What is Self-build?
A general guide to self-build for those wondering what it’s all about

Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2011

Why Self-build?
Design and cost savings are key reasons why people self-build...

My Building Project Estimating Service

FAQs for Beginners
What is life like as a self-builder, and what are the practicalities?

How to make open spaces work

Beginners' guide

A Typical Self-build Schedule

Make sure your project goes to plan

Beginner's Guide - Tax

You can save 15% when you self build

Beginner's Guide - Finance

Providing you have a regular income and a good credit history, you should have no difficulty in obtaining a loan to build your own home or to undertake a renovation or conversion project.

How to Achieve Self-build Success

Successful self-building needs a mix of many qualities, but are you cut out for the challenge ahead? We offer advice on all the things you need to consider when embarking on a self-build project
A stunning self-build home in Hampshire. The house is built of a green oak frame and sucessfully mixes traditional features such as weatherboarding and vaulted rooms with modern aspects such as open plan areas and glass balustrading.

Where to Live Whilst Self-building

If anyone tests the theory that ‘home is where the heart is’ to the limit, it has to be self-builders. In pursuit of their dream home many live for months or even years in a caravan, mobile home, or even in the newly built garage — but does self-building inevitably mean roughing it?
A snowed under caravan is not the ideal place to live during your self-build, yet caravans and mobile homes can be suprisingly comfy. Along with renting and staying in your current home, they make up the main places people live during their self-builds, a renovation or a conversion.

FAQs for Beginners

It's all very well dreaming about a fantastic individual home and gathering advice on how to do it, but what is life like as a self-builder, and what are the practicalities? This feature answers your questions and helps you to get your project underway
A first-time self-builder will need to look at self-build mortgages, the time it takes to build a house and a self-build schedule.

Why Self-build?

People self-build because they want to live in a well-designed house that’s unavailable on the regular market. The savings made by self-building allow people to build bigger and better homes than they would otherwise have been able to afford. Design and costs savings are key.
A stunning silver birch clad home in the Valleys that successfully combines a traditional exterior with contemporary interior fittings.

What is Self-build?

Building your own home is the only way to combine creating the home of your dreams with massive savings. This is a general guide for those wondering what it’s all about.
This Georgian-inspired self-build, featuring beautiful brickwork and sash-type windows, is a stunning example of what can be achieved by designing and building your own home.

New Impetus to Self-builders: Sally Tagg on New Planning Proposals

Our planning expert Sally Tagg assesses how the new planning proposals will affect self-builders
New Impetus to Self-builders: Sally Tagg on New Planning Proposals

What Does the Future Hold for Self-build? Exclusive Interview with Housing Minister Grant Shapps

Jason Orme takes a look at the future for self-builders and asks Housing Minister Grant Shapps to explain more about the Government’s plans
A look at the future of self-build in the UK including an exclusive interview with the Housing Minister Grant Shapps who talks about the Government's plans for the self-build community.

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