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Is it
possible to ask for the price of a Bentley in exchange for the quality of
a Toyota? Impossible! Any sane person would say. While many will
consider this outrageous, it is indeed a stark reminder of the realities
experienced in Nigeria’s Real Estate Industry.
As an avid Property Enthusiast, Developer or an Observer,
you must have noticed the surge in the number of empty apartments in Ikoyi over
the last few years. To avoid drawing hasty conclusions and to guide our
investment choices, let’s use familiar examples to understand why such
phenomena have festered.
you must have noticed the surge in the number of empty apartments in Ikoyi over
the last few years. To avoid drawing hasty conclusions and to guide our
investment choices, let’s use familiar examples to understand why such
phenomena have festered.
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‘What’s the difference between Ipekere – locally
fried plantain bits sold in remote areas, and the Plantain-Chips sold in urban areas?
Have you ever wondered why a good meal prepared in Ijebu Ode would cost less
than one sold in Lagos? An estimated rental for an Apartment in Ikoyi is
about $80,000, while the same apartment in Lekki would cost $30,000. What do
you think makes the difference? It’s Value! In Real Estate, when you put price,
quality and location put together in the same place, what you get is Value. If
Location is a fundamental principle in Real Estate, how much more Luxury Real
Estate?
fried plantain bits sold in remote areas, and the Plantain-Chips sold in urban areas?
Have you ever wondered why a good meal prepared in Ijebu Ode would cost less
than one sold in Lagos? An estimated rental for an Apartment in Ikoyi is
about $80,000, while the same apartment in Lekki would cost $30,000. What do
you think makes the difference? It’s Value! In Real Estate, when you put price,
quality and location put together in the same place, what you get is Value. If
Location is a fundamental principle in Real Estate, how much more Luxury Real
Estate?
The argument for
Demand exceeding Supply, over empty Apartments in Ikoyi, is unfounded. Luxury
apartments are in high demand. Poorly
finished buildings with exorbitant prices constitute the pile of empty
apartments constantly being alluded to. A developer who compromises on the
quality of materials, no matter how highbrow the Property’s location, has no
right to place an exorbitant price on it.
Demand exceeding Supply, over empty Apartments in Ikoyi, is unfounded. Luxury
apartments are in high demand. Poorly
finished buildings with exorbitant prices constitute the pile of empty
apartments constantly being alluded to. A developer who compromises on the
quality of materials, no matter how highbrow the Property’s location, has no
right to place an exorbitant price on it.
Consider
these – Are Developments such as Tango Towers and Ultimate Towers in Ikoyi,
empty? If such Developments are not empty, imagine what would happen when the
LorenzoBySujimoto with its high-end features, state-of-the-art facilities,
exceptional Returns on Investment and Competitive Pricing, is completed?
Luxury is not expensive; it is the intention to deliver luxury
that is expensive. While the cost of a nice Three Bedroom Apartment in
Johannesburg would go for about $350,000 the same apartment in Ikoyi would cost
$1M. If the cost of construction materials is the same all over the world, the
price of marble, granite, cement, tiles, kitchen, doors, paints etc, why are
these materials 300% more expensive in Nigeria?
that is expensive. While the cost of a nice Three Bedroom Apartment in
Johannesburg would go for about $350,000 the same apartment in Ikoyi would cost
$1M. If the cost of construction materials is the same all over the world, the
price of marble, granite, cement, tiles, kitchen, doors, paints etc, why are
these materials 300% more expensive in Nigeria?
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‘Obe to dun, owo lo paa‘ an adage in
Yoruba parlance, means a delicious meal requires a lot
of money. You cannot offer a Toyota for the price of a Bentley. One
might argue that both cars will eventually ply the same road but the efficiency
and prestige of a Bentley speaks for itself. Luxury sells itself. Listen, I
have sold crap before and I have sold luxury and I can tell you from experience
that it is easier to sell luxury than crap. When you sell luxury, you sell
peace of mind; you have not only sold something that would last for
generations, but you win the heart of your client who now becomes
your Evangelist. Our biggest marketers are our clients.
Yoruba parlance, means a delicious meal requires a lot
of money. You cannot offer a Toyota for the price of a Bentley. One
might argue that both cars will eventually ply the same road but the efficiency
and prestige of a Bentley speaks for itself. Luxury sells itself. Listen, I
have sold crap before and I have sold luxury and I can tell you from experience
that it is easier to sell luxury than crap. When you sell luxury, you sell
peace of mind; you have not only sold something that would last for
generations, but you win the heart of your client who now becomes
your Evangelist. Our biggest marketers are our clients.
The era of ‘Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop’
is over. Nigerian Property Developers must realize that times have changed.
is over. Nigerian Property Developers must realize that times have changed.
The ‘quick fix – quick gain’ syndrome has ended. A research
recently conducted indicates that the biggest problem in the Nigerian Real
Estate Industry is Developers’ emphasis on
cost minimization rather than value maximization, and
this is driven by the need for immediate gratification. What these
Developers fail to understand is that the current Investors and Real Estate
Enthusiasts are upbeat about quality and finishing. This demography is very
exposed and has decided to start requesting value for its money.
recently conducted indicates that the biggest problem in the Nigerian Real
Estate Industry is Developers’ emphasis on
cost minimization rather than value maximization, and
this is driven by the need for immediate gratification. What these
Developers fail to understand is that the current Investors and Real Estate
Enthusiasts are upbeat about quality and finishing. This demography is very
exposed and has decided to start requesting value for its money.
Over the next 24-30 months,
the change in Investors’ perception would mean that only developers who
understand that customer is king and those who have the capacity
to deliver exceptional value at a reasonable price, will survive.
Real Estate Developers in Nigeria must rise to the occasion. Clients must get
full value for their money. Otherwise, one day we all would wake up to find all
our apartments empty.
the change in Investors’ perception would mean that only developers who
understand that customer is king and those who have the capacity
to deliver exceptional value at a reasonable price, will survive.
Real Estate Developers in Nigeria must rise to the occasion. Clients must get
full value for their money. Otherwise, one day we all would wake up to find all
our apartments empty.