5 Reasons Companies Fail at CustomerService

 

Deliver Excellent Customer Service

Customer service; it is common sense. You may know how to deliver an excellent customer service experience, but do you?
Not long ago a potential client called my office. We discussed the reason he was calling, the problems he’s having and the results he wanted to achieve. He claimed his employees weren’t executing on the “basics.” Within a day I presented an outline of a proposed program. A week later his response was, “We already know how to do that.”
My response was, “Of course you do. Much of customer service is common sense. Unfortunately, it’s not always so common.” What I really wanted to say to him was, “If you really do know how to do it, then why are you so bad at it?” After all, he already admitted that his people weren’t delivering the basics of good service. What I had proposed is exactly what he needed.
You see, it turns out that most companies do know what to do. They just have a hard time executing. So, if so much of customer service is common sense, then why don’t most people do it better?
There are lots of answers, and here are five of them; common sense answers to why common sense customer service fails:

1. Companies don’t take the time to hire the right people. 
2.  Hiring right isn’t just for skill or competence. People have to have some aptitude for customer service, the ability to be trained and they must fit into the company’s culture.
3. The company vision, at least for customer service, is not clear. Many times it’s a vision that is long and wordy. The best customer service vision statement is one sentence or less in length – and employees get it.
4. Companies don’t take the time and effort to train everyone in the company. Everyone has to be on board and in alignment with customer service vision. That can only come through training and ongoing reinforcement of the vision.
5. People who have roles that don’t interact with the customer don’t believe that customer service applies to them. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Everyone has a customer, be it the outside customer or the internal customer. Customer service is part of the culture of a company, not a department with customer service reps. Jan Carlson, former president of Scandinavian Airlines once said, “If you aren’t dealing directly with the customer, you probably support someone who does.”
6. The customer service is not consistent. The inconsistency erodes confidence. The key is to deliver a positive customer service experience that is consistent and predictable.

There are obviously many more reasons companies fail at customer service. To be successful, it starts with the basics, which are common sense. Sure, most people know it. And, if you’re someone who reads my articles, watches my videos and follows me on social media, I bet you not only know it, you get it, and you deliver.

WHAT IS A GAZETTE OR EXCISION?

I know many people or few buyers might have heard the word gazette or excision without knowing the meaning well this is to enlighten you.

A gazette or excision is a document giving the local indigenes of a community, the write to own their ancestral land which have been previously taken or revoked by the government. Now, let me take Lekki for example. The Lagos state government through the land use act acquired all the land in Lekki peninsula. This means that all right to own a land by the indigenes of a community was revoked. Because of this law, the indigenes of Lekki peninsula lost the right of ownership to their ancestral land and started agitating to the government to give them back their land so that they and their children can have a place to live. The Lagos state government seeing the fact that this people needed land for expansion, decided to issues out the gazette (excision) of some portion of land back to the indigenous communities

5 costly mistakes buyers make in real estate

Below are five common mistakes buyers make when buying properties that cost them millions of naira.
Buying a property without setting eyes on it: Never buy any property you or your representative have not seen or confirmed its existence.

Paying money into agent account instead of seller account: Never make the mistake of paying money
for a property into an agents account. The payment for the purchase of a property must be paid into the account of the seller and not the agents account.

Paying cash for property purchase: Always make sure your property transactions go through the banking system. Always issue check instead of cash. Transactions done through the banking system are generally saver and avoided by real estate frauds.

Paying for a property without conducting search first: Never assume the property is genuine. Investigate the title and ownership of the property first before making any financial commitment.

Using their agent to conduct search on a property: Never use your agent to conduct search on a property. Limit their role to only looking for the right property for you. If you want an unbiased result, use a neutral person to conduct the search, most preferably your lawyer.

TIPS ON GETTING A MORTGAGE LOAN

Mortgage money has become harder to get because of bank foreclosures that occurred as a result of the "sub-prime mortgage era." This financial slap has caused some lenders and banks to close their doors. Those that have survived are taking a much more conservative approach to all lending (not just mortgages). Guidelines have been tightened and credit is scrutinized more closely. This has had an impact on old and new borrowers, because a credit record that was passable in the early 2000s is no longer acceptable. Smart borrowers prepare before applying for a mortgage.

START WITH CREDIT
A good credit history is of utmost importance. At least 12 months prior to buying a home, tighten your self-discipline about making payments. It is imperative that your last two years of payment history be timely, but the 12 months just prior to processing a loan are crucial.

LOOK AT DEBTS:
If you are carrying debts with high monthly payments, look at the total minimum monthly payments (including your rent). Divide this by your gross (before taxes) monthly income. The result is your debt ratio, which should be lower than 40 percent of your gross income. FHA allows a little higher than 40 percent, but keeping the ratio lower is financially healthier. This debt ratio will be run again when you apply for a home loan, when it will include a monthly payment for the home, plus monthly taxes and insurance, but not your current rent payment. If your debt ratio looks too high, pay off some debts to eliminate monthly payments and decrease the debt ratios.

SAVE MONEY:
Saving money for a down payment or to pay off debt is a tough job that takes dedication and concentration. You will need down payment money when you buy a home. Even if your seller agrees to pay your closing costs, you will need funds for insurance and tax escrow. The type of loan you qualify for might require some reserves left in your bank after you close. Take a look at your spending and budget. For a week, write down every naira your spend. At the end of the week, you will find out where your small "leaks" are, which can be plugged. Some of these might be fast-food breakfasts and take outs, movie nights, and lunches out at work. Change some of your habits by buying microwaveable breakfasts. Other ways to cut the budget would be to look at your current bills. Making payments on time not only helps credit but saves late fees. Place all of your savings in an account called "home."

STRIVE FOR STABILITY
In most families, the stability of your employment is the family financial stability. If this is true for you, your job is what is used to support the debt of a mortgage. Lenders look hard at the past two years of job history when approving a loan. Hopping from one job to another in different fields is proof that a person is working, but does not prove stability. Pay increase, better benefits or location are all good reasons for job changes in your current field. Layoffs and cutbacks cannot be helped but will need to be explained.

