It’s been almost a year since we first cleared the land, full of dreams, sketches, and way too many Pinterest boards. Fast forward 12 months… and the house is only 60% done.
Yep — we’re still somewhere between hope, dust, and unfinished cement walls.
Building a house from scratch has been a journey — financially, mentally, and emotionally. There were moments we laughed, cried, and stared blankly at invoices wondering how on earth we got here.
So if you’re thinking of going down this path, here are some brutally honest lessons we’ve picked up along the way. Hopefully, they’ll save you a little money, a lot of stress — and maybe even your sanity.
1. Set Aside a “Surprise” Fund (Trust Me, You’ll Need It)
Please don’t skip this part. I highly recommend putting aside at least 30% of your total house budget for unexpected costs. They will happen — and they won’t politely warn you in advance.
Our budget was just enough to begin with, so every unplanned expense felt like a small heart attack. A proper contingency fund would’ve saved us from a lot of last-minute scrambling (and late-night stress eating).
2. Utility Deposits Can Be Shockingly Expensive
This one caught us off guard. We expected some minor fees, but it turns out the deposits and processing charges for utilities like water, electricity, and sewage can be surprisingly high.
For example, we recently learned that for Indah Water’s pipe connection, we had to pay 1% of our house value just to submit for approval. That was not in our original plan — and suddenly, we were scrambling again.
Lesson? Always check actual costs ahead of time. Don’t just guess.
3. Get Everything in Writing (Even for “Small” Changes)
This one stung. We asked our contractor to make a minor change. When we asked for the cost, he casually said, “Just a bit.” We estimated maybe RM8,000 — should be more than enough, right?
Wrong. When the work was done, he handed us a bill for RM25,000.
And because we didn’t get anything in writing, there wasn’t much we could do. It threw our budget into chaos — and we learned a very expensive lesson: never proceed without a formal quotation, no matter how “small” the job seems.
4. Don’t Buy Permanent Fixtures Online Without Seeing Them First
This was my mistake. We needed a kitchen door, and budget constraints meant we didn’t have many options. I found one online that looked decent — and it was cheap. Jackpot?
Not really.
When it arrived, it looked nothing like the photos. In fact, it was quite hideous. But since the frame is built into the wall, replacing it would be a massive task. So now we just live with it.
It still functions as a door, so technically I wasn’t completely wrong. I saved a few hundred ringgit… and now I just avoid making eye contact with it as I walk past the kitchen.
5. Delays Are Practically Part of the Process
If you’re building a house in Malaysia, delays are almost guaranteed.
After 12 months, we’re only at 60% completion. There are many reasons — weather, public holidays, workers going on leave, etc. When it rains, work stops. When it’s too hot, work also stops. Sometimes, even when the weather is perfect… things still somehow move slowly.
Most of our workers are foreign, and understandably, they observe quite a number of religious celebrations throughout the year. While we respect that, it also means work halts more often than we expected.
So unless you’re on a super strict timeline, mentally prepare yourself for at least 3 extra months of delays. You’ll thank me later.
6. Compare at Least 2-3 Quotes — No Excuse Not To
Even if you’re not the most diligent person, comparing quotes has never been easier. Thanks to WhatsApp and email, you can request quotes without even stepping outside.
Send your floor plan or item list, ask for prices, and vendors will reply within a day or two. Plus, once you Google one item, your Instagram and Facebook will magically flood you with ads for similar products. That’s the algorithm doing its thing — and you can absolutely use it to your advantage.
So really, there’s no excuse not to compare prices. Unless you enjoy overpaying, in which case… carry on.
There are still many more lessons I could share — but I’ll save those for Part 2, once the house is actually finished (fingers crossed).
If you’re planning to build your own home, I hope this gave you some useful insight — and maybe a few laughs. Building a house is more than just bricks and budgets. It’s about patience, learning, and sometimes just surviving one week at a time.
And at the end of the day, even with the delays and drama, we know it’ll be worth it. We just have to get there first.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or any lessons to share. Happy to hear!
RR