Diaspora construction
Build a house in Kenya from abroad
Distance is a project-management problem, not a reason to accept less control. Here is exactly how we run a build for an owner who isn't in the country.
The real problem
The risk isn't building — it's not being able to see it
Almost everything that goes wrong on a diaspora build comes back to the same thing: money released for work that was never verified.
Progress described over the phone rather than shown. Variations agreed on site and priced afterwards. A specification quietly substituted for something cheaper, discovered on a visit eighteen months later. None of these require dishonesty — they just require nobody independent checking.
The answer is not a promise to be trustworthy. It is a process where you can see the work, the costs are measured against a document you hold, and payment follows verified progress. That is what the rest of this page sets out.
How we address it
What building from abroad should include
Transparency you can audit
A measured bill of quantities, not a lump sum. You see what each element costs, what has been certified for payment, and why any variation is being claimed — from wherever you are.
Oversight without being there
Scheduled photo and video updates from site, plus video walkthroughs at agreed stages. You should be able to see the work, not just be told about it.
Protection against the obvious risks
Stage-verified progress before money is released, qualified engineers supervising against the specification, and a documented record of what was built.
A conversation, not a contact form
Start with a video call across whatever time zone you are in. Scope, plot and budget discussed directly with an engineer before anything is committed.
The process
From first call to handover
- Step 01
Video consultation
A call at a time that works where you live. We discuss the plot, the brief and a realistic budget.
- Step 02
Design & measured cost
Drawings and a bill of quantities you can review line by line, with time to take advice.
- Step 03
Approvals
County submission prepared and handled on your behalf.
- Step 04
Construction with reporting
Regular photo and video updates, and walkthroughs at agreed stages.
- Step 05
Stage-verified payment
Money follows certified progress, not a calendar.
- Step 06
Documented handover
A full record of what was built, and the documentation to go with it.
Where our overseas clients build
These suburbs see the most diaspora investment, and each page covers what building there specifically involves.
Questions
What overseas clients ask
How do I know the work is actually being done?
Scheduled photo and video updates, video walkthroughs at agreed stages, and payment tied to verified progress rather than to dates. You should never be asked to release money for work you have not seen.
Can I appoint someone independent to check the work?
Yes, and we would encourage it on a larger build. Where you want genuinely independent oversight of our construction work we will support you appointing a separate party rather than discouraging it.
How are payments structured?
Against certified stages measured from the bill of quantities. Each valuation shows what has been completed and what it is worth, so a payment request is something you can check rather than accept on trust.
What if I want to change something mid-build?
Changes are measured and priced against the bill before they proceed, so you approve the cost in advance. Unpriced variations agreed verbally on site are how remote builds overrun.
Do you work with buyers who haven't bought land yet?
Yes. A feasibility study before purchase is one of the most useful things we do for overseas clients — it checks that what you intend to build is actually achievable on the plot you are considering.
Start the conversation
Tell us what you're planning
Send the details and we'll arrange a video call at a time that works where you are.