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Tag: Home planning

  • Building Polepole in Kenya: How to Plan Your Next Stage and Its Costs

    When you build a home gradually from your savings, the question is often smaller than “What will the whole house cost?” You want to know what you can finish next, what it will take and what happens if you need to pause again.

    A useful stage budget starts with a defined piece of work. “Spend what I have on the roof” is difficult to price or compare. A description of the roofing work, based on the design and specifications, gives a contractor or quantity surveyor something more concrete to work with.

    Building polepole here means self-funded construction over time. It does not mean a loan, a MyJenga instalment scheme or a promise that a particular amount will complete a stage.

    Start with what is actually finished

    Write down the work already completed and gather the records you have: drawings, specifications, previous quotations, receipts and agreed changes. Keep unfinished items visible rather than treating a partly completed stage as complete.

    For example, “the walls are up” may be enough to begin a conversation, but it is not enough information to decide what roofing work can begin. Ask the professional responsible for your project what needs checking before the next scope is priced or started.

    Ask who will provide any professional advice and how you can check their credentials. The NCA’s project-registration guidance identifies the relevant registration bodies for project consultants.

    If you have concerns about existing work, explain them first. A photograph or general progress report does not establish structural safety. Ask for the appropriate professional assessment rather than using a materials purchase or a new quotation to settle that question.

    Describe the result you want to reach

    Give the next stage an identifiable endpoint. What should be completed when this package of work ends? Which drawings and specifications describe it? What will still be left for later?

    Your brief should record:

    • The work you want included.
    • The relevant drawings and their latest revision dates.
    • Material specifications and quantities, where established.
    • Work that must happen first.
    • Items you will supply or arrange yourself.
    • What the contractor should leave ready for the following stage.

    You do not need to invent missing quantities. If the scope or quantities are uncertain, that is a reason to ask for help defining them before comparing construction prices. Our guide to architects, quantity surveyors and contractors explains the different conversations.

    Separate available savings from the price of the work

    The amount you have saved and the cost of completing a sensible package are two different figures. Share your available amount if you are comfortable doing so, but ask for the proposed work to be described and priced clearly.

    A quantity surveyor can help you examine the scope and costs. If your savings do not cover the complete proposed package, discuss whether to wait, adjust the design with the relevant professional, or define a smaller workable package. Agree the advice and its fee before commissioning it.

    Keep a simple stage budget:

    Item What to establish
    Work Labour and materials for the agreed scope
    Delivery Transport, access and unloading charges
    Site arrangements Equipment, storage and other requirements for this job
    Professional help Separately agreed design, measurement or assessment fees
    Uncertain items Allowances and decisions still awaiting information
    Pausing Any agreed protection, storage or security arrangements

    Do not apply a universal percentage or stage price to fill the gaps. Ask what the estimate includes, what remains uncertain and when the price needs confirming again.

    Choose one immediate request

    You may eventually need advice, a contractor and materials. Decide which conversation will help you move forward now.

    If you do not know what the next work should include, start with planning or cost advice. If the scope is established, request quotations for that work. If you know the specifications and quantities and are buying materials yourself, request supplier prices with delivery and unloading stated.

    Avoid placing orders simply because a material price looks attractive. First establish whether it is the specified product, how much you need, when it will be used and whether suitable storage is available. Read the cement and sand request checklist before asking suppliers to quote.

    Compare quotations for the same stage

    Give each provider the same scope. Check whether labour, materials, equipment, delivery and applicable taxes are included. Ask for exclusions and allowances in writing.

    A labour-only offer can look lower than one including materials because you will arrange more of the work and purchasing yourself. Use our labour-only versus labour-and-materials guide to identify those differences.

    Ask when the work could begin, what must be ready first and how payments relate to the agreed work. Before accepting, clarify how changes will be described, priced and approved. Keep the agreed version with your project records.

    Plan for a pause before the money runs out

    If you expect to stop after this stage, tell the people advising on or carrying out your project before work begins. Ask what must be completed before a pause and what arrangements are needed while the site is inactive.

    The answers depend on the project. Ask about unfinished work, weather exposure, stored materials, access and responsibility for checking the site. Do not assume the same pause arrangements suit every building or every stage.

    Keep a record of what was completed, what remains outstanding and the advice you received. When you return, confirm whether conditions, drawings, specifications or prices have changed before ordering the next package.

    Prepare your next-stage enquiry

    An illustrative request might read:

    I am building a bungalow gradually from my savings. The walls are up, and I want to plan the roofing work. I have drawings but no current roofing quotation. I would like help defining the full scope and costs before deciding when to proceed. Please explain what information or assessment is needed first.

    Replace those details with your actual location, current stage and goal. You can start with a question; you do not need to pretend your plans are complete.

