Beyond Building Tips

I think I might have said this a dozen times to friends and colleagues. If you want stress and if you want to rise above a self-challenge, build a house. The answer is that simple, but the task simply nerve-wracking. I've seen my father go through building his dream house, which we would like to coin, his mid-life crisis project. This future house, which is 90% done, may be our future home, but there is no denying that it is his. He invested his resources for it. He offered extensive time and effort into getting things done. He is hands on with everything and we only get to notice the progress the same time it's being built. I didn't know where my room was located or whatever details that go through making that house. I actually just found out about it when I saw piles of cement bags and wood planks being delivered at the vacant lot. You might even find it funny and weird when I tell you where that house is situated. (Just in front of ours). I must say, if you have a quirk...you have a quirk.

Anyways, he's been building that house now for a year, actually more than a year already. He started it last July 2007 and he has surpassed his target of Februrary 2008 and July 2008. The delay came from his trial and error moments, which account for wasted resources and added expenses. I've seen him go through a wild emotional ride, which even affected how he relates with his family. If something goes wrong with the house, he gets mad and it shows. It came to a point wherein he continuously stresses my mom out and he even stresses us out to participate in something we never even have a full background of. He felt alone, yet he works alone. It's crazy. I've seen a lot of arguments, petty or serious, that revolve around that house; and I wished a lot of times for that house to be over and done with.

Aside from the emotional hell ride, building a house requires a lot of monetary BUFFER. If you could be able to produce an equal amount of financial BUFFER to your original budget, so much the better. I had a conversation with my friend Bags last week who recently transfered to the village. Before transferring she initiated the apartment's renovation, much to her dismay. She changed essential things just to make sure that the apartment's habitable to her basic standards. She only fixed the electricity, plumbing, roof and did some paint jobs. She knew she was able to clearly budget for everything from materials to labor, yet she still went overboard, most importantly, she did get stressed. Just imagine that and magnify it ten times for my father.

It also doesn't help to know that this is not the perfect time to build a house. With the inflation and oil price hikes, materials would surely follow suit. Even if you did start earlier where the materials were still cheaper, you still couldn't predict the outcome of the market. This project would take months or even a year to be finished and the prices of materials change almost everyday. This explains why you have to have buffer, strong strategic thinking and patience.

Aside from the technical know-hows and teaming up with a comfortable and brilliant architect, here are the things that I think anyone should start considering when deciding to do a "project" with this magnitude. Setting aside the better materials and design or your competent budgeting skills. You should also think of...

1. GOOD FINANCIAL BUFFER

It's wonderful if you have the ample resources to make a house now, but do not rely on your budgeted resource. One major rule in any house project, there should be a considerable amount of buffer involved. The buffer will give you the flexibility amids market instability, natural causes and unforeseen events. Once you have the resources, work on the buffer. And no, buffer, on some other aspects' expenses let's say future health money or tuition fees, are not acceptable.

Got your money to build you a dream house? Good. Now, work on the acceptable buffer.

2. GOOD LABOR

Materials are fixed and they are often researched. Their quality do not waver and materials have consistent output. What you have to eye for are the trustworthy and competent workers. The speed and efficiency of those materials are in the hands of construction workers and you have to get to know them to a point of being confident with how they work. You may not be 100% hands on with the technical progress, but you have to be vigilant with the amount and quality of labor. Visit the site often and talk to their supervisors to get feedbacks. They might "just be the laborers," but being confident with their craft, you may get unsolicited advise and feedback from the materials or process.

3. GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM

Since making a house is a load of stress, you really need to have a good support system may it be your friends, your family, your dog or any particular outlet/hobby. Sometimes you just have to rant and give the house a break. Like any job, you need a diversion sometimes when everything else gets too toxic. You have to take a step back and try to analyze calmly to appreciate the process. Do not let it get to you. The support system will usher you through the frustrations and disappointments. They might even provide a good perspective.

If you're planning to make a house, don't look now, but construction prices shoot up having the cement more affected.

....Believe me, based from experience, aside from your vision, technical support and know-how...these are the things that you really need. Prayers and luck will also do you well.