DEVELOP A MORTGAGE RELATIONSHIP:
Realtors will not begin showing homes to prospective clients until you possess a qualification letter from a lender, so call a mortgage professional early. They will work with you to ease you through qualifying for a mortgage by giving advice and guidance. Guidelines change over time, and they will be informed. Beginning this process early will give you insight into issues you need to work on. They will know about grant money and programs to help ease you through what it takes to close on a home. Write down all your questions and call for an appointment. Let them know that you are early in the process but wish to use their services

HOW SITTING ALL DAY IS DAMAGING YOUR BODY

Do you sit in an office chair or on your couch for more than six hours a day? Then here are some disturbing facts: Your risk of heart disease has increased by up to 64 percent. You’re shaving off seven years of quality life. You’re also more at risk for certain types of cancer. Simply put, sitting is killing you. That’s the bad news. The good news: It’s easy to counteract no matter how lazy you are.

Let’s start with the basics. Since childhood you’ve known being a couch potato is bad. But why? Simply put, our bodies weren’t made to sit all day. Sitting for long periods of time, even with exercise, has a negative effect on our health. What’s worse, many of us sit up to 15 hours a day. That means some of us spend the bulk of our waking moments on the couch, in an office chair, or in a car.

Sitting all day long isn’t hard to counteract, but you have to keep your eye on two details: your daily activity and the amount of time you sit. Let’s start by taking a look at what sitting all day does to your body.

An Estimated Timeline of the Effects of Sitting:
It’s difficult to get an accurate assessment of what sitting all day will do to you because the effects work in tandem with diet and other risk factors. So we’re going to start with a relatively healthy person who does not drink in excess, smoke, and who isn’t overweight. Then we’ll estimate the effects of sitting for over six hours a day based on what starts happening immediately after you sit down. For a general overview of the effects, take a look at this chart from Medical Billing and Coding to see a breakdown of what that happens in your body when you sit down. (If the majority of your sitting time takes place at a desk, keep in mind that a standing desk has its own problems

WHAT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY AFTER SITTING DOWN:
Right after you sit down, the electrical activity in your muscles slows down and your calorie-burning rate drops to one calorie per minute. This is about a third of what it does if you’re walking. If you sit for a full 24-hour period, you experience a 40 percent reduction in glucose uptake in insulin, which can eventually cause type 2 diabetes.

AFTER 2 WEEKS OF SITTING FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS A DAY:
Within five days of changing to a sedentary lifestyle, your body increases plasma triglycerides (fatty molecules), LDL cholesterol (aka bad cholesterol), and insulin resistance. This means your muscles aren’t taking in fat and your blood sugar levels go up, putting you at risk for weight gain. After just two weeks your muscles start to atrophy and your maximum oxygen consumption drops. This makes stairs harder to climb and walks harder to take. Even if you were working out every day the deterioration starts the second you stop moving (to be contd)

How To Maximize Storage Space in Your New Home

  Moving to a new home is stressful and you might be tempted to start unpacking your stuff and putting them into any available space — simply to be done with the ordeal. Developing an unpacking plan is definitely tedious but it pays off in the long run. You may discover that your home has even more storage space when you carry out your unpacking correctly.

The tips below will help you maximize your storage space effectively:

Kitchen
The kitchen is arguably the most important room in the home. When you make good use of available storage, you can easily find objects thereby saving time spent in searching for objects. This makes the time you spend in the Kitchen productive and enjoyable.


You can plan your kitchen using the following tips:
   - Free up countertop space by placing rarely used items in cabinets.
   - Place rarely used items in storage spaces that are more accessible.
   - Place knives near the countertop where you prepare food most often.
   - Arrange like items in the same place so you can know exactly where each item is located at any time.
   - Keep bigger items like cutting boards, pans, vessels and other items in the cabinet until you need to use them.

Bathroom
The bathroom is also an important room but unlike the kitchen, you might find less space here. It is necessary to have a tidy arrangement of objects in the bathroom.

The following tips should help:
   - Buy a towel rack if you don’t find one installed.
   - Mount a single or multi-layer shelf under the sink for toiletries and other miscellaneous items.
   - Add a new cabinet above the sink if you need more storage but ensure it works with the design of your bathroom. You may use one that features a mirror to serve as storage as well as a mirror.


Other Parts Of The Home
   - Construct shelves on the upper part of the passage way wall to store other items that you can’t keep in the bedroom.
   - Build a shoe rack for proper arrangement of your shoes in your bedroom.


You will definitely enjoy staying in your new home if you make appropriate planning, so please don’t be in a hurry to unpack.

How To Meet Up With Your Mortgage Payments

Paying for a mortgage and other recurrent bills may prove to be challenging some times and if you are not careful, you might start falling behind on your payments.  When you fail to make your mortgage payments, you run the risk of foreclosure and this is not good news. Below are some tips to help you handle your finances to ensure you don’t default on your mortgage payments:

Stick To Your Budget
One sure way to run into financial problems is refusing to stick to your budget. A budget helps you keep track of your expenses and make better financial decisions. Before making purchases, check your budget and find out if it is wise to proceed with the purchase or not. Another way to stick to your budget is to limit the amount of cash you carry with you. When you carry more cash than you plan to spend, you might be tempted to do some impulse buying and this is not a wise financial move.

Buy Only What You Need
One key saving strategy is to effectively separate your needs from your wants. Avoid buying things you don’t need just because everybody is buying it or your child wants it. Cut down on or totally eliminate purchase of luxury goods. 

Make Extra Savings
Save a little extra money every month in your “rainy day” account. This extra savings can be used to pay for or supplement your mortgage when unforeseen expenses or emergencies arise.