    Get help planning your next building stage with MyJenga

    You can choose planning help, quotations for work, materials or help deciding. Prepare and review your details before signing in to send. Your first enquiry creates a project from those details; later requests can stay with the same project. If you are only planning, save your notes without requesting provider outreach.

    Sending an enquiry is free. When you request providers, availability determines the proposals you receive, with a maximum of five per round. You choose whether to accept an offer and agree the scope and price before work begins.

  • Architect, QS or Contractor: Who Should You Speak to First?

    You want to move your building project forward, but three different conversations seem possible. An architect can discuss the design. A quantity surveyor can discuss costs. A contractor can discuss carrying out the work.

    Who should you call first?

    Start with the decision you cannot yet make. If you need to work out how to use your land, begin with design advice. If the design is taking shape but you need to understand affordability, bring in cost-planning help. If the work is already defined and ready to be priced, speak to contractors.

    You may need more than one professional at the same stage. The aim is to ask the right question, not to force every project into an identical sequence.

    When to speak to an architect

    Start with an architect when you have an idea but need help developing the design. You might know that you want a family home without knowing how the rooms, outdoor areas and access should fit together on the plot.

    Describe how you want to use your land and what matters to you. That could include living with an extended family, keeping space outside or exploring residential rental units.

    Ask the architect to explain the proposed design service and its outputs. Does the appointment cover an initial consultation, concept options, detailed drawings or further involvement? Which work would need a separate appointment? Get the scope and fee clear before proceeding.

    Useful first question: “What information do you need to help me turn this idea into a workable design brief?”

    When to speak to a quantity surveyor

    A quantity surveyor, usually shortened to QS, helps with the measurement and cost questions around building work. You might need an early cost plan, a bill of quantities or help understanding differences between contractor quotations.

    Tell the QS what decision the figures need to support. “Can I afford this design?” is different from “Have these two contractors included the same work?” The required information and agreed output may differ too.

    You can raise cost questions while the design is developing. Explain any firm budget limit and what you expect that budget to cover. If you plan to build gradually from savings, describe that as part of the brief.

    Useful first question: “What can you tell me from the information I have, and what would you need for a more detailed cost plan?”

    BORAQS regulates architects and quantity surveyors and provides professional registers. Ask for registration details and check the architect register or QS register when considering an appointment.

    When to speak to a contractor

    Speak to contractors about quotations when you can explain the work you want carried out. Drawings, specifications and a BOQ where available help contractors respond to the same brief.

    You can ask a contractor an early question about the work, but distinguish that conversation from a detailed offer to build it. Ask what their price is based on, what they have assumed and what they still need confirmed.

    Also clarify which parts they propose to supply, organise and supervise. If design services are part of their offer, ask who provides them and what that appointment includes.

    Useful first question: “What information do you need to price this scope, and what will your quotation include and exclude?”

    If you are ready for that conversation, request construction quotations.

    Match your situation to your next conversation

    Your situation A useful starting point
    I have a plot but no clear layout Architectural advice about your brief and use of the land
    I have a design idea and a budget limit Design discussion with early QS cost input
    I have drawings and need measured quantities Ask a QS what is needed to prepare a BOQ
    I have a defined scope and want prices for construction Contractor quotations using the same information
    I have quotations but cannot compare them A scoped QS review of the cost and inclusion questions
    I do not know which of these fits Explain your current situation and ask for help choosing

    These are starting points. A project may need other expertise, and your appointed team should explain what is needed for the work you are proposing.

    What to prepare before you enquire

    Bring your general location, a short description of your idea and whatever drawings or site information you already have. List the questions you want answered. If there is a budget or intended start date, share it as a planning constraint rather than a promise that the project is ready to proceed.

    A useful initial message could be:

    I have a plot and want to build a family home, but I have no drawings. I need help deciding how to use the space and whether my budget suits the idea. Please explain which service I should start with and what it would cover.

    This is an example, not a customer case. You can make your own message shorter if that is all you know today.

    You can start without choosing the professional yourself

    MyJenga’s planning page lets you ask for design advice, cost-planning help or help choosing your next step. You can also save planning information without requesting provider outreach.

    Get help choosing my next building step →

    Prepare and review your details first, then sign in to send an enquiry or save your notes. You do not need an existing project: one is created from your details when you send or save for the first time. Agree the professional’s scope, deliverable and fee before commissioning work.

    Related guide: Bought a Plot in Kenya? What to Do Before Hiring a Builder.

  • Bought a Plot in Kenya? What to Do Before Hiring a Builder

    You have a plot and an idea of what you want to build. Perhaps it is a family home, a maisonette or rental units. The next question is less obvious: should you find a builder, get drawings or work out a budget first?

    Start by describing how you want to use your land. Then get help turning that idea into a design and cost plan before asking contractors to price detailed construction work.

    You do not need finished drawings to begin a planning conversation. You do need to be clear about what you know, what you are unsure of and the decision you want help making.

    If you are unsure where to start, get help planning your build.

