Building Your Own Home

Many builders find it easier to build a new home, than renovate an older property, as there are fewer unknowns, more definite costs and fewer distractions such as homeowners living in the house! However for homeowners a complete self-build project is usually far more complicated.

"I would only build new houses, if I could, but self-build plots are few and far between," says FMB Master Builder of the Year Awards 2006 regional winner Jim Paton of Waterford Builders, based in the stockbroker belt of Billericay in Essex.

"Building a house from scratch is so much easier than a renovation. Once you price the job, it stays on budget because there are no unknowns and it's so much easier to plan.

"You also don't have people living in the house at the same time, which adds extra pressure. With a new build, provided that the groundwork and planning go well, you can give your client a finish date and an end budget that are spot on," Jim added.

For the homeowner, a complete self-build project starts with finding a plot, organising a self-build mortgage and securing planning permission. Careful choice of architect, builder and tradespeople is crucial, as is making sure you have insurance, warranties and that you are eligible to claim the tax back. Then the work begins….

We talked to three self-builders who highlighted important factors in the success of their projects.