Author: A4KENYA

JOINT VENTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSES FOR SALE IN KENYA

Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com offers Joint Venture partnership with land owners in order to develop houses for sale within Kenya.
This Joint Venture is financed by Shelter Afrique bank on a 50-50 sharing on the proceeds from sale of the houses. The land owner is then granted an additional amount being the value of the land.

ELIGIBILITY
Prism Designs Africa will first carry our preliminary project structure to ascertain viability. Basically, the debt ratio should be as per Shelter Afrique’s requirements and the plot location should be in an area where the houses can attract buyers once constructed.
To be eligible for the Joint Venture, the land must be a minimum of 5 acres for land suitable for apartment development and 10 acres for land suitable for bungalow and maisonette development.
The larger the size of the land, the higher the chances of the project being eligible for the Joint Venture.
Lands situated in middle to low cost areas also have a higher chance of eligibility than lands in high-cost areas.

HOW IT WORKS:

LAND OWNER

1. The land owner expresses willingness to Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com to get into a Joint Venture for construction of houses for sale on his land.
2. Prism Designs Africa www.a4arhcitect.com visits the land site and carries out a feasibility study to determine the most viable options available and the cost of the project.

15% OF TOTAL PROJECT COST

3. Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com calculates 15% of the total construction cost. The land owner is supposed to bring in 15 % of this total cost. If the land value is less than 15% of total project cost, Prism Designs Africa will contribute Professional services [Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering] to top up the balance.
4. Once the contribution of 15% of total project cost is reached, Shelter Afrique bank arranges for financing of the remainder of the costs.

50-50 PROFIT SHARING + REFUND OF COST OF LAND

5. Once financing is secured, construction and off-plan sales of the houses commences . Once the houses are complete and sold out, the profits are shared equally between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner. The land owner is given a further amount to cater for the value of the land.
6. The land owner can now settle the amounts contributed by Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com in raising the contribution to 15% of the total project cost.

COMMISION AGENTS

Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com recognizes the value of commission agents in sourcing for land owners who require Joint Venture partnerships with developers.
Prism Designs Africa offers 1% of the construction cost as agency fees to these commission agents.
Usually, the construction costs run into hundreds of millions of shillings since the minimum construction costs to be eligible for this Joint Venture partnership is KES 200,000,000. In this case, 1% of KES 200,000,000=KES 2,000,000.00.

For more information regarding this, contact Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau
Architect.
Prism Designs Africa
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

BUSINESS PLAN FOR A HIGH COST HOUSING ESTATE IN NAIROBI BY www.a4architect.com.

Land Value: 5.6m per acre.
Number of acres=30

View various house designs here http://www.a4architect.com/house-plans/
I have given 25 different designs of 15 categories of sizes ranging from 100m2 to 400m2.
This way, a large and diverse section of house owners will have their taste and budget fulfilled by the project.
Each house is priced to independently cater for the cost of consultancy and external works in a pro-rata basis since cost of Land is constant.
The calculation is based on the assumption that 7 houses of each of the different sizes will be chosen. The final calculations shall be done once all house buyers make their choice.
Yours faithfully,
Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]
Registered Architect No. A1085
www.a4architect.com
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.

15 DIFFERENT SIZES OF HOUSES RANGING FROM 100M2 TO 400M2 TO BE CHOSEN.

EACH OF THE 15 DIFFERENT SIZES HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO CATER FOR DIVERSE TASTES

ASSUMPTION:AN AVERAGE OF 7 HOUSES OF EACH OF THE 15 SIZES IS CHOSEN BY THE BUYERS

Cost Item Kshs %
Land 168,000,000.00 9.64337
Construction 1,092,350,000.00 62.702
External Works[ road,sewer,water,street lighting, driveway] 137,142,857.14 7.87214
Consultancy fees
Valuation-0.05% of Construction cost 546,175.00 0.03135
Quantity Surveying-3% of Construction cost 32,770,500.00 1.88106
Architecture: 6% of Construction cost. 65,541,000.00 3.76212
Electrical engineering: 2% of Construction cost. 21,847,000.00 1.25404
Mechanical engineering: 2% of Construction cost. 21,847,000.00 1.25404
Structural engineering : 3% of Construction cost. 32,770,500.00 1.88106
Civil Engineering: 0.5% of Construction cost. 5,461,750.00 0.31351
Legal fees: 1.5% of Construction cost. 16,385,250.00 0.94053
Urban or Town Planning Consultancy: 0.3% of Construction cost. 3,277,050.00 0.18811
Administration: 0.8% of Construction cost. 8,738,800.00 0.50162
Accounting services: 0.2% of Construction cost. 2,184,700.00 0.1254
Environmental Impact Assesment[NEMA]: 0.2% of Construction cost. 2,184,700.00 0.1254

Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]
Registered Architect No. A1085
www.a4architect.com
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.
HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE
A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.
SOLUTION.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA has worked out a solution to this.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.
JOINT VENTURE WITH SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK
Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA then organizes for a Joint Venture with Shelter Afrique Bank.
Shelter Afrique bank offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA consultancy contribution AND 15% from Shelter Afrique Bank], local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.
SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE
Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA, Shelter Afrique bank forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by Shelter Afrique and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.
CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA www.a4architect.com.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.

HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE

A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.

SOLUTION.

PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA has worked out a solution to this.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.

JOINT VENTURE WITH SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK

Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA then organizes for a Joint Venture with Shelter Afrique Bank.
Shelter Afrique bank offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA consultancy contribution AND 15% from Shelter Afrique Bank], local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.

SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE

Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA, Shelter Afrique bank forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by Shelter Afrique and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.

CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.JOINT VENTURE METHOD.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.

HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE

A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.

SOLUTION.

a4architect  has worked out a solution to this.
a4architect  offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
a4architect works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.

JOINT VENTURE WITH FINANCIERS

Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, a4architect then organizes for a Joint Venture with financiers.
Financiers offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+a4architect consultancy contribution AND 15% from financiers, local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by a4architect at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.

SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE

Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of a4architect, financier forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by financier and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between financier and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, a4architect receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.

CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact  www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

RESIDENTIAL AREAS ALONG MOMBASA ROAD
PART 1:NAIROBI WEST TO SYOKIMAU AREA
Mombasa road is among the most desired area by Nairobians as a residential area.

Click here to view houses for sale along Mombasa road.

This is because it offers the widest choice in terms of budget and affordability and does not have the ‘ancestral tribal land’ tag hence very suitable for a wide and cosmopolitan population.

NAIROBI WEST/SOUTH B/SOUTH C

Mombasa road begins with the Nairobi West, South B and South C area. In South C, houses usually go for between 12 to 18million per unit.
In South B-Diamond park Estate, houses go for between 10 to 12 million per unit.
In these areas, land for development of new residential is scarce. Along the Northern bypass, next to Nairobi National park in South C, several parcels of land are still available for sale.
For Nairobi West and South B, the option of bringing a low-rise unit down to pave way for high-rise flats is available. An example is along Kapiti Road nest to Highway Secondary school where a high-rise building is coming up in a predominantly low-rise bungalow-type area.
In South B,the area behind Zain/Airtel/Parkside towers also have a few remaining parcels of land available for sale.

IMARA DAIMA, BEHIND SAMEER PARK,BEHIND LIBRA HOUSE & OPPOSITE CITY CABANAS AREA

After the South B/C area, Mombasa road moves to the area behind Sameer Park, Behind Libra House and opposite City Cabanas. In this area, the residential units are predominantly high-rise. Small parcels of land are still available here. The estate on the left hand side of Imara Daima still has small 33×66 plots for sale.
There is also half acre plot right behind Libra House for sale at KES 35milion.

Houses in Imara Daima area go for between 6 to 10 million per unit.

JKIA AIRPORT AREA

The next frontier after City Cabanas area is the JKIA area. This area is reserved for the airport expansion and plan landing so there are no residential developments until Syokiamu.

SYOKIMAU /MLOLONGO/SABAKI AREA

Syokimau begins at JKIA Resort club and extends all the way to Mlolongo town.
There are 1/8th plots 1 km from Mombasa road selling at KES 2.2million each. The price decreases as the distance from Mombasa road increases.
The area before the River has been zoned by the Mavoko county council to be for High-rise flats. In this area, we have Easy park flats, 360 apartments and Great wall apartments.
The area right next to the Telecommunication structures along Katani road also has several available plots for sale.
A half acre there is going for KES 8million.

PART 2: AREAS PAST MLOLONGO TOWN TO DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY AREA/KITENGELA/ISINYA

Architect Francis Gichuhi
+254721410684
www.a4architect.com

SEPTIC TANK.

