10/05/2020
MY BRICKLAYER SAID I CAN BUILD A COMFORTABLE 3BEDROOM BUNGALOW FOR 3MILLION NAIRA
Client: How much will you charge for design and supervision of this 3bedroom apartment?
Me: Okay sir, send me your email, let me send you a bill.
Client: Ha, Architect. This bill is too much now. Okay, just do the design alone, I have a very good bricklayer, you don't need to supervise it again.
Me: Okay sir. But if we supervise the project for you, I can assure you that there will be value for money, quality job delivery and we'll help you reduce wastage of materials and cost of construction to about 30%. You will enjoy regular cost projection, proper negotiations, discounts on other materials, etc
Client: My bricklayer told me I can build the house for N3m. So, leave all those things you're saying.
Me: OK sir.
(We agreed on the design bill, he paid and we delivered a perfect job. He started showing everybody what we did for him).
(3MONTHS LATER)
Client: Architect, nawa for you oh, you didn't even ask about my building project. You can't believe that the bricklayer messed up the work for me. He changed many things on the design without telling me. He has wasted my money and materials. The house is not even looking like the 3D you did for me anymore. I have sacked him and I just decided to abandon the project for now. It's really annoying.
Me: Eeyah, I'm so sorry to hear this.
Client: I really need you to come to the site and help me see what 'we' can do to solve this problem.
Me: Okay sir. But I thought he was so confident that N3million will build the house. So, what has changed?
Client: See, just forget about that guy, he stole my Cement and had a bargain with the block supplier to be taking a cut on every block supplied to the site. I noticed that the blocks we bought initially were different from the ones supplied afterwards. When I complained, he said, I shouldn't worry, the blocks are strong. This is apart from the poor jobs he did for me.
Me: Wow. This is really bad. I'll call later to fix a time to meet you.
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These are the similar conversations we have had with some clients (which unfortunately includes learned and professionals), from failed building projects. Often times, we tell people not to bank on what their artisans tell them.
Not that they can't be correct, but we as professionals usually do in-depth analysis of what it costs to build a house. They will tell you a figure just to make you start and you'll expect that your house will be ready with that amount.
So, when you ask me, if 3 Million Naira will build a 3-bedroom bungalow, I'll tell you No, it will not. 3 Million Naira will probably take it to roofing level depending on the size of your building.
A lot of people have been deceived into such beliefs and they ended up realizing that they need about double or more of such amount to complete the house. Most people end up abandoning the project for a long time as a result of this.
Engaging experienced and trustworthy professionals like Architects, civil engineers and builders on your project will save you a lot of heartbreaks, sadness and will help you achieve your dreams.
