Ferdinand

The issue I see here is that if you get it wrong, everything else could be off all the way through and that could be costly and on your head.

Thanks for the feedback @LA3222

Welcome.

Normally you would expect 8-13% of project cost for full service. This article may be helpful. https://acarchitects.biz/self-build-architect-cost/

Welcome. IMO the key things are 1 - to have a short eg one page statement of what you want to achieve, and what you want to do yourself. There is a thread of a few of these somewhere. 2 - to keep referring back to it. 3 - to choose your consultants etc slowly and carefully. You will need time to learn; take it and use it to become a knowledgeable client. If you are starting from scratch say a year of reading around and mulling over. 4 - see their past work. They all have their own style / language, and you need it to match yours approximately. If it does, you don't have to pay them to learn a style that does. 5 - To control costs, define the scope carefully rather than browbeating about spending less. Consider where each can add value. eg architects for ideas and inspiration, architectural technicians if you really want a competent drawer of plans. There is value in engaging an architect up to the stage of getting PP, and then taking a reassessment. I had some reflections here, which may be useful. It was for a big project involving getting PP and selling with Outline PP to a developer. Ferdinand

BTW what happens if you get your dual planning permission, will you be building another one for next door? (I think you are the one waging a war of attrition on the planners to build two somethings smaller ?) (Signs off thread to go and put washing out). (For the record, it looks very nice.) F

I thought he meant the Millennium Dome (MD otherwise stands for Mandelson's a Dope *) where the teenyboppers (or aspirational or once-upon-a-time teenyboppers) go to .. er .. bop, but I see that the Excel Centre does look exactly like a larger than average shed. No links are drawn with any other sheds or not-sheds that may or may not feature in this shed-thread. (Looking forward to seeing a North Korean Agent tumbling down the roof of BJ's shed in the next JB film.) * Though of course he isn't. He was dubbed Lord Mandelbrot a lot of years ago for very good reasons.

The least expensive stage to change your mind on something or entertain alternatives ?. We need a buildhub version of the famous "design to product" tyre-on-a-tree cartoon.

I trust that is a sprung maple dance floor that opens to reveal a swimming pool beneath...

I think one issue not mentioned enough so far on the thread is Marketing Communications; it is a bugbear for people offering professional services to self-builders is finding the self-builders, and helping them find you. Routes to market are often informal, and you need to know where your customers will come from. On the project aspects, perhaps the experience of the client is - as said above - a key factor. For me I have a formal contract if it is being managed through a third party, and I would need to trust their own management arrangements. For example, this summer I have had a student house go through its 5-7 yearly makeover / market positioning refurb (nothing structural) in the 15-20k ballpark managed by the (very professional) lettings agent. They have contract paperwork, and I have a normal Letting Agent agreement with them. If I have a refurb or work (say in the 2k-20k range) done myself I would not normally have a formally written formal contract, but may have a well written letter of requirements plus a signed copy from the contractor, or it could just be on written or verbal instructions and trust, or a written quote based on whatever their terms are and being reasonable. It would be hands on management with visits at least daily. Resolving any issues by agreement and conversation would be the norm, but I would be working with either regular tradesmen, or those who have been recommended. But then the individual elements would be considerably less than 20k. The biggest would be just a few thousand eg a rewire or a cental heating or a roof. Ferdinand

Welcome. I'm on the Derbyshire / Notts border. My favourite gardening programme is Aberdeen based - and I work on the principle that anything that will grow there will probably grow here. I'd say consider being on grid but not totally dependent on it, which may not be that much less green. Ferdinand

Well it wasn't as if my original heckle wasn't blunt ... ???

I think "mandatory or not" is the wrong question. "Useful or not" is the right question. If you are not on a bowling green, it is a very good basis for everything else. F

If there are any small bits of contamination you know about, consider digging those first as appearance in a report may cause a bigger activity. eg If a shed has had lead paint in it for half a century.

I think the key to understanding Ecology BS is that they are small - they only write about £40m of mortgages a year. And I suspect (don't know) that they are actually very well run.

