Self-built homes

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I'm curious as to many things about home building. I'm 20 so know this isn't something that's feasible in the next few years or anything for me! But I would like to know from those who are/have/want to self build:

When did you realise you wanted too build your own home?
How long did it take you to raise appropriate funds to do it?
Can you raise the money for it whilst having a family, one parent working and the other not?

Basically, am I hoping for a miracle that I'd be able to build my own house within 15-20 years when I'm planning on being a stay-at-home home-edding parent when I do get around to having kids and have no career plans for neither me or my partner yet?

I have done basic research for an idea of how much I would need to raise but obviously that's at a dead end as the economy could be completely different 10 years from now and no where really has a good outline of costs for various factors of self-build properties. I figure starting to plan it now would make it so much easier in years to come and prevent me having a disappointing outcome!

There are quite a few self build magazines in the newsagents and they usually give cost tables in the back pages. Also an excellent book (I have it on my shelf) called the Housebuilder's Bible, which has lots of cost information.

You can get a self build mortgage but would need a down payment like any other - best advice would be to live modestly, save up, gain some construction skills and don't forget your dream.

I worked for a self build organisation for a while, it is murderously hard work but a real alternative way to get on the housing ladder with the way house prices are now, TBH I think you are wise to think about it.

Thank you

Cost tables is pretty much the only thing I need to find to work out how to save and how to plan work/kids/future so I'll definately check one of those mags out and look into the book! I've heard of it actually but wasn't sure about it so I'm glad to have someone recommend it so I have an excuse to buy it I will check my local WH Smiths as I've not seen them elsewhere!

Being honest I seriously doubt that I'd get onto the house market in quicker time anyway and looking for a house that's as eco-friendly as possible (to bring down later costs!) and where I can eventually build a bouldering wall inside would be difficult so I figured that self build was easier! Better to think of it now whilst I have time to plan and make it something worth doing than later when it's too late t build something my future-family could grow up in!

when building anything this rule usually holds true - you can have any two of these three: speed, cheap, quality.

If you want it fast and cheap you need to compromise on quality, if you want fast and quality it will cost more. If you want quality and cheap it will take a long time.

Work out what your priorities are and how much you would do yourself and how much you would have to pay others to do.

Location is going play a big factor in the cost of the site - the building costs will be roughly the same wherever you are, although paying tradesmen will cost more in the south east, and materials will cost more in remote places.

I second the Housebuilders Bible - very comprehensive and reminds your to think about the things most people forget at the planning stages.

by the way - we got our copy of that book from amazon (few years ago now but they probably still stock it).

Ah, good point I'm not fussed on speed, I just want the quality. I'm going to be saving for the next 10-20 years for this so quality is all I'd be after! I could easily rope in my family full of builders and electricians for the labour too

Interesting to know about tradesmen costs, not sure on location as I'm not sure what would be important to me in 10-15 years so I'd look into that later, probably the southern areas of the midlands though

Thank you for the advice, I'm glad to get some actual answers!

We did a self build. It wasnt any cheaper than buying a home, but we got it the way we wanted it.

We intend to beginning our self build dream in the next year. Our first step is buying the right bit of land. We are not planning our first self build as our forever house but plan to use a kit house and move after 5 years or so then DH will start on his dream house which will be a lot bigger and expensive.

When did you realise you wanted too build your own home?
I've always wanted to self build but realised it was a real possibility when I married DH who is in the industry and keen to self build. Our main motivation is that we would like a detached house with a fair bit of land (ideally no neighbors too) but also because DH feels that current new builds are of terrible quality and rather boring.

How long did it take you to raise appropriate funds to do it?
Well it wasn't just to do with cash but were we are in life family, business etc. The last 2 years is when we started to seriously start to plan. Making sure our fiances were in good order and the business was secure and doing well.
Self builds can be done on a modest budget too of around £150-200K.

Can you raise the money for it whilst having a family, one parent working and the other not?
I'm a SAHM (also intend to HE soon) DH runs his own business. I've done most of the research/planning but DH will deal with the actual build.

What we are currently trying to figure out is where we will live during the build.
Currently we have been looking at Log houses I quite like this site www.slcd.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77&products_id=236

We are in Norway, and used this supplier for our house.

Are these log cabins for year round living? Here they are used as summer cottages.

Thanks for that link QS those houses are really lovely, it's given us something to think about.

No all year, although we have considered building a smaller one and using it to live in whilst we build a bigger different sort of house. Then using the log cabin as a holiday rental in the summer.

They can be insulated and fireplaces can be put into them, mind you DH said he'd be pretty worried about having a fire in a wooden house. I imagine norway has much harsher winters than Scotland.

QS some of those houses are lovely

Do you need to raise the whole amount for the build or can you borrow money or something else? That's the bit that gets me, neither me or my OH would ever be in a job that paid enough to save that much

We got a mortgage.
But you need to speak to your bank about getting a mortgage for a self build, as I dont know how it works in the UK, as we are in Norway. It is quite common to build your own home here.

The budgeting and costing it the hardest thing. You need to read the specs closely, and your contract, and find out what the builder is contracted to actually supply. With many such builds you will find that only the most basic things are covered, and to complete it to your desired finnish will cost a lot more.

Like, quoting with vinyl flooring all over the house, and you deciding later you wanted oak floors, etc. Wall paper in bathroom, but then you are shown beautiful tiles. All these extras will add up.

I had a massive spreadsheet! When I decided we wanted beech flooring across the sitting room and kitchens, etc, I had to lower the specs for the bathroom units, and cost down the price for bathroom tiles, to ensure I stayed within the budget.

The worst thing, is when you go over budget, and you cant raise the money required to finnish your build (see, I have learnt a lot from Grand Designs. )

We also have 80% windows on the second floor (which is living space, our house is "upside down" according to British standards) and as we are in the arctic, our heating bills are large, as you can imagine!

But it is lovely. I love the smell of the house, and I love that I have seen it grow from just designs on a page, to a family home.

No advice - am so of anyone able to think of doing it! Just really wanted to chime in and say 'horrah' Throckenholt on the 'good, fast, cheap analogy....just so, so, so true on most aspects of building work

It is a bit difficult to raise money single handedly to build a home but when we decided to build our own home, we put our savings into it and took professional help from the north home gallery to build our dream home.