A story of house hunting in Nigeria.
Onyinye was moving out of her parent’s home, and she needed to find a new apartment.
She had heard stories from her colleagues in the office. Not very nice stories.
She visited Pious to enquire how he got the apartment he recently moved into.
Pious shared his own house-hunting experience with her. His stories were not encouraging but they highlighted things she should keep in mind.
Pious told her how he narrowly escaped an apartment his friend Jude is staying in now.
Jude is constantly complaining of water scarcity in the area and how he has to pay boys to bring water for him in 20-litre kegs at N200 each.
READ ALSO: How to invest in stocks using Trove.
He cannot even buy a water tank because there is no space in the compound.
Jude’s landlord promised him that water runs in the compound, but he ignored seeing meruwa boys with kegs around the area.
Pious: I never went alone to inspect any apartment.
Onyinye: Why?
Pious: Security and also once the agent brings another agent that brings another agent that brings another agent, end of discussion.
He complained about how the ignorance made him lose 30k because he was trying to chatter a vehicle that will carry all the agents, plus he and his partner to visit and inspect new apartments.
READ ALSO: The fear of upskilling or cross-skilling.
Pious: Since you are still in your father’s house and he is not pursuing you, wait for the rainy season.
Onyinye: Why the rainy season?
Pious: It is easier to tell when a roof is leaking and areas where water enters the apartment from. Once you see a pool of dried dirt on the floor, look up.
Onyinye learned about how he found out about the issue with waste management in one compound and how the tenants kept complaining about the smell within their environment.
Pious told Onyinye that he once visited a flat where he just casually flushed the toilet and water started leaking out from the sides of the toilet bowl.
The agent told him they will fix it once he pays for the apartment.
He asked about the bathroom walls and why the walls were not tiled.
The agent said the landlord promised to do that once he moves in.
Pious told the agent to tell the landlord to fix the bathroom and toilet bowl and call him once it’s done.
“Obviously, they never called me back,” Pious remarked.
Read also Why you should consider smaller units for your housing needs.
Parking space was important to him. He referred to one compound he visited, and the agent encouraged him saying
“We dey park outside, nothing do you”
“They don’t need to steal the whole car, just the brain box” replied Pious.
He went on to an apartment that was his full specs. He had made up his mind to pay for it.
Something kept nagging him and he secretly went back alone to the compound and met a few people in the compound.
Pious: Good morning, sir.
Tenant: Good morning.
Pious: Abegi, I dey find an apartment for here. The agent tells me say, that one dey free.
Tenant: No go there.
Pious: Wetin happen?
Tenant: The flat get issues with NEPA. The last occupant do illegal connection. NEPA come find out, charge am 100k. Occupant disappear. The landlord no gree pay am. Shit dey also come out from the bathroom floor drain when the septic tank is full.
Pious: (still in shock…) Thank you, sir.
READ ALSO: Our Traditional/Vernacular Architecture tour.
Pious narrated his experience with finding scary markings and inscriptions on the walls of another apartment and how retail shop owners told him that some strange people use the area.
“That’s how my journey went”, Pious continued.
Onyinye noted all the points Pious talked about.
While she thanked him and was about to leave Pious’ apartment.
Pious: Remember to change the external door locks when you finally find one.
Onyinye: What if the landlord finds out, what should I do with the one that was there?
Pious: It’s not his concern. Security is the issue, and you didn’t damage the locks. Keep the old lock to replace back when you are moving out.
Onyinye: Thank you so much. Do have a lovely day.
