What to Agree With an Artisan Before Work Starts in Nigeria

Agree the scope of work, the total cost, the timeline, and what happens if something goes wrong — all in writing — before any artisan starts. That single habit prevents most of the disputes that leave Nigerian homeowners frustrated and out of pocket.

November is a busy month for trades. Weddings are peaking, families are fixing up homes ahead of Detty December, and Nigerians returning from abroad for the holidays are sending money home to get repairs done before they land. Demand for plumbers, electricians, tailors and mechanics is high, which means artisans have options — and so do you, if you prepare properly.

Why verbal agreements almost always fail

In Lagos especially, a conversation at the gate on a Monday morning rarely survives to Friday intact. The electrician who quoted you a figure "for the whole job" now says that did not include new conduit pipes. The tailor who promised your aso-oke outfit in two weeks is now asking for one more week — the third time. These are not always bad faith; they are often the result of both sides walking away with different understandings of the same conversation.

Writing things down — even a WhatsApp message that both parties confirm — creates a shared record. It is not about distrust; it is about clarity.

Seven things to agree before work starts

1. Exact scope of work. Do not say "fix the plumbing." Say "replace the burst pipe under the kitchen sink, check the two bathroom taps and report any further faults before touching them." The more specific, the fewer surprises.
2. Materials: who buys them, and who chooses them? Some artisans inflate material costs significantly when they buy on your behalf. Agree in advance whether you will supply materials yourself, or whether the artisan buys them and brings receipts.
3. Total amount or day rate — stated clearly. Is the figure quoted a flat fee for the whole job, or a daily rate? If it is a daily rate, agree a cap on the number of days. Never start work without this settled.
4. Payment schedule. A reasonable structure is a small deposit to cover transport and materials, with the balance paid only when the work is completed to your satisfaction. Never pay everything upfront.
5. Start date and finish date. Both must be specific. "I will come next week" is not a start date. "I will start on Wednesday 18 November and finish by Friday 20 November" is.
6. What counts as finished? For a tailor, finished means you have tried the garment and approved the fit. For an electrician, finished means the circuit is tested and working. Define the finish line before work begins.
7. What happens if something is damaged or the work is substandard? Agree that the artisan will fix any damage caused during the job at no extra charge. Saying this before work starts is far less awkward than saying it after a wall has been cracked.

A simple checklist to run through

Point to settle	How to confirm it
Scope of work	Written description, confirmed by both parties
Who buys materials	Agreed verbally and noted in writing
Total cost or day rate	Figure stated clearly; WhatsApp message is fine
Payment schedule	Deposit agreed; balance on completion
Start and finish dates	Specific dates, not "soon" or "next week"
Definition of completion	Agreed in advance; sign-off by you
Liability for damage	Artisan confirms in writing

Area-by-area habits that affect how you negotiate

In Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, artisans often charge a premium for the postcode — factor that in and push back politely. On the mainland, in areas like Surulere, Yaba and Ikeja, you are more likely to find artisans who work at competitive rates but are juggling many jobs at once; get a firm date in writing or you will be deprioritised when a bigger client calls. In Abuja's Gwarinpa, Wuse and Maitama, demand spikes in November as expats and diaspora returnees prepare properties before Christmas — book and confirm early.

How job protection changes the dynamic

Even with every agreement in writing, enforcement is the hard part. That is why booking through a platform that builds protection into the process is worth considering. NaijaMart OniseOwo connects you with vetted handwork professionals — plumbers, electricians, tailors, mechanics and other trades — and bookings come with job protection, so both sides have recourse if something does not go as agreed. See how the job protection feature works before you book.

For the payment side of any arrangement, NaijaMart Trust holds funds securely and releases them to the artisan only when you confirm the work has been delivered as agreed. That structure alone removes much of the anxiety from paying deposits. You can read the detail on how Trust works.

A note for Nigerians organising repairs from abroad

If you are in the UK, US, Canada or elsewhere and trying to manage a repair job back home, the written-agreement habit is even more important. You cannot walk around the property to inspect; you are relying on photos, videos and the word of whoever is supervising. Use a platform with vetted professionals and payment protection, appoint a trusted person on the ground to do the sign-off inspection, and do not release final payment until that person confirms they are satisfied.

If your December trip home also involves a celebration — a housewarming, an owambe or a wedding — NaijaMart PartyVendors lets you find and book caterers, decorators, photographers and other vendors with reviews from past clients, so you are not booking blind from thousands of miles away.

The short version

Agree scope, materials, cost, schedule and liability in writing. Pay in stages, not all at once. Define what finished looks like. Book through a platform that offers job protection where you can. Those five habits will not make every artisan job perfect, but they will give you something to stand on when things do not go to plan — and they give good artisans the clarity they need to do their best work.