Building your own home, either through direct labour or a contractor, is a huge task that many say they would never do again once they are finished! But it is also a huge achievement to complete and to have your own home as you planned and designed and got it finished. It can be a hugely daunting task too with so much information out there, but at the same time, still not so much information. There are some very good websites and groups that help provide information through other peoples experiences, but it can be hard to find exactly what you are looking for.
For this reason, I decided to publish some articles that come from the questions I have received over the years from self builders. Most of my articles will relate to budgets and construction costs, because on a daily basis, that is what we do, but I’ve tried to incorporate some other general discussions about self building. It is all basic common sense, but hopefully it will provide information and discussion to many of the self builders who have no construction experience and who may feel unease at asking what may seem like basic questions. This hopefully answers some of those questions and will give some further insight into what to look out for when building your own home. The articles are intended not as a finality of everything that you may do, but to provide some insight and to help the thought process of where to start and what to watch out for as you complete your project.
We are always open to emails or calls for any further discussions or questions that you think we may be able to help with. And if you are reading this blog as someone about to embark on your self build, the best of luck with it and enjoy the ride!
Those of you directed from “Self Build and Renovations Ireland” on Facebook, thank you for the visit and hope you find it worthwhile.
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/facebook-self-build-group/
1. How Much Will My House Cost?
The most common question a Quantity Surveyor will get but not as easy an answer as some may think it is…
http://hantonqs.ie/how-much-will-my-house-cost/
2. Why Use a Quantity Surveyor?
The role of a QS may be somewhat misunderstood or not known by people embarking on a one off build, this blog helps identify what a QS can do for you as you start out on your project.
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/why-use-a-quantity-surveyor/
3. Direct Labour or Building Contractor
You have planning permission, you are ready to go, but which option suits you best? Direct labour or building contractor? Not everyone will chose the same, so we discuss some of the pros and cons and discussions about which option may suit you.
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/self-build-or-contractor/
4. Let’s Build My Dream House
Building your home is a big step, so make sure you do it how you want it done. We discuss how there is lots of advice available and lots of ideas, but always remember you will be the one living in your home!
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/lets-build-my-dream-house/
5. I want, I want, I want
Everyone would love to be able to have an endless pot of money to do the house to the way they dream of, but sometimes it just isn’t possible and we have to make compromises and change things to suit our budget.
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/i-want-i-want-i-want/
6. I’ve Got My Quotes, What Next?
You might think the hard work is done, all your quotes back, but what do you do next? Here we discuss how to ensure all quotes are comparable and what things to look out for prior to entering into a contract with your preferred builder.
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/ive-got-my-quotes-what-next/
7. Oh, I built mine for much cheaper
Building your own home is expensive and it can be made worse by hearing others doing it for cheaper and no matter what you do, your costs are still higher than others you’ve heard. We discuss reasons why your costs may sound higher than others.
/http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/i-built-mine-for-much-cheaper/
8. Five of the most common mistakes
Doing a self build for most people is a learning curve as the project advances and once finished, it’s not unusual to have second thoughts or wishing you did something different. Whether it’s a door swinging the wrong way, a sink on the opposite wall or not enough storage in the kitchen, more often than not, something will bug you. So this list is the more common ones we’ve experienced from clients, there are many more that we could mention. It’s always best to plan ahead and try foresee any issues and rectify them during the build rather than after.
http://hantonqs.ie/hqs-blog/5-of-the-most-common-mistakes-in-a-self-build/