self build...anyone done it?

theGrinch

I am thinking of self building my next property (the OH wants modern, I like period), so self build could be one route. I have experience in refurbishing, loft and ground extensions on current and previous place.

Simple question, where did you start?

motherofstudents

We thought about doing this and went to a self build exhibition which was really helpful. Looked at various kit houses and who knows, we may go for it at some point.

Sorry I can't be much help but where to start, I would say read up all you can, go on forums (of course), there are magazines - check them out. If possible go to an exhibition as there are so many knowledgeable people who can help. Oh and also look for land. Hope it helps a bit and good luck, you can make it the way you want it.

theGrinch

motherofstudents wrote: »

We thought about doing this and went to a self build exhibition which was really helpful. Looked at various kit houses and who knows, we may go for it at some point.

Sorry I can't be much help but where to start, I would say read up all you can, go on forums (of course), there are magazines - check them out. If possible go to an exhibition as there are so many knowledgeable people who can help. Oh and also look for land. Hope it helps a bit and good luck, you can make it the way you want it.

thanks. its helpful

martinsurrey

Start from the ground up, as in look for land first.

a lot of the design work will be dependent on the size / location / local character of the area you are building in (and so need to satisfy for planning).

However, in order to look for land, you need a draft budget.

UK build costs vary wildly, depending on spec location and ground condition (excavation and piling can be very expensive) but for a bespoke build fromt he ground up (so not including land cost) budget between £700-1,100 per sq meter (of course if you want solid gold taps, the sky is the limit).

Add more for London area and more again for an all in one build manager package.

then add in the land, which could (most likely) be the most expensive part.

sorry it cant be more precise, but as its a bespoke build, its a bespoke cost.

Starbrite

Watch Grand Designs saw a lovely place in France the other day, the walls where made of tyres!

They went for the we going to be self sufficient had solo water heating system and all sorts.

I'd say do lots of reading, even a simple google "how to self build" brings up lots of sites. Find land and think about what you want from your home.

Then look at finding an Architect, buider, Planning permission etc etc

George Clarke shows are good too

Good luck

murphydog999

Finding land is the hard bit, especially land that isn't soooo over-priced - that developers/builders don't want - it's not worth it. The self-build mantra of thirds, i.e. £ = 1/3 land, 1/3 build cost, 1/3 profit, doesn't seem to work nowadays.

Unless you can find someone who is willing to sell off a portion of their back garden, or have family with land, or something to knock down, or if you can find a plot share deal, you could be looking for a while. That said we don't know your budget, or cash limits, so that could change things.

When we went to the Self-build show at the NEC, there were more people in the 'how to find land' lecture than any of the other talks and lots of questions from people who are having problems finding a plot.

Sorry to be negative, but we've been looking for over a year in a pretty wide area of the country, have registered with all the sites and a land agent, and still no luck.

Waldir

A suggestion I once received was to buy an existing (old) house and flatten it, in order to avoid the cost of building fundations.

Maybe others can comment on whether this is a good idea or not...

martinsurrey

Waldir wrote: »

A suggestion I once received was to buy an existing (old) house and flatten it, in order to avoid the cost of building fundations.

Maybe others can comment on whether this is a good idea or not...

Unfortunately this assumes that you are going to replace one footprint with the same one, and that the old foundations satisfy new building regs.

Where I live (Surrey) you pay around £300 per sq ft so £3000 per sqm for existing residential buildings, so buying an old house knocking it down and rebuilding can be done, BUT its crazy expensive.

Buying a small house, knocking it down and building a bigger one is possible, but planning can be a pain (most planners don’t like seeing a quaint cottage replaced with a mock Tudor mansion) , and then there is the cost of demolition, site clearance, moving utilities...

This is why the UK has such a small self build number, getting land is easy, getting permission to build on it is a small miracle.

sparkstertom

Have a look at some websites... some of the best are below:

google: selfbuildportal

Explains the process in a step by step guide and provides some contacts for local builders etc..

The site below provides you with plans for buildings dependant upon your spec... Obviously if you're looking at architect designs... add quite a bit!

google: selfbuildplans

Enjoy!

I'd love to do it... but its taken me 3 years to sell my flat.. and we're looking at a new house now.. Enjoy!
sparks* :j

ps.. can't add links as a newbie!

kingoranks

fantastic contributions from you all, I have been looking for land to buy for six months.its a pain in the .........
Anyone know how to get people to sell the a bit of the garden?

Fuzzyness

knock on their door and ask them. if they've got to live next to you they've got to like you. most people have probably never thought about selling part of their garden so if you dont ask you'll never know.