We Chose the Wrong Contractor. Lost Money. Big Headache.

When Professor Lawrence Lee and his family started building their dream home, they trusted their contractor partly because he was a friend's cousin. But familiarity was not enough to protect them from delays, unexpected expenses, unfinished work, construction problems, and mounting stress. Their original construction budget was around ₱15 million. By the end of the experience, their total spending had gone over ₱30 million. In this episode of BuildProof Stories, Monique and Architect Alex sit down with Professor Lawrence inside his completed home to uncover what went wrong, what they did right, and what every Filipino homeowner can learn from their experience. They discuss: • Why familiarity should never replace proper contractor verification • The risks of signing a contractor-written agreement without legal review • How design changes can affect your budget, timeline, and existing plans • Why photos and online updates are not enough • The importance of regularly inspecting your construction site • The warning signs homeowners should never ignore • How to protect yourself before handing over your savings BuildProof Stories features real homeowners, real construction experiences, and honest lessons that can help protect Filipino families before and during their build. Do you have a successful or difficult home construction experience you want to share? Connect with BuildProof PH. Learn more: https://buildproof.ph/ #BuildProofStories #BuildProofPH #HomeConstructionPH