Self build
Build it yourself
by Michelle Stuart
For most of us, buying a home is the biggest purchase we ever make - but what if there's nothing out there that suits your needs?
Building your dream house could be the answer, but for many people it conjures up images of a DIY nightmare.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Self building need only mean buying your land and either managing the project by employing contractors to do the work, or employing a builder to manage the entire project.
In Britain, land for building can be hard to find, however knowing where to look is the hardest part. Services like
PlotSearch or
Plotfinder can help you find suitable land.
Last year around 35,000 people designed and built their own homes in Britain and that figure is rising.
In other countries, like Germany and the Republic of Ireland, upwards of 60 per cent of new properties are built by the people who will end up living in them, which is why, along the average street, every house looks different from its neighbour.
The benefits of self build are obvious. You tend to get more house and more land for your money, you can design the house exactly to your own specifications and you have the satisfaction of living in a home that is truly all your own work.
