How much does it cost to build your own house

cheggers
cheggers Posts: 685 Forumite
in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
How much would it cost to have my own 3/4 bed detached house built for me, as I might be able to get some land cheap.

I just wondered what the costs were for building & designing your own home.

Comments

  • zag2me
    zag2me Posts: 695 Forumite
    Photogenic First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I think the calcuation goes something like 1/3rd for the land 1/3rd for the build and 1/3rd profit or something, but someone might be able to correct me :)

    All depends on the house you want to build but I imagine it would be around 100k but remember you dont pay vat on materials if you self-build.

    Its the cost of the land that is expensive in the uk, so you might be onto a winner there. Plots in my area go for over 100,000.
    Save save save!!
  • shykins
    shykins Posts: 2,758 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    if you want to self build by buying a frame then check out potton they give standard frame prices and i belive they will give u a guide price for the total build or even undertake it themselves

    to build from scratch i am not sure but as the previous poster said it depends on the house and style.. what sort of footings you need etc etc

    one thing i would say having done the same thing myself with my ex hub (guess one of the reasons he is an ex) is dont do it if u dont have enough money it will drag on for years and years and put a tremendous strain on any relationships

    good luck
    When you know better you do better

    Atkins since 2004 - 8 stone loss maintaining
  • bruce2110
    bruce2110 Posts: 147 Forumite
    if you are intrested in self build, the builder we do a lot of work have there own company that builds timber frames houses for them, you can (as a member of public buy these as well) get these at a very reasonable prices.

    prices start from around 18k+vat, all you need to do is provide the base for the house to sit on which i'm sure they'll advise you as well

    try there web site - www.space4.co.uk

    worth a look to give an idea of whats out there!

    Bruce2110
  • adr0ck
    adr0ck Posts: 2,374 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    buy this book

    house builders bible

    it most certainly is!!!!!

    link to amazon

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0954867408/qid=1138146165/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-7927199-4956627
  • adr0ck
    adr0ck Posts: 2,374 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    my own personal choice for a timber frame co is deeside timberframe

    see below link for house designs and costings

    http://www.deesidetimberframe.co.uk/
  • mcclim
    mcclim Posts: 280 Forumite
    WHen I was building my house, I was told to consider £40 per square foot for the cost of the build of the house, and it wasn't far of the mark, but then i had a LOT of ground work todo to the site before I could start.

    The house builders bible is a good start as well and really helpful, if you do a search for self build in google there are loads of sites that give information.

    If you are building your house as timberframe make sure your architect submits plans for a timberframe house and not a block one, as mine did, as I now have to change my planning permission......

    If you are based in Northern Ireland I would try timberframe homes for your timberframe, as they were really helpful with mine :)
  • tik33
    tik33 Posts: 61 Forumite
    Good question!

    It would be an easy answer to say 'how long is a piece of the proverbial string' etc. This slightly misses the point though - the building industry in my opinion seems to purposefully obfuscate the pricing of construction. I find this one of the main frustrations in the industry. Where else can you sit and look at a catalogue and not have any prices! I want to see a door handle, say, and know exactly how much it'll cost. Then I can decide whether I want door handle A at £5 or door handle B at £50 - and there really is that much difference.

    So, I agree with one post - get the housebuilder's bible - brilliantly written and very simple. You might be able to borrow it from the library - but if you're seriously considering going for this - then you should own one. It's an expensive book at £18 or so, but as a % of the cost of the house it's peanuts!!!

    To give you an idea of what I think - the basic house should cost you around £100 per square foot in SE England - fitted. More extravagant grand designs style - between £150 and £200 per square foot.

    One important thing that I should mention that you don't talk about - does the land have planning??? In my experience there is no such thing as 'cheap land' - if it doesn't have planning permission - be VERY careful...

    Good luck!
  • ianian99
    ianian99 Posts: 3,095 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    its about 2/3rd's of the slae value
  • adr0ck
    adr0ck Posts: 2,374 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    this is a link to house builders bible update.....some useful info to be found


    http://www.ovolopublishing.co.uk/housebuildersupdate/
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