Building a house in luanda - Diary of an angolan property developer

[Ted]

I didn't buy windows here in the end. Aluminium ones in this country are far from cheap. So we are going to put aluminium ones in from Luanda's premier manufacturer

Aluminios Luanda - unfortunately their site is crap and doesn't show anything really

as they are much cheaper than here (but also much worse quality as they don't have to meet UK building standards); but then again most Angolans don't know any better unless they are very well travelled. Alternatively, we may make wooden ones ourselves if time allows... the house doesn't have many windows as it is mainly glazed French doors all around on the ground floor...

[rab1]

Ted, try Lindab for aluminium guttering, their a Swedish outfit but have places worldwide.

[Ted]

Ted, try Lindab for aluminium guttering, their a Swedish outfit but have places worldwide.

http://www.lindab.co.uk/frameset/run_fr ... &T=39&L2=1

Cheers

When I next buy, I want to try out 1 or 2 other suppliers to quote for each material I have to buy - just to ensure the suppliers keep their prices keen... I might get a quote from these guys for guttering..

I do particularly like the look of their tile effect sheet roofing... the stuff in the pics in the link above looks like pantiles... great for annexes, outhouses etc

[Ted]

An update is that I now have to sell my plot to the authorities as they wish to build condos on it via a firm called Bem Morar, headed by Pele the Brazilian footballer. Whilst this is infuriating as all the materials bought for my build were for a specific house on a slope (ie, guttering downpipe lengths etc) the offered compensation is $300,000 and I bought the plot for $150,500 18 months ago. Whilst I now have to buy another plot where I can build more or less the same house, it could be a lot worse than gaining a return of almost 100% in 18 months.

[rab1]

you won a watch Ted, thats not a bad return mate.

[Ted]

Unfortunatley my neighbour is an army general and quite important... he is busy building a tower block (without permission I understand) on his land in a bid to extract higher compensation from the authorities and thus delaying the whole thing... I am busying myself doing contracts in the meantime.

[local patios and driveway]

please, more pics ted!!

[Ted]

please, more pics ted!!

Just rendered a wall... We made our own scaffold out of 3x3s! The funniest scaffold you've probably ever seen. Scary work. I didn't take photo as if it collapsed big problems for me if i have photos on my phone... Will endeavour to post a few photos of Angolan building practices...

[London Stone Paving]

Sounds like you've had a touch Ted. I take it you were building the house to sell anyway and not to live in?

Steve

[London Stone Paving]

Will endeavour to post a few photos of Angolan building practices...

That would be interesting to see Ted. Seen a few shockers on my travels. Off over to India again in 4 weeks, so wil try and capture a few pics myself

[Ted]

Just to update... the build never took off. A British investor withdrew funding last year and so it never started. I have since been poached by another company and am now MD of an aviation security firm. I used to be in the security industry once upon a time but not in the aviation sector! I am now rather busy and do not have time to project manage a build. The build will go ahead at some point (a dispute is underway but not 100% finalised) but probably not as a development to sell - simply a nice house for me to live in whilst I work out here... if and when it starts I'll post some pictures. Anyway I am rather busy learning about aviation security so have not been here for ages. Hope everyone is well and will try and drop in a bit more often...

[lutonlagerlout]

good to hear from you ted
i read recently that luanda is the most expensive place in the world cost of living wise for ex pats
which surprised me?
LLL

[Ted]

Actually that is a little sideline my company does - we have done two cost of living surveys in the last year but the clients don't pay big money for these - not like the airlines! The prices here can be staggering - 4 Wilson 'US Open' tennis balls cost US$48! Many expats here work in the oil industry and to retain the best staff oil firms have to rent the best available housing. Hence firms pay US$15,000-US$20,000 for a not very impressive four bedroom house in the right part of town. They also provide their employees with all expenses paid credit cards for food shopping so they can buy imported French cheeses, Foie Gras etc. But if you are prepared to live in other residential areas (which I do) and can survive without imported Camembert, Luanda is loads cheaper than London.. The oil firms push the prices up that are quoted in those surveys...