Before you drill that wall

One of the first things people do in a new apartment is drill: the television, the family photos, the shelves. And one of the first expensive mistakes people make in a new apartment is also drilling — because behind that smooth wall run electrical lines, water pipes, and everything else the building hides.

In apartment buildings across Addis, carelessly placed holes have cut internal wiring and pierced water pipes — turning a decoration afternoon into real damage, real cost, and in the electrical case, real danger.

Three habits that protect your home

First, ask the developer for the as-built drawings — the layout showing where lines and pipes actually run, which is not always where the original plan put them. Second, use a stud finder or line detector before any hole; it is a small tool that pays for itself the first time it beeps. Third, learn where your main electrical boards and water shut-offs are before you need them in a hurry.

Buying the home is one achievement. Keeping its hidden structure intact is the quieter one — and the one your resale value will thank you for.