PROPERTY TRANSACTION GUIDE

‘What local artisans need is supervision’
By ADEMOLA ONI

Punch, Monday 21st June 2010

Managing Director, No Excuses Homes, Funmi Odubekun, shares her experience in the real estate business; what she considers quality enhancing factors in the sector and her vision to assist the less-privileged in the society. She spoke with ADEMOLA ONI. YOU hit the limelight through the television. So, how did you get into property development?

Actually, I have always had a flair for interior decoration and I worked with both an interior decorating and construction company abroad, before being employed by PIVOT Engineering Lagos. While at PIVOT, I did a course in Project Management at the Lagos Business School and this course just confirmed my inner gift the more. When I resigned from Pivot Engineering, I set up my own company in 1999 but it did not take off immediately. I started by refurbishing personal homes and got good recommendations. A couple of years ago, I decided to go a step further.

Why did you choose to come to Abeokuta?

Three years ago, I decided that it was either I took the bull by the horn or forgot my ambition. I discussed it with a friend who encouraged me to try Abeokuta, which I found quite interesting and symbolic because I was a pioneer of Ogun State and a pioneer of Ogun Radio (now Gateway Radio). Even though I hadn‘t been to Abeokuta for so many years, I decided to try and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of development in the state. I bought a plot of land in a virgin area of Abeokuta, where nobody wanted to risk living alone, but somebody needed to start it and I did. I put up the first structure and ever since, I have helped others to develop theirs, usually simple but tastefully done houses.

There are a lot of challenges in this business like getting artisans and responsible workers together. The most challenging, however, is finance. In my own case, I started off building one at a time; but we all know that it‘s more economical to build three or more at a time. There is a lot of satisfaction watching the structure grow from the beginning, at the same time, there‘s also a lot of stress.

However, seeing the complete structure is rewarding. What do I look forward to in the future? I look forward to building estates, affordable homes; value-for-money homes. I love to build houses for others, the type I can live in. I‘m targeting Nigerians in the Diaspora. There are those who had sent money home for houses to be built for them and the money could not be accounted for and those who had been duped with pictures of other people‘s buildings. These categories of people need a reliable outfit that they can patronise in their quest for a house back home in Nigeria.

Everybody says there is money in construction, but there is a lot of stress too. For me, I‘m not in the business just because of the money but also because of my passion. I feel you don‘t have to be a multi-millionaire to be able to afford a decent home.

It seems this business pays you better than what you were known for. How do you hope to regulate your activities and those you deal with?

I am happy with the returns, however buying a home calls for a lot of ready cash, which middle class Nigerians do not have. I will be happy to offer a programme whereby prospective buyers can pay on agreed instalments.

One would say, why the sharp change from broadcasting?

I missed broadcasting initially, but indeed I have just found my calling and I am very happy in this line and I really hope to excel.

How did you find yourself in Abeokuta?

Those close to me still find it difficult to understand how I could take the bull by the horn and relocate to Abeokuta. My friend and former colleague, Ruth Benamasia-Opia, is fond of calling me a ‘gypsy‘ because I would move at the snap of a finger to my next area of destination. This is very uncomfortable and unnerving but I will if it has to do with my line of business. Once again, the project management course I attended at the Lagos Business School confirmed this and my love for this business.

My friends had always been amazed at the depth of knowledge I had picked up over the years and being in construction does not mean I work alone. I work hand-in-hand with competent professionals like architects, engineers and surveyors who guide me to ensure we produce solid structures.

Have you approached any bank for credit facility to help you in the provision of houses?

Not really, because I am aware of the hurdles one faces with banks. Besides, the current interest rate of lending is absolutely ridiculous but if banks are willing to give individuals loans to buy these properties, that will go a long way because I do understand getting a loan directly from the bank to build houses for sale can be pretty dicey.

What about through the Federal Mortgage Bank?

I approached the bank, but mortgage banks are more sympathetic towards those who want to buy or build their homes and not commercial builders.

Since you said your dream had been to build estates, have you seen the estates in this state? What is your assessment of those you have seen?

I have actually seen a couple of estates and my impression is that most developers want to maximise both space and profit. I am pretty young in this line of business but one thing is sure and that is no, ‘pokey toilets‘, bathrooms or rooms irrespective of the profit we want to make. We are bound by a policy to build houses that are practical and ready for habitation. This is why we are and will remain "No Excuses Homes."

How effective is your supervision and the quality of houses you deliver?

I personally ‘project-manage’ my sites and purchase materials myself. I hold regular meetings with my artisans and instil in them not to have a mindset of ‘the houses are for sale,‘ so anything goes. We usually plan from the end to the beginning and we have a policy of the three-letter word - PER: Plumbing, Electrical and Roofing. Our site workers now know that without the right installations of the three-letter word, we don‘t have a home. I don‘t deny my workers their wages and even pay a bit more to encourage them so they don‘t have excuses. Sub-standard materials are a no-go area with "No Excuses Homes" as we have found out that the difference in price is not much anyway.

Developers, especially builders say good local artisans are hard to find, which forces them to go as far as Togo to get good hands. What‘s your experience in this area?

I don‘t agree; I use our own people. I also use Togolese artisans because I find them (Togolese) to be very good too. All we need to do is look out for artisans that have the needed experience. When I started in Abeokuta, I recruited artisans from Lagos but when we had to employ more workers, I found out that there were good, experienced artisans in Abeokuta too and that what they needed basically was supervision.

Over the past few years, what has your experience been like in this sector?

My experiences in this sector are multi-faceted. I have learnt that one must have a passion for construction, if not, it is and can be a very stressful line of business. I have learnt to work from the end to the beginning as well as from the beginning to the end before embarking on a project. I have learnt that you gain more experience with each project. I have learnt that no two projects are the same. I have found the working conditions of artisans to be pretty stressful and I have come to appreciate them better. ‘No Excuses Homes’ goes an extra mile to pay a bit more and provide one free meal a day.

I have learnt that it is good to be sympathetic towards the working conditions of artisans; it is also very important to be very firm with them and I have learnt to be very prayerful. By the grace of God, I desire to give back to the society by giving out interest-free loans to individuals, depending on how much profit we are able to make each year. I know how difficult it is getting a loan to start a business and if God has been kind to me, then, ‘No Excuses.’