Another idea; having a house built

[Broch]

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.

Sorry, where is the evidence of kit-built homes depreciating? I understood they followed house pricing in general depending on location and quality. There's certainly a couple around here that have gone up in value - admittedly, they are on the 'more exotic' side of design.

 

[GreyCat]

Budget is very important. When we started I saw a rule of thumb calculation that it's between £1000 and £2000 per square metre of ground area for 2 stories when building to get to second fit. (Probably more like £1500- £2500 psm now the way materials have gone up in price). That feels about right.

I worked to a budget and had a contingency. We're into the contingency, as we "found" a bunch of stuff (not unexpected which is why we had a meaty contingency allowance).

You need to know what you want, because that's how you make the most of the available budget.

Log cabins: great idea in principle, but.... Building Regs. Even if the insulation values work (highly likely if from Norway) you will need to sort water, sewerage and power. Plus a foundation.

Talk to planners if you're thinking of doing that, and look at what has been permitted in the area.

GC

 

[Chris]

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.

I resent the implication. For example, I can start a message and I can damn well finish it, no matter what you migh

 

[grainweevil]

Don't know whether things have improved in recent years, but it used to be that mortgage providers would be extremely reluctant to flat out refusing to lend on wooden houses, so selling on in the future might be a potential stumbling block to consider.

It also occurs to me, if this government's ambitious plan for house building materialises even a little bit, materials for more conventional building are quite likely to rocket in price too.

Not to pile in on naysayers to the nest box ambitions, Tengu, but I'd hate to see you find yourself in a pickle.

 

[TLM]

A wooden building in a moist climate (or in condensing conditions) has to be built right and has to be lived in right. On the other hand there are 600 year old wooden churches in Norway.

 

[Broch]

Don't know whether things have improved in recent years, but it used to be that mortgage providers would be extremely reluctant to flat out refusing to lend on wooden houses, so selling on in the future might be a potential stumbling block to consider.

It also occurs to me, if this government's ambitious plan for house building materialises even a little bit, materials for more conventional building are quite likely to rocket in price too.

Not to pile in on naysayers to the nest box ambitions, Tengu, but I'd hate to see you find yourself in a pickle.

I live in a wooden house - albeit 370+ years old; the problem wasn't getting a mortgage (plenty of banks offered us one), it was getting insurance. Only the NFU would touch a wooden beam, wooden clad, building.

 

[Paul_B]

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!)

Just skip the end so you don't get a positive feel good end factor and are left with thee overbudget, stressful and marriage destroying middle of the project in you memory after watching the programme.

 

[gra_farmer]

As I have already said in this thread, I am in the process of a house build now...have just gotten a quote for a new roof @£72,000 without supplying roof lights or fittings them, so it will be close to £100,000 just for the roof with VAT