Building your own home from scratch rather than buying one is a choice that many people are now making. The freedom of being able to design the home yourself, as well as a choice of location are just two reasons why the popularity of self-build homes has soared. However, something that many people who decide to embark on a project like this don’t realise is that one of the most testing times is finding a plot of land to start with!
If you are planning on building your own home, here are some things to be aware of that may help you before you set out to build your own dream home…
The first thing to do before you go out looking for a plot is to keep your options open and have an open mind about the whole thing. Many people decide to go into this with a definite idea of what sort of plot they want, only to struggle to find the right one or for the right price. Land values vary around the UK so you may want to extend your search if you really are after something in particular, but you may also want to consider brownfield land or a plot of land that already has a building on it for example – in many cases it can be a lot easier and cheaper to demolish a current structure and re-build over it. You can hire the machinery for this to, from places like this excavator hire company https://greensplanthire.uk/plant-hire-leicester/excavator-hire/ so don’t rule things out just because they are not what you originally thought of.
Looking at maps and learning about the area that you wish to build in will also be a great help to you. Getting to know as much as you can about the area and the geography of it will stand you in good stead when it comes to finding a plot of land there. Don’t underestimate the importance of getting out there as well – although Google maps and Ordnance Survey maps both have their uses and their place, going out and exploring the area yourself is a good way to really familiarise yourself with it and the land. It is also a good way to meet the local people who may be able to point you in the right direction of landowners who may sell a plot of land to you – not all land for sale is advertised, it may be that if you enquire, they may just sell you a plot.
Get to know the local planning department and find out what you will need to do to gain planning permission. This varies by area so speaking to the local planning department is essential as you don’t want to end up planning a house that is then rejected by the council. Make sure that you work with them and form a good relationship to meet their requirements.