Building the forever home you’ve always dreamt of can be one of life’s biggest joys. But aside from making Pinterest boards for your aesthetic and window shopping for furniture prospects, there’s much more to consider when bringing your dream home to life. 

Thankfully, our Kapitbahays over on our Facebook group have given us valuable insights on what you might want to add to your home to make it even better in the long run.

Before You Build

Kapitbahay Fritz recommends doing pest control before all else to keep unwanted critters out. Not only would this be helpful to flush out any roaches, but having termite control early on would help protect your home and furniture pieces from future damage. 

One big thing to do before you start building is to decide whether you want multiple floors. If you’re on the fence about this matter, Kapitbahay Myra makes a great point. 

“Di sana masyadong malaki — this is our realization. We're in our early 50's, so naiisip namin na ang hirap kapag tumanda and our bedroom is upstairs pa.” 

Myra also states that maintenance might be more challenging for multi-floor homes, as they may have difficulty cleaning as they grow older and may need a helper at all times, especially when their children move out and have their own lives.

Investing in a reputable, professional plumber is essential in planning your pipes and installing bathroom fixtures. 

As Kapitbahay SLsalazar says, “Yung plumbing, dapat kumuha ng professional kasi yan talaga yung sakit sa ulo pag hindi maayos ang pag kakagawa kasi araw araw ka gagamit — lalo na pag mamahalin ang ipapainstall mo para walang back job. Kahit later na lang yung beautification.”

It would help if you also speak to your plumber and contractor about having access to your drain lines. Several Kapitbahays vouch for this tip as it allows professionals to have an accessible point where they can reach clogs and sewage backup, which can potentially save you time and money for cleaning and restoration.

Planning Your Layout

Before anything else, you must plan your layout efficiently and effectively to suit your current and future needs. A great example of effective planning comes from Kapitbahay Marlo, who advises that we should always elevate our homes at least 1.2 meters from the road. This elevation is significant during stormy seasons as it protects us and our belongings from potential floods.

Marlo also emphasizes the need for wheelchair accessibility. Planning on adding door frames big enough to fit wheelchairs, ramps for access to essential areas, and safety rails in the bathroom early on can be tremendously helpful for elderly relatives visiting and even ourselves when we grow old and might need wheelchairs. 

Kapitbahay Kaye also shares plenty of tips and tricks on this matter. For instance, they ensured they had a covered garage to avoid getting wet when it rains. This garage also serves as extra storage where they can hang their bikes and place shoe cabinets for rarely used pairs. 

Kaye also recommends having an automatic gate with a remote so you can quickly enter and exit your property without stepping out of your vehicle — lakas maka sosyal!

Another tip from Kaye is to have your laundry area situated to the east. This location is perfect for meeting the afternoon sun to dry your clothes faster. However, as their laundry area is also where their dirty kitchen is, Kaye says having a roof to cover the area (plus their washing machine and sampayan) is also crucial in case it rains.

Kapitbahay Marlo also testifies for having a dirty kitchen outdoors, especially when frying food with foul smells such as fish, which leaves heavy odors that can potentially stick to your walls.

A common tip from our lovely Kapitbahays is to have a room on the lowest floor. This room can serve as a playroom while the chikitings are young. Later on, you can turn this room into a bedroom when the kids are older. 

Having your bedroom on the ground floor can be incredibly helpful in our old age. As Kapitbahay Marwin says, “Dapat po ang masters bedroom ay na sa baba (kung up and down man po ang bahay). Kasi soon pag tumanda na po kayo mahihirapan na din po kayo umakyat at bumaba so mas maganda pong na sa baba para mas accessible.”

Tips on Electricals

To avoid having multiple extension cords running across your home, it’s a good idea to plan your electrical outlets with your architect and contractor beforehand, as recommended by Kapitbahay Maricel. Aside from that, they also recommend planning where you’ll be placing appliances to ensure you have enough sockets throughout the house. 

If you’re feeling more galante with your home, Kapitbahay Kaye also has exciting tips for electronics, especially regarding lighting. For their home, they utilize Wi-Fi lighting with timer settings that they can easily control remotely, saving them the trip of going through their house to turn off the lights before bed or when leaving the house. Kaye also uses solar lights outside the house to save on electricity.

Natural Ventilation and Air Circulation

Planning your window placement with your architect is crucial, especially in our hot, tropical climate. Another tip from Kaye: Avoid large windows facing the west. According to Constantin Design & Build, having windows open to the north and south instead helps welcome gentler sunlight while ensuring your space has proper indoor airflow and lessened radiant heat. This use of natural ventilation helps with passive cooling, which, in turn, helps minimize the use of air-conditioning.  

Aside from window placement, Kapitbahay Jason understands the need for proper roof insulation. Speaking with your architect on achieving this will also help keep you presko through the hot seasons.

These tips go hand in hand with Kapitbahay Wendy’s recommendation to maintain some space between your home and your neighbors. “Walang pang 5 years pero realization ko dapat hindi mo sasagarin hanggang pader ng property mo yung bahay lalo na kapag kapitbahay mo nakasagad din,” Wendy states. Having ample space can help the air circulate better, keeping your house from feeling warm and stuffy.

Sufficient Storage

You can never have too much storage! As we grow older and have children, we accumulate many things that need putting away. 

Kapitbahay Kaye recommends having a room in your basement dedicated to storing things such as holiday decorations, old baby clothes, and other things you don’t want to throw away, especially when you’re the sentimental type — sayang naman! 

A utility cabinet on the ground floor to store cleaning supplies and large cleaning tools like vacuums and mops is also essential. Consider having another utility cabinet ready for easy access if you have multiple floors.

Must-Haves for Emergencies

It never hurts to be prepared, especially in a country where storms and blackouts are the norm. Take it from our Kapitbahays and install emergency lights in crucial areas, such as stairwells, kitchens, and all bathrooms.

Another common tip is to ensure you have good waterproofing. Kapitbahay Bheng suggests you ask a professional or someone you trust to thoroughly check your roofing and see if all the screws and other components are secure. You can also waterproof your home by sealing gaps and cracks, especially for external elements such as sliding doors and window trims, and repainting any damaged paint, as paint protects against moisture for your home’s wood siding.

A great tip from Kapitbahay Bheng is to keep your main switches/breakers somewhere that’s easily accessible, not in bedrooms or cabinets. Having them in the open and nearby is a big help, as you won’t need to fumble around the home in case of any issues.

Do you have more great ideas for those building their dream homes? Let us know! And don’t forget to read our blog for more home tips, DIY, and the latest budol finds!