My wife and I are thinking of buying some land, with the intent of building a house.
Is it as stressful as people say?
Have the land in mind, would like to build a straw-bail house, oak framed, lime walled etc. Not sure if that is attainable on our budget (especially the oak frame), but f**k it, doing the self build route is the only way we could end up with a decent size (3 Bed) detached place on a nice plot.
Would very much like an acre or so for growing high brix foods and other 'hippy' stuff!
Yes i did jointly with a friend in latvia.
Not stressful for me as i worked on building sites from the age of 14 and had a knowledge of everything from groundwork up, we had to get a sparks in but between us we did everything else ourselves. Oh we brought in a firm for the roof.
We just did a bog standard house and not an eco one although we did dig out a basement for a kids den so we could have some peace and mind. We also have some land outside for growing veg patch but neither of us is out in latvia enough to do it properly.
I would go into WH Smiths and get a selection of building magazines for some good advice. We did a 5 bed house(big enough for both families at the same time) in latvia for £60,000 where you will spend most of your money is on the professionals fees like an Architect and you will also have to get it signed off along the way by a local housing inspector.
My best tips do not add anything down the line because it will result in the trades that come in like jointers or plumbers etc having to come back in and do extra and this will push up costs also the amount of houses and flats i have worked on or owned down the years that have had problems with flat roofs, avoid them. We decorated quite plainly as we use it for holidays and no one lives in it.
Check with the local council how much it will cost for yout to be connected to the local services, water etc, also if you are in an isolated location you may have to pay for the upkeep of the road leading to your property. I think now i heard from a friend that self builds now have to do the same as a housebuilder like wimpey and pay a fee which goes to social housing, not 100% sure on that though.
I did not find it stressful at all, but in one way or the other i have been in construction all my life and did a few renovations on buy to lets as well, go for it mate you seem an intelligent sort you will be fine.