With the property market skyrocketing on the back of pandemic searches for space and the stamp duty cut, many across the UK are considering where they live. But instead of the traditional option – property sites, estate agents, solicitors – what about building a home yourself?
According to research by the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), a third of British adults are interested in designing and building their own home. If you’re one of these people though, what are the pros and cons of doing so?
The pros of building your own home
You can choose the location
If you really want to live in a particular part of the country, or in a certain kind of place, such as the seaside, near woodland, or high up a mountainside, purchasing land and building your dream home there is the perfect – and sometimes the only – way to do so.
You customise the design and layout
Anyone who’s ever dabbled in The Sims knows how great it feels to have control over every aspect of a home, and while that’s relatively possible with an existing build, it does lack the complete freedom a custom build brings.
The building can be adjusted to your needs
If you have specific requirements or want to proof your home against risks like floods, building your own can be a good choice. Knowing that the garden is level, for instance, can be concerning for buyers not wanting a waterlogged yard, but by building your own and investing in a tool like a green laser level, you can gain immediate peace of mind.
The cons of building your own home
It can take a long time
As anyone that’s ever watched an episode of Grand Designs knows, self-builds can overrun, taking much longer to complete than initially thought, and costing much more than initially expected as a result.
Heavy investment is needed
While the cost of your build depends on your aspirations and plans, it can quickly become expensive, especially if things overrun. Architects, project managers, builders and materials don’t come too cheap.
Living arrangements during the build
While your builders are busy working on your new home, you’ll need to live somewhere. For many, pressure to reduce costs means living in a caravan on site which can prove rather taxing for people used to home comforts.
Have you ever built your own home? What were your personal pros and cons? Let us know in the comments section.