A septic tank cures waste material through anaerobic respiration to eradicate he foul smell.
Septic tanks are not waste storage devices. They are designed to hold the waste for a very short time [1 day]. After this, the waste goes to the soak pit for storage and onward sipping into the surrounding ground.

From landscaping nairobi

The early colonial settlers who constructed large mansions around Nairobi and other areas such as Nakuru made very small septic tanks usually 1 meter wide and 3 meters long with each chamber approximately 1 meter long.
With the onset of Kenya becoming a republic in 1963, the Local Government ministry was empowered with regulating the building industry through the building code enforced by the Councils.
The councils insist that a copy of the septic tank drawing must be accompanied by the architectural drawings while submitting drawings for approval.
This has necessitated for duplication of the available septic tank drawings which are usually large in size.

From landscaping nairobi

CIVIL ENGINEERS
Civil Engineers are the ones who design septic tanks. Since Civil Engineers are scarce and rare, this necessitates more and more duplication of the existing large septic tank drawings.

COST OF CONSTRUCTION
The cost of construction in Kenya is higher than in other African countries due to such lack of consultation of architects and engineers.
If architects and engineers are involved in even the small residential type of houses, such duplication of mistakes can be seen and corrected before construction hence saving the house owner hundreds of thousands of shillings in the process.
This duplication and copying of house designs in Kenya kills creativity and causes the house owners to lose thousands and even millions of shillings in unnecessary construction costs.
THE DIAMOND HOUSE PLAN
The Diamond House plan designed by www.a4architect.com has been designed specifically to reduce costs of construction of every single element within the totality of the building. Foundations are designed to reduce over 500%, walling reduces 80% ,roofing reduces 300% and finishes including doors and windows and septic tank reduce a further 90% of construction cost. See the house here http://www.a4architect.com/house-plans/
CONCLUSION
Solutions to reduction of construction costs are here with us if we decide to consult the relevant professionals in this.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau.

Architect.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

KENYATTA ROAD ESTATE BUSINESS PLAN

Project: Residential Development in Kenya, Kenyatta road, Gatundu.
Client: ………………………….
Location: off Thika road, along Kenyatta road.

FRONT VIEW

MARCH 14th 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is a project proposal for the construction of a high class residential estate comprising of 800 No. Maisonettes on a parcel of land situated at Kenyatta road off Thika road, Gatundu.
The project has been conceived, designed and will be implemented by www.a4architect.com .

The estimated development cost for the project is KES 5,600,000,000.00

The project completion period shall take 12 months from ground breaking to hand over.
Sales for 800 Units @ KES 10,000,000 will be in the range of KES 8,000,000,000.00

Returns shall be in the range of KES 2,400,000,000.00 with gross profits falling in the range of 43 percent.

WWW.A4ARCHITECT.COM
A4architect is a dynamic property consulting company specializing in providing a one-stop service for the management and development of a variety of property development projects. It provides its clients, who may be property owners, developers or tenants, with the expertise to guide a project through the complex development process from concept through to building completion.
Depending on the requirements of their client, A4architect can provide a full or partial consulting service. The company’s involvement can vary from sourcing suitable sites, arranging local authority approvals, managing the professional team or providing a complete project management service.
The principals behind the firm have several years experience in designing and managing to completion several projects of various natures.

THE PROJECT
The project comprises the construction of 800 No. residential units each comprising of 3 no. bedrooms for Sale at Kenyatta road on a subdivision measuring just about 100 acres.
10% to 20% of the 100 acres will be set aside for social amenities.

The overall theme of the development would be one of maximizing on the plot use whilst maintaining reasonable individual privacy within a ‘Green Sustainability’ architecture.

PHASED CONSTRUCTION

In order to ease the impact of the overall cost of the development it is proposed to carry out the construction in phases to be jointly agreed on with the client.
Each 1 acre plot will have 9 No. units.
The construction will be phased in 10 phases comprising of 80 No. units respectively.

Each of the phases shall be planned to deliver units that are complete and ready for occupation. This will facilitate pre-selling of some of the units prior to the end of construction. This would be achieved through pro-active networking with property managers and estates officers in large corporations and use of the internet.
The foregoing will result in further cushioning of the net effect of the cost of financing the project.
In order to enable planning of major infrastructural requirements such as water storage and foul water disposal right from the outset, a master plan of the entire development shall be evolved. Thus the capacity of some of the facilities may initially exceed the needs of the accommodation provided, but this would be done with the full knowledge that the development will grow to fully utilize the facilities provided.

