Sunday, March 17, 2024

To Buy or to Build? Tips for OFWs and Families Planning to Own Their Dream House

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Owning a house to call your own is a dream of many OFWs. Apart from sending children to school, establishing a business, or merely bringing out the family from years under debt, owning your dwelling is a symbolic testament at conquering difficulties and providing for the family more than just food on the table.

Ten percent of the Philippine population can be found in distant shores working various trades, from engineers to seafarers and household workers to teachers. Their earnings and remittances have become not only a significant source of sustenance for their families but also crucial lifeblood that sustain an economy gaining momentum.

With growing buying power, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now more capable of realizing that dream house. With incomes more than capable of paying their monthly housing rent, they’re now moving into house-hunting mode. Plenty of residential properties — from foreclosed homes to high-rise condo units — are available in the market. Armed with a powerful marketing team and influential advertising channels, property firms seize on the opportunity coupled with a typical OFW’s apparent lack of hands-on ability to direct the blueprint of his home. Under such circumstances, many Filipinos based overseas lean on the convenient route and leave the complicated tasks, from paperwork to site inspection, to the experts.

But not everyone is convinced this is the route to take towards owning that dream house. First, many OFWs do not have sufficient financial clout to take on more expensive properties offered by more established brands. Second, many overseas Filipinos are wary of getting shortchanged by unscrupulous agents. Reports of one-sided deals favoring developers that leave little or no protection to buyers have evoked fear and anxiety to families and migrant workers who are rendered helpless by their distance. This can be compounded by the lack of understanding on the part of the buyer and lack of transparency from sales agents. For example, buying a condo unit does not automatically grant the buyer a free car park, or failure to understand the legal jargon associated with property buying could lead a stubborn buyer to a losing position.

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But many OFWs take a more vigilant route in building their dream homes.

Take the case of Reynaldo Lopez, a factory manager of a precast company in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For almost five years, Reynaldo and his wife Loida, have wanted to buy a new house they wish to move into after Reynaldo goes back to the Philippines for good. They have been entertaining offers of house and lot packages in their home province of Pampanga and nearby Bulacan. Yet, none of the proposals proved attractive for the couple to consider, so they decided to construct their own house instead of buying pre-built residential units.

Such a decision came with a dilemma. Reynaldo is only granted 45 days of vacation leave to the Philippines yearly, leaving him with not enough time to oversee the house construction. Even when Loida’s friends and relatives suggesting several contractors willing to do the job, none of them satisfied Reynaldo, who became apprehensive about how his vision will be executed and what type of materials will be used.

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During a visit to SM Pampanga in 2011, an opportunity opened up for the Lopez couple. They came across Holcim Helps-U-Build (HUB), which offers all-in-one home building solutions — the exact service Reynaldo was looking for. From their custom budget and required specifications, staff showed the couple a sketch of the house design and presented with building material options. The HUB, a service arm of the Swiss-based Holcim, the world’s largest cement manufacturer, commenced two years ago to assist aspiring homeowners who need assistance in the entire operation of constructing their dream homes.

The visit also affirmed Reynaldo’s confidence that he is dealing with trustworthy professionals. The couple then decided to award the project to Holcim HUB, trusting in its approach in guiding clients through the entire home-building operation.

“Sabi niya sa akin, pwede natin sila pagkatiwalaan. Pwede natin iwanan sa kanila yung pagpapagawa ng bahay. Satisfied din siya sa quality ng materials lalo na sa hollow blocks kasi matibay daw talaga,” Loida said. Reynaldo’s civil engineering background made it easier for him to assess the quality of product and service approach provided by Holcim HUB.

After four months, the project is nearly in its completion target, and the 210-square-meter Mediterranean-inspired house, which sits across the river in Apalit, Pampanga, was completed in February 2013.

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As he witnessed the pace of construction and quality of work, the Lopez couple confirmed it made the right choice in commissioning Holcim HUB.

“Hindi kami napagod at nahirapan sa paghanap at pagbili ng materyales. Once a week lang ako bumisita kasi andito na sila, and every time binibigyan nila ako ng update sa completion ng project. Very responsive at attentive din ang mga tao nila. Kung meron akong gustong ipabago, madali silang kausapin at nagagawa kaagad,” Loida said.

“Siguro mahirap kung ako ang nag-supervise ng construction. Stressful daw talaga sabi ng mga kakilala ko na nagpagawa na ng
bahay. Hindi ko ma-imagine kung ako ang nagbabantay ng project. Sa HUB, relaxed ako,” she added.

You are interested in how Holcim HUB can help you build your dream home? You may visit its website, contact the HUB at (0919) 810 6167 or visit its branches in San Fernando, Angeles, Tarlac, Balanga, Cabanatuan, Dagupan, Baliuag Meycauayan, Marikina, Antipolo, Las Piñas, Imus, Biñan, Lipa, Calamba, Batangas and Mindanao Avenue (QC) for a meeting with its Home Advisers.

Holcim HUB
7F Two World Square, McKinley Hill
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Tel: (632) 459 3222

Holcim HUB Builders Center
San Fernando Branch
McArthur Highway, San Agustin, Pampanga
Tel: (045) 860 2236 / 860 2609

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Angeles City Branch
Unit 1-3 Hardicourt Badminton Center
Magalang Road, Sto. Cristo, Angeles City
Tel: (045) 887 2528

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Tarlac City Branch
Zamora Street, San Roque, Tarlac City
Tel: (045) 800 2760

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Balanga City Branch
Capitol Drive, cor. Magsaysay St.,
Balanga City, Bataan
Tel: (047) 300 0273

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Cabanatuan City Branch
Phase II Kapitan Pepe Subd.
cor. Maharlika Highway
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
Tel: (044) 329 0238

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Meycauayan City Branch
McArthur Highway, Bo. Calvario,
Meycauayan, Bulacan
Tel: (044) 913 0051

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Baliuag City Branch
Rizal St. corner La Rosa Santiago
St. San Jose, Baliuag Bulacan
Tel: (044) 766 0139

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Dagupan City Branch
168 McArthur Highway, Caranglaan
District, Dagupan City, Pangasinan
Tel: (075) 529 3640

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Marikina City Branch
Unit 1 & 2 Thaddeus Arcade
Gil Fernando Ave., San Roque,
Marikina City
Tel: (02) 645 6028

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Antipolo City Branch
Unit 2 & 3 of Valera Commercial
#10 L.Sumulong Memorial Circle,
Antipolo City
Tel: (02) 451 2259

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Imus Cavite Branch
Nueno Avenue, Brgy. 1, Poblacion
Imus, Cavite
Tel: (046) 476 0610

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Las Piñas Branch
172 Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona 2, Las Piñas City
Tel: (02) 551 4995

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Don Antonio Branch – soon to open
54 Don Antonio Ave., Brgy Holy Spirit, Quezon City
Tel:

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Mindanao Avenue Branch – soon to open
Old Sauyo Road, Brgy. Talipapa, Mindanao Ave., Quezon City
Tel:

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Batangas City Branch – soon to open
National Highway, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba,
Batangas City
Tel:

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Biñan Laguna Branch
Unit 12 &13 San Antonio,
National Hi Way,
Biñan City
Tel: (02) 985 0613

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Calamba Laguna Branch – soon to open
7059 National Highway,
Brgy, Halang,
Calamba City
Tel:

Holcim HUB Builders Center
Lipa City Branch – soon to open
Commercial Space located at Hotel Gregorio, CM Recto Ave cor Morada Ave, Lipa City, Batangas
Tel: (043) 7026742

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