There are many sources to help you find the ideal location for your self build home. From property portals to specific plot finders, local estate agents, landowners and serviced plots with developers. Focus first on where you want to live, what local facilities you want nearby and how much budget you have to spend on the plot.
Speaking to a partner you can trust is a great way to start your journey to self build. We have specialist self build members with years of experience and expertise in delivering self build homes and whichever company you choose, they can provide you with help and guidance to get you started and support you along the way from initial quote through to moving in day. There are many benefits to speaking with a self build manufacturer early. They can guide you so that you have the best information available and ensure that you have certainty when considering your budget.
You may have already started this process, pen and paper out and sketched what you need in terms of rooms and space and your ideal style or you may be talking to a designer or architect already.
It’s important to understand all the elements that will make up your budget so you can share these with your architect so your final home meets your aspirations.
Understanding the full costs of buying your plot, designing your home and building it are key to ensuring a better project that delivers your desired home at a budget you can afford. Working with your chosen self build manufacturer and architect will help you to identify all relevant costs and ensure that when you apply for your self build mortgage or other loan.
You may be funding your self build home from savings or equity in your current home. If you need further finance, then you may be considering a self build mortgage. Usually, funds are issued in stages often aligned to the stages of the build that are complete, rather than in a lump sum.
There are some specialist self build lenders as well as dedicated self build mortgages through banks and building societies. It is always advisable to speak to a mortgage broker or Independent Financial Advisor, who can guide you through the options available and help you to choose the one that is right for you. The STA have specialist self build mortgage advisors that can help.
The Help to Build equity loan is a Government backed scheme designed to offer support to those who want to build their own home. The loan covers the cost of buying your plot and building your self build home. The Government loans between 5% to 20% of the total estimated cost (this is 40% in London where costs are higher), to a maximum of £600,000 (for both plot and build). You must be able to secure a self build mortgage with a lender registered with Help to Build and be able to repay the loan.
Every self build home requires planning approval and your architect can make the necessary application on your behalf, once you have approved your final design drawings. It’s important to have all permissions in place to protect your home and ensure the build can proceed. This will include planning permission, building control approval and any other surveys or reports required by planning which could include local wildlife or tree preservation. You will also require a home warranty to protect the structure and insurance.
Your chosen manufacturer will take the lead in building your home, managing the project on site in terms of build and liaising with planners, building control and your architect. Your self build manufacturer will take your architect drawings and develop technical drawings required for manufacturing each of the structural timber wall, floor and roof elements. Once ready these will be supplied to you and to your architect for approval. Once approved, the drawings are used to manufacture each structural timber component of your home, ready for delivery. Within controlled factory conditions, each panel is manufactured to precision measurements, quality checked throughout and then delivered to your site ready for installation.
Once your plot has been levelled, it’s ready for foundations to be set out. Your site team will dig your foundations and the slab is poured to support the structure. Once the slab is ready, the structural timber panels will arrive ready to erect by a specialist erect team. As the panels are manufactured offsite there is little waste
Once the structure is erected and your windows and doors are installed, your new home is wind and watertight. That gives you the reassurance that your building is protected and internal works can begin. The speed of erecting the structural timber build system enables trades to start work internally more quickly. Your self build specialist will keep you up to date on progress throughout.
Finally, your self build home is completed. You’ll be ready to arrange your removals and move into your new energy efficient sustainable home
Interested in learning more about using structural timber or need details on specific manufacturers? Reach out —we’ll be happy to help.
