20 Essential Rules for a Successful Self-build: Part Two

ABOVE: Eileen and Stuart Yardley’s stunning new contemporary home – built on a sloping site and featuring a swimming pool, games room and gym – is a modern-day design classic. (Read more about this self-build).

Make Decisions and Stick to Them

It’s much easier further down the line if you can make plans as detailed as possible, as early as possible. So take time out while you’re waiting to get started and decide your kitchen and bathroom layouts; what type of fire you’re going to have; whether you’re having a ground-source heat pump or not. Making all of those decisions early will make the building process much easier (positioning of drains, plumbing and electrical circuits, for instance). It’s also wise to make decisions at this stage when you have the time to consider them — many decisions made on specification during a busy building project are affected by time pressures.

Try and Do Some DIY

Getting involved on site in some of the work is a good thing. It will save you a bit of money (particularly if you can take on some of the less time-critical work, such as decorating, so you won’t hold up progress on site) but also give you a sense of achievement. Many of the jobs on site aren’t terribly skilled — and many self-builders find it quite cathartic to do some physical work after a day in the office.

Know Your Limits

It’s pointless for beginners to get involved in managing a self-build or renovation project day-to-day if you both have full-time jobs with little flexibility. To be a successful project manager you’ll need to be there to take deliveries, chase up the tradesmen every day and line up ones for the future, and check the standard of work — not to mention co-ordinating the schedule. It’s not for the faint-hearted, and certainly not for those who can rarely make it to site.

Don’t be a Pioneer

It’s sometimes surprising to beginners just how little the regular building trade is aware of things you as a self-builder might be aware of (by browsing this website, for instance). While underfloor heating is now relatively run of the mill for most plumbers, some of the greener technologies such as ground- and air-source heat pumps might well be beyond their levels of experience. Don’t let this put you off installing them, but be aware that the price you’ll pay for being the first of the plumber’s clients to use these technologies is a higher labour rate and a slower job.

Invest in Structure

While money is usually very tight during the building process itself, it’s important to prioritise expenditure on the things you won’t be able to change later. Things like kitchens, bathrooms and flooring can always be upgraded, but trying to save money on the key structural elements, such as attic trusses, insulation and windows, is usually a false economy.

Keep an Eye on End Value

Even if you’re planning to stay in your self-built or renovated house for the long-term, it’s important to ensure that what you’re doing makes financial sense. Get an estate agent to value your planned house at the start of the process and make sure that you’re not putting more into the project than it will be worth. Really, a project should be a success assuming you’ve paid the right amount for the plot — so one of the first questions you should ask the agent selling you a plot is, what will the finished house be worth?

Think of the Way Your House will Perform

More than ever, homes are machines — no longer passive users of heat and energy, rather active managers of lifestyles and resources. Think carefully about what you want out of a house — most want low energy bills, but do you also want it to be smart? Features such as multi-room entertainment systems and remotely controlled security settings can make living in your finished house much easier — and now’s the time to install them.

Get the Essentials in Place

There are key things you’ll need in terms of paperwork for your project. Most importantly of all, cover-all self-build insurance (encompassing site and public liability insurance) is a must-have; warranties aren’t legally required but are essential if you intend to sell the house within a decade. You will also need to have Building Regulations approval and planning permission for what you’re intending to build. You’d be surprised at how many selfbuilders forget one of these crucial ‘bits of admin’.

Don’t Miss Out on VAT Savings

As a self-builder you’ll enjoy the chance to reclaim the VAT you spend on most materials (you won’t pay VAT on the labour) at the end of your project. This can often run to tens of thousands of pounds — a useful boost for your much-depleted bank accounts. But you can only reclaim once, and you’ll need to ensure your receipts are kept safe during the project. Get hold of form VAT 431NB from HM Revenue & Customs (online at hmrc.gov.uk) as soon as you start to get more guidance.

Place Your Faith in Experts

Perhaps the main key to a successful project is getting a team of experts on side. Starting out with an experienced designer, then onto hiring reliable tradesmen — you’ll need to place your faith in people who know more about building than you do. This means not just good builders and tradesmen, but being prepared to listen to experience — for example, the Building Control officer, or the warranty inspector.

Read the first ten rules for self-build success...

Further reading:

• A Guide to Starting Your Self-build
• The 20 Most Common Mistakes Made by Self-builders... And How to Avoid Them
• How to Build to a (Relatively) Small Budget

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