14/04/2020
12 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE TAKING THAT APARTMENT
Edited by
Brendakel Properties Consultants
1. TRUSTED AGENTS
Ask your friends or trusted church members to recommend a known estate agent for you if you are not going for real estate companies which usually only manage high-value property. Brendakel Properties Consultants is your best bet.
2. PATIENCE
Except maybe your life is in a serious risk, you should take your time to search for a good apartment. This is because there is probably always one better apartment than the last one you inspected.
If you don’t like a place, then you don’t like. Take your time to search further because you probably will get something better. Do note that where you will live for a considerable long time is not a place you should start to manage from Day 1.
3. AFFORDABILITY OF RENT
The next big thing you should consider is the rent. This is the amount you will pay yearly for occupying the building. Now, consider this carefully and be sure it is an amount you can conveniently pay yearly.
4. OTHER COSTS
Before you pay the rent, be clear on the other costs associated with taking up the flat. Ask to be told what other costs you must pay to have the apartment. Don’t be caught unawares by security cost, cleaning cost, etc. They may be small but know them.
5. ROAD NETWORK/ACCESSIBILITY/COST OF COMMUTING
Even if the apartment is good for its price, you should strongly consider the road network in the community and adjoining roads leading to the place. Don’t overlook this as it counts a lot.
If the place is not accessible, be sure you can OVERLOOK that before paying to be a tenant there.
You can get a CHEAP accommodation in a remote settlement but if it is terribly far from your office, the cost and stress of commuting to and fro work may be a killing factor to weigh well.
6. WATER
If the water is not good for drinking and cooking (even if you won’t be drinking it), please run for your life. Don’t take it.
Check the water well. Be sure it is good for consumption and it is not as brown as tea that it will turn your white shirt to brown soon. Also, be careful with landlords who tells you, they will put water immediately you pay.
7. POWER SUPPLY/BILLING
Ask people on the street but do not do this when the agent is there. In fact, ask traders whose businesses depend on everyday power supply.
They will tell you the truth unlike the agent who may tell you what may be false.
Then be smart. If you see generators in every corner and they are looking heavily used, my friend, watch it.
8. SECURITY
Well, I think I will prioritise this more because my apartment was once invaded and my phone stolen. Be sure you are paying for an apartment with some level of security. This is not Europe where houses have no fence. At least, make sure the apartment is gated.
9. DRAINAGE AND FLOODING
Open your eyes well and look at the drainage system in the streets leading to the place. Does it look like there will be flooding if it rains heavily or even just lightly? Flooding is a major challenge in Lagos and other cities in Nigeria. Watch out for this.
10. VENTILATION
This is as important as oxygen. Are the surrounding houses so contiguous that you can touch the next one right from your bedroom? I once lived in a house in Lagos Island where I could turn the generator in the next house right from our verandah. You know how residential houses in Bayelsa State and other states are? Be sure that ventilation is not hindered in the place you want to pay for.
11. NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION
This is an important factor if you don’t want to spend your nights cursing the day you paid for the apartment. It is advised you distant yourself from any house that is close to any other building where noise is constantly generated.
You know what can generate noise so watch out for them. If you sight them around, you should consider whether you can cope with the noise. Noise is a stress causal agent so you want to be sure you can cope.
12. DO YOUR TRADE-OFF ANALYSIS WELL
Well, you may not be able to have all the above and more in a single pack. So, you may have to do some trade-offs except you are paying ‘gbem’ for a very good place in a highbrow area.
All the same, do the trade-off analysis well and whichever inconvenience you choose to live with should be the lesser inconvenience.
Anani Sunday ©
