Building a Dream House in Kenya for Under 5 Million Shillings / Kenyan Real Estate / Kenyan Youtuber
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
- The Story:
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In 2019 I set out to build a home upcountry. The decision to build was driven by two things:
The first was tough circumstances. My mother, having been a business person all her life, had run into business challenges. Her entire business was collapsing. We tried to keep it afloat but after a few years of trying, we realised we weren’t making any headway. The impact of this failure was made even worse by her emerging health complications. we realised it just wasn’t working out.
The second reason for doing it was that, as a child of a single mother, I really didn’t have anywhere else I could call home. I felt a strong desire to establish permanent roots, especially now that I had two children of my own. Mom had a small piece of land, less than half an acre, that was left to her by her father and we decided, that’s where we needed to build our family house. It was my first time undertaking such a project. Here I was about to invest all my life’s savings, KES 3.5M, and I honestly didn’t know where to begin. I felt out of my depth. I had to get a plan.
I found a great architect through my network and convinced him to give me a simple plan for the bungalow at a low cost. I also requested him to introduce me to a contractor who could take care of the build for me. I kept hearing that getting a contractor was the safest way to go if you were a novice in the construction industry, especially if you were not able to supervise the project yourself very closely.
I met the contractor and explained to him what I wanted, and he promptly provided me a quote for the project.
5 Million Kenya Shillings for the house only with basic finishes.
This was above my budget. I only had Ksh. 3.5M to spend. I thanked him for the quote and realised I had no choice but to go to my plan B. See, I had also heard that one could achieve great savings by finding a ‘Fundi’ and doing a self build without the services of a contractor. I felt apprehensive but excited by the challenge.
Through family connections in ‘shagz’ I managed to find a fundi and bring him on board for the job in August. I used the Mjengo Tracker to track every single coin I was spending. It made me feel in charge of the project. To my very pleasant surprise, I realised that I was getting way more bang for my buck than had been quoted by the contractor. Even though I was only able to go to the site once a week, I was pleased to see that the build team that my foreman had assembled was doing a great job. In addition to that, my half brother, who had some building experience, also joined the build team and was really assisting in ensuring everything was staying on track.
The house ended up costing me 3.5M with luxurious tiles, floor and roof. In addition to that, I managed to get some more money that I could invest in the build. I built a beautiful metal and stone fence with finely crafted pillars, a cabro driveway, invested in a fine garden, built a 30K liter underground tank connected to a 5K liter overhead tank, installed a water purification system that could filter particles up to 5 microns in size (very fine) that made all the water coming out of all the taps in the house safe for drinking, and built a 20 square meter store and SQ. All this for only 1.5M shillings more, which brought my overall project cost to 5M.
I had managed to build our dream home for what I had been told was the cost of a bungalow with basic finishes. A lot of that success, I owe to the fact that the Mjengo tracker enabled me to document, track and compare constantly. I was in charge! I hope it helps you in your project as well. You can download Mjengo Tracker on www.buildahome.co.ke
You can get Baraka Bungalow prefilled Mjengo Tracker and have instant reference to all costs associated with building this 4 bedroom bungalow in Kenya.
check out www.buildahome.co.ke
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See all costs incurred during the development of this project
Have a reference to compare against for quotes made to you on your project.
See cost performance on this project vs the estimated costs for all phases of the project.
View labour and material expenditure trends on a week by week basis
Find out exactly where the money was going when it comes to materials purchases.
See how the final actual costs compared to estimates in various graphs.
See the total project duration
Hey everyone! Mjengo Tracker is now an App. Get it today on the Google Play Store! shorturl.at/kwAKX and let us know what you think! Tracking your expenses is free and you can also follow other people's projects and see their expenses.
Watching this has made me shed some tears. There is nothing more one would want for a parent other than peace of mind in their old age, growing old gracefully in a simple comfortable home.
@Mary Ndaba it made me tearful too and working hard to build myself one as my parents are now gone and didn't live to enjoy their labour from their children but God is Good. Blessings to you.
I see you enjoying the video but don't forget to visit buildahome.co.ke to get the project tracker for this Baraka Bungalow to see exactly what everything cost, which contractors and consultants I worked with, and how long the whole process took. Also, working on my own house now so Subscribe and keep an eye out for those videos coming soon.
