Buying your first home is like a rollercoaster ride—one moment, you’re filled with excitement and hope; the next, you’re clutching your chest in fear and doubt. It’s a mixed bag of emotions: love, fear, excitement, frustration, and maybe a bit of “Why did I sign up for this again?”
In Nigeria, this experience is even more unique. From hidden costs to property title verification, there are a few extra hurdles you might not have prepared for. So, we reached out to a few first-time home buyers who’ve been through the trenches to share their stories. They spilt the beans on what they wish they’d known before signing on the dotted line. With any luck, their 20/20 hindsight will help smoothen your journey to homeownership.
Lesson One: Even if a House Looks ‘Perfect,’ It Has Problems
Take it from Pamper Otaruo, who got carried away by the allure of a newly renovated house in Osapa London, Lagos. (Yes, we know this isn’t Nigeria, but the lesson is universal.) The house looked like a dream—fresh paint, new appliances, and a prime location. What could go wrong, right?
Wrong.
Enter the home inspection—a step that’s as essential in Lagos as it is in New Jersey. Hunt’s inspector came back with a laundry list of issues that had been neatly covered up. Imagine finding out that your beautifully lacquered hardwood floors are a dust trap because they were polished without sweeping first! Or that your shiny kitchen appliances don’t actually work. And don’t get us started on the windows missing caulking, or worse, an old underground oil tank.
In Nigeria, this could easily translate to a leaky roof right after the rainy season starts or a borehole that doesn’t produce water. These are nightmares you want to avoid!
Hunt’s initial excitement turned into a negotiation tool. Armed with his home inspection report, he renegotiated a lower price with the seller. He says, “I’m grateful I didn’t skip the inspection. The last thing you want is to discover a major problem after the fact.”
And that’s the takeaway for Nigerian home buyers too: No matter how appealing a property seems, a professional inspection is your safety net. As Jane Peters, a seasoned real estate broker, puts it, “You don’t have to ask the seller to fix everything, but you do need to know what you’re getting into.”
Why This Matters in Nigeria
Nigeria has its own set of challenges when it comes to buying a home. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, there’s a whole world of potential issues—like “Omo Onile” disputes, incomplete documentation, or a lack of proper drainage systems that could turn your compound into a swamp with the first heavy rain.
Here’s the kicker: some sellers might not even know these problems exist or they might conveniently “forget” to mention them. A professional inspection can bring these hidden issues to light, saving you from a costly mistake.
Pro Tip: Never Skip the Inspection!
Just because a property looks good doesn’t mean it’s in the clear. An inspection gives you a detailed look at what’s really going on behind the paint and plaster. It’s worth every naira, and then some.
So, before you get swept up in the excitement of your potential new home, take a step back. Schedule that inspection. It’s a small step that could save you from a giant headache later on.
Buying a home in Nigeria is not just a financial investment; it’s an emotional one too. It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re investing in something that won’t turn your dreams into nightmares.
[…] – have defects that only a trained eye can catch. As one buyer put it after an inspection, “I’m grateful I didn’t skip the inspection. The last thing you want is to discover a major problem after the […]