As construction cost rises due to attendant rise in prices of building materials, the trend of building houses directly on sand has been observed to be on the increase especially by unscrupulous developers and contractors. Having carried out an independent monitoring of construction activities in some areas in the Ajah axis of Lagos lately, it became obvious that in order to save cost people have resorted to constructing buildings directly on sand.

The awkward idea been adopted in most of the cases under study is to sand-fill the land, level and compact it with the use of machines and construct a reinforced concrete strip foundation directly over it without recourse to minimum construction/engineering standards. They do so very quickly so that before any of the regulatory bodies saddled with the responsibility of building control gets wind of their ill act, they are already on super-structure level at which point it is burdensome to ascertain how the foundation was actually built. On a particular site, using this vague method the entire foundation including the ground floor slab was put up in one week and by the next, they were already building up the walls and frame. Dishonest developers thrive in such indecent acts and sell or lease these buildings to unsuspecting prospective buyers who in-turn occupy them or cause others to do so by way of lease/rent too. There is no consideration for live and properties put at risk of an imminent collapse even as some of the buildings observed are already exhibiting symptoms of instability and sick building syndrome pre-occupancy.

That is why Arc-View Investments Limited is here to help you do a feasibility study as well as give advisory services regarding the way things should be done for a perfect ending.

Five years post-occupancy, the building over-settles (or sink) and then tilt in a particular direction. When asked, some of these developers claim that before there will be any major issue with the building, they would have recouped the returns on their investment and its left to the new owner to do a repair by way of underpinning as the need arises. To know that some greedy professionals have joined the bandwagon of quacks in delivering such poor structures is condemnable. This act should not be encouraged in any form.

Here are some structural considerations; normally after leveling and compacting operation has been carried out on a sand filling land, it still remains a made-up ground. Although the land becomes stiff at sub-surface levels, this doesn’t in anyway erase the fact that the underlying bad soil (or peat) remains intact and retains its poor attributes. Peats are highly compressible soils and will naturally compress upon the impact of load. As this happen, the building will settle indiffernetially, especially during seasonal changes and mass movement of the earth; which occurs at various times of the year. Such structural anomaly often leads to poor stability of the building and eventually a collapse if unable to bear the load, especially for single or multiple storied structures.

Rising cost of building materials should not be a yardstick to adopt poor construction methods in the construction methods in the construction of buildings and estate infrastructure anywhere. The authorities should not turn a blind eye to such activities that jeopardizes or threatens the lives of people as well as the overall health of the built environment. Project owners and developers should not connive with contractors or builders to manipulate well established engineering principles. It is important to select cost-saving methodologies like the use of dry construction methods; cold brick construction etc. but bad construction methods is never the way to go.

For a solid and reliable construction project, advisory services, building plan/design, count on ARC-VIEW INVESTMENTS LIMITED.

#source..Castle.

It’s been stressful as countries work to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Now that we are in the midst of the Coronavirus-induced stock market sell-off, how should we proceed? The markets have been extremely volatile. Fear is rampant. Investors are reverting to their worst behavioral biases and habits in such an environment. You need to do better than the crowds and continue to invest rationally.

When the world is going through a pandemic that is causing a whole lot of chaos like Coronavirus is doing, it is only normal for there to be panic and second thoughts about plenty of things. Everyone starts to reconsider a lot of decisions they had made previously, wondering how safe those decisions really were.

I can assure you that if you’ve been worrying about 99 things, your investment with Arc-view Investment Limited is not going to add to that and make it a 100. Your ROI is 101% safe and guaranteed regardless of the Coronavirus pandemic currently taking the world by storm. We understand that you might have further questions so please, feel free to call our customer care lines to get the answers you seek.

The world is going to conquer this pandemic and everything will be alright in the end. Until then, please adhere to all safety precautions, avoid putting yourself in any vulnerable situation, wash your hands regularly and practice social distancing.

Please BE SAFE!!!

You may be right to say you can do without a real estate agent in the course of buying, selling or renting a piece of real estate, albeit how far can you really go without one? This article gives 5 reasons why you will forever need a real estate agent.
If most of us had our way we would bypass the middle man when it comes to buying, selling or leasing a property. Going through a real estate agent in the course of a real estate process ensures that we spend more than we bargained for, especially if the agent is only out to exploit you.

However, most often than not a real estate agent makes the job of property search easy for the prospective buyer, as well as making the sales process effectual and productive for the seller.

Just like you are forced to seek the expertise of professionals in other spheres of human avocation where you lack the expertise, seeking the services of a real estate agent to help you out with your property search is almost non-negotiable.

If we can visit a doctor whenever we fall sick, so do we need the expertise of a professional when on the verge to buy, sell or lease a property.

During a home or property search, there is a certain level of expertise that only an experienced real estate agent can provide. The real estate agent makes the whole process a walk in the park for the buyer and the seller or probably the renter.

