Self Building – A starters guide to building a house

Self building will guarantee you a bespoke property that ticks all your boxes, both in terms of the design and lifestyle it offers. Taking a project from concept to completion may feel daunting, but over 13,000 of us do it every year and there’s no reason you can’t be one of them!

So where to start when building your own house from scratch? From finding land to planning permission and self build costs to structural systems, here we’ve set out the 10 steps to follow to build a new home that meets your needs.

If you want to build a new house, you first need a suitable plot of land, and identifying the perfect site can be a hurdle. Land for one-off properties is not always obvious to find, but there are lots of self-build opportunities out there and plenty of online resources to help you make a success of your dream home building project.

It’s essential to have the right funding in place to successfully see your project through to completion; running out of money partway through can easily be avoided with careful planning.

There are dedicated self build mortgage products widely available through brokers, these are different to standard mortgages as funds are released at points throughout your project rather than in one lump sum.

If your equity is in your current home, it is possible to borrow the money you need before selling , but make sure to always talk things through with a specialist advisor to assess what’s best for your individual circumstances.

Determine how much to allocate for each stage of the project. Be realistic. Set aside a 15-20% contingency for unexpected costs, such as additional foundation requirements.

Employ a designer who understands your vision and is on board with your requirements and budget. Look for a professional who’s completed similar projects to yours and go on personal recommendations, if possible. Remember that not every firm will be right for each individual homeowner, so look around.

What you can build will be at least partly dictated by what your local council will allow, so early contact with the planners is the best way to figure out if your idea is viable. Getting pre-application advice will give you a good feel for whether your plans will pass the formal application, and maybe suggest what changes will give it a better chance of success. However, remember that this is just advice, and doesn’t guarantee permission, if a new case officer comes in before you submit your planning application, for example, you could be back to square one.

Self building doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself - laying bricks, plastering walls and suchlike. In fact, surprisingly few bespoke homes are built this way. Instead, most people team up with specialist companies that take the stress out of some of the key elements of the project.

No doubt you want to get started on site as soon as possible, but before any work can begin, it’s crucial to get all the right permissions in place and the appropriate contracts finalised to make sure that your project is protected.

We’re talking about planning permission; building control approval; any special reports and consents, such as bat surveys, tree protection etc; warranties and insurance; health and safety; and formal contracts with your contractors and trades. Always double check everything’s in place so you can start your project with no worries.

Groundworks are the first on-site progress for your house to start physically taking shape. That means clearing vegetation, perhaps levelling the plot and marking up the spots for the foundations. Getting the locations accurate is essential for your planning permission and the structural shell – especially if you’re using timber frame or another method that requires precise dimensions.

The type of soil will have an impact on what kind of foundations are suitable and how deep they need to be. Your site appraisal should have confirmed these details, but sometimes it’s not possible to know exactly what you’re working with until you start digging into the ground.

Seeing your new home starting to rise up from the ground is an incredibly exciting time. The way it comes together will depend on what build system you’ve chosen. Brick and block is the traditional and familiar route, but off site manufactured or pre fabricated are hugely popular with self builders.

After the main structural shell of your house is in place, you need to get it wind and watertight. That means fitting windows and external doors, making sure the roofing is sealed etc. Now’s the time to address airtightness, too.

Then comes the first fix stage – this includes the infrastructure work (electrics, plumbing and suchlike) up to and including the plasterboarding. The second fix involves everything afterwards: kitchens, flooring, skirting, doors, painting, etc.

With building work complete and the interiors finished, you’ll be ready (and probably raring) to move into your dream home. There are a few practicalities to consider, such as obtaining the completion certificate from building control, ensuring any small issues are dealt with as part of the snagging process and making that all-important VAT reclaim. But now you’ve reached the end of your self build journey, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labours.