When asked by a UK building society* who would definitely like to have a home built to their own design, 60% said that they would, but had a variety of reasons why they had not done so, however all the reasons given were invalid. If these people had the correct information in front of them, far more would be able to get the advantage of a dream home at a sizable discount.
More people are becoming aware and over 20,000 a year or 13% of new builds in the UK, are what are called self builds, which means a home designed and built for an individual. Self build refers to the act of deciding to get a home built to your design, and possibly managing the build, not actually becoming a craftsman and constructing it yourself.
The role of the Self Build Homes Club is in education as to what can be done, and empowering and helping people to take this route to get an ideal home for them at around a 40% discount to other similar homes in their area.
This opens up the scope for both more people to get an affordable home, and for many others to have a home beyond what they would have expected, larger and finished to a better standard as well as to their own design.
The club achieves this in a number of ways, the most noticeable being the provision of public information on web sites and running free local presentation events, and for members assistance in analyzing what they want to do, and the research and knowledge they need to acquire to make this possible plus in practical help in finding building plots and proactively creating opportunities for members.
While there are some other local clubs and others self builders can join and may have some presentations, there is no other independent organization that goes beyond this to actually making it happen for members.
The two most noticeable unique features of the club is its independence, it gets no commissions from anyone, so is working just for the members, and its capability to directly assist members to get involved, from helping them identify the decisions they need to make, to helping them find a plot or arranging joint projects for a number of members to use larger multi plot sites.
This assistance is achieved by the use of work books to help members to make decisions or understand what decisions they need to make, and the stages involved in the build processes and by having consultants who both help the member to make a personal definition, to find the ideal building plot, and to move on to the next stage of planning the build, getting in quotes and helping them to find and appoint a project manager to manage the build for them if they wish. The club helps with negotiations with both the plot purchase and major contractors agreements where this help is wanted.
Other features include a large library of standard letters, forms and contracts, a system to plan and manage a build and a club trade card allowing materials to be obtained at trade prices. Trouble shooting help is also available should a problem be encountered.
There is also a points scheme that offers generous membership benefits, large grants towards their house cost, membership cost refunds and more, for those who help the club. This scheme also provides a route that allows people to join at no cost.
The club is not involved in providing mortgages, but many mortgage sources are available including many that provide stage payments during the build and provide 95% of both land and build costs.
Proactive projects go beyond this to finding suitable land for planning to be obtained and putting together groups of members with similar interests. It is an international club so while at first the UK members are likely to be building their dream homes here, in the future some may also go on to build a holiday home or property to rent out to fund a future pension in this or many other countries.
Affordable homes and other special projects expand the number of people who will be able to get a dream home, although with a 40% discount many more qualify now than realize it. The landmark homes project helps those looking for something a little more special.
While the range of services provided would be beyond what a person could afford to get outside the club, shared out amongst the members through a joining fee and subscription it is both affordable and very good value for money, with a number of different types of membership taking into account the amount of personal searching and help each type of development will require and where consultants time can be shared across meeting a number of members needs.
Membership of the Self Build Homes Club can be summarized as having the support and direct help to allow members to decide what they want to build, to find the plot and build their dream home as a considerable saving, all in a far faster time than most would expect.
*study results and other statistics is on the Statistics and sources page.
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Self Build Homes Club is an international club
and trading title of Self
Build Homes Club llc. Local services
to serve members are commissioned for the club by New
Atlantis International Services Corporation.
All major commissioned companies involved, have New Atlantis trust status.