NEWS


Expert tips on avoiding self-build pitfalls


There’s a steep learning curve to navigate when you’re building your own house, or carrying out a large renovation. Following the recent National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, experts in attendance give their advice on avoiding the most common mistakes made by self-builders


project there’s never a day without bills – and if the right funds aren’t available at the right stage of the build, delays are inevitable (and often expensive). It’s important to clearly understand your budget and borrowing options early on. He advises: “Discuss your plans with a


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mortgage advisor as soon as possible – if you choose certain design elements before agreeing your finances you may limit your choice of lenders and products. Before you get carried away, find out if your plans are affordable, and mortgageable. You’ll need to allow around eight to 12 weeks to arrange a mortgage. McSherry concludes: “By consulting a


specialist mortgage adviser you’ll have access to a wide range of lenders and products. They can recommend the mortgage best suited to your individual circumstances and project requirements. If you approach a lender directly, they’ll only offer a very limited product range. You’re building a bespoke home and there’s no one-size-fits-all funding solution.” David Hilton, director at Heat & Energy,


believes “it’s all about the preparation. Getting the spec right between the homeowners and the tradespeople is absolutely crucial to avoid costly mistakes later. Make sure that the project manager fully understands your expectations and delivers on them. If clients don’t clarify exactly what they want, they can become part of the problem, as they might change their mind halfway through the project. If your builder starts work and then you realise that something is different than expected, more time will be needed to adjust the plan and source new materials,


8 www.sbhonline.co.uk


s Tom McSherry, national relationship manager at Buildstore, says, “With any homebuilding


and delays cost both time and money. “Go over the specifics and define the


expectations in detail. For smooth communications, meet in person or discuss on the phone, but make sure you write down what the final agreement is. Changing your mind halfway through often happens when people liaise directly with a sales team to buy products or services that they’re not sure they might need. That’s why the process should start with establishing expectations, reviewing the options and then obtaining quotes.” Jo Dyson, renovator and partner at Mae


House Design, says: “I recommend people really invest enough time and thought in the design before any work is done onsite. Think about how you currently live, but also consider how you want to live in the future. It’s also important to assess how you make use of all spaces within your home – the best way to do this is by spending time living in a property before working on it. Look at the finer details of your space; like noticing where the sun rises and sets, what rooms you enjoy currently spending time in. “It’s also helpful to delve into the


specifics. For example, if you’re planning a loft conversion, you need to specify every room in detail – where the stairs will be located, the electric and lighting plan, the positioning of the furniture. “We’d also recommend creating a


schedule of works. One of the biggest mistakes is making large-scale changes once the renovation is underway. Taking time to plan detailed design is crucial, as you will use the plans to tender for contractors. You don’t want to be stuck with something that’s not suitable to live in after investing significant time and money.” Andy Stevens, managing director of


If clients don’t clarify exactly what they want, they become part of the problem


Eclipse Property Solutions, says: “Check every material you might need is in stock. For everything to run smoothly, make sure that you can find required stock in advance, and get your supplier to reserve it for you. Delays at this end will add more time to your completion date and might cost you money. If you have tradespeople lined up, they will charge for time wasted if supplies are delayed. To check the status of the building materials, phone your local supplier and tell them what you need by what date and they will put everything aside for you. In many situations, online stock isn’t updated enough and you risk someone going in store and buying what you require. “Another costly mistake is to not be


aware of the materials’ year on year price rises. Most suppliers won’t inform you, so it’s worth making sure that you won’t be affected negatively by a price fluctuation. You might find some materials have gone up by as much as 15-18 per cent, costing you thousands of pounds down the line.” To get more insights about your


particular self-build subjects or issues, experts are on hand at the regional Homebuilding & Renovating Shows which are taking place throughout the year.


march/april 2019


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