- Executive Director, Mrs. TOLULOPE ONALAJA Reveals Why
RevolutionPlus Property Development Company, is a big real estate company that has become a force to reckon with in the property business in Nigeria. The firm recently signed a new brand ambassador, Adekunle Gold. And few weeks back, the company opened a new office in the United States Of America. This is to enable the company get closer to some of its customers and also meet the demands of Nigerians there. The new office is at 9304, Forest Lane, Suit S207, Dallas Texas, USA.
Last week, City People’s ISAAC ABIMBADE, spoke to the Executive Director of the company, Mrs. Tolulope Onalaja, the amiable wife of Mr. Bamidele Onalaja, the Managing Director of the company. This lady opened up on why they had to spread beyond the shores of Nigeria. She also revealed their plans for 2018. Enjoy.
Please tell us about your new company in the United States of America.
The new company is located on forest lane opposite Walmart in Dallas Texas in the U.S.
So what is the concept behind this new office?
The concept behind starting an office there is that, at the moment, more than 50% of our customers are from the diaspora. And you know that Nigerians are all over the world. And over time, we have been able to build confidence in the heart of Nigerians in the diaspora and we felt that bringing it closer to them will build more confidence. The closer it is to them, the easier the access, making inquiry, picking up documents, deeds, and monitoring of their property. Most of them want easy access to their documents and properties.
What is the process like for those in Diaspora who want to get a Property in Nigeria without them coming over?
The process involved is easy. We have staff there who are well trained to guide customers. Fees are clearly stated in the forms. Most of our clients who get their location mostly sends a relative to collect their deeds. After necessary payments are made, there is a receipt issued and a contractual document which clearly states that the client has a particular arrangement concerning their property over a period of time and also the terms and conditions of the agreement. After payment, the deeds are prepared by the lawyer, receipt and the contractual agreement is sent to them. During allocation, some clients send representatives or themselves when they get to Nigeria.
We plan to distribute the documents every quarter as we allocate. So our staff there will post it to whichever state our clients are in the US. So they can receive everything without coming to Nigeria. We also plan on setting up an office in the United Kingdom and Canada. Of course, we are fully registered in the United States with the city of Dallas Texas and we are paying taxes also. We are fully licensed to operate. We also have an account that they can pay to in the US. We just want Nigerians in diaspora to invest back home. We have become credible with us being there and we are traceable. Only credible people have the courage to set up an office there because of their strict rules and regulations.
Due to the Nature of their Jobs There, Is there a payment plan for them like we have here in Nigeria?.
We have discovered that over there, the mortgage system of payment is used mostly unlike the outright payment . So, we have given them a longer time up to 2-3 years plan for them unlike in Nigeria where we have 3 months, 6 months to 1year so that we can encourage them to invest back home with ease
How about those who have land to develop?
I would like to say that we sell house too. For those that want to develop their lands, we come together with them to set up a design which we later go further to give them a cost estimate and how they can pay installmentally with ease. Some of the rich ones there prefer to buy houses directly from us instead of going through the stress of building.
Recently we noticed that some of your staffs were taken to Dubai, and now South Africa. What is the reason behind the motivation?
The reason behind the motivation is to actually expose our staffs, realtors and agents and to thank them for their services. We were 11 that went to South Africa. We are also planning another outing for Easter too. It is also parts of the motivating factor so that if you sell for us, you get benefits. It makes them more committed to the brand and to make them loyal. At RevolutionPlus, we keep our promises to our workers.
A few years ago, you were in the U.S and you decided to set up a branch there. how long have been thinking about it and how were you able to actualize this dream?
Well, I was in the U.S for the very first time in 2016. At that time, we had just started Revolutionplus and only decided that sometime in the future, we would set up a brach all over the world and in the U.S. The determination to go to the U.S just came up recently. It was quite easy because I had relatives there who I could make inquiry from. We registered the company during our last trip. So the latest trip was just to get operations in August. The commencement of this operations started in January.
How would you access the performance of your business last year and what are your plans for this year (2018)?
Of course, the only option we have is to go upward and forward. So this year, we plan to grow bigger and to open more offices both locally and internationally. We plan on setting up an office in the East around Port Hacourt, Enugu etc and also in the South-South. Internationally, we plan to bring the market to Nigerians abroad. We also plan to roll out more products to our customers. We also plan on making the payment plans for land and some other things more easier to be spread over a period of about 2 years.
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