Thinking of hiring an agent to help you buy, rent or sell? Below you’ll find 5 reasons why it’s essential to work with a real estate agent.

1. A Good Agent Will Focus on Educating vs. Selling to a Client

It is common knowledge that most agents are more interested in making money from a real estate transaction that anything else their job entails, but a good agent in all sincerity wouldn’t just stop at that. They will also educate you on the entire process so you understand what to expect and situations that may come up once the buying, renting or selling process begins. The agent, just as you, wants to make sure you make a smart and educated decision, at least that is what their job should really be about.

Let’s say you’re a seller and ready to get your home off the market so you can move. Is your property really ready for the market? What about the price, is it fair? Is the location of your property going to hasten the sales process? Do you know how much it costs to sell a house in that area?

There are a lot of questions that must be answered before your home is actually listed. An agent will help you learn about every aspect of selling a home so you have confidence.

An agent transforms the way you think about buying and selling a piece of real estate. They will focus on setting realistic expectations and guiding you through the process so buying doesn’t seem as overwhelming

2. Real Estate Agents Know How to Handle Heated Conversations

While it would be nice to get through a real estate transaction without any problems, this is very rarely the case and sometimes certain home buying situations can get out of hand. For example, what would you do if you were buying a home and the home inspection revealed a problem with the roof, troublesome plumbing, or black mould? Or, what would you do if you were selling a home and the inspector was trying to make a simple problem seem like a larger one? Facing these problems alone can feel impossible and turn you from hopeful to irritated, resulting in clouded judgement.

When you have a great real estate agent providing excellent service, you have someone who knows how to deal with even the most stressful situations — all without losing their cool. Whether you want to prevent a buyer from backing out or you need help telling a seller about repairs that need addressed, your agent will be there. Their experience in this field and critical thinking skills means they’re able to solve problems to help you through.

Even with research you can never anticipate what’s going to come and the myriad of challenges that could be waiting for you. If you want to stand tall and fight for the deal, then an agent is going to be your best line of defence.

3. It Takes a REALTOR to Know Local Market Conditions

When it comes to both buying and selling a home, there are a lot of things you’ll learn during the process. For example, if you’re selling, do you know what the local market conditions are? For those without experience, this is very unlikely. Real estate agents are in-tune with conditions in your immediate market so they know things like:

Type of audience for your home
Where to advertise to buyers
Where most buyers are coming from to see your home
Average number of days it takes to sell a home
The average asking price versus sales price
Trends for real estate in your area
Challenges you could face due to your location
With in-depth knowledge about your market and real estate conditions in your area, your agent can educate you all about the facts. This means facing reality rather than having expectations that are likely not to be met. Even if you’re looking to buy, they will help make sure you get the most for your money and are aware of every realistic challenge, obstacle, and possibility for you to expect.

With so many mistakes that could occur without the right knowledge, it’s necessary to have the guidance of a real estate professional. They’ll help you avoid these mistakes and make smart decisions that are likely to save you money

4. Agents Know How to Negotiate the Best

You may think you can negotiate the best deal for yourself without the help of a real estate agent, but let’s be true to ourselves; do you really know how to sell a home? What if the buyer presents an offer you want to counter, or one that is way too low for you to even consider? When it comes to buying a home, there are just as many needs for negotiating. What would you do if the seller wouldn’t fix something or come down on a too-high price?

Knowing what to do can feel impossible when you’re in the situation, especially if you haven’t dealt with it before. By working with an agent you’ll be able to create a smart strategy, negotiate effectively, and manage the situation in the best way possible.

How do they do this? By using their experience, gathering statistics on the local real estate market, and considering smart negotiation tactics they’ve learned over the years. Having them as your buffer will ensure you’re not at the forefront and can keep emotions out of such an important financial decision

5. REALTORS® Know How to Create Outstanding Marketing

In most cases, a buyer would not walk into a poorly presented open house and begin to imagine the potential it could have. Sure the agent might be able to try and explain what could be, but having the buyer imagine it can be difficult. This is why it’s essential to prepare a home for being sold in the right way.

While you may be able to find each of these things on your own, that doesn’t mean you’ll make the right choices. For example, do you know which real estate photographer is going to get the BEST shots of your home so it’s clear how big the rooms are?

With each of these details you don’t want to take chances. You’ll save time, money, and frustration by having an agent help you with finding professionals who will do an excellent job of presenting your property.

Your home has its own individual style, story, and appeal. While you might know that, conveying that to others may not be so easy. An agent is going to be the one to help you effectively market why your home is so fantastic.

Walking into the real estate process without any knowledge of how it works is a recipe for disaster. In addition to not understanding the market and changes that are so common, you won’t have a reliable source for information.

With a top real estate agent on your side, you can let go of common worries and smile knowing you have an experienced professional, eager and ready to help you. By hiring them, you can look forward to the good things that are about to come!