Save Before Spending
Cultivate a smart saving attitude by saving before spending. Once you receive your monthly income, set aside a certain amount of money as savings before spending the remaining. This will ensure that your spending does not have an adverse effect on your savings.

Limit/Avoid Borrowing
You are already on a tight budget and borrowing is only going to make your financial situation worse. Avoid borrowing as much as you can and concentrate on repaying your mortgage.
Using these tips above, you can attain a considerable level of financial discipline. This will place you in a better position to manage your finances and make mortgage payments on time.

How To Write Winning Offers in a Sellers’ Market

In a sellers’ market, competition can turn fierce especially in the real estate market. Standing out becomes a challenge.
In these markets, smart strategies can make a big difference. Following a few tips, you will be able to write a winning offer.
Have a good agent: They’ll be able to guide you through options that may seem a little out of place in a slower market—but could prove the difference between success and more house-hunting in a tight one.

A substantial deposit makes a big difference. You should be able to deposit about 3% of the value of the property. A seller usually takes such an offer seriously and will feel confident you are committed to stand by this offer. This could give your offer a winning edge. Submitting a pre-approval letter with the deposit puts your bid ahead of the others by showing the seller you have serious intentions.
You should also ensure you appeal to the seller’s emotions by including a personal letter in the offer to the person selling the property. You need to explain why you want to buy the house and what you particularly like about it. Be as specific as possible. Appeal to what you may know of the property history.

Offer to close quickly. Most sellers want to make a speedy transaction. A standard closing period is about 30 days. If you can close in three weeks instead, this could convince the seller to accept your bid—even over one that offers more money.
And is the sellers want a few more days in the house. Consider giving that to them rent-free. There’s a few things ideally you’d like them to fix—but if they aren’t deal-breakers, consider letting that go. Be friendly and personable, because if you prove to be someone they don’t mind dealing with, that could tip things in your favor, too.

Quick check: Is your rent too high?

Demand for rental housing continues to increase, and rent prices are climbing. This can be attributed to the amount of people migrating to the urban cities.
Most people wonder if they are paying high rent for their property especially when there is a comparism of renting rates from all over.
Here are four quick ways you can tell if your rent is too high.

How much does everyone pays in your city?
Rent prices can vary by neighborhood, so whether you live in the city or the ‘suburb’ the rents will vary. To get a great sense of how much you should be pay, first find out the average rental cost in your city. This can be done easily by checking online renting websites. If your rent is higher than the average price, that’s a huge red flag.

Find out factors that may increase the rent?
People who rent newly-remodeled flats or self contain houses will pay more than renters living in one-bedroom apartments. Factors that can increase your rent includes the type of housing along with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. If you can easily find five or more similar rentals priced much lower than yours, you’re probably overpaying.

How are the perks in your area?
Certain amenities, community features, and little extras add to a landlord’s expenses—and if your community is stacked with perks, you’re likely paying more than you would at a bare-bones apartment complex.
For example, if you use the community laundry in a service apartment every night, it may seem like a great deal, but if a nearby similar apartment complex without a laundry room charges N200,000 less a year and you could pay for the charges attached to the using of such facilities.
It isn’t unusual for a landlord to raise your rent when you re-up your lease, but you’ll want to make sure the increase is legal—and fair.
Research rent-control laws in your area. In many cities, landlords can only increase the rent by a certain percentage if your building is rent controlled. If you don’t live in an area with rent control, check the state’s landlord and tenant laws, because there may be a cap on increases.
If your landlord is within the legal limit and you still feel the increase is too high, try negotiating. If you’ve been a good tenant and the landlord fears you might move out over a price increase, he may be willing to compromise

Why Now Is a Good Time To Buy?

The real estate market is showing signs of good health and there has never been a better time to buy than now. If you are still not sure whether you should commit your money to buying property, here are a few reasons why you should get off the fence and make up your mind to buy real estate property:

Home Prices Are Constantly Increasing
Property prices are increasing every day and they show no signs of coming down. It makes sense to get into the market now before property prices soar out of your reach. Properties might look affordable now but they might be very pricey 5 years down the line. There is no point waiting to buy tomorrow what you can buy today at a cheaper price, so it’s time to get off the fence and get into the market.

Buying Is Cheaper Than Renting in The Long Run
Buying is costlier than renting no doubt but when you add up the cost of renting over the years, you will find out that it costs more to rent than to buy in the long run. With the high rental prices in most cities in the country, it would definitely pay you more to buy right now in order to avoid the huge burden of renting. If you can afford to buy now, now is the time to make up your mind and become your own landlord.

It’s Better to Pay Mortgage Than Pay Rent
Buying a house is not beyond your reach as there a range of mortgage financing options available for you. If you can afford to pay the 20%-30% down payment, it would be a wise decision to buy a house now. Depending on the house, the annual rent might be within the same price range as the annual mortgage payments you might have to make if you decide to buy. If you continue paying rent, you will end up paying money to the landlord endlessly but if you buy a house, you pay your mortgage for a certain period of time while your property appreciates

How To Buy a House in ONE Year?

Buying a house involves lots of planning and it might take a long time before the house purchase comes to fruition. The task of house buying might still seem pretty tasking even after you have saved enough to make a down payment on the property. The house buying process has been simplified by breaking it down into 12 easy steps with one step every month for 12 months.

January - Examine Your Purchase Readiness
Before you embark on a home purchase, you need to check if you are really ready for the home purchase. The home buying process is a stressful one and it requires a lot of planning, paperwork and negotiations, so you have to be ready for this.

February - Research The Local Housing Market
Carry out an extensive research on the local housing market in order to find a suitable home for you. Find suitable locations that are in line with your preferences and find out if there are available properties that fit your needs. You should also check out the prices of the properties you seek and find out if they are in line with your budget. If they don’t fit your budget, you might need to tone down your preferences a little bit in order to find a property you can afford.

