Our Head of Building Surveying & Architecture, Tony Saffery, takes a look at the things to consider when building your own home, from budget to making sure you have a house that could be sold on the open market.

Why self-build?

With pressure on house-building and prices rising, self-build is often seen as an alternative to the mainstream housing market. In fact, self-build homes now make up more than a quarter of all new detached homes in the UK.

Around 10,000 self-build homes are built every year, with an average spend of just over £260,000. With the average cost of a detached house in the UK coming in at £347,000 in 2013, self-build could mean massive savings.

And there’s a lot to like about it, from being involved in the design to the satisfaction of building your own home. You have the ability to control your own destiny and produce the house that suits your specific needs.

Self-builders tend to be those aiming to create something that reflects their personality, skills or surroundings. We see a lot of people building log cabins in woodlands or using their engineering skills to produce eco-homes.

Things to consider

There are a number of factors you need to consider when starting on this journey, from the reality behind the amount of work it takes, to knowing your limits and when to hire in a sub-contractor.

The more knowledge you have, the more you are going to get out of it. We’ve seen a drop in the DIY market, which suggests that a lot of people out there don’t have the basic skills to complete a lot of on-site tasks.  If you go in as a total novice, then you are going to end up paying pretty much the same as if you hired someone to build it for you.

One of the biggest surprises people have is how much they go over budget by. Anyone who has seen Grand Designs knows there will come a point when they say ‘the original budget is out the window’.

We can help you to work out your budget. We have working knowledge of the market costs along with regular market changes. There can be significant fluctuations in prices for building materials, which first time builders often don’t take into account. We can help budget for such changes. We will also check your figures and that what you are building is good value for money.

There are also other costs not related to the actual building of the property that you need to consider such as the cost of renting while you build.

Building

While you might have visions of laying bricks and installing lights yourself, the reality can be very different.  There are a number of areas for which, unless you are a qualified tradesman, you will need to employ a specialist.

Statutory authorities like the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority will need to be informed and consulted over getting your property connected. You will also need a Gas Safe engineer and a qualified and registered electrician. Check out sites like the Electrical Contractors Association and the Gas Safe Register for these.

You will also need to hire various pieces of equipment and people to operate them, as well as ensuring they can access your property.

Then there’s the finish of the property. A great plaster job, neat edging and well-fitted lights and doors add to a property’s value. If you’re doing this yourself, you might not get that professional feel. You’ll also need to consider on-site health and safety laws and insurance during the build.  We can talk you through what your own skills cover and for which areas you might need to bring someone in.

Know the laws

Planning legislation is key as it can often directly influence the size and design of your home. Speak with your local planning body and see what their views are on whether the site you have chosen is suitable for your design and if it has access to sewerage, electrics and gas mains. Sustainable and eco-friendly  features can help you get your project through the planning system faster.

One of the main areas that tend to be an issue with self-build is the warranty. You have to produce a property that can be sold on the open market. Without a warranty, that is an incredibly difficult thing to do.

There are a number of places that will offer a guarantee after the project is finished, but the house will have to be up to Building Regulations.  These cover a number of areas from structural and fire safety to sound, ventilation, sanitation, hot water and water efficiency.  The National House Building Council runs a Solo scheme, aimed at self-building. The CRL also provide a Self-Build Warranty. The alternative option is an architect’s certificate.