Favour_me:

I trying to plan for my building project which will starts sometime next year. Considering I am not in Nigeria, I am drawing up a plan that will ensure good work and less "cheating" on pricing and materials.

I intend to involve the following:

1. Builder - This person will bring workers, suggest what & quantity of materials to buy and ensures building is done according to drawn plan. I will negotiate with him on price and quantity of materials needed. I will supply all materials he requires.

2.  Agent (possibly my junior brother) - Based on my negotiation with the builder and price quotation from other sources including this site, he will buy all required materials, ensure they are delivered to the building site. He will also be on site to ensure materials bought are actually used and not diverted.

3. Supervisor (maybe my inlaw who lives in same town) - Occasionally visit site, ensures work is being done as planned and that the builder is doing the right thing. Possibly, I will ask him for a separate quotation/pricing for materials. Just to make sure that I am not being ripped off.

Apologies if you guys think I am planning like a "baby". I don't have experience in these things and based on what I have read on the internet including this blog about some people being ripped off, I am trying to avoid that. Money hard to get!!!!.

Please, is this plan ok? Any better ideas?

Again, what do you guys suggest for rate/amount for the builder, Agent and Supervisor? And should it be based on daily rate or based on amount of work done or should be contracted out?

Any ideas will be appreciated.

spyder880:

I pressed the fast-forward button and this is what I saw in 2012
The Spyder team working on a site

prince_onx:

. When I ask him he'll tell me that am not in Nigeria so I won't understand every thing!

spyder880:

^^^^ Thank you Prince, actuaally I have spent more than 13-14 years working on sites everyday, and I have witnessed schemings, overthrows and sometimes physical blows and free-for-all fights live on sites. Its like politics, the relative is the govt, the contractor is like the private sector and the workers are the poor masses, always. The govt has the control, by controlling the purse strings, the contractor must fall in line, or one regulatory order will be passed against him, while the workers must thread the fine line between the contractor and the govt (site owner and representatives)

I have seen plenty, even cases where the brother connived with the contractor and ripped their employer off! Money running into millions were paid and diverted and the brother only found out when he came back and saw that the work which was said to be in the roofing stage is still at the decking stage.

I have seen cases where the relatives scared the workers away with their shouting and insisting things should be done in another way, while the contractor abandoned the project mid way due to the problems. Too much energy was spent cursing and fighting to the detriment of the job. That house is still at the window level 6 months after.

Real builders knows how to navigate the terrain, how to balance their act, getting the best of everybody, how to be friendly to the family you are working for, maintaining good relationship with your wokers where possible and making sure your services are delivered with quality assured, because in the end, it is only the quality of job done that you will be remembered with, not for being Mr. Nice guy.

Favour_me:


I am bit confused? What exactly shud I do? I guess its not right to use only the builder and making him to be in charge of workers, rate, buying materials and being supervisor.

And I don't want any problem with my family, inlaws and builder. This is scaring!!

Favour_me:

Thanks spyder880 for your response. I was thinking there will be problem with my plan. But your suggestion is not different because it still involves 3 parties (builder, supervisor and someone who will be buying materials/ensuring good job is done).

How will I go forward? What is the best plan?

I will be the one calling the shots from abroad. I will be agreeing directly with builder about labour cost, duration and what materials to buy. I will then ask an agent to buy those materials as agreed with the builder and supply same to the building site. I wanted to use my brother as agent but my brother will be going to lagos to start searching for job by next year (he finished NYSC this year). If my brother travels out, who else can be my agent? I wanted my inlaw to occasionally visit the site and confirm what has been done simply because he is in town. Or should I not involve my inlaw?

I am bit confused? What exactly shud I do? I guess its not right to use only the builder and making him to be in charge of workers, rate, buying materials and being supervisor.

And I don't want any problem with my family, inlaws and builder. This is scaring!!

jonahoc:

Hi Spyder880. I'm a new comer to nairaland and happen to hail from the same area as you do. how is your building coming along and how is the price of land in Enugu now?