March - Determine What You want in A Home
When you find out how much you can afford for a home purchase, you should decide what kind of home you need. If you don’t choose right, you might end up with a buyer’s remorse after your home purchase. Find out everything you would need in a home for now and in the future. You should decide on the number of bedrooms and type of house that is best suited to your preferences. This is to ensure that you know exactly what you are looking for and get better search results in the process.

April - Get Your Finances in Order
Analyse your finances and find out how much savings you have and how much you can afford to pay for a home. If your savings are not enough, make plans to shore up your finances. If you have any debt, this might be a good time to pay them off or make adequate plans for repayment. Find out also how much mortgage you are likely to qualify for. Check your income and expenditure to find out how much you can afford as down payment and how much you can afford to shell out towards your monthly mortgage repayment.

May - Engage The Services of a Real Estate Agent
When you finally decide on the the type of property that you love, find an experienced real estate agent to effectively handle your house search and negotiations. When you find a good agent, discuss the type of property you want to buy and let the agent know how soon you need the property. Agents have a very good knowledge of the local market and they would be better suited to look for that property that you want.

June - Find Out Other Professionals That You Might Need
There are other professionals that you might need during your home purchase deal and you need to make proper research to find good professionals for the job. A key professional to involve in real estate transactions is a lawuer. You might not need them at this stage but it is helpful if you have a short list to work from when you start the home buying transaction.

July - Find a Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI)
Look for a Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) in your area and arrange for a meeting to know their mortgage loan terms and conditions. You can visit as many PMI’s as possible while searching for a suitable mortgage loan provider. This will enable you choose a PMI that has mortgage loan facilities that fit into your financial plan.

August - Commence Negotiations With The Seller
When you find a property that you love, approach and notify the seller of your intent to purchase that property. Ask your agent to draw up a letter of intent stating your intention to purchase the property. This process might involve a lot of negotiation and you have to be ready for this.

September - Get Your Documents Ready
There are certain documents that PMI’s would require you to provide before approving your mortgage application. You would need to provide evidence of income flow, tax clearance certificate, an offer letter from the seller of the property you want to buy and any other document that might be required. Get these documents ready so your mortgage application can be processed without delay.

October - Inspect The Property
Employ the services of a property inspector from the short list of inspectors you prepared earlier. A home inspection is very important as this enables you to make an informed offer or counter offer and it also helps you to avoid buying a house fraught with defects.

November - Wrap Up Negotiations
After arriving at a desired purchase price, the seller will draw up a contract detailing the price, terms and conditions of the sale. Ask your lawyer to check the contract and if he says it’s okay, you should go ahead and make payments for the property. Make sure that there are no stones left unturned in ensuring that it is a good buy before making any payment.

December - Make The House Move-in Ready and Move In
If you discovered any fault during the home inspection, make sure you fix it before moving in. Ensure that the amenities in the house are fully functional before moving in to avoid suffering undue inconvenience.
Once you fix these faults, create a moving plan to effectively move your belongings to your new

How to Maintain Your Swimming Pool

Many homeowners these days invest in pools in their homes. Swimming is not only a recreational activity but also a good form of exercise. When you swim, you exercise a slew of muscles in your body and overall enhance the flow of blood around your body. So investing in a pool is quite beneficial. However pools can easily become contaminated. Dirt can accumulate in it overtime. Thus it needs to be cleaned periodically. Below are some tips to guide you in maintaining your pool:

Wade off and sift leaves and particles using a net
Nets will sift/pick particles from the surface of the water. Make use of a net for pools. Search for one in stalls or malls close to you.

Make use of chlorine
Look for any color change of your pool. Can you see the tiling on your pool’s floor? Chlorine purifies water. You might need to add chlorine granules to treat the water several times a week. Else an infection might be imminent.

Monitor your pools pH
Pools are supposed to be of a certain pH. The pH is basically the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the water. The proper pH of pools have been said to be between 7.2 and 7.6. Make certain your pool doesn’t too acidic or alkaline.sa

Change the water
The water is bound to become contaminated over time. It’s material to change the water over certain periods to bring about freshness.

Cover up your pool
When not swimming on a daily basis, or suppose you’ll be away for a while, you could cover up your pool, other than leave it exposed. This way it’ll be better shielded from contaminants and particles of grass, leaves of nearby trees etc.

LAND FOR SALE

Peaceful Gazetted Land for sale at Abijo lekki @ N4million/plot. Instalment pay option available. Call 08188166644 NOW!

Listing Agent Vs. Buyer Agent: Who Works For You?

It may seem perfectly logical to call the agent on the sign posts while driving around your dream neighbourhood searching for your next house. The sign might have emails or phone numbers to allow you to quickly access more information—but beware. Your information goes directly to the listing agent and the listing agent works for the seller, not the buyer. Sellers and agents have a written contractual agreement outlining their relationship. It’s called the Exclusive Listing Agreement. It outlines the role of the listing agent, how they intend to market the party, the commission and the terms of the listing.

The Listing Agent is the Seller’s Representative

That means the listing agent has a legal obligation to work on the seller’s behalf—to get the highest possible price and the best terms available for the seller, not the buyer. The listing agent legally is obligated to share any information they learn about the buyer with the seller. If a potential buyer walks into an open house and strikes up a conversation with a personable listing agent, any information divulged there can be used against the buyer during eventual negotiations. So telling a listing agent you are relocating within the next month for a new job at a high profile company with a great offer that increased your salary so now you can afford to own more properties than before, that can hurt you later if it comes to a bid on the property.

