If you’re choosing to build your own home, then take a look below as we’ve put together a guide for those carrying out their first self-build project. From planning permission to choosing your contractors, we’ll cover each step. Read on if you want to find out more.

Reasons To Build Your Own Home

If you’re on the fence about building your own home, then here are some considerations to help you choose whether it could be the right decision for you. There are some cons to building your own home, such as the stress and workload of having to create your next home. However, there are many benefits too. If you’ve found that you’re searching for your next home but nothing is quite ticking all the boxes, then designing and constructing your own home could be the perfect solution to finally getting your dream home. You have the ability to create the perfect home for you and your family, with all the features you are looking for in other houses all in one place. You can be as quirky as you like, including features you might not be able to find in properties on the market.

You might also be able to have more choice over things such as the location and view of your home. Whether you want to be out in the countryside or centrally located in the city. What’s more, building your own home means it’s uniquely yours. Nobody will have a home quite like yours and you’ll be able to do far more with it by putting your own stamp on it.

Choosing Land To Build On

The first step you’ll need to take if you choose to build your own home is finding the right land to do so. There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing your land, besides just whether it’s the right location for you. You should take some time to get to know the area well before choosing to buy a piece of land there, to see whether you can imagine yourself living there long-term. If you have a family, you also need to consider whether it’s right for them. If you have a young family, could you see yourselves growing into the area well? Or might it only be appealing as a short-term option?

You will need to find out whether the land you like has permission for you to carry out the building plans you have in mind. It might be that you can find land that already has planning permission in place so you need to find out the details of the plans and whether they would work for you. It’s likely that you will have to apply for planning permission once you have some plans drawn up for how you will use the land. There are some great resources on the 24Housing website that will help to guide you through many of these questions and more.

Choosing An Architect

An architect will help to make sure your self-build meets the vision and hopes you have in your mind’s eye. Before choosing your architect, you need to have a brief of what you want from your build. For example, you need to list the number of rooms you want, the layout, and how they would be used. You should also include details of how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, as well as any other unique room features. The materials you want to use, and the design of rooms will also help to give your architect more insight into the type of home you want to create.

As well as having the knowledge and expertise to design your home, your architect needs to be able to work well with you and communicate well too, so choose an architect you feel like you can build a good working relationship with as well. Try and choose an architect that has been recommended by someone you know well if possible. This will give you a better insight into the character and reliability of an architect and whether they could be the right choice for you.

Applying For Planning Permission

Once you’ve chosen your architect and they’ve drawn up your building plans, you can start the process of applying for planning permission. There is no set period of time for how long it will take for your planning permission to be accepted or rejected, but it generally takes at least several weeks. However, there could be a number of reasons for delays that mean it takes much longer for a decision to be reached. Try to make sure that your plans have all the details needed in order for a decision to be reached to avoid any delays. Contact your local authority to find out the exact details that will need to be included in your plans. You will also be able to find out the cost of submitting your plans here too, so you can factor this into your costs.

Choosing Contractors

Once planning permission has been accepted, you can begin with your building work and set the foundations for your new home. This will of course involve choosing contractors such as builders, plasterers, electricians, and plumbers, like SD Plumbing and Heating. All these contractors will be responsible for making sure your home is of high quality, meets your expectations, and is safe to live in. Therefore, it’s important to put plenty of time and thought into the contractors you choose. As with your architect, it’s a good idea to ask for recommendations for contractors from people you know who have already used them and can vouch for their work.

Do the research into contractors you’re considering hiring and look for things such as whether they are qualified to carry out the work, their previous experience of working on similar projects, and any disciplinary action that has been taken against them. Never pay the full cost of work upfront. Instead, agree on a deposit and final payment to be made upon completion of satisfactory work.