TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Well I'm nearing the end of the Supra project at the moment, and my thoughts are turning to "what next?" Well I've always fancied building me own house. Has anyone done this before? I guess step one would be to find a plot of land. How would I go about doing this? I mean surely I need to have some kind of plans so that I can see if the plot is going to be big enough, but how do I draw up a plan if I don't know what shape/size the plot of land is????? I guess I need to contact an architect/designer, and get an initial sheme laid out, and then contact an estate agent and get them to find me an appropriate piece of land? What about mortgages? I think some places do purpose mortgages for house builders, and I'm told some will give you portions of the money as you start each stage of the build? Anyway, if anyone has got any advice, then I'd love to hear it. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 You don't do things by half do you Tony? Good luck though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 My dad is an architect and has built a few of his own houses. Mostly he starts with a house already built. Then he knocks that down and start again. Apparently easier to find than a plot sometimes. I could ask him what else applies if you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Built many new houses for other but not myself, finding a plot will be the hardest part but if you are intrested i have one forsale at the min;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Built many new houses for other but not myself, finding a plot will be the hardest part but if you are intrested i have one forsale at the min;) Jamie is right there - especially in Oxfordshire. Plots with PP are like rocking horse pooh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 You don't do things by half do you Tony? Good luck though! Hehe, well if you're going to do something...... My dad is an architect and has built a few of his own houses. Mostly he starts with a house already built. Then he knocks that down and start again. Apparently easier to find than a plot sometimes. I could ask him what else applies if you like? One of the reasons I want to build my own house, is that it's cheaper than buying (although infinitely more hassle!) Buying one and then knocking it down, and then building another seems at first thought, like I would be expensive! But yeah if you could ask him for any tips, I'd much appreciate it. Built many new houses for other but not myself, finding a plot will be the hardest part but if you are intrested i have one forsale at the min;) Really??? Hmmm.... Where abouts? Buckingham? How big? Would I be allowed to build a house on it? How much are you looking for? Probably lots of other questions too..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 Jamie is right there - especially in Oxfordshire. Plots with PP are like rocking horse pooh To be honest, I'm not too bothered about it being in Oxfordshire. Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire as well as OXfordshire are all viable.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 The plot is in the Avenue, farnham common (private rd) I have outline planning at the min, its in now for detailed planning of a 3000sqft house, 5 bedrooms double garage which i will have in the next couple weeks. Ill be selling itro of £450,000, Simlar new 5 bed house just sold in the rd for £1.3 million so there is a few quid profit to be made its just not worth doing for myself as a builder. with the intrest id pay for the money id have to borrow plus the capital gains id have to pay it would kill my profits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 That's a little bit too grand for me! I just want to build my own small 2/3 bed type thing above a decent sized garage/workshop. To be honest I don't even know if it's at all viable. Just something I've always fancied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 That's a little bit too grand for me! I just want to build my own small 2/3 bed type thing above a decent sized garage/workshop. To be honest I don't even know if it's at all viable. Just something I've always fancied. That's why it might be better to find something that is already built and just do significant changes to it instead of finding a plot to build on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 I did hear of a plot for sale recently in denham for 250k with plannning for 4 bed house, i dont know if its still available though. Its very hard to find anything in this area, there is a lot of people out there that have full time jobs just looking for plots. Better to find something you can renovate;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Ian Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Tony i bet you will do a cracking good "walk through" the build with pictures too ........your walk throughs are Fantastic a legend my friend you have saved me ( and other too i expect ) lots of skinned knuckles and head scratching etc by knowing how to do it before we started Good luck if you decide to do a self build Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 Cheers, glad they have been of help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 I did hear of a plot for sale recently in denham for 250k with plannning for 4 bed house, i dont know if its still available though. Its very hard to find anything in this area, there is a lot of people out there that have full time jobs just looking for plots. Better to find something you can renovate;) Are the plots really as rare as that? I'd have thought that there were lots of self builds going on in the counties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 i built a pink house for my grandaughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 I've still not finished installing the extra 6 kitchen units after 12 months. I'd stand no chance with a house! I guess it'd need to be something fairly close to be able to keep popping to and fro'? I'd never have the spare time I don't think. What an acheivement though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 I keep watching grand designs and the like where they whip those places up in like 9 months or so. Well some of them anyway, others take 2-3 years. I think I'm just one of those people that has to be doing something...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave S Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Hi Tony we went to the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon http://www.buildstore.co.uk/mykindofhome/ we found it quite informative...but we're new to the building game... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I plan to do this one day, but as has been said finding a decent plot with PP is a nightmare. I would be looking for one with an existing structure. The only thing stopping me is that when I do build a house I want land for ponies and I can't afford even to buy the plot of that size at the mo so I'm biding my time.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkvj Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 http://www.timberlogcabins.co.uk/houses.htm if you fancy this sort of house. its really cheap actually, but the quality is amazing. you can buy it as a DIY or have someone building it for you. its HUGE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 If you go for an existing house on a plot, I reckon the small cost of demolition will far outweigh the huge cost of getting gas, water, leccy, phones and drainage from the road into a greenfield plot. Unless you're going totally Grand Designs and recycling all water and burning your own poo in a stove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Tony My old man used to be in scrap metal, but he always bought run down houses and did them up and sold them at a profit. I must have lived in 20+ houses growing up. Then about 8 years ago my Dad did his first self-build. We bought an old house with subsidence, knocked it down and rebuilt in the same spot. When my Dad realised how much it cost to do all this compared to how much our new house was worth - a change of career for my Dad followed. My Dad (now with me) have been building houses since. Mainly we sub-contract the bulk of the work out. I can´t comment on the costs of land ´down south´ but as already said land with PP is worth a lot more than land without. So long as you have an architect who knows what he´s doing you can buy land without PP at a considerable discount and apply for PP. You will also need to join something like the NHBC. They inspect the house you build at certain stages similar to that of the Building Inspector from the local council. Once you have finished they guarantee your house for 10 years (structually anyhow) - you will need an NHBC certificate for a mortgage. You can join them for just a ´Solo Build´ I believe if you only intend to do a self build once. You will save a lot of money doing a self build but no doubt it´s a lot of hassle. Find a book called ´The Housebuilders Bible´ or something like that - think that was written for people like you wanting to try a self build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBDJ Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Friend of mine at work here is doing this at the moment; acquired a huge plot of land with an old barn on. IIRC the plot didn't have PP when he bought it, but he managed to get it later on. I've not been round recently, but I understand it's coming along well - and he seems to be enjoying it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 As opposed to the builder who bought a plot of land nearby, Ingleby Arncliffe, obtained outline permission for a 4 bed house, then went straight ahead and built it without getting full permission. After 3-4 years of appealing he's now got to tear it down, or presumably go to jail while the council tear it down and send him the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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