What’s in it for the self-builder?

WHEN embarking on a self-building project it’s often asked where the key advan- tages lie. Self-building is not only cheaper in most cases, it’s also empowering and more rewarding. A self-built home brings knowing immense you have designed satisfaction and overseen the project according to your own aspirations and specifications. But it can also be a long and sometimes frustrating journey, but somethings are just worth the effort. Below are some tips to note:

Watch the time: While self-building brings considerable savings, you still want time on your side. Going it alone means you are responsible for any time lags. This will depend on how much time you have to invest in the project and the rate at which money can be drawn down. Look out for this as it may lead to a lengthier waiting time for completion.

Stay professional: Going down the self-build route still requires you to hire suitably qualified and competent professionals with indemnity. Not having a contractor to deal directly with means you need to oversee and inspect all stages of development according to strict planning guidelines. This means fire safety, disability access, energy efficiency, design and assessment, to name a few, must be overseen at each stage. Be sure to hire an engineer.

Insurance is necessary: Avoid hiring people who do not hold indemnity insurance. Just because you know someone very well that gives you an amazingly cheap quote does not guarantee a professional approach. Make sure you are focused and detailed. Given that you have no contractor or middleman to resort to means you are responsible/susceptible to all post-work recourse issues.

Finance: This can be a sticky subject as many lending institutions following the property crash of 2011 tend to shy away from projects that don’t involve a contracting firm. You will need a reliable income source and must prove your finances are in order to get a mortgage (which is nothing new in most cases). This will be all the more stringent if self-building is your preferred route.