This is helpful, thank you
Waooo helpful
How do get the tracker
Visit buildahome.co.ke and select the Baraka Bungalow
Strange! Just try again and if it still doesn't work call us or email us at buildahome.ke@gmail.com
I grow up in Nairobi and now live in Minneapolis you gave me the motivation to save up and build a home of my own either in Nairobi of Somalia 🇸🇴 you my friend have a beautiful home for ur mom 🙏🏾
Same grew up in Nairobi currently residing in Uk and I have started saving to build a house for my family but in Somalia outside muqdisho where it’s less chaotic
Same here but I’m moving back to Nairobi, staying there for life in sha Allah
A job well done and hongera tele you’ve made your mother proud 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
The house is not nice the house is not good the house is spectacularly marvelously politely gorgeous
sorry to criticize but cutting corners to do it herself was a bad idea. The quality of bathroom and toilet doors is poor. Other interior doors are also cracking or broken and the floor are not well finished. I would recommend. Shoddy job.
@@suetube-channel Rain on parade.
@@suetube-channel Pls, give credit where is due she can always buy new doors and sort the finishing and i see what you are saying too at least she a place to lay her head with her kids and mother.
This really shows how building your own home is better than buying everything is according to your preference this is motivational and inspirational 🙌 thank you for this
What a beautiful story and an awesome house to boot. I wish the video was longer. By the way, in Africa there's no such thing as half-brother. Your brother is your brother coz the same blood runs in your veins
Spot on !!! Your brother is your brother!
Thanks so much for this, gives me hope to build my own soon
Love that we could add a little wind to your sail
I am so encouraged. I have always assumed such a project was waaaayyyy out of my reach. Thank you so much for sharing this. You have a beautiful home and a beautiful back story.
This is exactly what I thought before I did it. Don't trust the hype. It's all possible!
I love it! It turned out beautiful.
I'm trying to build a similar size home too. I was starting to get overwhelmed thinking about contractors...thank you for the tips.
You're welcome and best of luck with your build. Try tracking it with the Mjengo Tracker tool to stay on top of everything
@@buildahome_ke great job. I have been there with fundis, and as a woman, they assume you are clueless. Is Mjengo tracker tool an app?
This is brilliant and inspirational. Thank you for taking us through the process from start to finish. This will definitely serve as a blueprint for my future house.
This turned out well, it's a wonderful home.
Best wishes to you and your family, this is the beginning of a new chapter in prosperity.
Thank you!
you have built a charming home for your mom and I surely tell you, you'll be richly blessed
Thank you for sharing your journey with us!!! This was spectacular!!! And the music was very inspirational!!! I'm happy you were able to build your Mom a beautiful home. God bless you!!!
Must be Kirinyaga because of the fabulous view of Mt. Kenya. Job well done. Love the simple roof design, function before form guarantees no leaks
It is!
Good job!! You planned for the compound with the same care as the inside of the house. That is very thoughtful.
Impressive and that's one quality home.
This was so tastefully done. I love the tiles in the bathroom. They were well done and exellent color choice.
Wooow 😭😭 i want this for my parents. I want to build a happy home for them . They deserve it
I live in England at the moment
Due to retire in 5 years.
My wife is Kenyan
I have built our own home in utange
Mombasa county
3.5 million
3 bed master ensuite lounge separate dinning
Kitchen separate toilet shower for the kids .
Lovely!
Is the 3.5m inclusive of the land?the house is built?
It's indeed a spectacular house, and I like the journey you take us through, inspirational and a thrill that came out to and end of a beautiful house, thanks for the tip
Karibu!
What an inspiring story. The house came out really beautifully. Thank you for sharing such an amazing tips, inspiration & showing the world it is possible to achieve whatever you put your mind to when determined.
Thank you
Bless you! And bless each and every one of you watching.
I'm in awe.. this is amazing.. your mom must be very proud! God bless the work of your hands
Woooow this is beautiful. Congratulations.
Very professional and procedural presentation.
Am inspired.
Oh my goodness this is beautiful, your story is an inspiration I'm trying to find funds nijenge nyumba Mungu anisaidie God is in control
Very good job, well done. I am very pleased that I came across your video. You are inspired me to do the same, building rather than buying from a property investor.
It will be nice to have the dimensions.
Well done
This is amazing, your parents must be super proud.
Ummmhhh!!! This is very very impressive! That huge house for that amount of cost????? That's a job so well done! Aiyayaya!! Thumbs up to you! This gives me hope of one day upgrading my thatched mud house
Thank you! Enjoy your journey
I have followed your channel congratulations on finishing your house. I just quit my job here in the US and sold my belongings. I'm on the way home. Blessings on your new journey
Blessings on your journey and Karibu nyumbani Kenya. You will never regret coming home
That's a pretty nice house you made, and I loved the weekly progress you showed on the build
The wood looking ceramic tiles look really good.
