₦airaland Forum

I read thru and I thought I must have been banned probably somebody hasn't discover enough .
Seun can you list what qualifies you a spammer.

With the list and rules adding up as the thread grows I am afraid everybody will end up banned.

This article talks about the oily wastes, which is especially noticeable in the Niger Delta region.
It contains the definition,types, effects, sources, ways of eliminating and problems against elimination.

read   

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/11/oily-wastes.html#links

visit:

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/11/before-you-collect-that-plan-from-your.html#links

Before collecting the plan from your architect, these are some of what to watch out for
-Your budget can it adequately finance/execute the plan?
-Access to the site
-Setback from building line to fence
-Drainage pattern
-Green areas
-Location of other facilities

Don't have any idea on Ph but may be this posting could give you an idea. Is about obtaining c of o in lagos.

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/11/certificate-of-occupancy-c-of-o-in.html

Houses built with mud refined is gradually spreading out, I know of an Engineer in Ekpoma that has perfected this trade.
I just hope we keep developing this in our own way and one day we will internationalized our own identity.
Thanks for the post.

The places are usually in the outskirts but which are developing very fast.
1. Ikorodu
2. Ipaja, Ayobo,Ayetoro
3.Meiran,Ajegunle not (Mushin L.G)
4.Agbara and out of lagos-the reigning one is Mowe, Ofada.

Renovating and flipping houses is the fastest way of making money on properties.

Some of what to watch out for

1.Have an eye for fixing and renovating seemingly poor but good houses.

2. Avoid Houses with Structural problems if need be.

3.Understand the Market.

4. The Cost.



http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/11/how-to-make-money-renovating-and.html#links

A client of mine got his for N20m in Magodo Shangisha.
Heard the same place now go for N25m

Kc0022000:
Hello Nairalander,

Haven't got any idea about building a house in Nigeria but wish to build one. Recently, l was in Nigeria and got a good offer from a retired Military officer for an uncompleted duplex building ( Decking Level ). After bargain and paper works by my lawyer the place is now mine. Firstly, the land hasn't got Certificate of O. neither is there a survey plan. Secondly, the uncompleted duplex is,4 bedroom,two garage,kitchen. ( Building plan dated 1994 ).Can someone update this building plan to 5 bedroom instead of two garage ? Can l continue with the project then do the paper work at the same time or later ? Or doing the paper work before the project continue ? How much would it cost to deck the duplex and another 5 bedroom with living room at the top ? Its for residential purpose only,thanks for your reply and ideas,

Please, before you start construction get your approval first,the C of O can come later, the government of the day is stiffer in applying sanction to illegal buildings.
Get your survey plan from your surveyor. And present the plan to your Architect to redesign ,negotiate with your preferred contractor or a building professional. 
To effectively give a close estimate of a proposed building  you need to present the plan, cost of building house varies and several factors do contribute to this.
Read this, may be for some ideas

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsfactor.htm
http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsprof.htm
http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsstages.htm

These are areas you can get affordable lands in Lagos.


http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsafford.htm

@ajileko,
Thank you for the question.
Somebody once asked me same question on my blog, please read my reply.

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/09/building-professionals_28.html#links

Starting at all is the keyword, no matter what you earn you can start from somewhere.

Visit

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/10/how-to-build-your-house-from-10000.html

Peter Chen a grandfather blogger has a lot for u.

http://blogger-tricks..com/2006/05/blogger-template-tutorial-adding.html

Johnchow,
Every website I visit lately I see this website on google ads, he had been crying that he deserved to be included among the list of top bloggers.
Ok, let's download his free ebook

http://www.johnchow.com/book/make-money-online.pdf

@2rich4u,
Also a nice link

http://www.lagos-nigeria-real-estate-advisor.com/buying-a-new-home.html

Summary:

(1)Know the numbers of people you require per day on site.
(2)The reputation of your contractor/professional
(3)Earmark 20% of estimate for exigencies
(4)Approve your building plan
(5)Take proper documentation of any financial dealings
(6)Go for quality not the cheapest
(7)Consider seriously the safety of your workers on site
(Treat your project as business
(9)Build the biggest possible size you can afford
(10)Watch out for favourable weather
(11)Storage facilities for your materials is important
(12)Pay only when the job is satisfactory however, don't cut corners because it will cost you more later.

