Start Small, Dream Big Later
The dream of owning a home in Zambia is a powerful one. Visions of a beautiful, custom-built house often dance in the minds of first-time builders. I have seen several people chase this dream and fail or give up. While ambition is admirable, practical considerations should guide your initial steps. Building your “dream home” as your very first project can be a risky endeavor, often leading to unexpected costs, delays, and frustrations.
The First Build is always a Learning Curve
Construction, even on a modest scale, is a complex process. It involves navigating permits, sourcing materials, managing contractors, and understanding local building codes. Your first project will inevitably be a learning experience, filled with valuable lessons that you simply can’t learn from books or online resources.
Why risk your dream home on a process where mistakes are almost guaranteed?
I believe building a smaller, simpler home is the best way to go. A long time ago (apologies to people born in the 60’s-70’s), government houses would have a main house and a servants quarters. These servants quarters would be 3 roomed houses (Not bedrooms) with a toilet/shower attached outside. No tiles, ceiling just basic finishes. Okay so maybe they were a bit too basic but here’s why you should start with a smaller project. Building a small first project allows you to do 4 things:
- Minimize Financial Risk: Construction costs can quickly spiral out of control, especially when unforeseen issues arise. Starting with a smaller and simpler project limits your financial exposure and allows you to gain experience without jeopardizing your entire savings.
- Gain Practical Knowledge: You’ll learn firsthand about budgeting, material selection, contractor management, and quality control. This experience will be invaluable when you’re ready to tackle your dream home.
- Avoid Costly Mistakes: Mistakes are inevitable during any construction project. By starting small, you can make those mistakes on a smaller scale, minimizing their impact on your finances and your overall satisfaction.
- Secure a Place to Call Home: Building a smaller, functional home provides you with a comfortable and secure place to live while you plan and save for your dream project.
The ideal first step is a simple, functional home.
Instead of jumping into a complex, expensive project like building your dream house or multiple flats, consider building a smaller, simpler home to start. A one or two bedroom (maximum) house with basic amenities can provide a comfortable living space while you gain experience and save for your dream home. Of course, this means when you buy a plot, buy as big as possible.
This approach offers several advantages:
- Lower construction costs.
- Faster construction time.
- Reduced stress and risk.
- Valuable learning experience. You will now practice what you learned on your main house.
- You get to monitor progress of your main house/dream house at close range since you will probably already live on the property and have acclimatized to living in the new area.
By starting small, you’ll be better prepared to build your dream home with confidence and avoid the pitfalls that often plague first-time builders. Your first home should be a stepping stone, not a financial and emotional burden. With careful planning and a realistic approach, you can turn your dream of homeownership into a reality, one step at a time.
What do you think about building yourself a small servants quarter first? post your comment below.
I love the idea of a smaller house first but my fear is you get too comfortable and not build the dream house at all.
Yes Callista, there’s a big risk there but is it really a risk? What’s the worst thing that would happen if you never build your dream house? That’s a valid concern! It’s easy to get comfortable in a smaller house, but I think the key is setting clear goals and a timeline for the dream house. If you stay focused on your long-term vision and keep saving and planning, the smaller house can actually serve as a stepping stone rather than a permanent stop. It’s all about finding balance—using the smaller house to reduce financial pressure while staying motivated to build that dream house when the time is right.
My opinion of building a smaller house or a servants quarter is a one step process to maintain your financial stability and to gain more confidence and knowledge. It also helps to put security measures in a piece of land that has been bought. Building a servant’s quarter can be completed in no time without running out of money and also can help you plan big project ahead of the dream house when you are stress free from paying rentals. Building a servant quarter first can also provide access into saving money for a dream house. It can also help you to have a free state of mind once you are on your own servant quarter.
Hi Kelvin, totally agree with you. Financial stability, gaining knowledge and security of the land are almost guaranteed when you start with a servants quarter. its also good practice for living in the new neighborhood as you get to know people around you and experience your daily life as if you were in your dream house. It also makes a lot of sense that having your own space could bring a sense of freedom and peace of mind. Thanks for sharing your perspective!