Getting ready to sell your house in Nigeria? Oya, it’s time to put on your hustle cap and get to work, because selling a house no be small matter! Nigerians love a good deal, but they also sabi spot value from afar, so you gats prep your house well-well to attract serious buyers who go pay you good money.
Selling a house no be just to slap “For Sale” signboard for your gate or post random phone pics on WhatsApp status. If you wan cash out proper, you need to do things the right way. Preparation na the key, so here’s a checklist tailored for Naija, with our mentality and behaviors in mind, to make your house shine like new 50 naira note.
- Find a Sharp Real Estate Agent
No dey think say you fit do am alone, bros! Nigerians love to negotiate, and without a pro, you fit lose money or waste time. “For Sale by Owner” na recipe for wahala—buyers go dey price your house like pure water. Find a trusted agent wey sabi your area well. No just pick the one wey dey spam you with flyers or your uncle’s paddi. Ask around, check their track record, and make sure dem dey on top of their game. Interview them like you dey hire for oil company job! - Pimp Your Compound’s Curb Appeal
Nigerians judge house from the gate o! If your fence dey peel or your compound look like jungle, buyers go waka pass sharpish. First impression na everything. Plant some fine flowers, paint your gate (maybe even add “Beware of Dogs” for that extra Naija vibe), and make sure the outside dey invite people like jollof rice aroma. Small touches like these go make buyers wan enter to see wetin you dey offer. - Clear All the Load for House
Less na more when you wan sell house. Nigerians no like to see house wey dey look like warehouse. Clear countertops, shelves, and even that pile of plastic buckets for backyard. Buyers go start to dey calculate if their own things go fit if your house dey too full. Pack excess stuff, donate am, or carry go your village house. Clear house no only make am look fine, e go help you when time reach to move. - Remove Your Personal Vibes
To sell house for Naija, you gats make am feel like blank slate so buyers fit picture themselves living there. Remove family photos, ancestral carvings, or that loud wallpaper wey you love. Nigerians get taste, and if your style no match their own, they fit no connect. Keep things simple—neutral colors and minimal décor—so dem go see their own dream house, not your own. - Paint Walls with Cool Colors
That bright green wall wey you dey feel? E fit dey turn off buyers wey no like am. Nigerians sabi appreciate clean, neutral colors like white, cream, or soft grey. These colors make house look fresh and allow buyers to imagine their own style. Plus, light colors make room look bigger—important for Naija buyers wey dey always check space for family or tenants. - Fix Small Scratches and Marks
No let small-small marks spoil your show. Nigerians dey notice every detail when dem dey inspect house. Scrub walls, touch up paint on baseboards, and clean any stains for floor or door. Buyers no wan enter house wey dey look like e need plenty repairs. Dem wan fall in love, no be to dey write repair list. - Tighten Loose Handles and Fittings
Small thing like loose door handle or broken socket fit make buyer start to dey wonder, “Wetin else don spoil?” Nigerians no dey like to buy problem. Check all your fittings—doors, windows, taps, and light switches. Fix anything wey no dey work so buyers go feel say your house na solid investment. - Add Some Fine Plants
Nigerians love house wey get life! Put some nice potted plants for compound or small flowers inside. Maybe even place a bowl of oranges or mangoes on the dining table for that homely vibe. Plants bring color and make house feel welcoming. Plus, dem fit cover small imperfections and make everywhere smell fresh. - Do Smell Check
Odor na big turn-off for Naija buyers. You fit no notice the smell of your egusi stew or pet, but trust me, buyers go smell am from gate. Ask a friend or neighbor to do honest sniff test. If e dey smell, wash curtains, clean kitchen, and open windows well. No use heavy air freshener to cover am—Nigerians sabi when you dey hide something, and dem no like am. - Clean Like Your Life Depend on Am
Clean no be small thing o! Nigerians love house wey dey sparkle like new car. Mop floors, scrub tiles, wash windows, and make bathroom shine like hospital. You go take professional photos, abi? Make sure house dey look like that photo every time, because buyer fit show up any moment. Dirty house fit make dem run, even if price dey sweet. - Hide Your Valuables Well-Well
No trust everybody wey dey enter your house, even for viewing. Nigerians sabi “opportunity makes the thief.” Lock up your gold, money, or important documents. If you get fine art or electronics, hide am or move am go safe place. You no wan lose something during open house, and e hard to recover lost items for Naija. - Consider Staging Your House
Staging na like giving your house fine makeover to attract buyers. Nigerians love house wey look ready to move in. Hire a pro stager wey sabi wetin dey sell for your area. Dem fit rearrange your furniture, add some fine curtains, or even rent new pieces to make house look posh. No vex if dem change things—dem sabi how to make buyers fall in love, and that na good news for your pocket.
Final Naija Tip: Nigerians dey sharp, so no cut corners. Show say you take care of the house, and dem go value am. Price am right, and with this checklist, you go sell quick with good profit. Oya, start work!