Choosing a build route
Self-build is a broad church — you needn’t lay a single brick if you don’t want to!
Self-build is a broad church and there are many routes to getting an individual home built. However, generally speaking most self-builders choose one of the following routes:
● Project managing the entire build themselves, including hiring and coordinating subcontractors – such as plumbers and electricians – to complete the build, as well as buying most of the building materials.
● Choosing a main contractor or builder to manage and coordinate the build on their behalf. In this case, the builder or main contractor will often buy all or the majority of the building materials.
● Choosing a professional project manager to coordinate their build.
● Building their own home by hand — the ultimate DIY route.
● Outsourcing the project to a package company, many of which coordinate everything from design concept through to completion. Other package companies may offer the opportunity to decide on the level of service required.
Only 16% of self-build projects are undertaken on a DIY basis, with the majority (57%) of self-builders choosing to instead project manage subcontractors to build their house for them*. The reality is that most selfbuilders use a combination of the approaches outlined. One popular route involves commissioning a package company to build the ‘superstructure’, with the self-builder managing the groundworks before and interior fit-out after (first and second fix work, decoration and the like).
Choosing the right self-build route for your project is a decision only you can reach, but there are undoubtedly factors that will influence this choice: your finances, how much time you can devote to the project and how capable you are at carrying out jobs yourself, for starters.
Those looking for significant cost savings need to understand that the more work and time they put in, the more they will save. The Homebuilding & Renovating Self & Custom Build Market Report 2017 found that those building their own home through DIY saved 25% on their build costs against those managing their own projects, while self-builders taking on the role of project manger saved 17%, compared to those who used main contractors.