    1. Describe what you want the land to do for you

    “Build a house” is a starting point. A useful brief explains how the place should work for the people using it.

    Think about your household, the rooms you need and the outdoor space you want to keep. If you are considering rental units, describe the intended use and the questions you want answered rather than settling on a unit count before discussing the site.

    Your first brief might include:

    • County and town or general area.
    • Intended use: your own home, rental housing or another residential plan.
    • The building type you are considering, if you know it.
    • Plot size and its unit, such as square metres or acres, if known.
    • Your priorities, such as space for family, parking or future changes.
    • An approximate budget or the amount you are comfortable discussing.
    • Whether you want to build at once or gradually from savings.
    • The question you need answered first.

    “Not sure yet” is a useful answer. It shows where you need advice rather than forcing you to make up a dimension or choose a building type too early.

    2. Bring together the information you already have

    Gather any survey information, site photographs, existing drawings and correspondence about the plot. Tell the professional which details are confirmed and which are estimates.

    If you do not know the plot dimensions, say so. A size written in an advert, a rough measurement and a survey document are different starting points. Ask what information is needed before the design can progress.

    Land ownership, boundaries and permission to build are separate questions from choosing a house layout. Raise unresolved issues early and ask which appropriate professional or authority should help you resolve them. A design conversation should not be treated as confirmation that those matters have been settled.

    You do not need to post private documents to begin an enquiry. Start with your general area and planning question, then agree how any necessary documents will be shared.

    3. Speak to an architect about the design questions

    An architect can help translate your priorities into a design brief and explore how the proposed building could use the site.

    Useful questions for that first conversation include:

    • What information do you need about the plot?
    • How could the layout support the way I want to use the land?
    • Which design decisions should we make first?
    • What drawings and other services would your appointment include?
    • What falls outside your fee?
    • Which other professionals may need to contribute?

    Ask for the proposed services and fees in writing. You can check an architect’s registration details against the BORAQS architect register.

    4. Bring cost planning into the design conversation

    Waiting until the design feels finished to discuss affordability can leave you trying to change decisions you thought were settled.

    A QS can help you understand the cost implications of the developing brief. Explain your budget, what you expect it to cover and whether your funding will arrive in stages. Ask which figures are early allowances and what additional information is needed to refine them.

    An early estimate and a detailed bill of quantities serve different purposes. An early estimate helps you explore affordability using the information available. A BOQ describes measured work and quantities for pricing once there is enough design detail. Ask which document is appropriate for the decision you are making now.

    Keep a list of what the overall budget needs to cover. Ask about construction, professional services, approvals, site-related work, external works and a contingency allowance. These should be discussed explicitly rather than assumed to fit inside a single house-price figure.

    5. Ask what approvals and registrations your project needs

    Before agreeing a construction start, ask your appointed team to explain the applicable approvals, documents and responsibilities for your location and design.

    The National Construction Authority publishes project-registration requirements and identifies the developer as responsible for registering the project. Use the current official guidance alongside advice for your particular project; an initial planning enquiry does not complete these steps for you.

    This is also a good time to establish who will prepare each document, who will submit it and which costs are included in the agreed professional scope.

    6. Request contractor quotes when the work is clear enough

    A contractor needs a defined brief to give you a useful quotation. That may include drawings, specifications and a BOQ, depending on the work and how you are procuring it.

    Give contractors the same information. Ask them to identify assumptions and exclusions so you can understand the differences between their offers.

    When you reach that point, you can request construction quotations through MyJenga. You do not have to rush into this stage just because you have bought land.

    An example of a useful first enquiry

    Here is an illustrative brief you can adapt:

    I own a plot in Nakuru County and want to discuss a family home. I have no drawings yet, and I’m not certain about the plot dimensions. I would like help deciding how to use the land and understanding an early budget before approaching builders. I expect to fund the work gradually from savings.

    It gives a professional a starting point without pretending the design is ready to price.

    Questions homeowners ask

    Do I need drawings before contacting MyJenga?

    No. Tell us what you are considering and what you need help deciding. The planning page includes design advice, cost planning and a “help me choose” option.

    Should I speak to an architect or a QS first?

    Start with the question you need answered. For the layout and use of your land, ask about architectural advice. For affordability and costs, ask about QS help. Where both are unsettled, explain both so the proposed services can address them together.

    What if I am only researching?

    You can save planning notes without asking for provider outreach. Sign-in is required to save them, so you can return to your project later.

    Take the next step with the information you have

    Describe your plot, your idea and the part you need help with. You can prepare and review your enquiry before signing in, and you will not need to create a separate project first.

    Get help planning my build →

    When you send an enquiry or save notes for your first project, MyJenga creates the project from your details. Any professional appointment, scope and fee are agreed separately before the work begins.

    Related guide: Architect, QS or Contractor: Who Should You Speak to First?.