Lets admit it, housing in Nairobi has slowly become by far one of the most expensive affairs in this city, compounded by problems like unemployment, poor sewage disposal, sanitation , transport and many others. The numbers seem to have a finger on the city's pulse but since survival does not stop at the first hint of hard life, we live, we reinvent and device ways to exist.
Here are some smart tips to consider when looking for a house in Nairobi.Budget
Nairobi, the city under the sun, has slowly earned its title from the expensive taste that many of its residents have. So the question of budget will always arise when you are house-hunting. With housing options that cut across the full financial spectrum from small single room to pent-houses on the 7th floor your choice is completely dependent on your pocket size.
For the average Nairobian earning minimum wage, houses ranging from Ksh. 4000-Ksh 20000 continue to be the favorite options in the city's housing circles. With these houses spread far in different parts of the city, it would be wrong to give areas with easy and cheap low cost housing. It depends on how badly you want to live in that particular area.
Availability of Water
Having lived in Nairobi, the issue of water scarcity is nothing new. Water tracks laden with water tanks on their backs as they move from place to place looking to deliver water to willing buyers at a cost is no new phenomenon. To be on the safe side, it feels like a good idea to ensure that you have piped water that is in consistent supply to your house. Thank us later.
Proximity to The road
When hunting for a house, it is imperative that you consider the fact that you will need to walk to the stage each morning. The distance from the stage to your house should not be too long that it warrants the need to employ last mile means of transport say a motorcycle or a tuktuk in the interest of saving money. This "last mile" as famously known should be as short as possible especially if your modus-operandi is coming home late or early mornings.
Proximity to Work
Proximity to work is only a factor owing to the traffic situation in Nairobi, judging from the daily commute most Nairobians make to work daily, the time and the costs involved. There is need to live closer to your place of work in the interest of saving on cash that can be used to aid another situation especially since most people's budgets are already spread thin by the current economic situation.
Size of The House
With different size houses in the offing, what to choose depends on that your ideal size and needs.
Which becks the question of how much household articles you own. For a young person with only a bed and a few clothes a bed sitter would do fine but for older family people with many articles of furniture, and a family bigger spaces would be more ideal.
Security and Convenience
Lets not go into details, but there is a reason Nairobi was nicknamed Nairobbery. That being said, it is imperative that you consider your safety when looking to move to a new place. Not all of Nairobi is bad on the crime index, but some areas rank higher on crime rating compared to others.
Convenience on the other hand circles around the level of comfort that you will have when you move to your new place, for example, will you have enough hanging lines? Or will you have to wait for your neighbour to clean his clothes first? Is there enough parking? Or will your neighbour wake you up at 6am so you can make way for him to reverse out of the compound?
Now you can go forth and find that house you've always wanted. Thank us later!
