Young or old, it’s everyone’s desire to have a comfortable space to call home; however, for many low and middle-income Jamaicans, the idea of constructing their dream home is a mere fantasy. But, they say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so I dare to share five simple yet critical steps to construct your dream home, on your meagre salary, right here in Jamaica.
Step 1: FIND THE LAND (BUY IT, BEG IT, BORROW IT BUT DON’T STEAL IT)
You first need to identify a piece of land that best suits your needs. And, of course, your name should be on the title. Most persons will have to buy so here is the trick, if you drain all your assets to buy the land you may not be able to finance construction. So, locate a piece of land that you have cash to purchase or that your NHT House Lot or Serviced Lot loan can cover. (If you desire to live in an urban area you may need to secure an additional mortgage). Just a little tip here, don’t rely solely on the realtors, drive through the communities and ask the residents for suggestions, this may save you some money as you may get to speak directly to the landowners and do your own negotiations.
Step 2: PLAN THE COMPLETE PROJECT BEFOREHAND
After you’ve secured your land, plan, plan, plan. Regardless of what your pocket says, plan your entire project. Employ the relevant consultants (architect, draughtsman and engineer) as needed, create a full building plan, and be sure to mount a picture of what the house will look like (3D rendering plan) in your current bedroom- let the image motivate you. However, your plan should facilitate phase-based construction. Also, you should get your plan approved by the relevant agencies. All this may sound taxing but you don’t want to have to demolish anything to restructure in the future, you don’t want the bedroom to be too small for the baby’s crib. So, accept the ‘lil run up an dung’ don’t be afraid to plan, make it comprehensive, use the right people, it’s cheaper in the long run.
Step 3: LOOK INTO YOUR POCKET – DETERMINE THE PORTION YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUILD NOW
I know I may have sounded a little unrealistic when I said, do the full plan. Now, it’s time to put everything into perspective. Ok! So on a low or middle income, it’s almost impossible to finance that lovely design you came up with especially since you are now paying for the land. That’s fine, the solution is to build in phases. So whether you are using your savings or the remaining portion of the NHT loan you qualify for, determine the amount of money you have to spend- be verrrry honest here. Now, with the help of your quantity surveyor, determine the habitable portion of the house that can be completed on your budget. Just a room, bathroom and kitchen are completely fine.
Step 4: GET THE PROJECT GOING
If the plan is approved and you can finance a habitable portion, why delay? DO IT! Meet with your builder or contractor (a builder may be significantly cheaper) and be sure to enter into a contract! How many times do you hear people say they’ve been robbed by contractors and builders? Sometimes they are right, sometimes they had underestimated the construction cost. Get it straight from day one. Also, discuss duration, you want to know how long your project will take so you can manage cash flow and other life plans. If you are just not sure about construction operation, don’t hesitate to contact a construction project manager, the service of the project manager can save you the hassle and headache. Then, just build and take plenty of photos to document your progress and to motivate you.
Step 5: EXPAND
You have finally moved into your own place (well, the habitable portion) and although you are broke, life is great. Thank God but don’t you dare get complacent. As soon as possible, get very uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that you start saving to complete your project. As you save, work towards completion, do so in stages as your budget dictates. When you are finished, enjoy your dream home and help others on their journey.
For more information contact QS’timates.
Tel #:876-433-2023
IG: @qstimates
Email: qstimates@gmail.com