My experience searching for a home

I have been in search of house both at ondo and here in Ibadan where I base currently. It was a little but easier for me to go in search of house in ondo because I was familiar with the place and I knew people so it wasn't a problem. But here in Ibadan, it wasn't easy because I'm not familiar with the place and I don't know people that much.

I tried using house agent to hunt for apartment but I wasn't getting a good result and when I was asked to come and check one, it was nothing to write home about. Imagine a self contain apartment that has just toilet and no kitchen. I won't even call it toilet because it wasn't part of the initial building of the place, they just carved it out and the price was too much coupled with agent fee, agreement fee and others.

In all the single rooms I have lived, most tenants always fight over cleaning the compound and washing the toilets. I don't see these as a problem because it's something I grew up doing, I wash our toilets and clean the bathrooms it's no big deal, besides if I don't clean it and get infections. I'll have to treat myself and that will cost more money than maintaining the toilets.

HOW IS RENT PAID?

Some people are kind enough to collect 6 months rent and others will ask for 1 year. There are some places that even ask for as much as 2 years or 3 years and some even ask for more than that. Sometimes I wonder why someone will ask for 3 years rent of a place. What if in just few months of staying there you don't like the place or you just want to move, what happens to the money you've paid?

For instance, you rent a place and it's okay in dry season and when rainy season comes, that's when you'll notice the roof is leaking and when you talk to the landlord or person in charge, they'll be giving you stories everyday. For this you'll want to move, if it's in place where you paid rent for more than 1 year, you'll have to ensure till your rent expires.

Types of houses

We have different types of houses, single rooms, room and parlor ordinary, a room self contain, room and parlor self contain and flats. These houses are like this so people can go for what they can afford. Everyone loves living comfortably but not everyone can afford a comfortable house that's why there are varieties for people to pick from.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN SEARCHING FOR A HOUSE

When I'm looking for house, I look out for network, water, church, school, availability of transportation. I check how strong the network is because I always browse and I need good network to do that and not the frustrating network. I look for good water, how easily I can get water. Some houses don't have water in the compound so you have to always fetch it, I look around and know the distance between the place I want to live and the place I can get water, in some houses it's well water they have.

I'm the type that likes going to church, I might not go for all the weekly programs but I must go to church on Sunday. So I look out for church while searching for house and also the distance. I also check out for school because of my kids. I also check how easily I can get transportation when I want to go out. I also ask people around how safe the area is.

For people that want to rent house where the landlord is staying, always ask people living around and the tenants of the place the type of landlord they have. Also inspect the house during the day and at night, what you'll see at night you might not see it during the day. Most houses now have agreement that you'll sign, when you collect such houses, make sure you read and understand the agreement you want to sign.

I'm not a house owner yet, but I'll eventually get there. Every house owner wants a responsible tenant, clean tenants, they should always follow the instructions and laws given. Tenants that take care of the property like its theirs. Wherever I live I always try my best to take care of the place to the best of my power. I clean when I can, wash the toilets and clean the bathroom, I even weed when necessary.