Should You Demolish and Replace?

demolishing a house
(Image credit: getty images)

All houses are just temporary occupants of building plots. When you think about land finding in that sense, all of a sudden a world of opportunity awaits you. These days, just over half of all self builds in the UK take place as a result of an existing home being demolished*.

So how do you approach the idea of replacing and rebuilding, and how do you know whether the house you have just seen (or perhaps have even owned for years) is suitable for the wrecking ball?

Michael Holmes

Michael is Homebuilding & Renovating's Director of Content, Vice Chair of the self build industry body, the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), presenter of multiple property TV shows and author of Renovating for Profit (Ebury). He also runs an architectural and interior design practice, offering design and project management services. He is one of the country's leading property experts and has undertaken over 30 building projects including two self-builds and the renovation of a Grade-II listed farmhouse. 


Michael has presented over 150 property shows for BBC, ITV1, Channel 5, UK TV Style, and Discovery RealTime, including I Own Britain's Best Home; Don't Move Improve; Trading Up; Good Bid, Good Buy; Build, Buy or Restore?; How to Build A House; and Hard Sell.


Michael is also a regular expert at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows. He has written for leading British newspapers, including The Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times, Daily Express and The Independent and has appeared on news programmes such as BBC Breakfast.