If there is one thing that burns out Lagos residents aside from the frustrating traffic, it should definitely be searching for a good apartment in the nation’s commercial center.

Hunting for a befitting apartment in Lagos deserves to be listed among the ‘Most Frustrating Adventures in Nigeria’, it is always a herculean task.

From the estate agents who are always ready to milk you dry while assisting you in the search, to the house owners who inflate rents like their whole life depends on it, blame them not, that perhaps is the only source of livelihood for many of them.

Need we mention the pocket-tearing charges in the name of legal fees, agreement, commission, damages and others, which when summed up is almost equal to the annual rent?

Somewhere in Ogba, Lagos for instance, an average two-bedroom apartment costs N500,000, when you add other charges and agent fees you would find yourself paying almost a million naira.

After all these, if you are a young person who is just moving out of your parents’ or guardians’ home to begin life, getting the needed furniture for the apartment may not be as easy as you thought it would be. Except you have some funds starched somewhere or have a sponsor willing to set you up, it will take an average of six months to get the necessary home furniture like chairs, electronic appliances among others.

It is a normal trend to see young people living in an apartment with just their mattress on the floor of their room until they can afford what is needed to set up their home.

A Twitter user has taken to the microblogging site to ask users to share their experiences of how long it took them to set up their new apartment.

Aproko Doctor as he is popularly called wrote:

“How long did it take you to buy the things in your house? Chairs, etc How long did you live in with no furniture.”

His tweet was prompted by his friend’s experience, whom he said it took two months to get the necessary furniture for his apartment.

“My friend stayed with just his bed for about 2 months. Because, after paying the extras on rent in Lagos, I don’t know how you guys do it, to be honest.,” he added.

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Reacting to the tweet, @Lady_May9 wrote:

After paying for the house, you use like 3 months to recover.
4th month you buy Bed and mattress. 5th month chairs and curtains. 6th month TV and parlour gadgets. 7th month you furnish your kitchen and fully settle in.
Recover.
From 9th Month you start saving for next rent.??

— May Nelson? (@Lady_May9) 22 January 2020

@Sugarstick4life wrote:

I bought my furnitures immediately after I paid the rent thanks to an effective planning system.
Work with your budget and buy according to your needs.
No pressure!!!

— Pepple Medlyn Tonye (@sugarstick4life) 22 January 2020

@Ayoappeal said it took her three years to achieve 70% of her dream home.

I moved to my apartment with just my bed, plates/spoon/cooker and my cloths. I wasnt bothered abt the empty house, started buying things little by little. Lets say it took me 3 years to achieve 70% of my dream home. I actually left everything in my former apartment for my brother

— #EkstasyMedia (@Ayoappeal) 22 January 2020

Reactions to the tweet seem to be sending chills down the spines of some Twitter users who are yet to get to that phase of life.

@Chicruz_William tweeted in fear:

Hei God!!

Shey I will not stay where I am like this?? Coz I’m planning to move

— Chicruz??? (@Chicruz_William) 22 January 2020

 

See other reactions:

I moved to Lagos last year October, rented an apartment late November and moved in with just my school bag,No Mattress,wardrobe, kitchen utensils or furniture and its 2months already I am still sleeping on the tiles and empty carton but I believe there will always be a way.

— Onye nwee ego,onwee umunna! (@Kinghip_) 22 January 2020

Doc wan start family oh ?nice one. For me, I started with the basics first like mattress, fridge and a TV. But make sure you buy things you will use when you have a family. Eg dont buy a 6 by 3.5ft bed, get a family size. Buy a bigger fridge not medium. It saves you a lot later

— TheGeneral (@Naija_Version) 22 January 2020

You need to sleep at least 8 hours a day… Buy mattress and pillow first.

Bleep TV and home theater. Use your phone 4 now.

One good chair for your sitting pleasure and table.

No visitors allowed until after 2 years.

— Chinua Achebe Lives On (@NotChinuaAchebe) 22 January 2020

Just do it one at a time.
Each time you have spare money look for what to buy immediately. That was how I did mine.
My apartment stressed me because we did a whole lot of work. Repainting and fixing the bathroom from scratch.

— Premium Oma. (@Omaa95) 22 January 2020

My sitting room is still as bare as it came, except for the painting and a wall art. I just made my wardrobe in Nov after 2 months of moving in. See ehn, Lagos rent is crazy.

— Chukwuma Afoma (@ChukwumaAfoma) 22 January 2020

The so-called agents are really making life difficult for people in Lagos. I wish the state government can do something about this. Agent fee is even higher than the house rent these days. Those agents are the main hindrance in getting an apartment in Lagos.

— Hon Tosin Odetoran (@TosinOdetoran) 22 January 2020

I stayed 4 months without cushions in mine and had kids who always stood up for mornin and night devotionals ??? Life is in phases and easy wins the race.

— Divine (@Divine0002) 22 January 2020

Very difficult something.
I moved in with just my basics: pots, cooking utensils and a mattress.
Now I’ve upgraded my mattress, a fridge, laptop, some other important stuff plus I’m more comfortable now than before.
All thanks to God

— Really??? (@eugeniaikwuegbu) 22 January 2020

You own your house, once you have the basic which is a bed and TV and sound system, you can then take your time to get yours even if it’s one year. Don’t rush yourself.. women sometimes help with this. I mean a girlfriend who is hoping on marital life with you.

— Ichié Óbị?? (@CollinsObinno) 22 January 2020

Bought the basic things first.. mattress … had my couch 2 years later. 2 years ago i bought my tv, Gen, just last year august. I had ny bed frames, fridge, kitchen cabinets, side stools, book shelf.. and kitchen utensils.

— Naomi (@awelewa34) 22 January 2020

It is not abnormal to begin in one room. No point renting 2 or3 bed except marriage is in view. It is even cheaper if you get like minds to share a 3 Bed with, esp singles. Mine was 3 bed and plan from day 1 was to find occupants to share other rooms.

— Wale Adereti (@dwallayz) 23 January 2020

I bought the beds, mattresses, TV, DStv, curtains, Gen and kitchen stuffs first.
After 5 months, I bought the parlour furniture.
It is not easy especially living in expensive areas.
My elder brother came through for me too

— Moonwalker (@NeotericMan) 22 January 2020

I moved in to my house in abuja last year dec,I went in with just my cloths and bag,no carpet no rug.been sleeping with carton.and haven’t put a net on the window and door yet.and the cold here is soo much…but I knw God is in control…

— divy priscarl (@OnyealiM) 22 January 2020