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcssupervise.htm

I am starting a blog, so I have been reading a lot of materials on blog lately, so I feels like posting useful links I discovered.
I want to make money, but Seun replied in one of the posts on this website that you can't , so my first assignment is to look for those that are making it and study them.
I found some here----

http://www.doshdosh.com/profiles-of-blogs-that-make-money

Slide show of those that are making it

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/07/0714_bloggers/index_01.htm

my blog
http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/myblog.htm

@Promise 72,
I am very sorry for not replying you early enough, though I saw the mails late, I am sure you checked my profile to mail me and got omionick@yahoo.co.uk I am sorry I will go and change that immediately,this particular email add I have used to oversubscribed to a lot lot of sites so I get thousands of mails/day.
The one you can use to get quick response from me is great4ways@yahoo.co.uk is also the one on my website.
To BECO blocks, I think nothing call block could be better than this one I saw, though haven't been out of the country to see other one but anything better to me is an overkill.
To set it up won't cost too much as adviced by some people, rather I want to heavily encourage you to do it, and you will make so much money in Nigeria that will make you to run and live U.S patapata.
But also take this advice, this block industry has to be in Big boys area or in Lagos where it can be easily taken to different sites ,you know there are alot of G.R.A's around Lagos.Nigerians are simply mad for anything class, you won't believe it, if you can make some advertisement especially in Lagos and let people know about it, big men will come around to buy your product so that they can brag to their friends that they are using your block to build their buildings ( I am not a big man but my profession gave me the priviledge to meet with these people and I know they have weakness for this) ,apart from the guy I mentioned about in the other post, I saw one that actually but his own engines and move them to site to mould special blocks for him ,even when he doesn't know the usefullness and of course everybody heard that he used a different type of block. Also another one entered into contract with somebody to make special one for him,so many instances.
If it has to be in Ibadan not bad, but you have to make sure is close to the wealthy or you make them know somehow.

@ajileko,
A house plan cost depends on the profile of the Architect, though there is recommended 5% of the total cost of building, but few architect do charge based on this. There are 3 classes/levels of those that can do your work for you.

Senior Architectural Student
These group can design for you and they will charge very less, don't be afraid even at 200 level, a student of architecture has started learning the basics of design. They are ready to go the extra mile to satisfy you client because they need money for school fees, buying of materials e.t.c This group will charge you as low as N70,000. Just go to any University town with a course in architecture. Don't be surprised if they end up giving you a better job in terms of designing, but if you are ready to build you will need an experienced architect, most students will be afraid of taking decisions because they lack experience, but you can use an experienced architect moderate/check the work of the student.

Upcoming or Wannabes architect

This group is not long they left the university but with humble experience
they aren't yet registered with the NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (NIA) in otherwords they don't have a seal yet, this group will charge you between  N200,000-N500,000 for your project.
They are building their clientele so they will be ready to take anything on this range.They are probably working under a big architectural firm to gather more experience and connection, don't be surprised some on this group may even go less afterall they work for a big man for 30 days non stop and go home with salaries from N50,000-N180,000 (excl. those working in banks,oil etc) So they will be ready to take your job as an extra source of income which they can actually round up in one weekend.
I belong to this group.

The Registered but Hungry Architect

This group are registered, they sure are experienced, but they don't have much jobs they can point to or simply lack the clout of an upwardly mobile Architect, they were afraid of facing challenges when they were young so they couldn't make much for themselves, though not hungry as stated.
(When you see one you should be able to know), this group will charge you from N400,000-N1,000,000.

The Big boys, the City Architects

Don't get close to these people if you aren't sure of your purse, they are not ready for stories because they are already well made, even some banks avoid them Yes! Some well experienced with connections flying left and right.
Some very young , registered but with hot blood, this group leave on alot of "Giragira"  they have all the machineries you can think of to bamboozle a client, from cosy offices in highbrow areas  , sleek cars etc. They need to maintain them and you have to pay for them.
This group from 1million to infinity.
So choose your level.
You also need a structural Engineer's drawing ,this may be assigned by your architect or you employ one yourself.( they charge a little less also on levels similar to the ones above)

