We all have dreams and aspirations of buildings and infrastructures we wish to erect and build, but are the proper procedures followed, and is the right contractor available to realize your dream home or infrastructure? We’ll be talking about typical errors Nigerians make when selecting a builder or construction firm today. You can be confident that your dreams can come true if you avoid these mistakes.

NOT VERIFYING THE LICENSURE AND REGISTRATION OF THE COMPANY:

Every construction company in Nigeria is registered under the Bureau of Public Procurement. In a world of scammers and thieves, of course, the first mistake to avoid is to ensure your contractor has done all due diligence and properly registered and licensed with documents to back it up. Where you are confused, you can always write the Bureau of Public Procurement for clarification.

NOT ASKING FOR PREVIOUS REFERENCES OR PROJECTS:

Once you have a certified contractor, try to get a record of previous projects handled by the contractor or construction company. Ask for their projects and works and even ongoing projects, and visit these clients to ask about the company’s or contractor’s records and works. Ask about work ethics, quality of work, quality of construction materials (some contractors use low and cheap materials and in no time, regrets come), skills of staff used, and timekeeping records. Do not be afraid to ask as much as you want because the answers will eventually influence your decision.

SENTIMENTS AND EMOTIONS WHEN HIRING CONTRACTORS:

We are all humans and very emotional but when it comes down to business, we can lay aside emotions and invoke logic. Inasmuch as the contractor you hire eventually should be friendly, relatable and approachable, the basis for selection of a contractor should be based on experience, quality of work presented, and evidence of past work. That he is your friend’s brother or your smiling neighbor is not enough reason to give him/her that project.

MONEY CONSCIOUSNESS WHEN HIRING:

Things are really hard (E reach everybody o!) truly, and we must be very wise when investing in a construction project no matter how big or small. Indeed, you cannot just splurge money but do not make the mistake of going for the cheapest bid because you want to save money. You might end up being penny-wise and pound-foolish because that cheap bid might cost you much more (can use cheaper materials, less skilled workers, even time delay) than a more qualified bid but a higher in price would cost you.

NOT GETTING A DETAILED AND DOCUMENTED CONTRACT BEFORE WORK COMMENCES:

This is a common and very costly mistake one can make. Nigerians like verbal agreements but words of mouth cannot be held accountable in court or anywhere else because I can deny what I said today. From getting quotes down to the actual work plan, and work schedule of contractors to payment schedule down to type and specifications of materials to be used should all be agreed upon, signed and documented in the presence of a legal luminary. Make sure to also understand what you are signing and make clarifications where you are confused.

There might be other mistakes not covered in this article but in all, make sure you avoid the ones listed above and make any further clarifications as advised. As earlier stated, there are many scammers and posers today in the country, therefore, to avoid “Had I known”, heed. The success and beauty of any project lies in the hands of a good contractor (do not forget this).