DUPLEX OR TOWNHOUSE?

Whenever I advertise a property as a detached house, I still get calls asking if it is a duplex, townhouse or bungalow? I get asked this question so many times that it may be best to explain what the differences are. A detached house is a single unit property (usually having a downstairs and an upstairs) that sits on its own plot of land, not joined by any other property. A duplex normally refers to a residential property and consisting of two separate living units sharing a common wall. A Townhouse is a row of residential home usually constructed as a two or three-story unit all joined by a common wall. Parking space is sometimes included into the building. A bungalow is a single story low level residential unit, usually on its own plot.

 

It was interesting that the President made an unannounced visit to the Police barracks in Ikeja recently. I guess he saw for himself what we have all known and continue to see at all the barrack accommodation littered around Lagos, from Falomo, Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Surulere, Yaba etc, they are all eyesores. Not only barracks but all the so called Low Cost blocks of flats that were put up years ago to support the population of low income workers. Even our University accommodation halls are now a sight for sore eyes. Public infrastructure has long been and continues to suffer from a lack of maintenance which seems to be a boil in the backside of the nation. Everywhere you turn; there is evidence of infrastructural decay, from our roads, airports, hospitals to our housing estates. When will it end? It will be interesting to watch and see what will come out of our Presidents visit to the barracks. It may well serve as a shake up for other areas of infrastructural rot

The continuing lack of electricity to homes, has meant that there is an over reliance on generators. Unfortunately a lot of so called affordable generators are the loudest noise producing machines to be ever invented by man. These machines can be so loud that prolonged use of them can make you deaf once they are turned off, because the silence is an assault to the senses. I experienced this at a friend’s place, where the racket from the generator was so loud and had been on all day, therefore we had gotten used to the noise. When good old NEPA brought the light and we waited for a few minutes before agreeing that it would be safe to turn off the generator, the silence that engulfed us was shocking!. It took about 15 minutes before we felt comfortable in the silence to start talking normally again. We have become desensitized to the noise pollution and filth around us.

 Some new serviced estates have sprung up along the Lekki Expressway corridor, that are surprisingly well managed and good quality, moreover they start out affordable for those who can get a foot in quickly, and seem to appreciate alarmingly over a short period of time. I must stress that this seems to only happen to one particular developer that I am aware of. The units get sold out so fast, leaving other developers wondering has has happened to their own units. A bench mark is also set for other developers in terms of quality and pricing. It is well known that competition is good and brings about regulations and lower pricing in commodities. Let us hope that this formula works for the future of our housing market