For the C of O, I have a document issued out in year 2,000 it should still be valid with little additions if there is any.
                            REQUIREMENTS.
1.LAND INFORMATION CERT. (ORIGINAL) APPL. FEE N1,000
2.APPLICATION FORM(RESIDENTIAL-N2,000, IND/COMM.N3,000) WITH 'VITAL INFORMATION  FORM' ATTACHED.
3.COPY OF LAND PURCHASE RECEIPT/AGREEMENT (DULY STAMPED)
4.4 NO. SUNPRINT COPY OF SURVEY PLAN (PAPER OR CLOTH)
5.4 NO. PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHS (INDIVIDUAL)
6.TAX CLEARANCE CERT. & N100 DEVT. LEVY
7.COPIES OF ALL OFFICIAL RECEIPTS (APPLICATION FORM,LAND INFORMATION FEE & PROCESSING FEE)
8.PROCESSING FEE (BANK DRAFT TO LASG:RESIDENTIAL-N10,000
IND/COMM.-N20,000
9.COPY OF APPROVED BUILDING PLAN (ELEVATION IF DEVELOPED)
10.TENEMENT RATE RECEIPT (IF OCCUPIED)
11.COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION/REGISTRATION
(COMPANIES OR GROUP OWNERSHIP).
12. SITE LOCATIONAL SKETCH
13.CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT LEVY
(a)RESIDENTIAL-N30,000
(b)COMMERCIAL AND PLACE OF WORSHIP-N40,000
(c)INDUSTRIAL-N55,000
14. A COVERING LETTER TO : THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, LAND USE AND ALLOCATION OFFICE, GOVERNORS OFFICE, IKEJA: STATING ALL DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.

@2rich4all,
Thanks Promise 72 for answering the question, I couldn't have done better.
But for a reliable Construction firm, apologies to the house, I have to go selfish, You can try my office we do design and build.

Aina+ Associates Design Ltd.,
No. 14 Ajidagan Str.,
Gbagada Phase 1,
Lagos.

A lot of concentration and money are being wasted looking for overexhausted land spaces in the main towns.
but the outskirt has lots of advantages than you can think of.

Summary
(1) Minimal land dispute cases:
(2) Unlikely to be defrauded:
(3) Collapse of Building is not rampant or rather uncommon
(4) Pollution is virtually non-existent
(5) Vegetation
(6) Availability of larger land spaces
(7) This lands are far cheaper
( Fast rate of development
(9)accessibility to the major expressways
(10) Commercial opportunities
(11) Real Estate opportunities.

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcslag.htm

Is nice to be part of this thread, we have highly informed people here.

@ Gobi38,
You can't beat the present crave for making money by states government off developers/properties owners presently in this country. The Lagos state case is a sorry state, they use all manner of semantics these days to collect money- stacking permit,devt. levy e.t.c e.t.c simply put area boyism has been taken to the state level, so presently the high and mighty of the society are involved in it. 
Infact lagos state government is disorganised, they don't understand themselves, they make rules and turn around to also break the rules. A site I was involved in Maryland was recently pulled down altogether because they came up with a theory that they will be using the place for metroline project, yet the same government issued out a C of O for the site in 2006 (what a contradiction).
My advice to you is to try and clear your papers very well now, pay those you need to pay before continuing your project. Lagos State government is deploying arms and police strenght that could have been used to take care of robbers to harrass hapless Engineers/contractors,demolishing houses and chasing women on trousers, They are demolishing houses even when you have papers to back your project .
But I am happy you said the government sold this one to you,I wish you goodluck.   

EKENEA:
--thirdeye,
Please advice, what should be the estimate (cost),to build a twin duplex in festac area.

To be very honest with you, I DON'T KNOW.
Estimating cost of a building is usually very complicated due to a  lot of factors, giving a vague answer is not always the truth, you need to have a first hand knowledge of what you are going to build, specifications, seen and unforeseen circumstances and taste makes house estimation varies a lot.
I know people are always very eager to know how much their building will cost and they need a straight answer, so what I usually tells them to construct a duplex is 6m for the frames of the building i.e blockwall -roof excluding finishes and cost of land. But this is very untrue, the 6m is what somebody elsewhere will use for his foundation. 
What you can easily estimate is the quantities of the materials you are going to use, but quantities of materials are seldom not enough, what of the quality?
A house you built for 5m can also be built for 15m side by side without you noticing the difference especially when the house is completed and there are no written specifications. 
Let me give you an example ,
A 6 bedroom twin duplex which I am priviledged to be involved in at Magodo is surrounded by 4 almost same twin duplexes being built by a developer. At my estimation, the cost of building my clients own should be able to conviniently build 2 of the other guys own. Why? the client happens to be a stickler for quality,  the other guy took his luck very far because of the strong nature of the soil and he was using a 10mm rod (thin iron rod)  for column/pillars, where the minimum acceptable should have been 16mm, (for us we used 16mm imported iron rods which are costlier and atimes stronger). Standard ratio was strickly followed in cement usage on my site while the other guys mixture ratio was weak.
When they were buying the blocks for the other houses for #115, we were buying each block for #220 (BECO BLOCKS), imagine the difference this will cause in the cost of a 2 similar projects sitting side by side each other.
Now, imagine you in diaspora happens to be the one that commissioned the two contractors, and  you gave a blank cheque for the two contractors, you came back home , both houses are standing ,what you can do in house A, you can also do in house B, yet mine is times 2 of the other one. Won't you label me a big thief?   
Yet extra  #5 was not made on this project by anybody. That is why I agree with Promise72  that you'll probably spend more as someone leaving abroad to the other person that can see eye to eye what type/quality of materials are being used on site. By the time you come back your house may have being completed ,you won't have to chisel down the concrete used for your house to check the iron rods in them, neither are you going to remove the roof to check type of wood or timber they used for your house.
But there is a difference, when the other building life span is 25 years, mine will last for 100 years, when there is a bomb blast in Ikeja Cantonment and is bringing down the other house what you'll probably notice in mine are just few cracks.
so whatever you spend on your house at the long run is not a waste if spent wisely.

