INVERSK MAGAZINE
ADVERTISERS CONTENT - CONSTRUCTION
Want to become a homeowner? Here’s a Checklist on Choosing the right Contractor for your House Get a contractor who has a proper skills background in construction and not just a person who may have just upgraded from being a Mason or foreman as they may lack the necessary skills to see a project through. BY LEWIS NDICHU Conduct due diligence on the contractor, find out if they are registered by NCA, and if their certificates are up to date - we have had many cases of unqualified contractors. An unqualified contractor will provide you a quotation which when it gets to put the structure on the ground, your money gets finished - just as soon as the house left the ground. Get a contractor who has a proper skills background in construction and not just a person who may have just upgraded from being a Mason or foreman as they may lack the necessary skills to see a project through. Wise precaution: cheap is expensive. Don’t simply go for the highest bidder nor the lowest bidder. A contractor may fulfill or destroy your dream!
A A client recently called me, she was very disappointed because the stories she reads on Facebook are ways on putting more homeowners into a risk of unfinished projects. Here’s what I advised her; “without a practical process do not trust what you read.” We arranged for a meeting, to lay out our plan on helping her become a homeowner. After our conversation, she decided to hire our firm, Lewison Builders to construct her three-bedroom bungalow in 40 I Inversk Magazine I OCTOBER 2020
2. Monitor the process Throughout the construction process, be sure to keep an eye on every detail because it is much easier to correct a mistake when identified early. Y ou may overlook a mistake that might take weeks or months to be corrected hence costing you more. If, for any reason, you cannot manage to be there to monitor the progress of Ngong, Kajiado County. your project, hire a clerk of works. I have A three-bedroom bungalow has an seen clients demolishing structures approximate size of 90-120 square meters because of failed workmanship. and costs Ksh 25,000 per square meter for As you monitor the progress, standard finishing. remember to monitor the payments and The construction of the three- progress. Both should be parallel. This bedroom bungalow, which is almost com- will ensure transparency for the plete, will cost her between Ksh 2,250M contractor. to Ksh 3M once it is complete. To achieve what our client has 3. Build according to your budget achieved, building a home, or any building Don’t build to impress your neighbors. for that matter, below are 6 practical tips Y ou may become famous for owning the you need to follow closely. classiest house in the neighborhood only to be embarrassed when the creditors 1. Choose your contractor carefully come for their money. This is the first step, hire the best Before you start building, have a plan. contractor you can afford, ask him/her Have a guide and step by step implemenfor references of past projects they have tation strategy. On the Bill of Quantity, done. Any professional contractor will not have another broken down plan, like object to you contacting past clients. foundation cost, superstructure cost,
