Converting Barn. Advice please

[dms1]

DH & I are in the process of buying a small barn. It’s currently covered in Ivy and brambles. Downstairs will be a utility room & bootroom, upstairs will be a bedroom with en-suite. We’ll be building a house which will be attached to the barn by a glass corridor. If you’ve ever built a house or converted a barn, I would love to know what you wish you had done differently, or what advice you would have. Have never built a house before.

Have you done much DIY? Do you have an architect and a project manager or are you managing it?

@Geneticsbunny we have an architect and the plans are passed. We’ve employed a builder. We’re currently waiting on architect finalising the working plans which he will do this week. After that we will ask a quantity surveyor to cost it all up. We’ve bought the barn and plot with savings, but we’ll need a mortgage to fund the build. We’re at the very early stages. Complicating factor is we are waiting on consent to discharge for the septic tank.

Have a look at the Kevin McCloud Grand Designs on C4 app. Some amazing barn conversion projects on there recently that will give inspiration.

I think I remember him saying that the house has to be habitable before a mortgage is granted but I’m sure you have factored that in already.

@Sminty2Thank you, will check out the app.

Try the Ecology Building society. Hopefully the house will meet their requirements.

I haven't built a house but I have projected managed and done a lot of the work on three live in renovations. If you haven't done it before I would hugely recommend getting a project manager. It will probably save you money in the long run. If you watch grand designs it will demonstrate why.