In case you live overseas and you are building a house back home, you have heard it before: “Oga, it’s almost done.” Then you come home and the roof is not even constructed.
There have been complaints or regrets by people living abroad who lose building money to relations, friends, and known persons.
To save yourself of unnecessary headache, here are 7 things that can actually help you:
1. Never pay for a stage you have not seen. Pay in stages (foundation, DPC, lintel, roofing, finishing) and release each payment only after you have seen proof of that stage.
2. Ask for dated photos, not just photos. Old pictures get recycled. The date and the location matter as much as the picture itself.
3. Ask for the same angles every time. The front, the back, both sides and inside. If you get the same views on every visit, it is easy to see what changed.
4. Send someone you choose, not only the contractor. A cousin, a friend or a surveyor can visit and send you their own pictures. One honest pair of eyes is worth a lot.
5. Keep your own record. Don’t depend on WhatsApp chats that get deleted. Keep every visit in one place so you can compare month to month.
6. Check the land papers before the first block. Survey plan, C of O or Governor’s consent, and a search at the land registry. Many problems start before building does.
7. Visit by video call at random times. Not only when they invite you.
(Photo: Facebook)