Auxiliary features include:

• Paved walkways .
• Safe gated community neighborhood
• Inbuilt car parkings.
• Extra rain-water storage .
• Planted landscaped 24-hr. irrigated gardens.
• Solar power electrical wiring
• A choice of 3 different designs to choose from.

The country ambience would further be enhanced by having strategically planted palm trees which would serve the added role of acting as wind breaks.

EXTERIOR VIEW

DEVELOPMENT BUDGET
The development budget is as follows:

800 No. 3 bedroom maisonettes in 10 blocks each measuring 9 acres.

• The development budget includes professional fees

1.00 Building details
1.10 Type of houses: 3 bedroom Maisonnettes.
1.12 Gross floor area per Unit m2: 150m2
1.13 Building Cost per m2: 40,000[including external works and consultancy fees]
1.14 Building Cost Per Unit including External Works, consultancy fees and Land: KES 6,000,000

2.00 Construction cost breakdown

Total Building works[including Infrastructure& Electric Fencing]-
KES 6,000,000 x 800 = KES 4,800,000,000

3.00 Land Cost- [100 acres] = KES8,000,000.00 per acre x 100 acres=800,000,000

OVERALL PROJECT COST INCLUDING LAND= 4,800,000,000.00

+ 800,000,000= KES 5,600,000,000.00

SALES PROJECTIONS

1.11 Projected sale price per unit KES 10,000,000.00

1.12 Overall sales revenue=800 X 10,000,000= 8,000,000,000.00

1.13 Gross anticipated profit =KES 8,000,000,000.00- KES 5,600,000,000.00
=KES 2,400,000,000.00

1.14 Gross profit margin 43%

LOCATION

Kenyatta road is situated 25 minutes drive from Nairobi’s Central Business District off Thika road.
The estate is connected to the mains water supply from the Thika Municipal Council and also has easily connected electricity supply from KPLC.

Developments in this area are predominantly single family residences. The occupancy is predominantly homeowners. The majority of the buildings here are of high-class standard and are well constructed and maintained.

MARKET DESCRIPTION

Given the proximity of the site to Nairobi’s CBD, well as the good communication available along Thika road, the site would realize good returns on a single family residential development.

The planned development intends to maximize this potential by creating accommodation that is spacious whilst at the same time making optimum use of the space available.
At the moment, there are similar developments in this area, consisting of single family maisonettes –K.U BOMA ESTATE.

COMPETITION
In the locality of the planned development, there exist several properties which are either owned by the residents or are rental properties.
The closest competition perhaps comes from the high-class K.U BOMA Estate and Ngoingwa Estate.

SALES PROJECTIONS
It is planned that marketing the development for sale shall commence before the construction begins.
Consequently it is anticipated that by the time the first block is completed there shall be an inflow of funds that can either be utilized to start construction of the next phase.
The sale price for each unit has been set at KES 10,000,000.00.

EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT
A4architect will in this provide the client with a full design/build service. This shall include

1. Design and specification
Architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings shall be prepared and necessary approvals sought.
During the various stages of the design, the client shall be kept fully informed and client approval sought prior to proceeding to the next stage. The engineering design shall be done by registered engineers under the guidance of A4architect. Detailed specifications shall be developed with close consultation with the client.

2. Project estimates
Subsequent to completion of the design, a Quantity Surveying firm under the guidance of A4architect shall undertake construction cost estimates for the project.

3. Preparation of tender and contract documents
After final design has been done and client approval obtained, tender documents shall be drawn up for the general and specialist contractors. The specialist contract documents shall be prepared with guidance from the relevant engineers.

4. Tendering
Selected contractors shall be invited to tender for the various work packages. We shall then analyze the tenders returned and forward our recommendation to the client.

5. Contract documentation
With the contractors have been selected, we shall draw up the required contract documents and enter into contract with the contractors on the client’s behalf.

6. Project management
Subsequent to the contracts being signed and mobilization to the site, we shall provide superintendence and project management. This will entail ensuring that the project is brought in on time and under budget by constant monitoring of operations on site and remedying any issues that may prevent timely completion or cause expenditure to exceed the budget.

7. Contract administration
We shall handle all matters relating to the various contracts including but not limited to stage payments, performance bonds, extensions of time and relationships between the various trades involved in the project’s execution.