Listing Agents Wear Many Hats
There are many facets to a listing agent’s job. They work closely with the seller and provide a bevy of services. Here is a sample of what most listing agents do for each seller client:

1. Create a marketing plan for the house
2. Have professional photos taken of the house
3. Advise the seller about the best ways to stage the house for sale
4.Generate Comparative Market Analysis reports to suggest the best selling price
5.Recommend contractors and vendors to help prepare the home for market
6.Evangelize the benefits of the house and neighbourhood to potential buyers
7.Coordinate showings with buyer agents and unrepresented buyers
8.Host “Broker Opens” to get as many potential buyer agents into the house for feedback and to attract buyers
9.Make the house easily accessible for showings
10. Provide showing feedback
11.Communicate market activity to the seller with weekly updates/reports
12. Present and advise sellers of all offers
13. Negotiate the highest possible selling price
14. Coordinate the purchase process with inspectors, attorneys, appraisers, title company agents and others
15 .Verify buyer eligibility to purchase
16. Make the home selling process as easy for the seller as possible

But using an online platform to view your next house or visiting a property listing site can provide much advantage. They include:

You get to view the property without the input of the property agent.
1. You can easily get the opinions of your friends and family before contacting the property agent.
2. Since the features of the house is already listed with pictures, 3.you can then bargain with the knowledge gotten from viewing the property first hand.

All these will depend on how dependable and accurate the property site is.

Things To Check Out During a House Inspection?

It is important you carry out a home inspection before you put pen to paper in a home purchase deal. Home buying is an expensive venture and the house inspection should be done right. There are some necessary things that you should check out during a home inspection. When embarking on a home inspection, make sure you or your hired professional house inspector checks the following:

Structural Issues
One of the most important things you should look out for while inspecting a home is structural defects. Make sure you check the foundation of the building for any foundational defects. Check for the walls for any cracks or any sign that might prove that the house has a structural defect. It is best to avoid buying a house with structural defects in order to avoid problems down the road.

Electrical Problems
A number of house fires are usually traced to electrical faults, so it is imperative you check your house for any electrical faults before moving in. You should check the building’s wiring, main panel, circuit breakers for any faults. Check if the correct type of wires were used and if the fuses installed are of the correct capacity. Make sure all electrical faults are fixed before you move into your house.

Plumbing Issues
Plumbing issues can cost you a lot of money if not identified before moving into a house. When checking for plumbing problems, flush all toilets, check all taps for faults and also check all drains for proper drainage. Check showers and sinks and make sure there is no leakage of water anywhere in the house. Check also if the correct materials were used for the plumbing job. Plumbing problems are not easy to spot, so you have to make sure your inspector does a thorough job.

Exterior
The exterior of a property should be checked before purchasing the property. Check out the topography of the land around the property. Does it appear that the water flow towards the foundation walls when it rains or away from the foundation? Ideally, the ground the ground surrounding a house should slope away from the house in order to prevent water from collecting at the base of the house. If you notice a discolouration at the base of the building, that could indicate a continuous moisture problem. Continuous collection of water at the base of a building can weaken the foundation of a building over time and this could create problems for you in future.

The Roof
A house with a leaking roof could prove to be a nightmare to its inhabitants and it is advised that you should check if the roof is leaking before moving in. Your inspector should be able to tell you if the roof is showing signs of leaking or not.

While inspecting, always bear in mind that all houses have little issues, so don’t panic when minor issues come up during inspection. Your inspector should be able to give you a good analysis of the finding and advise you on whether you should go ahead with the purchase or not

WEIGHT LOSS AT LAST !!!

Get that body you have always wanted,to order this product please go to this link http://protrimmer.SBC90.com or call Evans on  +234 0826828679, +234 8178186130

Looking to buy a land in lekki,then this might interest you

RC Property Mart is presently selling plots 30plots of gazzetted land each in 2 sites located in Lekki.
PRICE is N2.6 & N3.1 million per plot. Installment pay option available.
call Now 08188166644/07044404204

Getting a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Lagos

The procedure for obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Lagos, Nigeria shown in this article is the official process as described by the Lagos State Government.

1. The Applicant should purchase and submit the application pack to the Land Use Allocation Commission (LUAC) and collect an acknowledgement slip

2. Day Applicants collect letter of offer of allocation

3. The Applicant should pay for the allocated land within 90 days.

4. A letter of confirmation is issued to the Applicant with a plot and block number.

5. The Scheme Officer processes the application for the C of O, signs off on the file and forwards the files to ES LUAC - 5 Days

6. The Surveyor General provides Scheme Officer with digitized survey - 2 Days

7. ES LUAC approves processing and signs letter of allocation. ES LUAC signs off on the file and sends the file to the Senior Special Assistant to His Excellency, Lands (SSA Lands) - 2 Days

8.The SSA, Lands vets the entire file and sends it with a covering memo to the Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau (PS Lands) - 2 Days

9 Should the file have a query, the message is relayed back by notification

10 The PS, Lands signs off on the memo and sends the file to His Excellency - 2 Days11 His Excellency approves file and electronically signs the C of O - 2 Days

12. Should the file has a query, message is relayed back by notification

13. Upon approval and signing of the C of O by His Excellency, He signs off and sends it to the Deputy Registrar for further processing - 2 Days

14. The Deputy Registrar processes the file further, signs off and sends it to Registrar of Titles for final registration - 2 Days

15. The Registrar of Titles registers the C of O, signs off and request for printing of C of O - 1 Day

This process adds up to a total of 21 days.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
1. Formal Letter addressed to the Executive Secretary– Land Use and Allocation Committee, Block 13, Room 4, Lands Bureau, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

2. Standard Allocation Form with Receipt. Lekki Pennisula Schemes, Abijo Commercial and Industrial (Form for Prime Land); other areas (Form for General).

3. Four Passport Photographs with white background.

4. Evidence of payment of Income Tax.

5. Current Development Levy (In case of company, Evidence of payment of Income Tax of Two Directors and Development Levy).

6 .Survey Plan

7. All payment receipts of Land Charges

8. Vital Information Form

Safety tips

 
Fire Extinguisher operating procedure “PASS” 

PULL THE PIN: This will also break the tamper seal.

AIM... Aim low, pointing the extinguisher nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the base of the fire.
Note: Do not touch the plastic discharge horn on CO2 extinguishers, it gets very cold and may damage skin.

