What is Self-build?

According to Self-build Market Research by Homebuilding & Renovating, 13,860 self-builds took place in 2010, making it the single largest housebuilder in the country and responsible for 1 in 3 of all detached new homes.

Self-building, of course, does not necessarily mean picking up bricks and physically getting stuck in on site. In fact, less than 10% of all homebuilding projects involve the owner being significantly involved with the actual building process.

Instead, most self-builders will be involved in the creative side of the process – formulating a design brief for the house designer, selecting a builder, and choosing the internal and external fixtures and fittings. It is important to note also that it is the self-builder’s responsibility to locate and purchase their plot, as well as decide on the range of professionals they wish to hire. The key to the self-build process is that it is flexible, and so regardless of whether you are very busy or have plenty of time on your hands, your involvement in the project can be tailored entirely around your own lifestyle. 

Along with the potential cost savings involved in building your own home, it is the unique opportunity to design a house that suits your needs that is the primary reason for self-building.

Of the 13,000+ homes self-built last year, every one of them looks different in some way; some are traditional in style, being authentic replicas of Georgian, Tudor and Victorian homes, with warm, cosy interiors and plenty of cottage appeal; some are radically contemporary in design, with white rendered or wood clad exteriors, flat roofs, vast areas of glazing and large, open plan interiors. The majority, however, mix styles and features in a way that suits the individual owner.

Although these homes are unique, they are united by the singular determination of their owners to refuse to follow the mainstream and accept what commercial developers decide they should have in their home. People self-build for a number of reasons, but all have one thing in common: determination and enthusiasm for the job in hand. Lack of money may be overcome with some cost cutting exercises; shortage of time may be circumnavigated by employing a project manager and you don't need to be a skilled master craftsman to build a house. Self-build is certainly not an elitist pastime; it is open to anyone who genuinely believes that they can do it, and has the desire to follow it through.