At the last count, just over 25,000 people
chose to build their own homes last year – a number
that is rising by about 5% each year.
Self
build is no longer the preserve of rich people and
people who are prepared to camp on a building site for two
years – it is now becoming
a very practical way of creating your dream home at an affordable
price – typically 25% - 30% less cost
than a home that is already built.
If
you are thinking about taking the self-build route –
maybe you've got your eye on a dream plot of land –
but you aren't sure how you could finance it all, start here.
We've
put together a beginner's guide to all things
self build so that you can get an understanding of the whole
process and decide whether it's for you or not.
Self
Build – Step by Step
There's
no denying that a self-build project is going to be a little
more stressful than the average house purchase –
after all, you will be building a house from the ground up,
rather than just moving into one that already exists.
However,
it doesn't have to be as bad as some people make it seem.
Do your research and planning beforehand and you should end
up with your dream home and a healthy saving over the cost
of buying "used".
Step
1: Find Out What Your Finances Will Allow
Before
you start hunting for a suitable plot of land, it is usually
a good idea to have a chat with a mortgage adviser to make
sure you have a clear understanding of how much you can borrow
and what you will have to do to get it.
Step
2: Find & Buy A Plot Of Land
This
can be easier said than done these days – decent plots
of land are hard to find and are often instantly snapped up
by developers.
This
makes it all the more important that you have a self-build
mortgage agreement in principle beforehand –
that way you will be able to buy a plot quickly when you do
find one.
Remember:
To get a mortgage offer, your plot must have at least outline
planning permission.
A
survey is also a good idea to check for the existence of old
mine shafts, quarries and other environmental hazards that
could drastically increase the cost of building on the land.
It's
best to spend a little on doing your research than to be caught
out later…
Step
3: Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Planning Officers
Assuming
you have found and purchased a suitable piece of land with
outline planning permission, you will now have to engage an
architect to draw up plans for your home before your mortgage
offer can be finalised.
This
is going to be your home, so make sure you get involved. Note
down all your ideas – rough sketches, torn out magazine
pictures, references to similar local properties – it
will all help your architect produce your dream home.
Once
this has been done, a quantity surveyor will use the plans
to work out what materials will be required to build the house,
and how much they will cost.
You
should now have enough information to finalise your mortgage
application – and to submit your plans for detailed
planning approval.
This can be a slow process, so try to make sure you get your
application right first time – any changes will probably
mean going to the back of the queue and starting again.
Step
4: Start Building
You're
finally there! Your self-build mortgage has been approved,
the local council planning department are happy with your
plans, and you've got a builder in place to start the build.
Good
luck – whether you are project managing the build yourself,
hiring a professional or even doing some of the work yourself,
the next few months will probably be quite stressful.
Make
sure you keep the end goal in sight and don't forget the need
to keep the local planning authorities and building inspectorate
informed of any changes you need to make
to your plans.
Failure
to do this can mean that they will refuse you building regulations
approval at the end of the build, leaving you with a home
you can't live in and can't sell!
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Please
note, this information is NOT necessarily RELEVANT in Scotland