It's what Kenyans Call "Mkeka wa Mbao"
It's a Very High Quality PVC Carpet.
Nicely done, and thanks for documenting the process.
Wow. Congratulations. May God keep blessing the work of your hands.
Excellent stuff! Thanks for sharing. But I think the doors let you down somewhat.
Two questions: (1) Are you willing to share the contacts of the guy who did your gypsum ceiling?
(2) Where you got those excellent German Shepherds from. Who breeds and trains them in Kenya?
Thanks so much.
Vipi msema kweli. You can get the project tracker with all the info on contractors, costs and duration on buildahome.co.ke (look for Baraka Bungalow). I got the GSDs from a local breeder and I train them myself (unsuccessfully so far) through TH-cam videos.
This is impressive. Especially the interior & landscaping. Good job👊🏼
This is where I always imagine I would leave in the environment is so green and serene and pleasing to the eye the house is beautiful and what’s more beautiful is the compound I’m in love with it
You'll do it!
Very interesting and well done! Gorgeous view of Mount Kenya! I just wonder why the underground water reservoir is built in a square =higher risk of leakage, instead of building it as a circle= water pressure better distributed= less risk of water leakage.
Thanks and interesting question. Tbh I didn't give it too much thought. I figured because the tank is underground, the earth around it would keep everything together.
It was supposed to be circular and made of Reinforced concrete.
This is Amazing, very inspiring, encouraging & at that short span of time..! This is sheer hard work, determination and success! A must watch for all!
May the Lord richly bless you and your family. Mama is a happy woman!
Absolutely gorgeous and thanks for sharing your home build journey
You’ve done an amazing job. The highlight for me is the flooring/tiling, exterior paint work, the perimeter wall/fence with the steel elements and the small patio next to the house. Thanks for inspiring us.
Karibu sana
Oh my I can't believe this,
I am jealousy.
You are blessed 🙌
It looks great, love the big windows coz of all the light coming through.
This is pretty inspiring. Congratulations on this worthwhile project
Thank you for this. I've been looking for something similar all over and I'm glad TH-cam recommended this. Beautiful house.
this is awesome but is the open kitchen ideal at shagz?? how is your mum finding it??
my uncle built an open plan for our grandma but later she kept crying about privacy... so they added a slide door/wall partitioning made of translucent glass. movable at one's pleasure
This is definitely a valid point to consider. It had to be right for her. She loves it because she lives alone. If a guest/family member visits and she goes into the Kitchen, they can still keep talking. She also has the outside Kitchen for larger events which offers more traditional cooking comfort and Privacy.
Good job... Am sure your parents were very happy... More blessings your way
The soundtrack at the end reminds me of end of a dramatic amazon movie. The house my g is great. What makes a house a home is the occupants. The landscape is a dream man and especially that you said that you are building it for your mom makea it evem special. Great
*OOOW BEAUTIFUL!!! GOOD JOB!*
Hi. Anyway you could share the building plan please 😃?
Beautiful work,
Thanks for sharing. We all learn everyday and its always everyones dream to have a place to call home
Investing in Solar energy would be a next alternative project to undertake
I love that kitchen, superb.
Beautiful house, but I feel that you didn’t put a lot of effort in the interior design, also it appears there is not a lot of storage as there are so many clutters of things around. This is not a criticism, as the house is absolutely beautiful. You spend a lot of money to make it look amazing and I feel that you can find a lovely dinning table and get rid of the plastic table. Gorgeous house nonetheless.
Dream house is a fair description for this place.
How long did the plaster cure
Ipo siku 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😭 nitaishi kwangu🙏🏻🙏🏻
For the same amount I got way more land...but only a tiny 672sqft home...your home is a palace to my country cottage. I'm jealous but in a good way...❣🙏🇺🇸
Wow! Impressed! It's beautiful! Can't wait to build my own
Well done. Beautiful house. I can't just get around the open plan idea. My auntie lives inmone of those and we always leave with our clothes smelling whatever she cooked🤣🤣🤣
Your Aunt needs to get a kitchen extractor fan...and open her windows.🤣 That said, the cost of powering an extractor fan with kenya electricity prices...oi vey!
