WE LEARNED...

SPEND AS MUCH TIME as possible on coming up with a plan for your project. Being thorough will help to reduce cash flow problems at a later date, plus, the more detail you have in the drawings, the easier it will be for contractors.

CAREFULLY CONSIDER YOUR REQUIREMENTS and be selfish at the design stage – remember that you’re creating a bespoke home where you’re going to live. For example, we chose to have a very large master bedroom rather than even more space for guests.

DOING A SELF-BUILD PROJECT earlier in life would have been great. We recommend that others do it as soon as they have the opportunity – there are lots of benefits to creating a bespoke home.