building your own home

[kerrymill]

Can anyone give me a rough idea of what it would cost to build a 3-4 bed house. I know costs must vary greatly, but if there is a typical average figure that would do. I don't have the vaguest idea. Thanks.

[rampart]

Where do you think you would want to build?

[kerrymill]

Probably Cambridgeshire.

[rampart]

I looked at this site:

http://www.homesonsale.co.uk/pages/15.htm

and it looks to me as though there are plenty of houses for sale in Cambridgeshire with three bedrooms for about �150,000 to �185,000. I have never built a custom home, but I would suspect that your cost per square foot would be somewhat higher if you build a home yourself than if you purchase one already constructed. It should be slightly higher for a couple of reasons: if a developer is building several homes at once, the overall expenses can be reduced and certain fixed costs are spread among the cost of several homes. Further, when building one's own custom home, I would think there could be great temptation to add a few items here and there to make it just right, but that would add to that total cost.

Here is another site that might be useful to you:

http://www.selfbuildhome.org.uk/self-build-land-costs.htm

I hope that helps a little.

Good luck!

[kerrymill]

Thanks very much.

[buildersmate]

Work on �1000 per square metre of house, excluding the cost of land

[KARL]

Buildersmate provided a very useful "ballpark" response. However, an awful lot depends on the materials to be used and the standard of construction (meaning not just workmanship). If you want to build for the future you will include features such as heavy insulation, triple glazing, etc. all of which will come back in saved energy costs and also more expensive space and comfort features generally. Using the round figure given you can arrive at a decision as to whether you want to take it any further, then draw up very rough plans and specification to use as basis for quotes - these will get closer to the real cost. But beware, unless you are literally building without a contractor, make certain that before making any agreement you draw up a proper specification and a construction contract (legally bingding documents stating how, when, at what cost and who holds the reins at each and every stage plus what happens in disputes. The consumer is very much at a disadvantage in the courts (where you will end up in a dispute) and there is absolutely no effective help elsewhere unless you deliberately schedule binding adjudication by appointed expert(s). The media are a help to those they feature but they are a tiny, tiny fraction of the disputes which actually occur. Through a combination of procedure and actual practice, the courts consistently favour the seller of services. It is likely many contractors will not like being bound by a strict contract but it is seriously risky taking such people on without a good contract. How much can you afford to lose (results and money) through that route ?

[KARL]

Just a small P.S. Please be aware that self regulation by the trades does not work. There are lots of good tradesmen and contractors around and I have had the pleasure of the services of several (now personal friends) but notably one bad one who did/does his best to ruin my life. Membership of any of the trades bodies simply confirms that that individual/firm has paid a subscription to a type of club who will then look after the member's interests. The trades associations can NOT be relied upon to be impartial or support scrutiny by the consumer of the member's conduct with a view to enforcing good practice or correct bad practice - if they did so in every case brought to their attention the members would stop paying their subscription and the association would go bankrupt. Consequently, when the member is indefensible, the association is very likely to wash their hands of the matter. Be careful and guard against the worst and be fair to whoever is working for you, then if you have a good contractor both of you will have nothing but satisfaction out of the experience. It is extremely satisfying to complete a project with the help of a good tradesman/contractor.