Should I go for low U-Value

[ultramods]

I have finally sold my house and have almost had my offer accepted on a plot.

 

My original plan was to build a near passive house using passive slab, ICF walls and warm roof. However this will not be our forever home (currently 34), we plan to build our forever home in around 12 years time, in a more rural location, once our son has left home.

 

From a cost perspective I don't see the point potentially spending a lot of extra money reducing the u-value in the house, when we know we will be moving again.

 

I am still contemplating constructing the slab and ICF walls myself with the help of a local builder, only problem is there doesn't seam to be local builders with ICF experience.

 

I would also be willing to build the house, using timber frame or blocks, however this would probably mean that I couldn't get as involved in the construction, reducing chance to save some money.

 

We want to build a two storey house, around 260 sqm, the plot has mains gas.

 

Another issue is the property values in Aberdeen are still declining due to the slump in the oil price, which is another reason that I would prefer to spend less money on the house as I know I wont get the money back when I come to sell for the better u value.

 

Any suggestions on what we should do? 

Edited March 6, 2017 by ultramods

[ProDave]

I would suggest you go for a pretty standard timber frame design which is what we mostly "do" up here. That will be the standard stock house design so should be easy to sell. If you do what we did on our last house, that is pay a builder to build the shell then do the rest yourself you still have plenty of scope for doing work yourself.

 

12 years time is a long time so I won't even try and predict what the market will be doing then, but if someone had asked me 12 years ago when we had just completed our present house, I would never have believed 12 years on it would be almost impossible to sell.

[ultramods]

Thanks Dave. 

 

I am hoping Aberdeen will have diversified within 12 years.

 

We plan have a reasonably high spec and interesting architect designed house which should hopefully mean the house stands out when compared to a lot of the current houses in the area.

[Crofter]

Just to wave the banner for sticking with the low energy route:

There is a saying in boatbuilding that the first boat you build should be for your enemy, the second for your friend, and the third for yourself. Something similar may apply to houses- the learning curve is steep, and you might find yourself glad to have a chance to do a self build prior to building your forever home. You don't want your forever home to be full of things you wish you could have done differently.

 

So consider whether this house can be something of a trial run for some ideas or methods that you want to use in your next build. Obviously you will need to keep an eye on cost, but it would seem like a shame to embark on a completely different type of construction.

[gravelld]

You probably aren't spending _that_ much extra on a low energy house are you?

 

The only thing I'd be wary about is resale. Plenty of advice about this, but ensure you still have a heating system, or you have the pipe work, in case you need to show the less enlightened they can still waste their money on fossil fuels if that's what they want.