QUOTE: \"i truly marvel at how far 30 grand can go..\"
What currency are you taking about Ricky?
I take it with the word ~~grand~~ in your statement as $$$$
P1,3M ± can build a nice house in the Philippines as a do-it-yourself! No question about that!
But, pictures just allows you to see what they want you to see from abroad!! Rebar shown may be nothing more then a short piece at the top. Concrete mix may not be Class A. And the Pinoy way of workmenship list goes on and on!!!
An an aging Pinoy as an over seeing and not as an on-site contractor in the past, doesn\'t mean much...........period!!! A \"barangay captain\" is nothing more then an elective Joe blow in the area! No CLOUT IMO!
I\'ve been around Pinoy workers for more then a day or two with 7 houses involved! ~~IF~~ \"I\" wasn\'t around daily, I would have ended up with Pinoy junk by my standards.....PERIOD!!!
BTW, over the last almost 7 years, I\'ve sent Pinoy workers down the road kicking rocks because they COULDN\'T do what they said they could!!
We have 5 properties with 7 houses. We just bought 8 more properties in this same subdivision.
Even today with building materials higher in our area then a lot of places, a P1.3M ± house for a do-it-yourself should be GRAND-DE-O-SO with at least 300X300 tiled floors and granite counter tops!, windows you can see out and not so easy to see in and not using the WEAK hollow block normally available at retail +++!!!
A contractor would charge 2 to 2.5 + more then a do-it-yourself can build a house. That can be counted on, rule of thumb, (as the saying goes)!
Best of luck guy.............time will tell the true story with what you expected, for the money spent.
Personally, I NEED to see where and how my limited money is spent!!!!!!
Ya\'ll have a grrrrreat day, ya hear!!!
I\'m off looking yet so more........................ for online house plans, with Chalet types in mind, since there not in this area. Kinda like a 24\'X40\" 2br with a 12/12 pitch roof giving maybe a loft for two more brs and a CR with a dommer? That could give a 4 br on a foot print of a 2br house and not building a 2 story house. Cost less???
B-Ray