One in three of us are interested in the thought of building our own home. Life’s biggest financial asset built from our own thoughts, ideas and designs. With around 11,000 of us taking the plunge and reaping the benefits every year, the opportunity is one that must be considered strategically. But what’s actually involved?
Step one – Sourcing land
Location is by far, the most important aspect to consider, more so if you are looking to reside in the property rather than to sell on. Consider;
- The lands surroundings
- Neighbouring property
- Access
- Restrictions
- Boundaries
How much should I pay for land?
Land prices, as expected will vary over the country but as a self-build you should expect to pay between 30-40% of the end value on the land plot itself.
30% – Expect to pay around this figure if you are employing contractors to manage the build on your behalf.
40% – You can allow a purchase price of up to this figure if you are completing the build yourself as you will not have to factor in any contractor / management cost
Step two – Planning Permission
The land plot already has planning permission
The figures above are based on a land plot having existing planning permission. Although this means plans have already been drawn by an architect, you will be able to interact with the local council re any re-submissions due to design changes.
Example
Plot 5, lying to the south of, Comfort Road, Mylor Bridge, TR11 5SE – Freehold plot. Planning permission granted, for a detached family home, in an idilic southern Cornish village.
The land doesn’t have planning permission
If a plot has no planning permission then you must consider not only the cost to obtain planning but the timeframe it could take as well as the risk involved if planning is rejected. If you are unsure on the likelihood of obtaining planning permission for a plot you should seek guidance from the local council and/or an architect.
How long does planning permission take?
When applying for planning the decision should take no longer than sixteen weeks from the point of application. You can withdraw an application at any time — so if you think you are going to get a refusal, you can withdraw it at any time up to the day itself, and resubmit free of charge. You can submit an infinite number of planning applic¬ations on any one site — and choose which one to use. As long as it is current, you don’t have to use the most recent.
Step Three – The Build
Whether you are carrying out the build yourself our hiring a contractor to complete the build for you the stages are the same. The timeline for the build can differ significantly and is dependant on many factors but typically it takes between 6-12months from beginning to end.
3 Tops tips to consider during the build phase
- Shop smart. While it may seem obvious to go straight to a builder’s merchants you should always shop around from the best price. Ask for trade prices but always know the average cost of what you’re buying before you call. Merchants often reduce cost prices if they know you are shopping around or you mention a competitor.
- Hire a project manager if you do not have the experience yourself. Tasks that are not so obvious, like keeping the site tidy, stacking and storing materials, site security, taking in deliveries and temporary weatherproofing all fall on the project manager. If you do choose to manage the project yourself be aware that you are committing to a lot of work, stress and daily site visits.
- Keep track. Yes, by now you’ll have a budget but make sure you are keeping track of the spend in spreadsheets. Keeping a diary can also help, day to day of the tasks carried out and who was on site. This may prove convenient moving forward of any unusual events that may occur or be of significance.
House end goal
If you are not looking to reside within the new build but decide to sell the property you must consider the cost of CIL – Community Infrastructure Levy. This is a levy that local authorities can choose to charge on new developments in their area. The cost of this charge will dependant on the size of the development, the location and will differ from council to council.
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