This is fantastic. Truly inspirational. In the exact same space now and this is all the motivation I needed
Do you mind sharing the contact of the contractor you worked with?
It's really a fulfilling pursuit. Enjoy the journey
I'm putting up all the info about the build including all the contractors on buildahome.co.ke which is going live in a couple of days but if you need it urgently, just message me on buildahome.ke@gmail.com
@@buildahome_ke wonderful will look out for the site. I'll also message you since it's a bit urgent
Thank you for taking us through your journey and letting us see your house. Which place in Kenya is this? I love the greenery
Hi Wanjiku. This is in the general Kikuyu area on the outskirts of Nairobi. Yes, it's really beautiful!
Perfect 💜 I pray one day I'll be able to do this too
You will!
the filming is very professional
Congratulations. This is a very inspiring video. You did good
This is phenomenal. The place looks serene
wow so wonderful am beside myself well done
Welldone
I'm in the same process...glad I came across your video
So I read that you decided not to use the contractor. Which has me worried about the quality of the wooden roof frame. Like is it strong enough? Assembled properly to reduce weak points. From the topdown plan there is no way to know how it is done. Was this given proper attention at any point?
Good question. I had a foreman who is pretty well known in the area I was building at and I checked out a few of his other builds and he did good work. He is essentially a labour contractor who has a team that he works with for a lot of the skeleton stuff like foundation, walling and roofing. The difference between him and a typical contractor is I didn't have to commit to and hand over a large sum of money at the start. We agreed a standard daily rate for different workers and I also managed some of the more specialised labour like the tilers and pavers. I wouldn't recommend doing this without an experienced Foreman at the very least. If you're interested to read more about this project, you can visit my blog on www.buildahome.co.ke
Well done..its beautiful..my husband and I are on our 2nd year of building..its hectic and always costs more than what you've budgeted 😂😂🙆♂️🙆♂️
This is amazing! Inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing 😊🙏🏾
See how beautiful this is, I'm in love.
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, you've inspired me today.
Thanks for sharing with us...God 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 you
This is the best thing you did, am on my plans too, I want to make my mama a proud woman,
Wow that looks really amazing 👌🏾💯🔥
Every man has this dream for their Mama. I don't know what they did to us. But I also don't know why we don't have the same feeling and dream for our wives.
Your wife can walk out on you anyday , and not look back. Your mum will never give up on you. She will be there for you till she passes on.!
Treasure your mum.! She cannot be replaced. Your wife can ..
Thanks for sharing! This is so useful. Great job on the house as well...the end result definitely punches above the budget.
Congratulations! Everything is possible with right mindsets. Europe was built by Europeans themselves through prudent use of financial resources and mobilization.
Man, did the same for my family, cost about 60k$ also have to gsds there and an arabica lawn oh and lots of trees! Well done! I can totally relate
Landscaping is very nice
This awesome....Please send me the floor plan
So inspiring!!! Congratulations, love from South Africa
The editing is amazing
The finishing is marvelous. Good job
Thank you
This is a very well detailed and helpful video,could u please tell me which ceiling did u use?
Hi Lee. I used Gypsum board ceilings
Thus figures you quote as 3.5 m does it include the water storage and the small house ?
Nice house, it looks less than 150 sqm, what is dimensions by meters?
This is beautiful,looks like my hometown Embu.Good job 👏 👍
What a beautiful lovely home!
Amazing what a beautiful warm house.
This is amazing! Very inspired!
Wow this is so nice 🎉🎉
Congratulations . But to avoid straining your eyes and unnecessary headaches . Pandisha TV juu kidogo . Very nice home
What was the cost of your plot of land? And how much land is it? Thank you.
The land is ancestral so luckily zero cost for this project 👍🏾
Very good work
Amazing video.
Just one thing, make that kennel a little bit bigger otherwise very very inspired ,I am looking for land to buy and maybe one day fully move to Africa .
can't do that as a foreigner in most countries
@@gidd I can in South Africa ,Zimbabwe, Ghana etc. All the most developed countries in Africa you can except Morocco etc. I don't think I can
@@masonldn8647 nah ,not most of the developed countries ,Tz ,kenya and others don't allow ,unless you're purchasing through a ltd , investing or have dual citizenship
@@gidd errm yes ,so I can then ,I can just start an Ltd company and I can . Same difference
Yes make the kennel bigger, move it from direct sunlight and put in soft cushions and a bowl of water. Let them run around the garden. Nice to see how much the dogs have grown year later!