Young, Ambitious, and Ready to Build: Your Guide to Building Your First House in Nigeria (2025)

You’ve worked hard all these years and you’re finally ready to build your first house in Nigeria. But the real estate jungle; shady land deals, sketchy contractors, endless paperwork, and runaway budgets. A beautiful dream can quickly turn into a nightmare. 

No shaking! Here's your ultimate cheat sheet on how to successfully dodge the common potholes young Nigerians plunge into when navigating real estate for the first time.

1. Securing Legit Land and Paperwork

One of the scariest parts of building your house is securing legit land. Stories of Omo-oniles and shady land agents abound. So, here's how to avoid the land scam wahala:

• Verify all land documents: Always ensure the land you're buying has a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), the ultimate proof of land ownership, valid for 99 years. Obtain this from your state’s Ministry of Lands by providing:
  
  

  • Application forms
    
    

  • Evidence of land purchase (agreements, receipts)
    
    

  • Survey plans (from a registered surveyor)
    
    

  • Payment of fees and taxes
    
    

• Secure a Deed of Assignment: This document transfers legal ownership from seller to buyer. Ensure a lawyer prepares it, both parties sign, and register it at the State Land Registry.
  
  

• Get a Survey Plan: Engage a registered surveyor to map your property boundaries clearly. Lodge it officially with the Surveyor General's office.
  

Young person reviewing land documents with a surveyor or lawyer.

2. Dealing with Contractors

If there's anything worse than buying bad land, it’s ending up with a bad contractor. You’ll avoid heartbreak by:

• Referrals & Reviews
  
  

  • Only work with builders recommended by trusted family, friends, or verified online reviews.
    
    

  • Always inspect previous projects yourself.
    
    

• Clear Agreements
  
  

  • Have a contract detailing milestones, payment schedules, timelines, and deliverables. No "bros trust me" moves here.
    

A young homeowner signing a contract agreement with a contractor.

3. Staying on Budget (Say No to the Saps!)

Construction is expensive, and Nigeria’s economy is unpredictable. Prices of materials in Nigeria change anyhow! Avoid entering debt by:

• Realistic Budgeting
  
  

  • Do thorough market surveys yourself; don’t rely on hearsay.
    
    

  • Buy materials directly from reputable suppliers and dealers.
    
    

• Emergency Fund
  
  

  • Set aside at least 10-15% of your budget for unforeseen expenses.
    
    

• Regular Cost Reviews
  
  

  • Regularly update your budget as construction progresses to reflect market realities.
    
    

Screenshots of tracking building expenses from the Briks App.

4. Navigating Building Permits

Government agencies can frustrate your efforts if you don’t get necessary permits:

• Building Permits
  
  

  • Submit architectural drawings, structural plans, survey plans, and proof of ownership to your State Physical Planning Authority.
    
    

• Environmental Permits
  
  

  • Required for larger projects; obtained through Federal Ministry of Environment or State Environmental Agencies.

5. Making Your Dream House a Reality

With land secured, permits obtained, and a reliable contractor ready, here's your streamlined building plan:

• Foundation and Site Preparation
  
  

  • Strong foundation ensures a lasting structure. Never cut corners here.
    
    

• Main Construction
  
  

  • Walls, roofing, electricals, plumbing, regularly inspect and monitor progress.
    
    

• Finishing and Interiors
  
  

  • Complete flooring, painting, fittings, and detailed inspection to ensure your home matches your taste.

Beautiful interior space showing a young couple enjoying their newly built home

How Briks App Saves You Stress

All this might sound like too much, here's where the Briks App comes in. We built Briks specifically to make life easier for young people like you. New to real estate but full of ambition.

With Briks App:

• Land Procurement & Verification:
   We handle everything from finding legit land to securing rock-solid paperwork.
  
  

• Vetted Contractors & Experienced Professionals:
   Our trusted network means you work only with top-tier builders and experts in construction, renovation, interior design, and consultation.
  
  

• Transparent Costs & Regular Updates:
   Real-time progress updates and transparent budgeting help you avoid surprises, manage payments, and track each construction stage straight from your phone.
  
  

• Flexible Payment Plans:
   Pay per construction stage, only when you're fully satisfied with the progress.
  
  

Briks is the seamless, stress-free way for young Nigerians at home or in the diaspora to confidently build, renovate, or invest in real estate.

Screenshots of the Briks App showcasing project tracking and updates

Building your first house shouldn't be stressful; it should be exciting and rewarding. Use this guide to navigate through common pitfalls, and when you're ready to start, Briks App will always be here to make your journey stress-free.

Download the Briks App today and let’s bring that dream building of yours into reality.

 Download Briks App or Create your account online today and let's get building! 🚧🏠✨

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