Self-build: what kind of house could I build for £1m?

[ProfessionalPirate]

DH and I have always dreamed of doing a self-build, and a plot has come onto the market that has got us interested. It already has a very run-down bungalow on it, so we’d be looking at knocking that down and starting again.

After land purchase our build budget would be around £1m. But I’m struggling to work out if that would be enough to build the sort of house we want. We’ve contacted an architect who we’ve worked with before for his opinion, but I know it’s going to be a difficult question to answer without actually going through the planning process and talking to a QS! So I’m wondering if anyone here who has been involved in a self build recently could share their experience with me?

Our minimum requirements would be 5 bed, 3 bath, dressing room. Large kitchen/diner/living. Separate sitting room. Playroom. Office. Plus landscaping / driveway. We favour fairly traditional- looking stone houses with modern touches. In the north of England, in case that makes a difference.

We don’t have a spec from you OP!!
we’ve finally dragged from you that there are services to the site and access isn’t an issue. You want stone and a certain number of beds/baths.

that’s it!!

it could be 1800sqft or 7000sq ft. Structure, clad in stone or built from stone? Etc etc

Have a cellar, they are great for storage and lovely and cool in these hot summers.

Yes, because it’s your money and your spec. There is a lot more detail to the finish and you can’t walk away from it at the end of your working day.

I refer you to my OP. I asked for posters’ own experiences on projects vaguely similar to my own. Hoping to open up a general discusssion. At no point have I asked for an estimate on a specific house in my head. I couldn’t even give you a spec beyond what I suggested in my OP because at this stage it is completely flexible.

I’m grateful to the posters that have given useful advice - especially the ones suggesting oak frame construction companies, something I will definitely look into.

“Vaguely similar”

honestly

But does picking out kitchens and flooring require a huge amount of clarity and comprehension? I feel like it would be a relaxing break from my day job if nothing else!

Although I must correct you, I really poured a lot of myself into the office build. Yes, it not what I would spec for a domestic house, but it was really important for me to get it right. It’s a completely passive building and very modern. Not just a bog-standard office block.

Look, I thought mumsnet was the right place to come for a bit of a chat about things and some advice. I’ve got people to go to if and when I want to get down to specifics. There’s really no need for this.

You haven’t even done a self-build and clearly have no idea what it’s about so why on earth are you taking over my thread like this? If you haven’t anything useful to add then just scroll on by.

Good luck Op!!!

Maybe don’t contact the builder you started another thread about… the one who abandoned you mid project because communications between the two of you had collapsed!

Wow you must have a lot of time on your hands to go wading through my history like that! Are you sure that was even me can you link?! I don’t remember posting.

Anyway, rest assured it’s not the same one. I did have to lose a builder but that was a good 10 years ago now. We have since built a great team around us.

I just paste your name and looked at past threads you had started

I was curious

You struck me as an interesting character

and sure enough…

Didn’t you know? QSs are just a waste of time. They don’t know anything. They certainly don’t laugh uproariously when watching Grand Designs and people refuse to hire a QS, set a ridiculous budget, then whine about it.

I suspect OP is hoping a friendly QS will offer their services through Mumsnet free of charge. I’m a QS. Shame I’m not friendly.

You want to do my day job (which you have absolutely no experience in) as a relaxing break from your day job?

I love the idea that I come across as an interesting character even though I know you don’t mean it as a compliment 😂 irl I think I’m rather ordinary sadly

The property came onto the market yesterday and we haven’t even viewed it yet other than a drive-by and knowing the area. I know I’m not the most proactive person in the world but give me a chance!

Oh! I didn’t realise QSs could give me a figure for a vague house in my head with no plans! Now that now they can I will definitely get onto that. Could you recommend any?

Your day job is picking out kitchens and bathrooms with no customer to liaise with? Sounds great. Want to swap?

Please let me know the appropriate sequence of events I should be adhering to. We have have a viewing booked for the weekend. In your previous posts you’ve been badgering me to get all the professionals I can on board. What more information do you imagine a formal viewing will add? It’s not like we are considering keeping the house.

Good luck to you too in finding a life 😘