SQUEEZE... Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.

SWEEP... Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out. Watch the area. If the fire appears to reignites, repeat steps 2 - 4.

If you have the slightest doubt about your ability to fight a fire....EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY

The Importance of Having a First Aid Kit

Have you ever tried to buy a first aid kit? If you have, you know how many options there are. You can buy basic first aid kits are available from a variety of medical companies. Emergency first aid kits that are meant for natural disasters or even specialty first aid kits that serve a variety of needs.

What kind of kit is right for you?
The type of disasters your household is susceptible to and how well-prepared you want to be in the face of an emergency will determine the type of first aid kit needed.
The most common type of first aid kit is the general kind that you can buy from your local pharmacy. These kits typically include sterile gauze pads, dressings, roller gauze bandages, adhesive tape, non-latex gloves (just in case of latex allergies), hand wipes, hand sanitizers, a ready-to-use ice pack, tweezers, scissors, and a face shield. All of these items could undoubtedly come in handy during an emergency, but what happens if you face something that is a bit less common?
When that is the case, you have a few options. You can either buy a variety of first aid kits that could help you out of nearly any situation, or you could simply make your own safety kit. The latter option is often cheaper and more practical because you can design it to meet your household’s needs.
A homemade first aid kit should include all of the items you would see in a basic first aid kit, and you may want to add any of the following items:
• A small flashlight in case injury occurs during a power outage
• Emergency medications that your family may require (i.e. insulin for a diabetic, nitroglycerin for a person with a heart condition, etc.)
• Topical anesthetic spray for itches or burns
• Oral antihistamines for allergic reactions
• Safety pins to remove splinters
• Plastic bags where you can place any contaminated items
• A triangular bandage or piece of cloth
• Cigarette lighter to sterilize any metal objects
• Antibiotic ointment for cuts and scrapes
• A thermometer in case of fever
• Over the counter medications for common conditions like diarrhea, nausea, and headaches
• A list of emergency phone numbers like your local police department, fire department, or hospital
Whether you choose to buy a first aid kit or make your own, be sure to place it in a common area of the house where everybody knows where to find it. If you make your own, you may want to put your items in a waterproof drop container so that it will be protected from inclement events like floods. Ideally you should keep at least two first aid kits in your home so that they will always be accessible to anybody who may need them. You may want to keep a first aid kit in your car, too.

Remember, accidents do happen, but that is no reason not to be prepared. And with a complete first aid kit at your disposal, you can ensure that any future accidents will be appropriately attended.

Practical Things To Do This Rainy Season

The seasons are fast changing and the rains is falling in torrents in most parts of the country. These showers can be frustrating if you do not take precautions. Flooding could occur, water could seep into your home, which you do not want. So it’ll be in your best interest to do the following:

Mend your roofing
During the dry season you might not have noticed that your roof was leaking. Maybe an early shower this season brought that to your knowledge. Water seeping into your home can be both annoying and dangerous. Your mattress could get soaked up in water. Your rug could be soiled and stink. Electricity doesn’t have an affinity for water and could lead to an electrocution should they mix and you come in contact with them thereafter.

Replace bad electric cables in your compound
Still on the matter of electrocutions. Over the years sad incidents have occurred in rainy seasons. A puddle of water can become electrified without an unsuspecting passerby knowing. Kids or adults can be victims, so do well to change any naked cables lurking around your compound or surrounding.

Empty that septic tank
Septic tanks hold sewage. They could become overfull with time. Need then arises to empty them. Incessant rains could assist them in becoming overfull faster. Call artisans to empty it for you. You do not want a spill of sewage over your surroundings. Health-wise it is detrimental and could chase your visitors away from your home.

Avoid These Locations When Looking For Property

Location is still a very important factor to consider when searching for property. A property might have very nice features but if it is in a bad location, it might have a low appreciation rate and this is not the right property for you to invest in.

It is advisable to avoid any property located in the following areas:

Areas With High Crime Rates
Security is of paramount importance and it might not be a wise decision to buy or rent property in unsafe neighbourhoods. Locations with high crime rates are dangerous to live in and they should be avoided as much as possible. Before buying or renting property in any area, make sure you carry out research on the crime rate of the neighbourhood you want to live in.

Noisy Neighbourhoods
Areas with high noise levels might not be conducive for you or your family and properties located in these areas might not appreciate as much properties in other areas. Avoid areas that are too close to major highways, major airports, major markets and other areas that witness noisy activities.

Areas Lacking Good Infrastructure
You should avoid areas that lack good infrastructural facilities when searching for property. Watch out for areas with very bad roads and inefficient drainage systems because you might not be able to access your property easily and your area might be flooded whenever it rains if you reside in these areas. You might also have to spend lots of money repairing your car regularly if you live in these areas. Keep away from these areas as much as possible in order to avoid problems down the road.

High Pollution Areas
Areas that have high levels of environmental pollution are not conducive for human habitation. Some areas suffer severe water and environmental pollution and this might have a serious adverse effect on the health of residents in these locations. Avoid buying or renting property in such areas in order to avoid some health issues in future.

Buying a House With N80,000/Month Salary?

Owning a home is always a very good investment and a goal which everyone strives to achieve but this might seem like a tall order especially when you don’t earn much. However, there are ways that you can own a home with an income as low as N80,000/month without having to break the bank.

With the assistance of Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMI’s), you can obtain mortgage loans that can enable buy a 3 bedroom bungalow.

How It Works
You can obtain low interest loans from the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme operated by the Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria (FMBN) through accredited PMI’s. The NHF scheme is designed for all Nigerians particularly those within the low and medium income levels who cannot afford commercial housing loans.

If you want to be a beneficiary of this scheme, you must be gainfully employed (Public, Private or Self-employed), a registered contributor to this scheme and up to date with your contributions.

