Building your first house is a rewarding experience. It comes with a lot of perks and benefits. One of which includes flexibility, absolute control over the facility, and customization to suit your style. Without the right guide, building your first house might be difficult. In this guide, we will walk you through the process and show you the best way to navigate the challenges.
Why Should You Build Your House In Nigeria?
Building your house in Nigeria comes with benefits like customization. For one, you get to choose the location and features that suit your preferences. You also get a chance to control every detail of the house and use your preferred vendors.
A Step By Step Guide To Building Your First House In Nigeria
1. Define Your Budget
The first step in building your first house in Nigeria is to have a budget. A written budget is the foundation for a successful building project. Without a documented financial plan, you will encounter several hiccups and delays that could hinder the completion of your building.
There are essential components a building budget should capture. These include land and documentation costs, construction fees, professional charges, and contingency funds. The professional fees cater to professionals like Architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and contractors. Most times, they charge between 10-15% of your building budget.
2. Choose A Location
Choosing the right location makes all the difference. It imparts the accessibility, value, and comfort you will enjoy in your new house. When planning for your house, don't be cajoled by the advertisement gimmicks of property sellers. You should take your time and carefully analyze some important factors.
Some of the factors you should consider are:
1. Proximity to social amenities.
Ensure the land is close to amenities like schools, hospitals, markets, accessible road networks, and supermarkets. Otherwise, you might have a tough time navigating emergencies.
2. Security
Buying an insecure property is an invitation to trouble. You will have several sleepless nights and numerous restless days. Ensure to research the crime rates and confirm the community security system before buying the land.
3. Buy Your Land
Buying land in Nigeria is not a walk in the park. It is a process that requires you to do your homework and conduct proper research. Otherwise, you just might fall victim of scammers.
One of the best ways to avoid such scams is by buying land using reputable real estate companies like Land Republic. We will do the hard work of verifying land ownership and getting the appropriate documentation for your land.
4. Design Your Building
The design phase is one of the most interesting parts of building your first house. You get to work closely with an architect to put your fantasies on paper. While designing you should pay attention to factors like:
1. Your lifestyle and family needs.
Your lifestyle and family size would influence, the number of rooms, restrooms, and features your building needs. It will also dictate the need for special features like a home office, gym, board room, and other specificities.
2. Aesthetic Preference
Your choice of design should be one that appeals to your personal preference and personality. You could decide to go with a modern, minimalist, or traditional.
3. Future Expansion
It is best to have a design that can be expanded in the future. This will help you save costs if you need to incorporate additional features later on.
5. Obtain The Necessary Permits
Failure to obtain necessary permits is a recipe for demolition. Most states and local governments have regulatory permits you need to obtain before you commence construction. Even though the zoning names are sometimes different, the procedures are quite similar.
First of all, you will submit your architectural drawing to the town planning authority. They will vet your design and collect the required fees for building approval. You may then be required to make payments for specific permits like boreholes, sewage systems, and electrical installations.
6. Source For Your Construction Team and Quality Building Materials
A great design without a great construction team is wasted effort. Ensure to partner with the best engineers and contractors with a proven track record of excellence. As a first-time builder, you might need to get recommendations from persons who have used these professionals previously. Also, look at their previous jobs to give you a feel of your expected outcome.
With the right construction team, sourcing building materials will be easier. Their expertise and technical know-how will be helpful in recognizing quality materials. As a rule of thumb, avoid the temptation to cut costs. This could lead to a compromise on quality that will affect your building in the long run.
7. Construction
The construction phase has five steps:
1. Foundation: In this phase of the project, the construction team will excavate and lay the foundation. There are different types of foundations, so the procedures are different for different types. Usually, the choice of foundation is dependent on the soil type and the type of building the team is constructing.
2. Framing: This phase entails the construction of walls using bricks and blocks. The beams and lintels would also be installed so that the building has structural support.
3. Roofing: The roofing phase is the point where the roofing trusses are constructed and covered with your preferred roofing material.
4. Plumbing and Electrical Works: At this point, you will be working with plumbers and electrical engineers to install pipes, drainage systems, and electrical works for your building.
5. Plastering and Finishing: This phase involves the smoothening of walls, plastering, painting, and fixtures of doors, cabinets, and windows. Extra customizations you desire will also be included in this phase.
Conclusion
Building your first house is a remarkable feat that requires celebration. It comes with a lot of excitement, joy, and happiness. However, this joy could be short-lived if you are not guided by professionals.
We explored the different phases of building your first house and the essentials you should note. We also analyzed essential factors you should pay attention to when preparing to build.
