Hello - long-term planning

[DickieB]

Hi All.

 

My first post - I’m here to absorb as much as I can for a while, I have nothing planned yet, but I’ve wanted to self-build for as long as I can remember.
 

Having grown up in a Swedish-style bungalow, most houses just don’t do it for me, they could be so much more. Hopefully self-building can achieve this.

 

We are in our mid-fifties (OK, mid to late 😳) and currently live in a traditional Victorian semi. We’d like to build or renovate for a “forever” home, with at least the potential for a downstairs bedroom and bathroom. We have probably enough capital to buy a plot and get foundations down, but will need to sell our place to do any more. Unfortunately our current house has cracking so we’re in the middle of an interminable subsidence claim with our insurers. So that, plus the downwards movement in the property market, means we’ll be hanging on for a year or two before committing to a plot unless the perfect one appears and is irresistible.

Our only experience is the renovation of a cold and damp Welsh farmhouse which (combined with a 100% second home council tax premium, soon to be 200%) eventually defeated us. We learnt a lot about not trusting builders. ☹️

 

Looking forward to the adventure (I think)!

 

P.S. so many acronyms already! Is there a sticky post or similar that lists them all?

[Jilly]

Congratulations! At least you know about the stress… My observation might be that it’s easier to live on site (rent can gobble up a budget with unforeseen delays). It could be a risky strategy to sell your house part way thru a build, because the subsidence claim might slow things down a lot. You have to accept roughing it tho’. Have  you considered a renovation of a bungalow or similar? 

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by Jilly

[wardie9025]

Hi @DickieB, im new here also and just found this.....

 

Haven't looked through it yet but looks good on first glance!