In my country, rent culture is a topic that almost everyone has strong opinions about. The process of finding and securing a house is not always straightforward, and it comes with its own set of challenges that tenants and homeowners alike must navigate. As someone looking to move into a new home, there are several factors one has to be cautious about to avoid regrets.
Let's take Port Harcourt, for example. To get a house in Port Harcourt is like going into the battlefield because agents will use you and play you. Houses that even pigs will reject will be shown to you, and there's always the audacity of them telling you that as soon as you pay, they will start renovation immediately. It's the stress of trekking up and down under the scorching sun and paying agent transportation for every house that he has to show you.
The first thing I usually consider if I want to rent a house in Port Harcourt is the proximity to workplaces. I don't play with that because transportation is very expensive. I will be needing somewhere where expenses won't be more than my economy. Good roads, especially in this rainy season when some places are flooded, which is actually the best time to look for a house. Some houses are beautiful, but the street or their entrance is always flooded whenever it rains. And where can I easily get to places within the city?
I like the market to be close, not far away. Another thing I will consider is the location. A house in the heart of Port Harcourt City might cost three or four times more than one in the outskirts. Being on a budget-friendly house hunt, I have no business with Odili, G.R.A., Golf Estate, because the rent is breathtaking.
Location security is another pressing concern. I often ask about the safety of the neighborhood, whether there are frequent cases of theft or cult-related activities like diobu, sometimes from the three or four people, and if the community has vigilantes or security arrangements.
The next thing I look out for is if the house has a place to get water; does water run inside the house? Does the landlord live inside the compound? Because I can't live in a compound that the landlord and his children are there.
I would like to check the house out by myself, both inside and outside, turn everything on, and make sure there are no hidden leaks or any plumbing issues. The landlord and agent are fond of showing someone the good part. I will also want to find out the character of the house owner, and I will do that by asking the tenants and people around.
Rules and regulations governing the compound. I have lived in a compound where we sweep the whole compound before leaving to anywhere in the the morning and we must sweep finish before 5:30am, and it's not funny. The last is electricity supply in the environment that I chose. Light and water is life.
Images are Ai generated
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