Building a house

Our house was a self build. Not by us though. It came on a lorry from Sweden along with the men to assemble it. Though I believe local builders were involved with the foundations and the brickwork. Lots of these self builds around now.

If I have a building plot in my back garden, I too will build a bungalow on it but I will choose the modular method of construction.

I have seen it in one episode of Grand Design: The Street. This retired couple choose the modular method for their bungalow where their manufacturer in the UK built their bungalow in the factory, down to the kitchen, flooring and tiling.

Other self builders on the same street took up to 3 years to build their houses, theirs took only 4 months from order to moving in. Their bungalow is lovely.

Good luck with your build. You may have to build to current building regs in order to get your plans passed but you can properly insulate afterwards as we have done.

Self build shows provide different ideas - such as a tank under the house to collect rainwater for flushing toilets. Special deals on triple glazing vs double glazing.
Many builders have fixed ideas on what is possible and not always the best idea. Not always the best items but determined by his training
Attending a show provides you with more information and sometimes the better ideas.
We bought a house built by an independent builder and many ideas have been acquired from his father - so not current technology. You would not believe how difficult it was just to get him to change the outside light to include a motion sensor rather than a dusk till dawn .

The time scale may be correct but of course the weather affects each stage

kjmpde

I would suggest attending a self build show - the NEC or similar.
Yes costs may rise but that is because people remember the cost of wood but forget the cost of and screws. Remember VAT should be reclaimable and there are items that can be bought second hand.
I envy you and wish you luck

If the architect has designed and had the plans costed, then he is likely to have used a quantity surveyor to assess the cost, so I think we can be confident he will not have budgetted for for wood but not nuts and screws.

As I understand it, Grammeretto is not intending to build the house herself, but employ a building company, so I would expect the estimate of a year to build to be reasonable as well.

My instinct is if you get planning permission and don’t go ahead you’ll be storing up regrets which none of us need to do knowingly.

I do understand the reservations your family and others might have but I know if we had the opportunity (we’re 77 and 82) we’d want to do it.

Go slowly, the inevitably slow speed of pp will undoubtedly ensure that, perhaps research other options (you may see something you fall in love with) , do your sums and ensure the architect is planning your house not his. If all the pieces fall into place and your instinct is you want to try then of course you could do it. Equally it’s OK to change your mind and say no, a lovely idea but not for me now.

Grammaretto I wish you well and all the luck in the world wherever your new home may be.

Good luck Grammaretto, I think it sounds a brilliant project.
My only problem would be to make sure, as far as possible, that you can get on well with the people who buy your house. (Are they likely to be doung lots of building works?) They will be your nearest neighbours!

^The architect suggests it could take a year. Is he being optimistic?
^

I dont know. He may be a bit?

The people I have watched do it all seem to be very committed.
Working on the build just about every day they can. Literally.

I may not go through with it. If I don't get planning permission I shall give up and buy a normal house crazyH
I won't appeal. I'm not that brave/committed.

I would suggest attending a self build show - the NEC or similar.
Yes costs may rise but that is because people remember the cost of wood but forget the cost of and screws. Remember VAT should be reclaimable and there are items that can be bought second hand.
I envy you and wish you luck

Thanks Aveline 😅🤣😂

I’m with your DC on this, but good luck - you are an extremely clever and brave woman !

Have you ever watched 'Grand Designs'? Building usually takes twice as long as planned and costs double the price plus after two years in a caravan on-site the wife always ends up pregnant!

Oh no TwiceAsNice I am sorry. That sounds very stressful.

If I hadn't got the site I wouldn't have attempted this Madmeg and I'm not sure DH would have wanted it either. He died nearly 5 years ago and loved our house. It's too big for me on my own and there are some small advantages in only having to please yourself.

We have renovated part of a large house we all live in together. Was going to knock down and build again but in green belt area and planning took 2 YEARS, and everything went up in that time mortgages, bills etc ad we couldn’t afford exactly what we’d planned so made many compromises.

Be very careful it’s been very traumatising for us and we still haven’t finished

I wish I had done that in my younger days (maybe 10 years ago) and might still consider it as DH is becoming disabled, but building sites nearby cost a fortune and are not close to amenities.

If you go ahead, I hope you will post progress reports on here!

The very, very best of luck.

I know what you mean cc. The first design they came up with was very architechty paying lip service to my concerns. It's now been adapted and is better but the odd shaped site dictates the design to some extent.

He and I are on the same page for maximum sunlight and max insulation. The building takes up ⅓ of the site so there's still plenty of garden, which I like. It's on one floor which will be a change from 3.

If my DH could cope with the stress, I would love to do this (71). I tried to persuade him when the bungalow next-door to us came up for sale but he wouldn’t contemplate it! I’ve had plans drawn up for a fairly redesign of our 1980’s home though - they’ve been on hold for a couple of years but I’m determined to do it now and have the pleasure of living in it for sometime yet.
We will have to move from here eventually - while the house itself could be made practical, the space around it takes too much looking after but I want to enjoy it as much if I can for as long as I can.
I suspect that you’re also interested in design and prepared to invest in developing somewhere that’s personal, individual and practical. And willing to put up with the stresses and challenges involved.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it sounds like yours - I think if you don’t do it, you’ll always regret it. Our DC do worry, just as we worry about our parents as they get older. But that shouldn’t stop us doing things! We need to be an inspiration to our DC. That’s what they’ll have left after we’re gone.

My aunt had a house built in the bottom of the garden of her large house using a Scandinavian kit house and it was fabulous. She lived in it very comfortably until her death. The finish on it was superb and she had loads of choices.

I would double your money and the time frame. Then you won’t be surprised, may be in sooner and have some change!

Sorry, mistypes in my post but I think you can work out what I mean!

My father had two houses built from scratch, also undertook a barn conversion and a major house renovation when I was young. I remember it being very exciting, the major problems he had were with architects wanting to build their idea of a house, not my parents.
I'd say just make sure that you are very firm about what you want, make sure that any changes the architect suggests are for good practical reasons rather than simply their design preferences.
I'd love to have a house built, but am not sure that I we the energy any longer. We have done three major house renovations over the years, one very recently, and I personally think that renovations are more difficult to get right (and more expensive overall) than building from scratch.

Cossy

Sounds amazing, go for it, and very good luck.

Be as involved as you can, speak up if there’s things you don’t like or would like further quotes because some things are more expensive than you’d like.

Please keep us posted

I echo all the positive comments Grammaretto and wish you all the very best in your new venture. How exciting! 💐

My architect has experience with contractors and doesn't put the jobs out to tender. He knows tried and tested builders whom he approaches to quote for each project.
It will be expensive and I occasionally feel like a SKI parent. spending the kids' inheritance 😲

We did it, and now my son is doing it. We lived in rented accommodation with 2 babies but his children are adults and have 'left home' so he's living in a caravan at the site. This is proving quite a good idea apart from the noise, as he can help with unskilled tasks, and make decisions quickly.
One snag everyone seems to find is the builder going off to another job for a week or two, its very frustrating.
We both suffered from planning officers putting up trivial unnecessary objections which hold things up, such as where to put the fuse-box, or even contradicting each other.
We built our house in 10 months but our son's is going to take longer than a year I think.
Its well worth it in the end.