We’ve all heard the horror stories about the landlords from hell. But what about tenants? Have you ever gone for a viewing of an apartment and it felt like you stepped into a crash site? Yup, tenants have been known to also bring along their fair share of baggage!  Let’s take a look at some things that can save you a few angry phone calls from your landlord.

1.    Don’t be late for a viewing, at least no later than 15 minutes.

2.    Do call the real estate agent if you’re going to be late or if you can’t attend the viewing.

3.    Don’t walk into to the viewing making derogatory remarks towards something you don’t fancy. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” As said by Thumper from Bambi

4.    Do view the whole property – look at the whole property first and then review any problems with the real estate agent or landlord. Renting or buying someone else’s property is always a trade-off. You will always love some parts of the property and some you don’t. The secret is to find a property with more positives than negatives.

5.    Don’t compare the “small” Egbeda house with a luxurious six bedroom Abuja house featuring 24/7 CCTV, security station, swimming pool, 24-hour electricity supply, tennis court, running tracks, children’s playground and servants quarter in Abuja. Egbeda is not Abuja.

6.    Do take into consideration that Abuja is one of the fastest growing city’s in Africa, competition is fierce and the city charges varying rates for every lifestyle element, from food and education, to parking and entertainment.

7.    Don’t lie about the number of pets you have and the type of pet they are.

8.    Do explain the number of pets, children, domestic staff, cars and boats you have from the beginning. This way the real estate agent can seek out properties tailored to your needs.

9.    Don’t buy or rent a house without first getting the needed information, in terms of location, taste and expectations. Take your time to plan properly to avoid mistakes, especially when coming from a different country.

10.  Do be realistic with your budget and the type of house you can rent or buy.

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Gone are the days of boring conventional homes. Who says you have to have white walls and marble floors to have a nice home? certainly not us. For some people living in a small space is a choice, cozy homes make them happy, for others, a small apartment is the opportunity cost of getting a new car or the ideal space in your budget at the time you were househunting. 

Whatever it is, small living spaces dont have to be a bore and we've got some inexpensive tips to spruce up your home.

The Lighter, The Better

Dark coloured walls and floors make any space seem cozy but they also absorb light. Small spaces with light coloured walls reflect the light ain give a more airy feel. Opt for light flooring where possible to maintain the flow

Look, Up!

A coloured or textured ceiling is the best way to 1. add personality to your home and 2. make the space look bigger. Anything that attracts a persons' eye upwards makes the room look bigger/taller than it actually is. 

Choose Statement Furniture 

In small living spaces, one large statement piece as opposed to several smaller pieces decreased the look of over crowding and clutter and makes a room feel bigger.

Use Rugs 

Rugs are the best thing to happen to small houses, you just dont know it yet! Use several rugs to demarcate a room and give the appearance of having more than one space in a room. This is especially handy for studio apartments 

Show Some Legs, Honey

Furniture with exposed legs, expose more of the floor than furniture with skirts or boxy furniture giving the appearance of more floor space in the room.

Be Yourself

Its your space afterall, you can do what you want with it. If you'd rather trade the conventional double bed & 7 seater for a trendy sofa bed to keep your space looking and feeling like you... go for it!

For more interior design tips, speak to us on social media @remaxigeria or start a conversation with us by leaving a comment below!

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In continuation of part one of our series discussing legal issues to consider when buying property in Nigeria, we bring you some more essential information worth knowing before entering into any property or land agreement in Lagos.

5. Among the documents for exchange, evidence that no tax encumbrances exists over the land must be presented. Clearance from the government agencies that all land charges and other demands have been made are also essential. If there are building plan approvals and land/soil tests, the results must also be handed over at final exchange.
6. Prior to the exchange, and if you have not done so yet, a physical visit to the land is very important.
7. Once an exchange has been made and payment for the original titles, conveying documents and documents listed in (5) above are completed, then you should immediately take over physical possession of the land/property purchased. The law says that possession is 90% of ownership.

The next step is to register your title or interest over the property at the appropriate land registry.
Purchase of land covered by a registered private sublease
Notice that we mentioned private sublease. We define this as the sublease between two private persons (whether individual or corporation). Where you are offered a property that has been sublet to a sublease (in the previous private transaction) and (sublessor in the current transaction with you). In such a situation, you must take the following steps:

1. Demand for the Head lease
2. Conduct a search at the land registry where the sublease is registered and ascertain:

1. Who the appropriate parties are and that you are taking a lease from the appropriate party
2. How many years is left on the sublease? This is important, so you are not sold/leased what does not exist. Some dishonest people seek to sublet beyond their term and if you fall victim of this, you would have bought NOTHING because – nemo dat quod non habet (one cannot give what he does not have)
3. You should get your agent (if he or she is conversant in such matters) or legal practitioner, to interpret for you the terms of the head lease to ensure that the proposed lessor has the power to a sale.

Purchase of a registered land
(In the case of transaction by two private individuals)
When you are offered a land by a person who has bought and has registered his/her title:

1. You are to sight the original registered documents, which in that case, will comprise of a Deed of Assignment, sublease etc.
2. Conduct a search at the lands registry at which the said land was registered
3. Take all the steps listed on our earlier article on this subject (Find it here) relating to the purchase of land covered by a C of O.
4. In addition to the above, and most importantly, you should get the survey plan attached to the Deed of Assignment, subjected to a chart. The technical reasons for this can only be revealed on a more detailed consultancy
5. We also recommend a physical visit to the land (if you have not done so) to feel the topography of the land and ensure there are no encumbrances present on the land. You must also have other professionals in the building industry check that the land is good for a purpose.

To be continued…

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You might have crime rate stats for prospective neighborhoods and a list of desired safety features you’d like for your next home, but don’t forget to stay safe while home shopping. Here are a few reminders:

1. Keep friends in the loop
Text or call someone to let them know your itinerary before you head out to tour homes.

2. Bring a buddy
There’s safety in numbers. If you’re searching on your own, ask a friend to join you and your buyer’s agent.
 
3. Be bright
Stick to daylight hours, especially when checking out new neighborhoods. You can always return with an agent to visit a home or street after dark.
 
4. Skip the bling
While your 2-karat cufflinks are spectacular, wearing them to an open house, or around an unfamiliar neighborhood, is not a dazzling move.
 
5. Don’t forget your phone
And make sure it’s charged. Carry it on you in case of an emergency.
 
6. Know your route
Make sure you know where you’re heading before you hit the road. Get clear directions to the homes you’ll be touring from your agent, or just click through the instructions on that handy navigation app on your phone.
 
7. Keep your personal info personal
You don’t know who may be eavesdropping, especially at a house viewing. No need to mention vacation plans, financial details or private information that could put you, your family or your identity in jeopardy.
 
8. Gas up
Head out to tour homes with a full tank of fuel. GPS systems, while handy, are far from perfect and it might be more than a few wrong turns before you finally get where you’re going.
 
9. Trust your instincts
If you pull up to a home or a parking area and something doesn’t look or even feel right, don’t chance it. Go to a safe place.
When embarking on your home search, it’s smart to work with an agent you can trust. Find one here: http://buff.ly/1HC2Kwu

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