Pre-Construction Self-Assessment Checklist
Seven Hard Questions to Answer Before You Build
Before you commit to any construction project, sit down with these seven questions. Your answers will tell you if you’re actually ready to build or about to make an expensive mistake.
Grab a notebook or use your laptop. Be brutally honest. No one’s watching! Your future self will thank you for this.
✅ Download Pre-Construction Checklist PDF
QUESTION 1
Why are you really building this house right now?
Write your answer here:
After writing your answer, check the box that best reflects it:
☐ Ready: “We need more space for our growing family” | “We’ve outgrown our current home” | “Our rental costs keep rising, and building makes more financial sense than continuing to rent”
☐ Not ready: “People keep asking when we’ll start” | “To prove I made it as an OFW” | “My siblings already have houses” | “Everyone expects it”
QUESTION 2
Are you building what you need, or what you want people to see?
☐ Ready: “We’ve clearly defined what our family needs” | “Our design matches our actual lifestyle and budget” | “We can explain why each feature is necessary for us” | “This serves our family’s needs first”
☐ Not ready: “We want something impressive to show others” | “We’re designing based on what neighbors will think” | “We can’t explain why we need certain features, we just want them” | “It’s more about status than function”
QUESTION 3
Can you really afford this, or are you banking on ‘bahala na’?
☐ Ready: “Yes, we can afford this without borrowing more mid-construction” | “We have a buffer for emergencies” | “We know which parts are essential and which can wait if money gets tight” | "We're building within our means”
☐ Not ready: “We’ll figure it out as we go” | “Loan is pending but we’ll start anyway” | “We’ll just send more money if needed” | “Bahala na kung kulang”
QUESTION 4
What exactly do you want built, and can you explain it clearly?
Be specific—square meters, number of rooms, floors.
☐ Ready: “60 square meters, two bedrooms, one bathroom, ground floor only” | “First floor: living room, kitchen, one bedroom, one bathroom. Second floor: two bedrooms, one bathroom” | Specific measurements and room counts
☐ Not ready: “Something nice” | “I’ll know it when I see it” | “Basta maganda” | “Yung parang sa picture” | “Kahit ano, basta matatapos”
QUESTION 5
How are you paying for this, and have you done the math?
Funding source:
Total amount available:
20% emergency buffer set aside: Yes ☐ No ☐
Amount you’re actually budgeting for construction:
✅ Sample READY Answer
Funding source: Combined family savings (₱800K) + Pag-IBIG loan (₱600K)
Total amount available: ₱1,400,000
20% emergency buffer set aside: Yes ☑ ₱280,000 protected
Amount budgeting for construction: ₱1,120,000
☐ Ready: All blanks filled in with exact numbers | Emergency buffer is protected (YES box checked) | Construction budget = total funds minus 20% | Math verified multiple times
☐ Not ready: Estimates only, no exact numbers | No emergency buffer (NO box checked, or left blank) | Planning to spend 100% of available funds | “We’ll borrow more if needed”
QUESTION 6
Who’s really in charge of this project?
Need help identifying the roles? Use the Dispatch guide: Separate the Roles
Person planning/designing (architect/engineer):
Contractor executing the work:
Person handling money/purchasing materials:
Person inspecting/verifying work:
If managing from abroad, on-site verification person:
Can they physically check the site?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Important Notes:
Some overlap is normal (e.g., designer may also supervise, construction company may handle materials + labor)
Solo contractor/independent builder: If the work is labor-only, you or a family member can handle materials purchasing separately. This naturally creates role separation.
Construction company: Usually handles both materials and labor as a package. You pay them, they manage purchasing. Harder to separate these roles.
The KEY risk: One person controlling design, money, and verification with zero oversight. These roles should be filled by DIFFERENT people. If the same person appears in multiple roles, you’re giving them too much control.
If roles overlap, make sure you have at least one independent person checking the work.
☐ Ready: Clear name and verified credentials | Separation of roles (designer ≠ contractor ≠ money manager ≠ inspector) | On-site verification person identified if you’re abroad | Multiple people checking each other
☐ Not ready: “I’ll handle everything myself from ___ (location abroad)” | One person controls planning, money, and oversight | “I trust him so walang problema” | No on-site verification while abroad
QUESTION 7
What will you do when something goes wrong?
Need help with this? Use the Dispatch guide: The “Something Went Wrong” Plan
My pause-payment triggers:
My walk-away conditions:
My maximum acceptable loss (amount OR time):
☐ Ready: Specific triggers written (e.g., “no updates for one week,” “inflated costs I can verify”) | Clear walk-away point (e.g., “₱50K loss maximum,” “two lies = stop”) | Concrete limits, not vague feelings
☐ Not ready: “I’ll deal with it when it happens” | “I trust it won’t go wrong” | No written triggers or limits | “Bahala na kung may problema”
Scoring Your Readiness
Count how many READY boxes you checked:
6-7 Ready boxes: You’ve done your homework. You understand the risks and have concrete plans in place.
4-5 Ready boxes: You’re on the right track, but there are gaps that could become problems.
2-3 Ready boxes: You’re not ready. Building now means you’ll likely lose money or face serious delays.
0-1 Ready boxes: Stop. You’re walking straight into a scam or financial disaster.
What to Do Next
If you scored 6-7: Print this checklist or save it to your device. You’ll need this when making decisions during construction or when emotions run high. Review it monthly. Your answers should stay consistent.
If you scored 4-5: Don’t start building yet. Identify which specific questions got "Not Ready" answers, and work on those areas. You're close. Don't rush these final steps.
If you scored 2-3: Be grateful you caught this now instead of when construction's already started. You have significant gaps to address. Go to Related Resources below for step-by-step guidance. This will take real work, but it's worth it.
If you scored 0-1: The best and right thing to do is to stop. Save this checklist for later. Come back when you can honestly check at least five Ready boxes. Building a home isn’t a race.
Fellow homeowners, no matter your score, save your answers. If you scored 6 or below, retake this assessment as you work on each gap. Track your progress (version 2, version 3...) until you reach 7 Ready boxes.
Don’t let this checklist sit in a file. Start fixing any gaps today.
Related Resources
Need help taking action on your gaps? Follow the 10 Actionable Steps from the Dispatch: The Questions I Should Have Answered Before Building a Home.
Want to see how another homeowner answered these questions? Read the full interview between Kapwa Homeowner and Inspector Milo in the same Dispatch.
Three major red flags that mean stop: Pre-Construction Red Flags Alert
Disclaimer: Kapwa Homeowner is not a licensed engineer, architect, or construction professional. These questions and steps are based on personal experience and research, not professional expertise. Always consult licensed professionals for your specific construction project.