What is a package home?
Whether you’re self building for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro looking for a hassle-free route to your new bespoke home, engaging a specialist company to guide you through the design and construction process makes a lot of sense
The list of questions a self builder has to answer before starting a scheme can feel endless – from design and planning through to budgeting and project managing – and the process may seem mind-boggling to a beginner. But the truth is that most people (even those who have self built before) need to call in expert support to help them realise their goal of creating a high-quality, tailor-made property. The good news is that many of the answers to those challenges can be found in the form of package home specialists.
What do package suppliers do?
Think of these firms as a one-stop shop solution for your building project. Typically, they will undertake the design process (whether for planning purposes or just the structural design element), supply the materials for part or all of the scheme and help you source the labour required to complete it (or provide it themselves).
Timber frame is perhaps the most popular construction method offered, but some will also work with masonry and other systems. In terms of services, most firms will deliver a bespoke wind and weather-proof shell ready for you to finish using your preferred follow-on trades.
But the options can stretch right up to what’s known as a turnkey route, where the company manages the build in its entirety and hands over the keys on completion.
Which route you choose depends on a number of factors, such as how involved you wish to be during the process, whether you are looking to project manage your own scheme and if you’d like to be fully in charge of sourcing the finishing touches.
Do I need an architect?
One of the key allures of partnering with these firms is that many of them have outstanding designers on their books, so you don’t need to engage your own architect (unless you want to). Package suppliers will work with you to create a bespoke concept according to your requirements and then provide the materials for you to build it. Off-the-shelf plans are available, too.
The first step is to arrange a consultation to establish exactly what you are after from your future home and what’s possible within the constraints of planning, the plot and your available budget. As these companies have extensive experience of seeing through a variety of projects, they will be able to inject some realism at