collapse-in-nigeria-6-early-warning-signs/

Nice