Design to suit plot, or find plot to suit design.

[Fuzz]

One of the many things I've thought about doing is building a house.
But how would you start.
Has anyone else been down the self build route on here.

Did you design the house you wanted and then find a plot to suit that design or did you Find the plot of land and then design the house to suit the plot.

Just wondering what the pitfalls or advantages of doing it either way might be.

First stumbling block.

 

[Fuzz]

Surely you need huge amounts of capital first, am I missing something here

Family owns 500 acres of farm land.

£1500 quid of disposable income a month by middle of next year?


Next question!

 

[Fuzz]

Already sold off some of our land to local residents for expansion to existing properties.
Yes I realise it could be insanely difficult for a new build.
Can be done though, as I'm living in one Dad built

 

[Fuzz]

This is where the original question surfaced though, if the house designed for said plot falls on its arse at the approval stage, would it be feasible to take the design to a new plot. Admittedly at greater cost due to being outside family ownership.

 

[Fuzz]

Thought you needed a bit more detail even in "outline"

If you are the person making the application, your initial enquiries will be concerned with five rudimentary elements, from which you will be required to seek approval based on one or more of the following:

1. Siting

2. Access

3. Design

4. External appearance

5. Landscaping

Open to interpretation I guess

 

[Fuzz]

and?

 

[Fuzz]

I'm only blunt with TW as he seems to have some axe to grind about my past.

 

[Fuzz]

You don't just rush out and build a house with no capital and only a reasonable monthly income otherwise everyone would be doing it. You need substantial capital first, then you can think about building a house with it.

This is why a house costs more to buy than land + materials to build a house - because you can aquire the latter with a small deposit and decent monthly income, whereas the same cannot be said for the former.

Anyway, less than a year since you almost went bankrupt, maybe take things slow, or you'll end up there again. Wasn't it over-ambitious projects that caused it last time?

No it was being a **** using credit cards for funding projects instead of using cash.
I'm better paid now and have learnt that lesson well, any chance of putting that old chestnut to bed?

Not everyone could manage to DO most of the work themselves. This would save shed loads of that cash.
It doesn't have to be built in some tight schedule format.
I can set out foundations, dig the foundations (with machinery already owned) Lay blocks, set out drainage, Make shuttering, pour concrete, fabricate steelwork, install window frames, glaze windows, Layout electrics. solder plumbing, lay flooring, trusses and tiling.
The only things I fail on are plastering. :-/
I don't see why you are so negative about it all.
The only capital I need is for supplies and if I am doing the work myself there is no reason to think the funds wouldn't be there when the next stage is ready to order.

 

[Fuzz]

Clearly not in its entirety no. Family member/ mates trades / rates and such is there also.
I've been surrounded by the structural trades since I could walk. One of the reasons I'm a jack of all trades I guess.

 

[Fuzz]

So you don't think I could lay the correct cabling to the correct socket and wall units then get a sparky in to join the ends, check and advise of any changes needed to comply and then get it signed off by that sparky then..

Not looked into the small print but I was under the impression you just had to prove competence and then get it signed off.
Realising sparkys wouldn't sign off someone else's work I'd have to back track from that point to a position where he would be happy to (as above, lay cable but let sparky do all joining and testing etc.)

 

[Fuzz]

No Mortgage, no renting. That's two out of the way

Anyway, if I manage to get passed the design I want, most of it would be pouring concrete into the shuttering, floor, walls and then ceiling once beams were laid

 

[Fuzz]

Wages, shares, savings, the bank of dad, in that order.

Be aware though that this is only at the thoughts in my head stage, just one of many ideas floating about in the grey matter.

 

[Fuzz]

If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it as someone has already alluded to above.
Sometimes you just have to get stuck in to stuff / run with the ball.

I would definitely work with an Architect at the beginning though, getting plans made up / modelled.
Time and effort is required for ensuring things comply with all the relevant rules and regs.
For that you need more google than you would money IMO.
One of the biggest "sayings" in my last trade job was the 7 p's..
Prior planning and preparation, prevents **** poor performance.

 

[Fuzz]

To answer a couple of questions.

PlacidCasual,
Dad has bought me all the house builder bibles and stuff many many years ago
He's built a couple himself, including the one I'm living in. I've helped him renovate others.
I've been involved in design, construction and erection of steel framed buildings (mainly commercial) including luxury penthouse glass clad structures in London during a previous employment.
I'm pretty well versed in how things work on the actual construction side, however I do admit to not knowing much about the red tape likely to be involved.
The only thing that ever used to concern me were the Health and Safety officers.

MrLOL,
The only place I'd ever put up a kit house is abroad and for a holiday home.
I don't consider them to have any long term resilience compared to old fashion, bricks mortar and concrete.

I think the tide is turning on stuffy old school designs being in keeping with the surroundings as long as you stress the word ECO We'll see.

 

[Fuzz]

Hahaha, nice one my bro.

Wish I could make up my mind what to ****ing do :/