There are two sides to this - investor and borrower. Just thoughts. The control with crowd funding is with the platform not the investor. In general, suspect the well developed funding infrastructure and many options in this country makes it difficult for them. I am only aware personally of one self-builder who uses them, and that was one of our members who used Folk2Folk, who do have a track record. But I understand that they have stopped doing self-build funding. Their main business is crowdfunded loans secured against commercial buildings. Investor side 1 - To me, crowd funding platforms are still a bit short on track record for this area. It does not yet for me pass the gift-horse test. 2 - There is a long history of innovative-looking get rich quick ideas in the property sector, wide boys and non-transparent deals, and it all going either missing or tits-up. And some of it can walk a bit too close to the line. Professionals and developers are still quite shy, imo for good reason, and every so often there is some sort of scandal. 3 - They would normally offer investors a 5-10%+ return at present. That is a lot for a self-builder to carry at present. 4 - I am not really convinced that any of them are self-build experts, which is what would be needed. I could be wrong - Have not looked at them all. Borrower side 4 - I can see it maybe for upfront or build or bridging costs, but is dependent on the build succeeding and a robust payback method afterwards. If a borrower cannot borrow from a bank, that is a telltale that they could be a high risk, or the crowdfund is the last chance saloon. 5 - The indeterminate end of self-build projects is a difficult-to-manage risk. 6 - The lack of experience of most self-builders is also a risk. 7 - I am not clear what sort of verification they run on borrowers. Pro developers would normally have other assets, and so could be gone after. If self-builders have other assets they will often be using them to fund their contribution to a build. All of the above is open to debate. One alternative is a private loan arranged via a local solicitor. Ferdinand

Is the principle not that you ignore everything we say and do it your own way that we all tell you that it will be a disaster, and it takes 3 times as long? As evidenced by the sprayed ceiling? That way fups are reduced by 67% per unit time because you have only done the other 33% of the project? Ferdinand PS No abusive, prejudiced, anti-@pocster assumptions or unwarranted and unjustified floccinaucinihilipilifications have been made in this post. PPS /lie PPPS Have a Fogcutter and you will not remember any of it anyway. PPPPS Before you do, where does one find that sort of delusional optimistic SWMBO? I just got clearance from the medics for a sort-of social life.

I don't see the sense of not designing one in, as we - and our children or parents or friends - are all as likely as anyone to spend time in a wheelchair or have a leg off later. I think a few people have also arranged sloped paths to the another door round the house. I am in an older house, with steps, and I made mine on top of the existing path for a relative from adjustable support pads and big slabs. It will stay, and be flanked by spillover planting and river pebbles the other side. But still be removable in a single day. At least know how you will do one in future, even if you don't have one now. F

Is that for storage or use? Have a look at some garage gym type designs, which can cover a lot of different exercises. If you are going to put steppers and walkers in there, the space will soon vanish but things like eg rowers can store on end.

My new blueberry grove, for one. And making it a bit less obvious whether the car is there or not etc. Can't mention the rest - don't want @pocster to turn green.

I think it may make sense to keep water out, but that would be for potential freeze / thaw damage. Is a B&B floor not basically the same as a motorway bridge? F

Backlands development is a big red flag in a *lot* of places. The impression I have is that bungalows are favoured, and multiple houses in a cul-de-sac may be more favoured than singles as they are a windfall site for the LA. But it is often different in each locality. So I would do what homework you can first, starting on the Council website with what has succeeded in the past. F

Interesting. I am now wondering about how to make it more private and considering a solid gate and the implications.

And welcome.

It's up to you, based on what your abiilities are and perhaps more importantly where you want to put your personal effort to add value and quality. If you have done it before one option is to use one of the previous architects who does not hate you now (?) in a capacity as a paid-for-time consultant or "lunch out at the pub" mentor. I have a retired friend previously employed as an architect by my dad in the early 1970s who is willing to answer questions, give feedback, or do small reports etc on that type of basis as and when. There are plenty of free or cheap packages available for you to do the design side. I think plenty on here have done it ... try the blogs. I would suggest reading the Jeremy Harris blog, as I think he documented vicissitudes of the process side of things in most detail http://www.mayfly.eu/ . He is rather an unusually resourceful person, though - and currently not around on BH. I like to do everything myself once, so I understand it for next time. Ferdinand