Self-build advice needed please

katie1983

I’m looking to buy a larger house in April/May 2014 in the Fife area of Scotland. Just now I run my business from home and I’m looking for a larger house to help expand my business. I would be looking for a 3 bed with a garage and I’m just looking in to what options I have. Budget would be around the £150,000 mark and there are some nice houses in Fife within that sort of budget. I came across some people talking about self-built homes with them saying they can be cheaper. This got me thinking that if I had a self-built home or flat pack home with its own land I could have a small unit built next to it for my business in the future saving me having to move again within a few years or renting a unit.

I don’t have any experience in this so all the work would have to be outsourced. We would be looking for a standard 3 bed with a garage so nothing too fancy like you see on grand designs. Something more ready to go to keep the costs down.

I was just wondering where people started and am I being silly even thinking about it?

What sort of time frame is involved on this sort of house?

I have seen companies like Scottish Self Build and Renovation Centre but not sure where to even begin or if it would be good option to go to them for advice.

Gwhiz

Your hardest part will be find the land.

I am 6 months into my first self build and it took me almost 4 years to find my plot.

You can definitely save money self-building. You can also get a house that's exactly right for you.

If you have the opportunity, I say DO IT!!!

Look here for details on costs: http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/costs/calculator

There are lots of magazines you can buy (Build It, Housebuilding and Renovating etc.) and also a fabulous book called The Housebuilders Bible which will teach you a lot about every aspect of building your own house.

If you have any specific questions, please ask away.

lincroft1710

I don't know what land prices are like in Fife, but £150K doesn't sound a lot to buy a big enough plot for house and business unit, any architect's or planning fees, utility connection costs, housebuild and business unit build.

I'm not saving this is unfeasible but to paraphrase Gwhiz "first find your land".

katie1983

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. Gwhiz what area were you searching that it took 4 years to find a plot? I think we will have an advantage in the area of Fife as it's one of the cheaper areas to buy houses so I would hope that it would be the same to buy a plot for a new home. We would like enough land to have space to build a small unit (around 2000 sq ft max) in the future but for the first few years I could run my business from the new house as it would be larger than what I have just now. The main thing would be to get the house sorted and not worry about a unit for a few years after we had moved in.

As for the house its self this might sound silly and it might not be possible. We would like to pick a house design that had already been done like from a magazine or a flat packed house if possible. Something to make the full job as fast and cost effective as possible. We aren't looking for a house to be designed to our idea's because I'm sure that if we could just pick a pre design we would find one that we liked. I will have a look in to the books and link you provided. Thanks for the advice and any more you may be able to give will help us with our decision whether to build new or buy 2nd hand.

Gwhiz

Hi Katie,

I'm in Poole in Dorset where land is very difficult to get hold of. Hopefully you'll have a much easier time of it where you are.

I wish you luck.

Gary