@Gom,
A quantity surveyor is learned in estimating your project.
However other building professionals do estimate based on experience, so you can try one if you aren't satisfied with your Architect's recommendation.

@Gobi,
Lekki is considered now a choice area, so buying at 7.5m may even be too small, afterall single plots of land are now being sold in Magodo for N25m.

@Promise 72,
Nice lecture you are doing great.
But 80 loads of laterite will be needed to fill the building? confirm this when you are ready to fill.

@Others,
Cost of building your house varies based on a lot of factors,
it could be nature of  land, taste, social factor e.t.c
Using non-professionals is like going round a circle, you will pay more at  the long run, just look for reputable ones.

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsprof.htm
http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsfactor.htm

@texazzpete
We can see you are very sound in English, but the original poster passed a message across, which is more important.

Don't be afraid, they are bought to chase ladies on trousers . That is there preoccupation for now, they will soon hand them over to policemen in Abuja. Just like it was in Lagos.

Many buildings have collapsed, many are on the verge of doing same , but more will make mistakes that leads to building collapse.
Read these causes,

Summary

1, Boycotting the professionals
2, Contractors cutting corners
3, Human activities
4, Inadequate foundation

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcscoll.htm

LondonCool:
I'm watching this space. I'm fencing my land in Calabar measured at 140 x 120. I have bought 30 bags of cement and 2 small Lorry trips of sand so far.The moulding of blocks is still in progress and will soon enter into the fencing stage.I have not purchased iron rods yet but my expenses so far are around N300,000.

Your land is big and so it may cost more.
Converting 140 ft x 120ft to metres--- 140/3.3= 42m and 120/3.3=36m
Assuming the plot is a perfect rectangle  42x2=84m +
                                                                  36x2=72m.
                                                     Total=156m
Taken each block lenght as 0.45m, Divide156/0.45=346 numbers of block to go round a coach/layer of your entire site.
If your blocks is to be laid for 10 coaches to make your fence, then you need
346x10=3460 blocks add 10% wastages, 3460+346=3806 blocks.

Now considering each block to be let say #115/block depending either 6" or 9" as the case may be
Multiply 115 x 3806=#437,690.
     Find out how many blocks and type they are laying with each bag it depends, your area's average probably could be as high as 70 blocks. So for your 30 bags of cement , 30 x 70=2100 blocks.
     Honestly, you are still going to spend more but you are doing well.

@all,
For those of you that can't face the fact that carpenters can collect as much or simply put welder haters! sorry,
read my piece:
http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsartesans.htm




Some us

O pari! the more I tries to decipher, the more I get confused. Have you guys turned this into a game of puzzle?
Why is it so hard to say what sleekfun did? Or the sins are so much that you couldn't have much time to state all?

cgift:
Some good points though! Like buying use materials that banks are pulling down.

Just work into any new site and inquire, nobody will arrest you over that, people do come to my site and ask whenever I am on site so is a common thing, some actually take it as business sourcing around sites for this materials.

Thank you Seun I appreciate your input.

@Londoncool,
Seun is a big man now, may be he is frequenting Home and abroad.

Phcn or Nepa is the only problem in my area. I feels like shooting them all.

Mistakes Nigerians in diaspora make,why you should not do same.

http://www.buildingcontractorsecrets.com/bcsdiaspora.htm

Summary:
(1) Let Professionals Handle your Project.
(2) Don't Send down all the Money at Once.
(3) Crosscheck and don't allow anybody to bamboozle you into buying.
(4) Find a time may be once in a year to come home.
(5) Your property documents are what you need.