Just depends on you:

Building for yourself is cheap, but you have to deal with the headaches of managing fundis who want to steal from your at every opportunity... and then the laborers go on strike demanding higher pay after mixing the concrete! Finally, the hidden cost of supplying utilities to the house...which is probably 3km from the nearest transformer, tarmac road, water main and.... nearest neighbour, so you have to employ three watchmen at night and four in the daytime!

Buying is just simply more expensive... can be as high as three times more depending on your timing. Minus the joy of customising the house to your wife's taste [a mistake many men make is to build their "dream home" forgetting that their wives spend three time more time there than them!]; of keeping yourself busy after work [paying out fundis] instead of drinking yourself silly pretending to be having fan "with the boys".

Hi,

I think buying a house is better then building. Building process can save your money but it will not give you peace of mind and you also have to wait a lot of time for it. If I were at your situation, I will prefer buying the house.

How about getting a construction company (small or otherwise) to do the job for you?

*Ideally* agree on the budget, housing plan, schedule of payments etc then a contract. Anyone done this before? This is the route I'm intending to take at some point.

@tuvok your take on this commendable.I agree with you. Putting some professional input.Has anyone tried this out?.@mukiha some economical minds there ROI.The site is propetyzote.com lots of guys have had it twisted nevertheless, the idea was give it local sawhili term "zote" yani property zote in East Africa.@chaka for your situation you would have considered investing in a big sewer system that is emptied occasionally. What was your plan a home or commercial property.?

my colleugue almost landed into a hospital with high BP because of the same conmen you are baptising construction companies.

These are people who want to maximize and get huge profits when they use substandard materials for your house.
You should be very cautious especially when the said companies quote less to win the job.

Buying a house is also not ideal,first its exaggerated price and also substandard materials dominate your house....who saw a woman crying on TV sometimes back coz of a flat/apartment she bot at ksh 9million in parkland leaking from above floor in 6months.

To avoid this,go to the site and build it yourself,even if the fundis steal from you,it will be small compared to buying.Furthermore,a business yenye haibiwi does not make returns.

be tough with thieving fundis, don't pay them and kick them out of your site, word will go round and you will have fewer thieves

I also would go by building... anytime. I dont mind putting an allowance that will be "stolen" and pay slightly higher for a reliable foreman - at least i know someone i can reliably use for now (professional not relas).

My problem with buying is that it is unlikely i can raise cash for the kind of house i want. That means, i would have to take up a mortgage. Now, this mortgage, the amount i have to repay in monthly installments if you factor in interest, is obscene. If i diligently put in that money into savings and construct in phases, i can finish in two or three years max... infact, it would be a habitable house in the first few months.... I dont like imagining what would happen if things went south and i was on mortgage..... And dont tell me about "insurance" because those crooks are in business too and will look for all the ways to avoid payment if they can!

well said.I moved into my house last year.it was quite an exciting challenge building the house.I had to fire several fundis,some for thieving materials,others for their inefficiency and laziness. The bottom line is,building is an experience that is worth it.

@all
i support 'build your tasteful house' period.

Its evident that building your house is a worthwhile experience and the better option. why?

1.You get to build the house of your choice.."dream House".
2.More pocket friendly
3.Its hell dealing with fundis but a worthwhile experience and can get a contractor to do the job.Be cautious though especially when the said companies quote less to win the job.
4.Improved ROI when you build.
5.No fear of imagining what would happen if things went south if on mortgage.
6.Its a joyful experience.