Yes, we did last year.
As I am self employed and only need an internet connection and a phone for my work, I can work from basically anywhere. We decided to get out of the hastle of Nairobi, the capital and move to Mombasa.
We built our villa on a one acre beachfront plot, overlooking the Indian Ocean.
As I am useless at doing any sort of building work, we left it to to the experts.
- We idintified a good architect who had done beachfront houses. However, we wanted somthing different. We took him to Dubai - the Madinat Jumerah, and visited some villas called Dar al Massyaf.
- The architect and us finialized the detailed designs.
- We then appointed a quantity surveyor and a structual engineer. These guys worked with the designs to produce detailed structual requirements and then a detailed Bill of Materials. This resulted in a detailed tender document.
- We then sent the tender to 5 building firms for their detailed quotations, terms, timeframes etc.
- We selected the best and now we have a great 3 floor villa, with a rooftof bar & grill- where I spend most of my time - drinking, cooking, watching the ocean, dolphins, whales and ALSO working.
We found the whole 15 month effort;
- Enjoyable - as we could see our dream house take shape
- Frustating - as some some sub contractors delayed their time schedules.
- Stressful - to the bank balance
All in all it was graet, we could and maybe do it again.