How To build Your Dream Home In Ghana While Living Abroad

Two of the most stressful things in life are finances and family. When you combine the two—the results can be disastrous. Yet, that is what many Ghanaians who live abroad do when building a home. They send money to family members intending for it to be used to build their home. Sometimes this works out, but more often than not the money is used by the family members for other expenses. The dream of building a home in Ghana turns into a nightmare and relationships are ruined in the process. Following is some advice for building a home in Ghana while living abroad.

Think with your head, not your heart.

It is often to separate the two when building a home—this is a very emotional process. Many people think that by dealing with family members and building the home themselves they can save a substantial amount of money. Instead, it usually ends up costing more. The average person is not familiar with local building codes and efficient means of construction. Inferior craftsmanship will not pass a building inspection and will ultimately have to be repaired or replaced. Hiring an experienced contractor to do the work will ensure that the building is structurally sound. Explaining to family members that even though you trust them with your money, you don’t want to compromise on the quality or safety of your home is perhaps the most tactful way to handle the situation.

Choose the right contractor.

There are many other benefits of hiring a contractor rather than family members. Contractors are better equipped to:

• Offer professional insight to improve your floor plan.
• Build a home quickly and more efficiently.
• Negotiate with suppliers and subcontractors to obtain lower prices on building materials, etc.
• Resolve disputes when necessary.

That being said, it is important to choose the right contractor. Otherwise, you could still find yourself paying more for an inferior product. As with any profession, there are a few dishonest contractors who overcharge for labor and/or use cheap or stolen materials. Take the time to research a few different companies to see what their experience level is and make sure that you trust them. Ultimately, your decision to hire a contractor rather than relying on family should be based on their reputation, reliability and your own comfort level.

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