With house prices fluctuating following the pandemic and the quality of new-build homes notoriously shaky, many prospective buyers are now looking into how to build their own home as opposed to purchasing bricks and mortar. 

The Wakefield-based building materials suppliers, BC Profiles have looked into the rise in demand for self-built homes, as well as important points to consider before you give it your best Kevin McCloud and go about creating your own grand design. 

A rise in demand for self-built homes

Looking into search trends and figures, it’s clear to see that there has been a significant increase in interest regarding building your own home – a trend that looks set to keep on rising.

Certain factors point to this rise in demand for custom homes, namely the government’s announcement that they’ll be introducing a ‘Help to Build’ scheme, with £150 million of funding going towards starting a “self-building revolution”.

It’s hoped that the scheme will make self-build homes a viable, realistic option when it comes to getting onto the property ladder, with lower deposit mortgages being offered to encourage more interest.

Things to consider when building your own home

Sense says that you can’t just dive into a home build without any prior planning and graft, but that’s not to say that you’ll be up to your knees in bricks and mortar and manual labour either. 

To get you all set to start your self-build journey, we’ve compiled some FAQs of things to consider: 

How much does it cost to build a house?

Of course, the cost of building a house firstly depends on the size of the house you’re wanting to build. Generally speaking, estimated building costs per square metre are £1,000 - £3,000. 

The average UK property is a three-bedroom house of around 74 square metres in size, putting the cost of a self-built home between £133,000 and £222,000.

Is a self-build cheaper than buying?

Again, size matters here, but if you’re willing to remain reserved with your property’s proportions and stick to the average square footage, a self-build can be cheaper than buying a property. 

By building your own home, you’re able to start saving from the off; your stamp duty bill should be lower given that the only tax due is on the cost of the land, not the value of an entire house. What’s more, you’re able to factor in other savings along the way, such as reclaiming 20% of value-added tax on materials and subsequent costs. 

Experts estimate that come completion, a self-built home can be valued around 20% higher than the cost of the land and construction fees.

What is the most expensive part of building a house?

Framing is the most expensive factor involved when constructing a self-built home, and the bigger the house, the more expensive this part of the process will be. 

Where can I build my own home?

To build your own home, you’ll need to purchase land and obtain planning permission or locate a self-build plot. There are various means of doing this that, thanks to technology, are a lot easier to navigate. 

• Contact an expert, there are plenty of companies out there that can provide access to a list of available plots.

• Visit auctions, many plots are sold through this means, so researching local agents and bidding could be your best bet.

• Survey the local area, thanks to technology such as Google Maps you’re able to scan whole neighbourhoods with ease. Keep an eye out for detached homes with larger plots, side gardens and infill land and you could be on the right track.

• Check local authority websites, recent planning applications are available to the public here, allowing you to contact the owner or agent directly via their included details. 

Do I need planning permission?

For the majority of self-builds, you will need to obtain planning permission. You’re also likely to need planning permission for the likes of large outbuildings, extensions and builds or improvements in select areas or concerning listed buildings.

Smaller additions to a building and home improvements can usually be made without planning permission under Permitted Development.