Are You A Home Buyer or A Home Builder?

Do you find it more convenient to buy a ready-made home? Or are you excited by the idea of embarking on the process of creating your dream house from scratch? Answer these questions to see whether you’re a builder or a buyer.

IMAGE Pexels

1. A plan for your dream house is:

a. In the clouds.
b. In my laptop computer, floor plans, elevations, Pinterest pins, and all.
c. All over HGTV shows and the Real Living website. 

2. How much of a design freak are you?

a. I want every single detail followed.
b. I can make compromises.
c. I don’t care. To be able to have my own place is big enough.

3. When faced with a home construction emergency, your initial reaction is:

a. A major outburst.
b. A deep breath and then steady problem solving.
c. Edginess, but, hey, it’s my problem, I’ll do something about it.

IMAGE Unsplash

4. When you are having a room renovated, you:

a. Practically camp out in the area.
b. I don’t get involved. Bahala na the carpenters, wala akong alam diyan.
c. Check the work often, asking questions and making sure that labor and materials are in place.

5. Do you know any contractors who can build your home for you?

a. I know someone.
b. No, I don’t know anyone.
c. My brother is an engineer and he knows some contractors—or he's a contractor himself.

6. How many times a week are you willing to visit the construction site?

a. Every day if I have to.
b. Two to three times a week.
c. I’m super busy, so once if I can.

IMAGE Dairy Darilag

7. How do you feel about paying for a ready-made home for convenience?

a. I don’t agree with it; it’s too high a price.
b. I’m not really for it.
c. I think it’s perfectly fine!

8. What do you think about canvassing the prices of construction materials and then buying the items yourself?

a. I don’t have time for that.
b. Fine with me.
c. Yehey, shopping!

Check your answers and add up the scores, then figure out whether you should build or buy your new home.

1. a) 1     b) 5     c) 3
2. a) 5     b) 3     c) 1
3. a) 1     b) 5     c) 3
4. a) 5     b) 1     c) 3
5. a) 3     b) 1     c) 5
6. a) 5     b) 3     c) 1
7. a) 5     b) 3     c) 1
8. a) 1     b) 3     c) 5

31-40 POINTS

You are a builder. It helps a lot that you are interested in construction and even find it exciting. You have what it takes to be on top of the situation. You are patient and can tackle tedious tasks. Just don’t overdo it as you have the makings of an obsessive home builder. Trust others to help you, like your architect or contractor. You can’t do it alone.

20-29 POINTS

You will do fine if you decide to build. A little detachment will do your sanity good. A reliable architect and contractor are vital to help you achieve your vision.

19 AND BELOW

You would really rather buy a ready-made or a ready-for-occupancy (RFO) home. You choose convenience, and time is valuable to you. Design and construction do not hold any interest for you.

This article originally appeared as "He Says, 'Buy!' She Says, 'Build!'" in the June 2004 issue of Real Living Magazine.