31 Jan 2017

Five steps to self-build success

If you want a trouble-free route to creating your own bespoke home, follow these essential tips to ensure success, says BuildStore’s Rachel Pyne.

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1) Keep on top of your budget

As well as being cheaper than purchasing a new developer-built home, self-building makes good financial sense in terms of return on investment – if you are careful you could expect your new house to be worth 20% more than it costs to construct.

How much money you have to spend will have a bearing on your entire scheme; it will determine the scale and style of your new house as well as the quality of the finishes. Once you have found a plot you’d like to invest in, take your ideas to a local estate agent and check what the maximum value of similar houses in the area is. This will give you an idea of what your finished property will be worth, based on their knowledge of local ‘ceiling prices’. If you subtract the land cost from this sum, you’ll be left with the maximum amount you should spend on your new home.

In general, the biggest individual cost will be attributed to the plot, which will account for 30-40% of your total outlay. A further 20% will be spent on materials, and around 25% of your budget will go towards labour. The rest of the figure will be dedicated to professional fees, insurance and utilities.

2) Create the perfect design

One of the reasons that so many people want to self-build is in order to create a home that suits their aesthetic tastes and lifestyle. In order to achieve this, you need to come up with a detailed design plan – but where should you start? Make a list of elements that you like, such as interior layouts, types of exterior finish, glazing configurations and overall style – are your tastes more contemporary or traditional?

These ideas can be used to form part of your project brief, which is an essential for creating an overall design plan with your architect or home supplier. In addition to your likes and dislikes, this should include your requirements, such as number of bedrooms, preference for open-plan or cosy spaces and so on.

To get the most from your project it is important that you employ someone who is professionally trained and qualified. Equally as crucial is finding someone that’s like-minded and understands what your tastes and desires are. Your chosen professional will be able to add creativity and flair to your plan and come up with a scheme that suits your dreams and budget.

3) Take planning seriously

Before you start your construction, you need to have all the relevant planning permissions in place. If you don’t have consent prior to starting on site, you could face an array of legal charges – so this is something that you need to take very seriously.

To prepare yourself, gather as much information as possible about local and Government policy and go to your council for some preliminary guidance before submitting a formal application. Lay out your ideas, take a site plan, have examples of materials to hand in order to share as much information as possible on your scheme, as well as details of how it will suit the setting. Having a discussion at this stage about what the planners do and don’t like will aid your formal application process.

4) Organise the works

If you want to finish your project on time and on budget, your self-build has to be well-organised. You can be hands-on at every stage or employ professionals to deliver the scheme for you – choose whatever suits you, but be realistic about what you can and can’t achieve.

Supervising your own build is a major commitment, which means it’s vital to understand exactly what’s involved. A good project manager (PM) will draw up a schedule of works and costings, contract trades, schedule orders, take delivery of materials, pay subcontractors, liaise with inspectors and ensure all aspects of the build run smoothly.

A PM will coordinate what and who is on site, and when – which is key to a well-organised scheme. All trades must arrive when they are supposed to, in the correct order and have the right supplies to complete their particular task. Poor scheduling costs money: materials that arrive early can get damaged if left on site; late deliveries will leave workmen unable to progress – and you’ll have to foot the bill for any wasted time.

5) Protect your project

Site insurance should be in place as soon as you purchase a plot; from the moment you own it, you become liable for any injuries on site, so by law you must have adequate protection. What’s more, if you are taking out a mortgage to fund your development, your lender will not release funds without proof of site insurance being in place.

A favourite of many self-builders (thanks to how comprehensive it is) is BuildCare Site and Renovation Insurance, developed by BuildStore, which provides cover for all the essential aspects of your site. This includes public and employer’s liability; building works and materials; plant tools and equipment; site huts and temporary buildings (including caravans); existing structure (on conversions, renovations and extensions); personal accident cover and legal expenses. You can choose from a 12, 18 or 24-month policy based on how long you think your project will take.

In addition to site insurance, you need to protect your home against any structural defects by purchasing a structural warranty that is accepted by mortgage providers, is comprehensive and is recognised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders – such as the BuildCare 10 Year Structural Warranty.

Any significant structural defects that aren’t immediately apparent will usually appear in the first two years after moving in to your home. This type of warranty will give you peace of mind that your home is protected should the worst happen due to any structural defect.

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