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Mjengo ianze! Penny-Stocker and other gurus, help!
Stiffler
#111 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 7:12:00 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 11/7/2017
Posts: 186
Location: Nairobi
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same


Congratulations on finishing the projects

Let's iyo mbuzi
Wakanyugi
#112 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 10:36:47 AM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 7/3/2007
Posts: 1,635
obiero wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same

Wow. Two completed projects since January 17th 2018 when this topic was started! Impressive.. Leta mbuzi basi tukule smile


No, no, no.

Since 2012. That is when the first thread with Penny Stocker started (I believe it is still alive somewhere).
"The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
webish
#113 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 2:55:07 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 10/19/2009
Posts: 671
Location: Nairobi
RIEK01 wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same



Please share the pictures as this will inspire us all.


Yes please, Share some pictures for more inspiration.

Life is joy, death is peace, but the transition is very difficult.
webish
#114 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 3:01:13 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 10/19/2009
Posts: 671
Location: Nairobi
MugundaMan wrote:
So after many years of toil and sweat, I've finally been blessed to scrape together a few decent plotis (a relatively prime 1/4 and a few 1/8ths in and around Nairoberry) with clean title in my name on which to start my mjengos. I could have started years back on the first plot but I figured that given the skyrocketing prices of properties in and around the big city, that would be putting the horse before the cart. Architect has designed the first mjengo for the 1/4 and we are about to ground break soon. He also wants to manage the project (to get his juicy contractor profit at my expense of course) but he doesn't know mjanja me will be getting my own foreman, sourcing my own materials, building in stages and joining in to soil my boots with koroga to save costs (thanks Penny-Stocker for those brilliant tips!). He has gone to great lengths to convince me that I need him to supervise at every stage, sourcing materials included (he's a good dreamer) but of course that will not be happening. My simple question is; at what stages (after approvals) do I really need this guy, assuming I have a good foreman? Can I cut him out completely after the approvals come in? Warm regards and thanks in advance.


Hallo @MugundaMan ,
Exactly How long did this take you? Any tips on accumulating those 'decent' plotis? Anything learnt in this process particularly?, plus i'm also curious, are you funding the construction through savings ? or you had to offload some plots to gather capital?

Life is joy, death is peace, but the transition is very difficult.
MugundaMan
#115 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 3:24:02 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 1/8/2018
Posts: 2,212
Location: DC (Dustbowl County)
webish wrote:

Hallo @MugundaMan ,
Exactly How long did this take you? Any tips on accumulating those 'decent' plotis? Anything learnt in this process particularly?, plus i'm also curious, are you funding the construction through savings ? or you had to offload some plots to gather capital?


* Approximately 22 years of pure jasho baba. I have done everything from wipe old white matako abroad to factory jobs to cashier jobs to corporate gigs with kizungu mingi but little of substance to report out of it, to side biasharas to being a slum lord, plus much, much more.
* Savings and monthly income.
*Not offloading nothing till I step into the coffin.
*Tips? Save, invest, scrimp, delay gratification, sacrifice, do your own labour for even the smallest tasks when necessary. Just like mjengos, it is NOT rocket science. I had a mulika mwizi phone up until 2015. I still do not own a decent gas guzzler that I see some corporate 20 somethings roaring around town with as they rent in Kileleshwa and party at Kiza.
* Decent plotis? They are everywhere, rafiki. Anywhere within 40km of CBD is fair game IMHO for 1/4's down to 1/8th's. For bigger plotis leave town and hit rural Kenya pronto.
Good luck!
Wakanyugi
#116 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 3:57:08 PM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 7/3/2007
Posts: 1,635
webish wrote:
RIEK01 wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same



Please share the pictures as this will inspire us all.


Yes please, Share some pictures for more inspiration.


Sorry I am not comfortable sharing photos. But I can share advice:

1. Get a foreman with a good personality. By the time you finish your project you will have quarreled (and hopefully made up) so many times that you will lose count.

2. No matter what you estimate your project to cost, the finishes will surprise you. This is the time you get into most of those fundi fights

3. There are some things about construction that simply can not be rushed, no matter what resources you have at hand.

4. The most difficult step in construction is to start. Thereafter the challenges you face will focus your mind so much that you'll surprise yourself at how creative you become in solving all kinds of problems.

5. No matter how well you build your house, there will always be something requiring improvement

6. There is no feeling that beats seeing your house take shape, especially if it is for family use. That said I have taken a break from mjengo for now.

"The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
MugundaMan
#117 Posted : Thursday, May 03, 2018 6:32:06 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 1/8/2018
Posts: 2,212
Location: DC (Dustbowl County)
Wakanyugi wrote:


1. Get a foreman with a good personality. By the time you finish your project you will have quarreled (and hopefully made up) so many times that you will lose count.

