Man explains how to build a house cheaply as he flaunts Sh3.7 million 3-bedroom house

Moses Wekesa, a Kenyan architect, has left many online users in awe after sharing photos of a well-designed three-bedroom house with elegant finishes.

The house, which sits on a 50 by 100 plot in Nyeri county, is estimated to cost Sh3.7 million. It features three bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen, dining and pantry.

The master bedroom is ensuite with a small walk-in closet, while the other bedroooms share the bathrooms.

“The shower is separated from the toilet. It has an entry porch (front verandah) and a rear porch (kitchen verandah) at the back. It cost Sh3.7 million to build. That’s from foundation to roofing,” Wekesa explained.

According to the architect, house construction requires a lot of preparations both financially and mentally.

He advises aspiring homeowners who may not have the full amount for construction works to start small by purchasing materials first.

“If one can get cash to build it once, well and good. If not, one can relieve the pressure by buying materials bit by bit. Let’s say someone is able to get Sh100,00 or less per month for the materials, they can start by buying some materials. Over some months or years, the dreams can be achieved,” he advises.

Wekesa further emphasized on the use of professionals in the entire construction journey, to avoid disappointments which can sometimes be costly.

“Professionals are very useful in guiding one on how to go through the process starting from design work, preparation of the Bill of Quantities (BQs), structural drawings etc. The county government approvals and the whole construction foundation to finishing. Generally, it is a matter of moving at your pace and doing the right thing,” he noted.

Also Read: Why I abandoned my Sh4 million house and went back to renting

Keeping costs low

According to Felista Wangari, a personal finance expert, When buying land to use to construct your home, consider areas that are not quite developed now, but have potential for development based on their proximity to a developing area or on plans for a major road that would open up the area in later years.

Such land might be more affordable to buy and keep as you save up on other home ownership costs. Another option is to buy a chunk of land as a group, subdivide and come up with your own gated community.

Some of the costs you can’t escape are legal costs (search fees, Land Control Board, consent to develop agricultural land if the land is outside municipalities), professional costs for a surveyor, valuer, architect, etc. Beware of trying to save money during the construction, some shortcuts may be fatal.

Have your budget and find out what it can reasonably do for you. Using alternative building technologies can help you save money and time, given that a big part of construction costs comes from construction materials.

For this reason you can consider interlocking blocks and other cost-effective building technologies. You can even opt for a container home as you work on building your home using the money you previously used on rent.