Self Build

This section currently being revised - new edition Jan 2005

Will also be available in easy to print format.

Introduction to self build- contents

To many the idea of self build brings up the image of living in a caravan on site up to your knees in mud for several years of hard labour. However a great many people are involved in self build and either just manage the build project or in many more cases use a  project manager to do this for them. 

Self build allows a margin of between 25% and 60% compared with buying a similar property in the same location. through the club approach we would expect most people to make a saving of at least 40%. 

The other reason many choose self build is to get extra quality, and the design of their choice. Rather than make a saving, many choose to have a larger  home for the same budget as they could get elsewhere, or one that is better finished.

Self build can also form the bases of a pension fund, either by doing a series of self builds to generate capital to invest elsewhere or by using self build as a very attractive way to become involved in the highly lucrative buy to let market. Although you may at first consider a property purchase for a pension to be a a buy to let investment operation only, becoming involved in a self build, providing the project can be properly managed, with a deal put together well with fixed price quotes in advance etc, allows you to get good properties at a substantial discount, that will often get a premium on the rental market. Using a  special short term mortgage while the build occurs and re-mortgaging based on the higher value when completed can produce  very high gearing, sometimes in excess of 100% of the cost.

In this section of the web site we are going to generally disregard if the property is for you, to let short term and then for your children or to build a pension plan with. The majority of the articles are therefore just as valid for everyone interested in self build.

Basic tutorial series. This series of articles is the equivalent of buying reports, or going on a course. We have kept them brief. and avoided repetition and the sales material often incorporated in other publications. 

You will also find some items discussed in more depth in the articles section and futuristic ideas in its own section.

As a member of the club, you will also get work books that look at different stages, and using questions, forms etc, allow you to identify the questions you need to ask and perhaps other areas you may need to consider, the work books are designed to be used with the tutorial series, allowing us to reduce the amount of duplication. I larger range of work books are currently being prepared, to extend this philosophy further, however not everyone need to work through all the work books. 

• Introduction -  what self build means and why do it
• The steps or stages 
• Funding
• The budget
• Finding a plot
• Access
• Planning permission
• Building regulations and inspectors
• Basic services
• Insurance
• Build styles, and aspects you may need to look at 
• Planning the development
• Help available to you
• Project management
• Subcontractors
• Buying supplies
• VAT - getting most of it back

This website should show a Self Build Homes Club title at the top and content bar down the left. If you have reached this page by some means that has not displayed it properly, for example from a search engine, please click here to load the website properly and show the UK home page and options. If this does not work click here to get to a site map.

Form-mail - a general purpose form, questions, feedback, and other contacts. It is quick to complete and covers most requirements. Pops up in a new window, close the window after use, to get back here.

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.