8. Sales and marketing
In conjunction with an estate agency approved by the client, we have produced a presentation package to be used in the sales and marketing of the units.

PROJECT TIMELINES
a) Design to Tender
The design to tender process will take a total of 1 month. This will include commissioning of all engineering design, preparation of bills of quantities and obtaining of all relevant approvals for the development.

b) Construction
Construction of the entire project is estimated to take a maximum of 12 months.

MARKETING AND SALES
Marketing of the properties has been planned to start even before ground is broken for the start of the construction. This serves the dual purpose of creating awareness of the availability of quality property for sale and to confirm the validity of the market intelligence.

A reputable real estate agency will be appointed and will be supplied with a virtual presentation kit that includes a walk through movie of the development. A prospectus of the development will also be made for distribution to potential purchasers.
In order to provide a more tangible feel of the development, a show unit will be built within eight weeks of commencement of the project. This will enable even the doubtful potential purchasers to appreciate the quality of the development.

Prepared By
Francis Gichuhi Kamau B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A] Registered Architect
www.a4architect.com
+254 721 410684
A4architect.

HOW TO REDUCE COST OF AQCUIRING NEW HOME IN KENYA.
Recently, a study conducted by the World Bank on home ownership in Kenya revealed that a paltry 16,000 homes have been sold through mortgages since independence.
This clearly shows that over 99 % of Kenyans have resulted to other ways of home ownership.
Most of the homes in Kenya are built without the aid of mortgages.
The average Kenyan will first buy land then they continue to build their home slowly over time.
To make housing affordable, the key ingredients of a house must be addressed. These ingredients are
1. Land
2. Design and construction project management.

LAND.
Land has continued to rise steeply around urban areas in Kenya. This is because the Government cannot keep up with increasing new infrastructure [roads and water]. Therefore, land that is near a road and has tap water becomes scarce hence high demand.
For example, along Kangundo road past Kamulu in the KBC area, land is available in plenty at a low cost but there is no tap water, no security and no all-weather internal road networks . This results in many people buying the lands for speculation as they keep their fingers crossed hoping that the Government will one day assist in laying down the much needed infrastructure. Click here for available land for sale along the Eastern Bypass http://www.a4architect.com/land4sale/

Bypass

The recent completion of the Eastern bypass from City Cabanas along Mombasa road to Juja has gone a long way in opening up new lands for housing. This is a commendable step by the Government in opening up new lands through infrastructure. Land along this bypass is rising very fast in cost due to the demand hence an urgent need for more areas to be opened up.
The Land Commission should also act up and make the necessary legal framework that discourages individuals/companies from hoarding large vast lands without utilizing them. This will result to such land being put up for sale to ease the land shortage.
Lands along Thika road in areas such as Kamuthi Housing scheme in Kiganjo whereby thousands of acres are being put up for sale to home owners is the way to go for the moment.
Tatu city in Ruiru is also a good example of thousands of lands being put up for housing although this area is most suited for agriculture due to the fertile red soil type.

The opening up of the Greater Eastern bypass and other bypasses around Nairobi will assist in this process.

Design and Construction Project Management.
Kenya will need to borrow heavily form the South African construction industry in order to reduce cost of construction.
In South Africa, most house construction elements are mass produced and available in leading supermarkets.

Windows.

Windows are all designed in several sizes and styles and sold in supermarkets. Ring beams, wall bricks, roof trusses and many other elements are readily available in various sizes in most leading supermarkets.

Cement.

Cement prices are also very low in South Africa.
Kenyans will need to borrow such techniques to reduce the cost of house construction.
The South African houses are also designed in a simple way whereby they look aesthetically appealing while costing less compared to the Kenyan houses. For example, in Kenya, for bungalows, we use 200mm to 300mm thick ring beams while in South Africa they use steel plate ring beams that are low cost, available in supermarkets and are fast to set up.

Roof trusses.

In South Africa, roof trusses are constructed by specialized companies who only deal with roof truss design and installation. This means that the trusses will be constructed in the factory hence no wastage as opposed to Kenya situation whereby the home owner buys the wood then hires the labour to fabricate the trusses on site hence a lot of wastage.

This and many other building design and construction management techniques used by South Africans can greatly reduce the cost of construction of Kenyan Houses.

Francis Gichuhi
Architect.
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