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Don't Make These 5 Mistakes Building in the Philippines! MUST WATCH!

Our Life In The Philippines

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Building your dream home in the Philippines? In this video, I’m sharing 5 essential tips based on my personal experience and feedback from our community to help you navigate the construction process like a pro. From solar prep to septic secrets, we’re covering the things your contractor might not mention!
📌 What You’ll Learn:
• The Power of Documentation: Why you need to film your build every single day (it’s not just for memories!).
• Future-Proofing for Solar: How to design your roof and electrical today to save thousands on power tomorrow.
• Septic System Must-Haves: Why multi-stage tanks and leech beds are non-negotiable for a clean, functional home.
• The Landlocked Trap: What you MUST know about Right-of-Way before you sign a land contract.
• Electrical Upgrades: Why we chose 2-gauge wire over the standard aluminum to power a modern household.

🕒 Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:31 Tip 1: Video Everything, Everyday (Locating pipes & wires)
5:35 Tip 2: Preparing for Solar (Orientation & Support)
9:00 Tip 3: Building a Better Septic System & Leech Bed
13:30 Tip 4: Avoiding Landlocked Properties (Right-of-Way)
15:50 Tip 5: Why We Upgraded to 2-Gauge Main Wire
18:20 Bonus: Foreigner Land Ownership & Living in the Philippines

🏠 About This Channel:
Join us as we share the realities of living, building, and thriving in the Philippines. Whether you're a local or an expat, we aim to provide honest insights into Filipino culture and the home-building journey.

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#PhilippinesConstruction #BuildingInThePhilippines #ExpatLife #SolarPowerPhilippines #HomeBuildingTips #LivingInThePhilippines

20 Comments

@KuyaJason Creator 6 months ago Pinned

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@richardsmith9187 1 month ago

P600-700k for solar? I paid half that and we run aircon all night. Solar is dirt cheap in the PH.

@curiosity19 1 month ago

Thanks for the tip about keeping separate pipes for the drainage and the septic system 🙏

@diyprodad1019 2 months ago

Hello KuyaJ from the liberalWestern civilization! Lol! These are all great tips. Ima save this video just in case. I never knew About lyching beds. I also thought copper wire was outdated. Happy to hear you found happiness there. If you divorce in America she will take you to the cleaners anyway🤣🤣🤣. I dream to go back home and live a simple life. If you do the math, ain’t no way things will work out here in the near future. But in the end God always provide and He is always good. God bless you always.

@regjones518 2 months ago

How big is the lot you have there ? What province are you in ?

@A-RHINO-IN-THE-PHILIPPINES 2 months ago

great tips.

@smith_69-w 3 months ago

Here is some priceless advice, take it from me, the Philippines is nothing like building in first world countries, its up to you to do the research on every product and its correct application.
For example, Sahara - a waterproofing powder used here in concrete - to work properly it should be first mixed with the cement , you will find it's useless the way they do it here😂 no one ever bothered to read the instructions no doubt 😮
Paint manufactured in the Philippines is particularly low quality, for metal I recommend automotive paint if you want it to last more than a year

@dawienatral7083 3 months ago

My thoughts on waiting for solar ,is thats despite people saying its getting cheaper ,its supply and demand,and watching some one else's you tube cost them over 500000+ that a lot, put in inflation its only going to go up.Thats just my view.

@dawienatral7083 3 months ago

All very Good tips🙂

@RJHINDAcar 3 months ago

Amen Brother! Been coming back and forth since 1983, finally retired and live here permanently! No regrets, prepped for 42 years, originally from Philadelphia, PA, met my wife in Hawaii and she has been my biggest blessing.

@WayneGobrin 4 months ago

Nice house. I would put a lightning rod line on your roof for protection. It's easy to install.

@darrenthomson6315 5 months ago

Another great video mate. Thoroughly enjoy your insight into these matters!! 😎

@aicsusa 5 months ago

Great video thanks for the tips. Couple things to add if you don’t mind. You can own land in the Philippines if it’s willed to you and your wife dies first. That’s the only way. If it is in a corporation you can own 40%. You can own 100% of the house you build. If you are married and didn’t do a prenup do a post nup stating if you separate the property goes to you not her family and it will be sold you get the full purchase price back then split any profit. Everyone there says they will always be together and they why there are so many single moms there. You don’t have to bring your wife back to any location to divorce her you have to be there for a specific amount of time on your own. In Guam it is one day and you can file for divorce if you’re American. You file for divorce and then record it in the Philippine courts once it is complete in your country. If you buy property in your gf’s name you do a 100 year lease so you always have control but it is illegal to lease from your wife so you address it in a pre or post nup. You all say you are together forever and then when it doesn’t work you are screwed or if your wife dies before you her family starts a war for your property. You don’t win in court against a Filipino. So cover your rearends up front to avoid getting screwed without a kiss later.

@ChakibFouad-z5r 5 months ago

🫡

@eatpumkin090 6 months ago

How about a tip on how to convince her to get a lot in the province instead of the city 😂. I didn't like Cebu city, but the outskirts were nice.

@nickbest3581 6 months ago

Good afternoon Kuya Jason..just a kwik Q..your drains in the garden..are they going to a main drain line or is it just a hole in the ground...thanks

@tongpitz27 6 months ago

Hey Jason. How big is your lot area? 😀 very well said tips!

@denzilbrown9057 6 months ago

👍 2 you stay blessed and stress free. Good Tips

@Provocateur3 7 months ago

On Tip #3, do contractors there know how to do a perk (percolation) test on the soil?

@johnpaterson7361 7 months ago

Hi Jason, really like your videos,I'm John and I live in Bohol and love it I'm from Australia been with my wife for 30 years, tried to get her to move over here 20 years ago but she would'nt have a bar of it, we have now been here nearly 3 years. We are building a wellness retreat at Sikatuna 45 mins out of Tugbilaran in a rain forest not that far from the chocolate hills. We want to build our house near the retreat butt closer to the ocean and watching your tips showed me you can always learn more. I am a little fortuninate I was a boilermaker maker back in Aus then got into the building game and was doing renos and extensions I built 4 houses for myself so we don't need a contractor here. Where are you located. Our daughter and her fiance are here with us doing this project together. Check out "Bridget and Josh. Building in the Philippines"