house values | blogbluestoneletts

According to the National Self Build Association, there are 6million people in the UK who want to build their own home and 1million have already started the planning process.

Make no mistake, self-build is a tougher task than buying a home from a developer or another owner, but becoming a self-builder has got easier in recent years, especially since the government launched a £30m fund to boost the sector in 2011.

We reveal how to build your own home below.

Why self-build?

Depending on where you live in the UK, your main choices when buying a house in the UK are likely to be a fairly standard new-build, or an older building dating back to the Victorian era and beyond.

Either way, you may come across issues, such as space or poor energy efficiency and face inheriting a previous owners’ problems, such as damp or poor decorating choices.

One way of mitigating that is to renovate, but it may be expensive to pay for such changes once you have already shelled out for a deposit and stamp duty through the traditional route – especially as high house values and stubborn sellers mean the cost of renovating plus some profit in reward for your efforts is rarely built in to asking prices.

However, by constructing a self-build property you could ensure it is energy efficient and as big or small as you want it from the start.

You will also be able to stamp your own design and tastes on the property.

According to Kevin McCloud, TV presenter and founder of sustainable property developer Hab Housing, much of the housing stock in the UK is made up of ‘identikit Noddy houses built at the lowest possible cost.’

He explains: ‘The government sees self-build as a solution to the housing crisis. Self-build is greener and empowers people more. It can create communities and makes houses a reflection of their owners.’

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