It’s your dream house, you’ve seen a million photos on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You’ve dreamt about owning a house of your own in the last 20 years, with enough space and a proper kitchen that functions the way you want. 

You’ve saved up for this moment and also asked the bank for an additional loan to help. The land is ready and now what? Who do you call to come and build your house? A Chinese contractor? Save money and hire the old guys from Savai'i who built the church and your parent’s house? Get the NZ qualified builder with astronomical fees to match?

Whatever you do, you will be under a lot of stress, you will lose sleep and may even want to slap a builder or plumber at some point. I’ve been through it all but luckily, I did the Math, quotes, budget and drew the plans myself well before the project began. I only wanted to smash down one wall. Eleven weeks later, we had a brand new house..oops! A few tips to help you in your own project.

1. Set a budget

Probably the most important thing to consider before building. If you don’t have one, good on you but if you’re a planner like me, set a budget. Building a new house should be an exciting experience, not one that should bankrupt you. Get quotes on everything including cost of materials, down payments, labour cost and remember that this process will cost more than you think especially with the fluctuating prices and Covid delays.

2. Choosing the right building team/contractor

This is always a struggle in Samoa because there is no directory for builders that one can hire. Choosing a builder will make or break your project as I’ve known too many families who’ve been cheated, left with unfinished houses with money already spent. I have also seen many new houses with roof leakages, poor finishing and just a sad experience for those who started off so excited.

There are many construction companies today in Samoa many builders. Still, there are more unqualified builders and bush hammer hands that either do an okay job or usually a sloppy job that costs thousands in the end.

For my last project, I opted to hire guys I’ve worked with for 3–5 years as their previous boss. Remember that your overall building experience will depend on the kind of relationship you create with your team. I considered the following before hiring. The credentials, work experience, personality, price, building style, communication and level of understanding as well as following what I wanted done.

Some builders are better in specific techniques than others, and you need to pick someone who will provide the expected results.

3. Be prepared for delays and hiccups

Add another 20-30 per cent extra budget for unforeseen costs or delay. Consider transport costs, food, electricity, plumbing, fencing, lighting as we tend to forget the finishing sometimes. Whatever fancy thing your carpenter wants to add, remember to stick to the budget.

Even after planning the last details, mistakes are inevitable and there is no such thing as a perfect house. Set aside money for emergency use like item breakage to minimise delays. Further, order all the required materials way before the construction time.

4. Be smart and shop around

Call warehouses and shop around for the best fixtures and materials to save on cost. Make the most out of your land, and create a space that you will enjoy using and living in.

5. Contracts

Have contracts in place and carefully read through them. Look at payments and read the fine print. Have your lawyer look at it so he or she can give proper advice before signing.

There is a lot to consider before building a new home. You need to be present at all times to ensure that things happen your way or have someone be there in your stead. It’s an exciting and unique experience. You can be creative as you like and use your own designs and continually improve them.

Whatever you do, don’t settle for less. Remember that you are the one who is paying and will live in the house after construction. Hence, clearly state your desires and layout un-negotiable details to avoid arguments during the process. Take pictures at each stage to quickly spot any mistakes and check often. 

You will appreciate all your hard work when you move in. It is a time consuming and very demanding process, nonetheless it doesn’t have to be such an overwhelming activity if you do your research and stick to the budget. Enjoy the rest of your week Samoa and remember to check everything!