Under this scheme, you are entitled to a maximum of N15 million mortgage loan which is repayable over a long period of time (depending on your age). The maximum repayment period is 60 years minus your age at the time the loan is approved.

Eligibility
To be eligible for this scheme, you have to be a contributor (at least 2.5% of your monthly basic income) to this scheme for at least 6 months prior to the date of your application. You also have to pay an equity of between 10-30% of the approved loan amount.

If you earn an N80,000/month salary, you can be eligible to obtain a N7 million (or more) loan upon payment of 20% equity of the loan amount. The maximum loan amount you can obtain depends on the amount you can repay as FMBN can only deduct a maximum of 33.33% of your salary.

However, if your salary cannot repay the sought loan, you can still obtain the loan provided you show at least 6 months evidence of income flow from a secondary source of income. The beautiful thing about this loan is that you pay a low 6% interest rate which is spread out over the entire repayment period.

You can visit any Primary Mortgage Institution close to you for more information on this scheme and how to get started

Decor Tips: Maintaining Your Leather Settee

These days people are opting for settee with leather upholstery as opposed to cloth or velvet upholstery. No doubt leather upholstery is beautiful on furniture. It’s posh and cool in a modern way. But it needs to be properly cared for to last longer. It might not necessarily be as resistant to certain substances as cloth upholstery is. Below are some useful things to do and not to do:

Wash with clean, uncontaminated water:
Like every other piece of furniture in the home, your leather settee may collect dust and need to be cleaned. Clean up with water and mild soap, concentrating on areas susceptible to dirt like head rests and arm rests. Make certain to use clean, uncontaminated water, because certain chemicals might facilitate the discoloration of your settee, which is less than flattering. Also make certain to wipe with a clean cloth or towel immediately should there be an additional spill on it.

Never use oils on it:
Avoid using oils on your leather settee! This might actually help in destroying it other than giving it a gleam.

Do away with any abrasive:
Abrasives will scrape or tear up your beautiful leather settee. Avoid them and stick with a clean cloth or towel. People with little might want to go the way of cloth upholstery. However you could always limit where they can practice new skills picked up at school. Keep sharp objects away from their reach. And for Nigerian parents a cane might be handy. After all you’ve spent a lot to acquire the piece of furniture.

Direct Sunlight is your settee’s enemy:
Excessive UV light will make your settee fade quickly. It might even result in your leather settee cracking, which destroys the beauty of your furniture. Find ways to protect your leather settee from direct sunlight.

If there’s a maintenance manual, please read it
The manufacturer knows what will ruin your leather settee. Read up your manual, if there’s one, to learn other things to do to prolong the lifespan of your leather settee. If it weren’t important, the manufacturer wouldn’t have written one.

How To Select The Right Rental Property?

Searching for a suitable rental property can be stressful and care should be taken not to get it wrong because you don’t want to go through the hassle of moving again.
Getting the right rental property can make you a very happy tenant down the road and the following tips should help to get you there:

Spell Out Your Preferences
Decide what kind of rental property you want and possible locations where you want it to be located. You should also consider what kind of amenities and exterior features you want in the property when making your decision. Can you tolerate noisy neighbours? Can you live in a busy and noisy neighbourhood? You should spell out your preferences so you will make a more focused property search.

Consider Your Budget
Consider the cost of the rental property you would to rent while considering the fact that location and size affects the price. Properties with extra amenities and additional security are usually costlier than others. You also have to consider the maximum service charge you are willing to pay. When you consider all these, you will get an idea of the maximum amount of money you are willing to shell out for your rental property.

Compare Properties
Conduct appropriate research and compare properties of similar features in order to get the best deal. While doing this, bear in mind that properties of similar features might vary greatly in price depending on their location, so don’t be in a hurry to write-off a property as too expensive.

Go For a Good Deal
Try your best to get a good deal but be reasonable when doing this. Going for longer leases most often gets landlords more inclined to shave off some money from your rent. Make sure you get a good agent who can get you a deal that would keep both sides happy.

Take your time to carefully consider the above tips and you will have a fulfilled stay in your new home.

Where Do You Want To Live? City vs Suburbs?

Deciding on where you want to live can be tasking and there are several choices you'll need to make. One choice you'll surely need to make is if you want to a quite suburban or a buzzing city lifestyle. Whether living in the city or in the suburbs, each have their respective pros and cons and you cannot make an informed decision until you carefully analyze both options.

City
The city is where you have better social infrastructures and that’s where most offices are located. So, if you have a high taste for comfort, the city is best suited for you. Living in the city can be great if you enjoy the hustle and bustle. You're close to where the action is, where deals are both made and broken in the corridors of financial and political power. Also, city dwellers arrive at their offices earlier than suburban dwellers because of the close proximity to the office. Places of delight and leisure like galleries, theatres, museums, amusement parks, shopping malls, fancy restaurants etc. are located in the city. However, city accommodations are costlier than suburban accommodations, so if you are capable of parting with a substantial sum of money for property rental/purchase purposes, then the city is for you.

Suburbs
Suburban living is for you if you love the peace and quiet that the suburban environment offers, and you are looking to escape from your work and the stress of city life. The suburbs usually offer more room for your home and more opportunities to develop friendships with neighbours. A suburban home will cost you much less than one of comparable size and features in the city, so people tend to buy bigger houses in the suburban areas. A larger home could also offer financial benefits, such as giving you room to develop a home-based business. However, if you want to reside in the suburbs, be prepared to wake up much earlier than the city folks or else you will be late for work. Also, the suburb does not have the same quality of amenities that the city has.

Having weighed the pros and cons of both options, you should choose the one which suits you better.hope you’ll make the right choice!

Ideas on Utilising Your Vacant Land?

Do you have a land and you are not sure of what to use it for? Here are some things you could, which will thrive here in Nigeria:

Shopping Mall/Complex
This is very capital-intensive but its rewards are boundless. Shopping malls are becoming increasingly popular in Nigeria and thus offer a handome return on investment. Moreover a shopping mall or complex can be seen as a business of businesses. Businesses will rent spaces in your mall and overtime you’d find out that you have recouped your initial capital, along other side benefits.

