Building vs buying?

Same Boat!

Scary DD! this puts us both in the same boat. New/Self Builds. I shall be taking all, the Advice and Pitfalls to heart. We decided to do our own buying. Not even fenced or cleaned YET! Today YES, Today! the Floor Tiles arrive. Not too sure if Mama will be too happy with 35 odd boxes of Ceramics on her porch. Azon asked what should we do? I just said, Oh Well! lay the tiles and we will build around them! :D I am no builder, this project is going to age me a lot more, than a few years. I am so sure, that it is going to be a lot Cheaper to build, than buy BUT all the input from members, Scares me Plenty.
I will keep a keen eye on your posts, to see how we are both fairing on this. BEST of luck my friend! I know I AM, going to need, a lot of luck and Help from all in DI land!


Jack P.

 

PatO, it took us 18 months to build our garage and house.

 

18 months? Is that a bit longer than usual?

 

Lot of work clearing the property, it was all jungle....



Our "Pineapple Palace"

 

Nice place!!

 

Thank you.

 

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Just so you can get a time frame for size and time, maybe others can post of their experience. I cleared a 425sqm lot and built 4 / two bedroom apartments. Two stories and it took seven months. Obvious but i must say, buying things like a cement mixer, wheel barrows, electric tools etc will save on time, manpower and of course cost. Dont just let them use only their tools and shift debris in cement sacks ! Paying plumbers, electricians, painters etc by the job not daily will course also save time Live on site and keep and eye on everything.

 

Manzanita: How many bedrooms is that and what is the square meters?

 

There is a fellow in IloIlo who is/was building his house there and gave a running commentary about the process and costing on the "go iloilo.com webb site.

His account was very analytical, with a break down of material and labour cost, but I stopped reading as I found it too depressing.

Good luck, whatever happens make sure 1000% you see the correct title and all necessary paperwork before any money changes hands.

 

DD we have 4 bedrooms upstairs, 2 br downstairs.
Have no idea of the size, it's plenty big but we have 3 teenagers so it gets a workout

But I got lucky for once, sold 2 houses in the US before the bubble popped, started this place in 04 1/2 finished in time for Christmas 05.
The exchange rate for a little while hit like 58 p for the $, and cement was way less than it is now.