Any ladies who have built ? How was your experience with the fundis ?

Sometimes i get scared when i hear of all the challenges that people go through when building their homes.

I bet the contractors factor in pilferage as well, in fact there is more loss with contractors than when on is building on their own. When you factor 1m they might factor 2.5m, hence their high cost.

@yekeyeke,

When you talk of 29k per sqm of plinth area, does it include you doing things like the septic and general paving of the driveway? Ama ni nyumba peke yake.

Secondly, it may help if you gave general fittings info.
eg. Roofing - clay tiles/ cement tiles/ decra / mabati
Ceiling - ?
Kitchen - granite/marble/tiles/concrete etc and max dimensions
wardrobes - max width of...

As a point of interest, is the water harvested off these aluminum sheets potable ?

I am currently putting up an apartment building, and my experience is that you the owner, must be on site to run things. Massive pilferage only occurs when you hand over the project to some 'foreman'. Fundis hardly get an opportunity to steal, after all, how many of you have ever lifted a cement bag to realize just how heavy it is? Kinda hard to run off with many. Fundis generally rob each other of tools. Your foreman is your problem, he's the blood sucking vampire.

If you can, purchase the stones, ballast and sand in sufficient quantities, then take 3 months leave from work to be on site daily. Only pay cash at delivery for these materials. Dont trust anyone, always verify quantities.

The best way to deal with fundis is to allocate production quotas. For example, each of my fundis for walling must per day use up 6 full wheelbarrows of mortar at 1:4 mix otherwise I sack them immediately. For plastering its the same, electrician is by contract. Ive paid the electrician 7,500 per every two bedroomed apartment he completes. etc etc. If you will not be at the site DAILY please add 1.2 million to your budget. If you hand over to a construction company, add 1-5 million to whatever budget you have.

Lastly, 29,000 kshs per sqm is too expensive. My direct experience is 15,000 kila kitu. However, finishes is up to you, why you would need to install toilets that cost 45,000 is up to you. Construct your own home, its quite an experience and not as hard as people fear, as you know humans can get used to anything. At first it will be challenging but very quickly you'll get the hang of things unless you are thick. Goodluck.