WE LEARNED...

LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS are delivered over several years, so be prepared to live with muddy roads, raised ironworks, construction traffic and the like when building somewhere like Graven Hill, long after your own project is completed!

A MODULAR BUILD is very cost-effective, and you can still add personalisation. We included a double garage, for instance, which gives the front elevation a completely different look. You can save money when self-managing, too, if you do it well – but there is always the potential for costs and timescales to go out of kilter. So weigh up the pros and cons of all the options.

EXTERNAL LANDSCAPING isn’t usually included in a turnkey package, but will need to be done to qualify for your 10-year structural warranty. We had an overlap between moving out of our rented accommodation and into the new build, which helped us to manage aspects like this more easily.

CHECK SOIL QUALITY and ground levels before you purchase a plot. Our one and only disappointment with Graven Hill is the poor earth, which makes planting very difficult. We’ve had to switch to raised beds to grow our plants.