Tuesday, September 11, 2012

7 Ways to Protect Your Investment from Cheap Ghanaian Building Contractors

The possibility of owning a newly constructed home is a dream that can be realized for more and more individuals today. It’s an investment that shouldn’t be taken lightly, though. Hiring a licensed professional contractor might cost a little more up front, but in the long run it can mean the difference between a home that is functional, lovely and lasting versus one that is poorly planned and shoddily built. Listed below are seven ways you can protect your investment from cheap Ghanaian contractors who might otherwise gamble with your investment and your money.

1. Get recommendations

Colleagues, friends, and family members can offer up honest opinions when it comes to finding a contractor.  They can be one of your best resources in finding someone who might offer quality services at competitive prices. Friends and family members have nothing to lose or to gain by discouraging or recommending a contractor. 

2 - Interview first

When investing in something as important and personal as one’s own dream home it’s important to find the right people to do the job. One way to determine if a construction company will suit you is to interview them. Don’t hold back when it comes time to ask questions. 

3 - Get more than one bid

Oftentimes a construction company will offer free bids, and it’s pretty standard for buyers to obtain three. It would be incorrect to assume the lowest bid is the most cost effective, and the highest bid is definitely out of consideration. They are all worth considering.

4 - Have a written contract in place

Before beginning a project it’s important to have a written contract in place so each party knows what’s expected beforehand.

5 - Look at past projects

To get a good idea of how skilled the contractor’s craftsmanship is: peruse past projects.

6 - Inspect the materials

When it comes to quality, not all materials are the same. It’s important for you and the contractor you hire to select those that would be durable as well as affordable.

7 - The crew

Ask questions about the workers who might be involved in the building process. Determine what their credentials are and how they might impact the quality of your home.

While it may take time to interview and obtain bids before hiring a quality Ghanaian contractor, it can save a lot of money and heartache in the long run.

Trust the Ghana Homes Group to equip you with your dream home House Plan. Begin by browsing their House Plans here.

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

7 Basic Steps to Successful Buying Land in Ghana

Whether this is your first time making a land purchase, or if you own properties in different locations throughout the world, buying land in Ghana can be a very attractive option and challenging. While Ghana does not maintain any restrictions against foreigners purchasing land, there are several principals that need to be understood so that you can successfully buy land in Ghana. As a brief overview, these include:
  1. Verify land ownership
  2. Check with the Land Commission to find out who truly owns the land
  3. Check seller’s reputation
  4. Find out whether the land is a leasehold or freehold
  5. Ask for a transfer of ownership process
  6. Check the cost to transfer and register the land at the court
  7. Verify lawyer fees if any
In order to help you understand the process a little better, there are also certain concepts that you need to understand.

Land Ownership

The constitution of Ghana was approved in April of 1992. According to this constitution, all public land was vested in the President on behalf of the people. Prior to this time, Customary Land had been granted to individuals and families. Customary Land is now considered to be private land. If you want to purchase private land, it is necessary to talk to the individual who owns it; otherwise, all land is purchased from the government.

Ghana Land Freehold vs Leasehold

There are distinct differences between leasehold and freehold land. When someone owns freehold land, they have exclusive rights to the land as well as the building or home on that land. Contrastingly, purchasing a leasehold property means that you purchase the rights to the building or home on a given property for a certain amount of time – several decades, usually – but the actual land does not belong to you.
These are a few of the most important things to understand when you are in the process of purchasing property in Ghana. By following these seven steps, you will find that the purchasing process goes much more smoothly.

What's your Ghana land buying experience? Leave a comment below.
 

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