Building a dream home is not a task many would take on lightly, and even the most determined self-builders can be caught off guard by just how much they need to consider
before starting their project. Before embarking on their journey, people often have a strong vision of how they want their home to look once it is completed. However, it’s important to channel this vision and enthusiasm into a clear plan of action, making the self-build journey as smooth as possible.

A crucial first step on any self-build journey is making sure to be as educated as possible about the project at hand. Luckily, there are many outlets available, such as the National Self-Build & Renovation Centre and the Right to Build taskforce, that offers specialist advice and guidance for potential self-builders.

Finding a plot

The first step on the self-build journey is deciding exactly where you want to live, and as with any home purchase, location is everything. Deciding where to settle is difficult, especially with many councils rejecting self-build plots in idyllic areas. It’s for this reason that self-build developments appeal to those who may not have experience with organising standalone planning permission or who are looking for a simpler alternative. Specialist self-build developments have the additional allure of having readily available facilities and much of the land has also already been deemed suitable to build on.

Setting a budget

Working with professionals to ensure that estimated costs are as accurate as possible, early in the process, is incredibly important for the creation of a realistic budget. This means conducting thorough research and planning accordingly. For example, many self-builders may be shocked to discover that glazing can take up as much as ten per cent of the overall budget.

Additional unexpected costs can come from external factors beyond your control. For instance, disruption in supply chains can cause unexpected spikes in material costs, meaning prices can fluctuate dramatically. Therefore, it’s essential to secure materials as soon as possible after receiving a quote you are happy with.

Maintaining control of the budget also means ensuring expectations remain realistic. It can be tempting to try and make the dream house with no expense spared as many self-builders have longer home ownership visions than people who go down the traditional homebuying route. In many cases, the effort and passion put into a self-build project mean that the finished property has real personal and sentimental value. Even if this is the case, it’s still important to keep a realistic and objective grip on budgets to ensure that the finished product is exactly as you’d hoped before funds run dry.

Sourcing materials

Building materials and insulation may not be the most glamorous purchases of a self-build project, however, it’s vital to make sure that the right materials are included on specifications, from the outset. Investing in quality materials is key to avoiding making costly remedial repairs in the future.

Structural changes are more difficult to change at a later date, whereas cosmetic features, such as décor and furniture, can be upgraded more easily. For example, allocating a significant budget towards high-quality insulation may seem like a big upfront commitment, however, choosing to upgrade at a later date would be much more costly and disruptive than changing the carpets or furniture.

Hiring a project manager or self-managing?

One misconception which deters many self-builders is the belief that building your own home is almost akin to a full-time job.

While self-managing may not be an option for people who have a young family and/or major time commitments, there are companies or freelance project managers that can manage the whole project for a set fee. Not only does this free up your time, but it can also alleviate some of the stress that comes with a self-build project and help to plan budgets more easily. However, project management fees should be taken into consideration and factored into the budget during planning.

It’s important to note that self-managing the build does have its advantages, including the freedom to choose more adventurous or sustainable methods of construction or materials not commonly used. If you decide to self-manage your project, you should be confident at the outset that you have the skills, patience, and time to make your project a success. Even though a home isn’t built in a day, and a huge amount of effort goes into every self-build, the result of a stunning, bespoke property is absolutely worth it.

Harvey Fremlin, managing director of the National Self-Build & Renovation Centre Swindon and Gemma Davis, customer experience director of Graven Hill