Boris Boyka wrote:@4eva Eva you're the one that doesn't get it, when you stay in one place and consider all factors apply allover. Maybe you'll get it when I answer @hardwood. My uncle a teacher did a house just as hardwood said. This is how he did it. Alipiga matofali 10k, he had plenty Large trees he cut akapasua mbao na remnants akachomea matofali. This over a period of about 6-8 months. He also accumulated several stones. During construction, it was raining and he harvested a lot water, he used many of his nephews as labourers with him present. Employed Fundi and 1 labourer. He used about 900k during construction.Just plastered , no ceiling, just undercoat paint, no tiles, no further external finishes.He entered the house and has been doing one thing at a time monthly up to now.
In short rural fellows accumulate materials over long periods of time. They enter the house soon after super structure is finished. Finishes are done slowly with time thus they don't feel the cost at once. Note that am talking of most areas in rurals; central, western, rift valley. Two areas ukambani and coast interiors materials are soo cheap that its not ideal to use them as basis for other areas.
If these teachers are to buy all materials and employ all labourers and finish the house at once then my rate applies, but by using the means above of accumulation over time and finishing in bits while in, the actual cost is not felt but totally it comes to that
Excellent response. Actually building a bungalow in ushago is not costly at all. 1 million can build a decent, small(under 50sqm) bungalow hapo easy.
Where most go wrong is assuming a figure of 15k, 25k or 35k (or more) per sqm is an exact science - it is not.
Sooo many factors go into those figures. If the floors are all screeded simiti and walls unplastered and the house is 50sqm large, of course you can achieve 15k per sqm. If you do mahogany everything, granite tops, SAJ tiles etc, 45k per sqm might be cheap.
The other mistake is underestimating true costs and assuming one has built cheaply. Eg the example of where he used nephews as laborers, accumulated stones over time etc. In such cases recordkeeping may not be systematic so one may spend way more than what they actually think they have spent.
The other mistake is excluding costs. Cabro driveway, KPLC and water connection, Gate, stone wall etc all cost money but are usually excluded.
I see the per sqm figures as merely a rough guide.
Besides,
always look at value rather than cost. Even at 45k per sqm, chances are the finished house is worth double that amount at market, maybe even more. And this is before the benefits that accrue to you once the house is done (eg No rent, gains in value over time, satisfaction that comes with home ownership, etc).
In ten years time after you finish building, will it really matter that you spent 35k per sqm vs 45k per sqm if you really love how the house turned out? Of course not.
NIMESEMA!In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!