2. No matter what you estimate your project to cost, the finishes will surprise you. This is the time you get into most of those fundi fights

3. There are some things about construction that simply can not be rushed, no matter what resources you have at hand.

4. The most difficult step in construction is to start. Thereafter the challenges you face will focus your mind so much that you'll surprise yourself at how creative you become in solving all kinds of problems.

5. No matter how well you build your house, there will always be something requiring improvement

6. There is no feeling that beats seeing your house take shape, especially if it is for family use. That said I have taken a break from mjengo for now.



Thanks for the great insights, brother.
I totally agree with you on number 6! Seeing my dreams turn to reality a day at a time and adjusting it daily to suit my preferences.
I am also learning (like someone mentioned either on this thread or the Pablo/Penny-Stocker one) that the fundis and architect may know a lot but they do not know (or anticipate) everything so being very hands on and giving your input where you see something can be done in a better way helps.
Mukiri
#118 Posted : Friday, May 04, 2018 2:47:14 AM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 7/11/2012
Posts: 5,222
Wakanyugi wrote:
webish wrote:
RIEK01 wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same



Please share the pictures as this will inspire us all.


Yes please, Share some pictures for more inspiration.


Sorry I am not comfortable sharing photos. But I can share advice:

1. Get a foreman with a good personality. By the time you finish your project you will have quarreled (and hopefully made up) so many times that you will lose count.

2. No matter what you estimate your project to cost, the finishes will surprise you. This is the time you get into most of those fundi fights

3. There are some things about construction that simply can not be rushed, no matter what resources you have at hand.

4. The most difficult step in construction is to start. Thereafter the challenges you face will focus your mind so much that you'll surprise yourself at how creative you become in solving all kinds of problems.

5. No matter how well you build your house, there will always be something requiring improvement

6. There is no feeling that beats seeing your house take shape, especially if it is for family use. That said I have taken a break from mjengo for now.


I can relate with all you've written.

Did the mbuzi expire, or is it still up for being eaten?Drool

Proverbs 19:21
obiero
#119 Posted : Friday, May 04, 2018 7:59:21 AM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 6/23/2009
Posts: 14,275
Location: nairobi
Mukiri wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
webish wrote:
RIEK01 wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same



Please share the pictures as this will inspire us all.


Yes please, Share some pictures for more inspiration.


Sorry I am not comfortable sharing photos. But I can share advice:

1. Get a foreman with a good personality. By the time you finish your project you will have quarreled (and hopefully made up) so many times that you will lose count.

2. No matter what you estimate your project to cost, the finishes will surprise you. This is the time you get into most of those fundi fights

3. There are some things about construction that simply can not be rushed, no matter what resources you have at hand.

4. The most difficult step in construction is to start. Thereafter the challenges you face will focus your mind so much that you'll surprise yourself at how creative you become in solving all kinds of problems.

5. No matter how well you build your house, there will always be something requiring improvement

6. There is no feeling that beats seeing your house take shape, especially if it is for family use. That said I have taken a break from mjengo for now.


I can relate with all you've written.

Did the mbuzi expire, or is it still up for being eaten?Drool

For number 5, with a good architect and constant supervision, this must be kept at an absolute minimum as changes equate to extra cost
COOP, IMH, KEGN, KQ, MTNU
Wakanyugi
#120 Posted : Friday, May 04, 2018 3:41:50 PM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 7/3/2007
Posts: 1,635
Mukiri wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
webish wrote:
RIEK01 wrote:
Wakanyugi wrote:
I want to thank all the contributors on this topic for their great generosity. This is one of the threads where the time I have wasted on Wazua more than paid for itself. I have used the advise given here to complete two projects already. I even offered to buy a mbuzi to say thank you but there were no takers.

Thank you all the same



Please share the pictures as this will inspire us all.


Yes please, Share some pictures for more inspiration.


Sorry I am not comfortable sharing photos. But I can share advice:

1. Get a foreman with a good personality. By the time you finish your project you will have quarreled (and hopefully made up) so many times that you will lose count.

2. No matter what you estimate your project to cost, the finishes will surprise you. This is the time you get into most of those fundi fights

3. There are some things about construction that simply can not be rushed, no matter what resources you have at hand.

4. The most difficult step in construction is to start. Thereafter the challenges you face will focus your mind so much that you'll surprise yourself at how creative you become in solving all kinds of problems.

5. No matter how well you build your house, there will always be something requiring improvement

6. There is no feeling that beats seeing your house take shape, especially if it is for family use. That said I have taken a break from mjengo for now.


I can relate with all you've written.

Did the mbuzi expire, or is it still up for being eaten?Drool


That particular mbuzi expired. Essentially I made an equivalent contribution to Wazua Charity, in all your good names.

I am sure you approve
"The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
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