Beginner's Guide - Starting Out

A lot has changed in the self-build world over the past ten years. Housebuilding has grown more complex — not only are there far more products on the market, but we have also been inundated with new legislation and tighter regulation. Environmental concerns have moved centre stage, having been little more than a curio back in the 1990s. Selfbuilders have also become much better informed, as media attention has focussed in on the field, and the internet has made it possible for anyone with a bit of time to research new products and techniques.

We also know our readers better, having talked to thousands of you over the years at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows, and having heard most of the trials and tribulations of self-build.

So this series, over 12 parts, one a month, rather than attempting to write a ‘wikibuild’ of any and everything you could ever think of, will instead concentrate on the major issues affecting the different aspects of building your own home, and analyse the key decisions you will have to make along the way. We start with a look at the background behind every self-build — how to find land, how to go about financing a self-build, how to get it designed and how to negotiate the red tape.

WHY SELF BUILD?

People tend to self-build because they want a better home than they would otherwise have been able to afford, or purely because they want to live in the kind of well-designed, high-performance house that’s unavailable on the regular market. 90% of our readers name design as the top priority; 63% also view value as key.

WHERE TO START

You fancy self building, but what comes first? Many inexperienced self-builders make their first mistake almost immediately by approaching things in the wrong way. We think this is the best way to get off on the right track:

• Come up with a budget
• Get a mortgage agreement
• Investigate plot opportunities
• Work out approximate build costs
• Buy a plot
• Establish a design/package
• Apply for planning permission
• Apply for Building Regs approval
• Search for a builder
• Set a start date
• Break ground on site

Click on any of the links below to find out more...

• What about plots?
• What kind of house to build?
• The practicalities of self-building
• Where will I get the money?
• Taking Stock

The 12 Steps of Self Build:

• Step One: Starting Out
• Step Two: Your Route
• Step Three: Construction Systems
• Step Four: Groundworks & Foundations
• Step Five: Roofs
• Step Six: Windows & Doors
• Step Seven: External Appearance
• Step Eight: Heating & Plumbing
• Step Nine: Electrics
• Step Ten: Kitchens & Bathrooms