Self build?

Redbedhead

Anyone done this? What sort of tmescale did it take you from start to finish?

Were you pleased with the end result?

Any tips / websites you can recommend?

We are currently considering in but I want to get a bit more information first.

Thanks

woodkitten

Redbedhead wrote:

Anyone done this? What sort of tmescale did it take you from start to finish?

Were you pleased with the end result?

Any tips / websites you can recommend?

We are currently considering in but I want to get a bit more information first.

Thanks

Yea i did this 14 years ago took 7mths, but it was not finished just able to get moved in and set up a couple of rooms to live in.

Well pleased with the results we built a large 4 bedroom detached house.

TIPS mmmmm well you should go to the library and dig out some self build books, in there you will find stories on how other self builders have gone about it like how to buy the plot- submit plans etc, we did not employ a management company to oversee the work i did that part myself while hubby sorted out the trades people.

You do qualify for all vat that you pay to be paid back via forms to be filled in after your build, my advice with regards to that is to try to get as much done inside and outside because you can only make one application and you will want to claim as much back as you can.
We were not able to complete all the outside walls and driveways etc before our application, as we run out of money and had to fill the forms in and wait for the cheque to come back to carry out more work. We were able to go on a short holiday thanks to the vat return (well well needed i can tell you) + carpet all the house and get the outside sorted too.
GOODLUCK IF YOU DECIDE TO GO AHEAD WELL WORTH IT I CAN TELL YOU
PS IT IS UP FOR SALE (DOWNSIZING)

peterg1965

Put 'self build' into Google, there is loads of information out there. The biggest issue for most self builders is finding the building plot. If you do go ahead you will have the pleasure of building a house to your own specification and also, probably, saving yourself a lot of money compared to the market value of the finished product. For starters try places like Potton Homes, they are one of the largest self build timber frame suppliers and offer lots of support to first timers. Subscribe to Self Build and Renovation magazine to, it is full of advice and information.

Good luck.

vansboy

Magazine Homebuilding & Renovating might be worth getting.

Also on line tickets to https://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk are discounted on line, it's in NEC end of March.

VB

jennifernil

Good advice there from woodkitten. We built our present house 19 years ago. It is timber frame with facing brick outside, 5 bedrooms 280 sq m plus 40 sq m integral double garage. We had the timber frame manufacturers organise most of the work, but also did a lot ourselves....fitted the kitchen, utility etc, installed vanity units in the bathrooms, wired the TV aerial and telephone systems, all the tiling, put up all the light fittings, laid the driveway, landscaped the garden. Some was done before we moved in, the rest afterwards. The initial build took 7 months, the finishing off took 3 years! (mainly the garden)

Drawing up the plans and getting all the consents took almost 6 months. We did the design ourselves then handed it over to the timber frame people to do all the plans and submit them.