Another idea; having a house built

[Tengu]

Looking again at properties for sale in my area.

There arent many, -and most are beyond my budget.

But, one thing there is, is several plots with detailed planning permission.

(inevitably for `4 bed eco home...)

This would be another area of trouble. But I have spent a lot of time looking on the website of the company that built the Scottish Crannog Centre, and they do a lot of these.

In fact, by the looks of the plans, these are their buildings.

so, something to think about. (get stressed over).

 

[Stew]

Can o suggest keeping it simple and just buying somewhere? Low stress in comparison!

 

[C_Claycomb]

I would recommend against you taking on a build project. There is uncertainty, disruption, plenty of chances for confrontations. While ideally the people doing the work will be lovely, honest, hard working...you could also get lazy, manipulative, argumentative, stubborn. I haven't had work done, but a number of friends have and all of them have stories that make my toes curl. The take away is that one has to be on the ball, ready to push back , but to be smart about it. Not allowing oneself to be walked over, but not antagonising needlessly.

 

[Astrochicken]

If you're feeling like a self-build route is the way to get you the style / design / format of house so it really suits exactly your needs, then it may be the right way forward. I'd recommend borrowing a copy of The Housebuilders Bible from your nearest library as some bedtime reading. It won't matter hugely if they don't have the very latest edition - if after reading the first few chapters you aren't put off, then you'll at least have a better idea of what you're taking on and why. An almost certain part is that it will cost you more to build a standard-design self-build house identical to any equivalent already on the market, simply as you won't have economies of scale like the large-scale builders have and you will be pulling any construction team off large-scale building developments (where they can make better money) to do just your one house.

Anything non-standard beyond this run-of-the-mill house design will push the price up and up, and as mentioned this goes alongside the stress, constant compromise with what you'll be allowed to do and the huge amount of time needed to complete the build.

I don't want to be negative about it, as I'd personally love the opportunity myself, but I just don't see it being possible in this country without deep pockets, an experienced and committed house-builder as your partner, a compliant council planning dept, and major personal fortitude to see the project through. It's a shame as we could have so much more innovation and ingenuity in our housing stock rather than the volume of cookie-cutter house-building, but imagination seems to be the first casualty in the industry, possibly as a result of any novel design compromising the bottom line of the builder or being more likely to get rejected by the authorities.

Kudos to anyone who has managed to self-build their home, perhaps anyone on the forum that has will be willing to share their experience?

 

[Stew]

I would recommend against you taking on a build project. There is uncertainty, disruption, plenty of chances for confrontations. While ideally the people doing the work will be lovely, honest, hard working...you could also get lazy, manipulative, argumentative, stubborn. I haven't had work done, but a number of friends have and all of them have stories that make my toes curl. The take away is that one has to be on the ball, ready to push back , but to be smart about it. Not allowing oneself to be walked over, but not antagonising needlessly.

I’ve not had a house build but have managed a number of school build projects. I’m very wary of any contractors that work in my house (or school for that matter!) because I’ve experienced a lot. I wouldn’t be keen to do a build myself.

 

[Paul_B]

My parents old house neighbour bought a plot of land in the same village when he was widowed at a fairly youngish age when empty nested by kids and having retired vbery early due to well paid ex pat work. It came with planning permission and he had a design for the house too. As a high powered manager with experience of running not just one huge mine he actually ended up running pretty much all the mines for his employer in that country. So he had a lot of project experience and project management experience including a lot of man management experience.

End result? He sold the plot on to a builder and decided it was not worth the effort!!

Tengu - I have no doubt you could get through a self build project as I have faith in your abilities, but I do wonder if it is worth the effort. IT is a BIG thing to do and is it really worth it?

BTW I once asked my Dad if he ever fancied a self build. He was a recently retired civil engineer (consultant who worked in many areas but especially focussed a career on large road builds). He said if he had not had a few health issues he might have considered it but not now. I said something about using an architect to do the design and build thing. He was actually indignant and said he would project manage it and was indignant when I asked if he could manage that. He made comment about dealing with multi, multi, multi million pounds in the huighways projects he supervised so a £500k house build would not be an issue. I was not 100% convinced. Dealing with road build contractors is not the same as house build contractors. One is more seriuously run with modern thinking for management. The other is small companies with self employed subbies doing the work.

I like the idea of getting what I want in a self build but as my partner said, you can get good enough already on the house market and if necessary can modify to improve it later. I would rather move into a house that I can live in then make it mine over time with lower levels of pressure.

 

[gra_farmer]

I am building my home right now, it is crazy expensive, takes all my spare time, and stressful.

I am ordering materials, balancing budgets, designing the build, sourcing labour and even doing part of the first fixing, and will be doing the second fix myself.

All while doing a full time job (42 hours per week), balancing being a husband and father, and being the main carer for two unwell parents....

