I come across many people who want to save money when building a house in Nigeria. That’s the first thought that comes to mind when building a structure.

I hope it’s not too expensive; can I get the cheapest rate; what’s the least amount I would need; these are the questions I get from clients when we get to the costing stage of their project.

Fact is, they ask these questions before even committing to a design. It is pertinent to save money when building a house in Nigeria.

This is not an average statement, it’s just a way of being practical. Saving money is key during construction hence this article. Check out tips necessary to save money when building a house in Nigeria.

Tips To Save Money When Building a House in Nigeria!

If you want to save money when building a house in Nigeria, check out these tips below. Have in mind that these tips pertain to the construction process. 

Working Drawings Are a Big Deal!

It’s a shame that most people still do not believe this to be a thing. Well, the “most” refer to the people outside the professional space. Professionals will always follow the right process. It really makes little sense to embark on a project that costs millions in Naira and not have a blueprint. It is impossible to estimate quantities without a blueprint; drawings in this case.

To save money during construction projects, drawings will help you estimate. With working drawings, you are certain about the units needed to estimate your project. Length, depth, width, and volume, become easy to calculate. With drawings, it is unnecessary to make assumptions. You won’t hear “let us just budget #30 million for the roofing”.

If you don’t have drawings, you won’t have a choice but to make that commitment. This is so because there is no basis for the estimate, hence you won’t be able to quantify what you are using #30 million for. Ensure you have working drawings for every aspect of the construction process. These drawings cost money, but they help you save money when building a house in Nigeria.

With drawings, a clear path to final construction is visible. There is no trial and error. You won’t make mistakes that would lead to the demolition and reconstruction of a work item. This is key.

Ensure You Consult A Quantity Surveyor!

A quantity surveyor’s job is to manage a project’s finances. The keyword here is “Finance”. If there is an expert to make sure you save money on a project, the quantity surveyor is your “go-to” guy. How do they come into your project? Good question.

After following the tip above, you need to have an estimate prepared for those drawings. A bill of quantities helps in defining the optimal quantity and price of the materials being used in construction. After they prepare this document, you are well on your way to saving costs on the project.

These documents do not come free, as the quantity surveyor charges a tiny percentage out of the contract sum. The bill of quantities lists every work item required for the project. It also shows the estimated material and labour requirements for the project.

The quantity surveyor achieves this by working together with clients, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants in identifying their specialities and scopes for the project. The quantity surveyor coordinates with different parties in order to complete the optimum prices for each element of the project. With this document, you can regulate costs on work items. 

As long as the quantity surveyor remains a member of the construction team, he/she ensures that the project costs remain within the stipulated budget.

Hire Professionals!

Professionals have been the backbone of these tips, hence their relevance. If you engage professionals, a satisfactory job is certain. Processes that may lead you to move back to stage 1 after attaining stage 4 would never occur. An example, rising dampness is fast becoming a common problem in buildings.

This is a stage in construction that could cost near (+/-)#50,000 but could require #500,000k or more to fix, if not properly done at the initial stage. This is one of those things that could go wrong. Hire a professional to prevent this.

Use Quality Materials!

I cannot overemphasize this. If you use quality materials for your building project, you won’t have to make a fresh installation all over again. Time and resources used to fix a problem borne out of quality had better be money in your pocket. A lot of substandard materials are being sold in the market these days. Only a true professional can spot the difference.

These tips when applied, help you save costs on your project. You may think of some of these tips as a waste of money, but I have never seen one go astray with a blueprint. Estimation based on drawings is the way to go, as regards the construction of buildings.

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