Cost of a new build in northern ireland

polpoo

This all makes perfect sense as these are all easily quantified elements of work. Just make sure all your incoming services and underground are included in the main tender.
Windows and doors are another item that can be taken out off the main contract and tendered to others for the best price. Make sure you allow for builders attendences though.

A.L.D.A

Goodmaa

Makes sense.

Make sure that the standard of work on the contract for the shell is properly monitored, and is of a good standard. If it is not the following trades will have a harder time and that will cost you.

If you take your time there will be a lot less pressure, don't forget insurance, Health and safety responsibilities, services in and drainage out.

I would put all the work associated with providing incoming services into the site, onto the main shell contract. That contract should include, any excavation and changes in level, removal of surplus material from site, retention of topsoil, foundations, walls, roof structure, roofing, leadwork, concrete subfloor, first floor structure, the base for any driveways. Think about including all drainage.

Generally the main contractor has labourers who clear up after the trades. It is important that someone does this each day.

If the site is in the city, skips can be problematic. You really don't want a skip full of wood and cardboard sitting about. Suggest stipulating that kitchen suppliers etc. include for removing their own packaging from site.

Security on site can be increasingly problematic as you approach completion. Also check all deliveries as they arive, don't sign off what you have not checked. Agree working hours with the trades, when they start and finish, when they have breaks and for how long. You will need to know if they will not be there on any particular day as that could in turn cause someone else delay and cost you.

Best of luck, it will be character forming!

goodmaa

Thank you for your advice.

Can I ask do you think taken account of the current housing market is this a bad time to be considering to build a house if you have a house to sell??

It doesn't look like things are going to improve that much in the next few years and I would imagine as time goes on so the cost to build will likely increase.

This is a family home we are hoping to build and I would like the kids (12 and 15) to be able to enjoy some time before 'fleeing the nest' which they might not do anyway!!

Your thoughts would be appreciated!!

Pythagorous

This is a great reference thread thanks to Paul, Polpoo, ALDA and other useful commentators.

It seems that building your own house will likely cost around £75/sq ft and if you are getting a quote below £55/sq ft you should probably be asking questions! I have been doing a bit of research and came across the following eco-home/passive house providers (http://www.2020architects.co.uk/eco_home.pdf & http://www.viking-house.co.uk) who claim to be able to build for below £40/sq ft (although this doesn't include everything which would probably birng the cost up by another £10-£20/sq ft). Does anyone here have any experience of eco/passive housebuilders and can comment on how these drastic savings can be achieved?

A.L.D.A

Pythagorous wrote: »

This is a great reference thread thanks to Paul, Polpoo, ALDA and other useful commentators.

It seems that building your own house will likely cost around £75/sq ft and if you are getting a quote below £55/sq ft you should probably be asking questions! I have been doing a bit of research and came across the following eco-home/passive house providers (http://www.2020architects.co.uk/eco_home.pdf & http://www.viking-house.co.uk) who claim to be able to build for below £40/sq ft (although this doesn't include everything which would probably birng the cost up by another £10-£20/sq ft). Does anyone here have any experience of eco/passive housebuilders and can comment on how these drastic savings can be achieved?

It is good value, just over £45/ sq ft turnkey, but basic square box. You would need to add on site works and connection charges. The amounts allowed for kitchens etc are basic.

I have recently been quoted £45/ sq. ft by an established contractor, indeed run by a Quantity Surveyor, so he should know what he is quoting. However figures as low as this really do worry me.

The idea behind passive housing is to minimize energy losses and maximize passive energy gains. You need high levels of insulation, controlled ventilation etc. etc. It is not exactly rocket science, anyone with a bit of sense can do it. However I would have thought, to do properly, you need first to consider the site its constraints, and its orientation.

motorguy

I think a lot of these £45-per-sq-foot builders are making their money on the inevitable changes / extras / non contracted work that will inevitably need done.

mofopants

we are just waiting on our planning permission to come through and will be looking for prices for our house soon. We are heading to the self build show next weekend and bringing our plans along and going to see about some prices. Our house is pretty standard - approx 2000 sq ft georgian style house with a sun room, so will be interesting to see what prices we get.

ALDA - would you mind sending me a PM with the name of your builder if you don't want to post it up here so i can enquire about a price from them.

A.L.D.A

mofopants wrote: »

we are just waiting on our planning permission to come through and will be looking for prices for our house soon. We are heading to the self build show next weekend and bringing our plans along and going to see about some prices. Our house is pretty standard - approx 2000 sq ft georgian style house with a sun room, so will be interesting to see what prices we get.

ALDA - would you mind sending me a PM with the name of your builder if you don't want to post it up here so i can enquire about a price from them.

Will send a note. Take note about ensuring that you know exactly what they have priced for etc. Also you need to agree, the contract, when they are paid, who insures, what retentions, the defects period etc.

A.L.D.A

pgilc1 wrote: »

I think a lot of these £45-per-sq-foot builders are making their money on the inevitable changes / extras / non contracted work that will inevitably need done.

Indeed and they can and will try! Good tender documents needed. Some houses are being completed in the £45 - £50 range. Nothing fancy, but I think rock bottom pricing.

What really worries me is the increased possibility of bankruptcy which can be a costly mess to get out of. I cannot over emphasis the importance of only paying for work done.

CL

We finished our new build 2 years ago and had an accountant do the Self-build VAT return. She was very reasonable and just recently did one for another friend of mine. PM me if you want details.

There were a lot of things we didn't even realise you could claim for, so it was worth getting it done as it saved us a few quid.