Buy something built unless you want to do all the above

 

[Pattree]

My wife is chair of the village hall committee. The village hall is only next door and easy to supervise. She organised a rebuild and QS’d it herself. She’s quite formidable. By the end the snagging list was still huge. The disabled toilet will never be right, it’s 90 degrees out of plan. We went in holiday and the contractor poured the foundations while she was away. She could have sued but that would go on for ever.
If you are supervising a self build you will need some very tight contracts with a retention in payment. Trouble it that many very plausible trades people won’t agree to those.

I think I’d go for a “fixer-upper.”

I’m useless at diy but I’m living in a “fixer-upper”. OK so it’s taken nearly fifty years and still not entirely finished. All the major work has been done by local contractors whose work I can see before hiring. Some are related to people we know in the village.

It’s going to be stressful anyway. Local folk might be able to tell you enough to anticipate stress levels before your decision.

 

[GreyCat]

You can do a LOT with a "project" fixer upper.

It will likely have water, electric send some form of sewage disposal, and extending/changing an existing property likely to be easier planning wise.

It's how you do it. The footprint of our extended property is similar but there's a lot more space... kept it simple. But inside it is transformed and the new extensions are built to modern standards. And we are getting what we want for how we want to live in it, rather than something with "features" that will help ut sell.

You need to know what you want tho. During the refurbishment we uncovered a huge old fireplace that could have been a feature. But we boxed it back in w8th insulation and board as I decided I prefer to be warm without spending a fortune on fuel..... choices, choices.

Maybe stat with a list of wants, not-wants, why and priority for each. I had a version of that it a big spreadsheet when we were househunting and it really helped both the search and the doing up plans.

GC

 

[Woody girl]

What about a ready built log cabin that you can have with mobile home status. One of those would be in easy reach of your finances, and you'd only need a base built to put it on, plus electrics water and drainage, as you would with any self build anyway. But be mu h cheaper in the long run. Take a look at Norwegian log cabins uk. There are many different models and sizes, and I think you can even make your own specifications to a degree. I've looked at these for myself(dreams) I'd go for a composting loo, solar panels and have a grey water pond system using reeds and willows from permaculture for waste water. Which would also be a wonderful nature area.
Just an idea to consider if you are looking at building. Saves a lot of hassle having a modular ready built home. For me the best bit, is they look like log cabins.

 

[Tengu]

DO NOT TEMPT ME.

The situation is, I need a place in a certain area; but

a) Not much on sale
b) Not much on sale in my budget
c) Stuff in my budget often development land.

Yes?

 

[hughtrimble]

c) Stuff in my budget often development land.

On this bit Tengu, that suggests that your budget can cover the buying of the land, but what about the costs of building your home itself? In addition, in the months/years it will take to build and finish, will you be able to fund your more temporary accommodation in addition to the build costs, given I think you said you'd need to sell up your current home to free-up funds, and you'll also want to be living relatively near the land to be able to manage the project?

 

[Broch]

When we moved to this area 30 years ago we looked at about 28 houses (I still have the map with them marked on). Well over 50% of those were properties in the middle of being done up. They had all run out of money (and I suspect the will) to complete the projects and most of them had split up over the process - i.e. they were having to sell their part-finished properties to pay for the divorce.

Self build and major overhauls are very stressful; it takes a structured, planning, mindset that can continue to the end. Very few people have that, we're mostly 'starters', 'doers', or 'finishers' - but rarely all three.

 

[Stew]

Watch a few grand designs programmes. That’ll put you off. I wonder if anyone has analysed how ma u have finished on time, cost versus budget, divorce rate (at least one that I can think of!)

 

[Tengu]

Im single and incurably so.

 

[Toddy]

Have you considered one of the log chalets ?
They're much used as holiday homes, but they can be very comfortable indeed, and they're sort of a known design and sort of prefabricated.

You'd need to sort out planning permission, the utilities, and access, but after that, the company just builds it up for you.

Eco House Maggie / Special Offer - Log Home Scotland

Price: £ 38,600 (Ex Vat / Ex delivery) The Eco House is designed to minimize your energy bills and Carbon footprint. Its low energy consumption is due to double layer log construction 334mm thick with 150mm cavity for insulation in between twin log walls 2 X 92mm. Coupled with Argon filled gas...

www.loghomescotland.co.uk

 

[Tengu]

As I said, DO NOT TEMPT ME.

I am kind of used to these Tengu Nesting Boxes these days, though it would have to be Scottish Winter proof.

Ideally something that could be extended if I (ever) get the money might be nice.

I really dont need 4 bedrooms (and a gym, and a too big landing like there is on one plan I saw)

 

[Pattree]

Were I on my own and young again (No I do NOT wish for that!!!!!): I like the idea of a cabin. The downside is that they are a depreciating asset like park homes.

 

[Woody girl]

The company I suggested Norwegian log cabins uk, make fully insulated buildings. Take a look at their website, and ask them for some brochures and info. . Realy, if I was in your situation that's exactly the way I'd go.
They come fully kitted out, and make excellent nest boxes.

 

[Tengu]

Were I on my own and young again (No I do NOT wish for that!!!!!): I like the idea of a cabin. The downside is that they are a depreciating asset like park homes.

Thats one of the things I am worried about, depreciation.

Statics are vehicles, not buildings.