Events Centre
You could fence your land and lay interlocking bricks and build tents for events. If you have the cash, you may build a hall, probably a two, three storey. With this can have two, three events taking place simultaneously. There is no doubt that tons of cash can be made from such an investment.

Agriculture/Fish farming/ Poultry farms/Livestock
Food is essential, so agriculture will always thrive, so long as it is done right. How about owning a plantation? Or, a fish and poultry farm? You might just be the chief supplier of fish and poultry products to the major eateries in Lagos, or wherever your land is located. Using your land for agricultural purposes is almost always beneficial. You not only make money but you feed the nation with your produce.

How Can a Low Income Earner Invest in Real Estate?

The real estate sector is a very lucrative sector to invest in as there are huge profits to be made from investments in property. However, contrary to popular perception, real estate investing is not an exclusive preserve of the rich.

You can invest in real estate even if you are not in the rich class. Below are a few tips that can help you invest in real estate, even if you don’t have a fat bank account:

Start Small
The real estate billionaires all have one common trait: they started small. You may want to make millions of naira in real estate investments, but that million naira portfolio starts with a single purchase. You might have a goal to buy ten duplexes over the next five years. You do not need to buy all ten this year, or next. Perhaps you can buy just one this year, while learning how the process works. The year after, you might buy two, then three and so on till you get to your target. Each year, you become more and more familiar with the process and can buy more and more properties. Starting small is not only necessary, but it’s also a good thing.

Leverage
You can fund a property purchase using mortgage loans from PMI’s. Some real estate investors started this way, wait for the property value to appreciate, then sell the property, pay off the mortgage and use the profit realised to invest in other properties. Mortgage institutions might require you to pay a charge for paying before the mortgage period runs out but you will still make a profit which might be sizeable depending on the property invested in.

Buy To Renovate
You can buy reasonably priced properties, add value to them by renovating and sell off for a profit. You can upgrade dilapidated properties to luxury apartments and sell them for sizeable gains.

Form Co-operatives
Co-operatives are professionally managed collective investment schemes that pools money from many investors. You can start a real estate investment co-operative by joining your capital with that of your co-investors in order to make a substantial investment. Let’s take a simple scenario: you have N2 million but you want to invest in a property worth N8 million, you can pool resources with 3 co-investors who will contribute N2 million each. This makes a total of N8 million thus enabling you to invest in the property. However you should ensure your co-operative is registered and there is an agreement stipulating the terms of business and the profit sharing formula.

Borrow From Family
Family members are a good source of interest-free loans that you can use to invest in real estate properties. However, you should be realistic about what a practical repayment plan would be and not try to borrow more than you can repay. You have to treat it the same as any kind of loan and be realistic

Make Dedicated Savings
Saving money, or the saving habit is the foundation of all financial success, including investing. Set aside a dedicated amount as savings every month so you can build up your savings. When you have a sizeable savings, you can decide to make an investment in real estate. If you earn N250,000 monthly, you can set aside N100,000 every month and build a sizeable savings portfolio to enable you make profitable investments.

Buy Properties in Estate Developments
Properties located in estate developments are fairly priced and most times, mortgage financing options are given by the financing partner of the development in order to encourage buyers to purchase property. Cash in on this opportunity, purchase property and sell them later for a profit

ladies you might fid this interesting

Factors to Consider When Choosing Tiles For Your Kitchen

Tiles are a real beauty in the home but different tiles are used for different sections of the home. The kitchen, room and bathroom tiles are not the same because different activities take place in these sections.

When choosing tiles for your kitchen, some factors have to be considered. The following are a few of those factors. I hope you find them helpful.

Porosity of the tile
Liquids are accidentally spilled in the kitchen so a water-resistant tile is essential. This type of tile does not absorb water thereby prolonging the life span of the tile. Glazed tiles are water-resistant and are durable and are thus recommended for use in the kitchen.

Slip-resistance
Most home accidents (some resulting in death) are caused by slippery tiles. Very smooth tiles can be very slippery when wet (or even when dry) and can cause you to slip thereby hurting yourself in the process. It is recommended you go for rougher tiles to increase friction so you do not slip and fall.

Scratch-resistant
If you intend to use the tiles as a kitchen counter, obtain tiles that are not only glazed but scratch-resistant. Even if you do not want to use your counter as a chopping surface, you might set pots and pans on it once in a while and you wouldn’t want your tiles to get scratched in the process

Property Financing: Should I Take a Loan?

Funding any project is no doubt important. It can be very trying for a lot of people, causing them sleepless nights as they think of how to balance all the bills and yet finance the project at hand. Raising funds to buy a property is no different. One has the option of coming up with the money himself/herself or, better yet, securing a loan. Loans need to be repaid over a period of time and this scares people. But a loan might be just what you need to leap unto the next level. Here are some things to consider before sourcing for a loan:

Can you pay back?
This should be the first question you ask yourself before securing a loan. You must be brutally honest when answering this question, because you might require collateral to secure the loan. Problems will inevitably arise if you can’t repay your debt. It will suffice to project, if you run a business, how much you could make after the loan has been secured and put to use. This should be based on concrete, empirical evidence if I may add. For the employed, how much do you earn? Can you pay in installments over a period of time and still live comfortably?

Read the terms very carefully
The loan giver most likely has a legal document containing terms of the loan. Read this carefully and make certain to fully understand the terms before securing a loan. Is the interest rate exorbitant? Or can you get something better from elsewhere?

What if the worst happens?
This seems rather pessimistic, but you have to consider all possibilities. If you can’t repay the debt and you lose something else you had chosen as collateral, can you recover? If you can’t, and you are a hundred percent sure you can’t, it might be wiser to leave out the loan. To protect your sanity, that is