In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people taking the plunge and building their own homes. If you’ve been viewing properties for a while, and nothing has captivated you, it may be worth considering building from scratch. If you’re keen on the idea, here are some pros and cons to think about.

The pros

Bespoke design

When you build a house, you have complete control over the design, enabling you to create a bespoke home. You can choose everything from the materials you use to the fixtures and fittings. You can also put your stamp on the interior design of every room.

Space

Often, when you buy a plot of land, there’s more space available than there would be if you were buying property. You can select the size of the plot you want and decided the best position for your home. You can choose how much space to devote to the house and how much to leave for a garden and driveway. If you’re buying a rural piece of land, you won’t have to worry about annoying neighbors with building work and noisy machinery.

Cost

Every project is different, but building a house can often be significantly cheaper than buying an existing property. When you’re considering making offers, make sure you get the best price possible for the land you want. Once you have a figure in mind, work out how much the build will cost. You need to make sure you can afford everything before you submit a formal offer. It’s also a good idea to have contingency plans in place in case you run over.

The cons

Workload

Building a home is no walk in the park. It can often take a long time and involve blood, sweat, and tears. Before you take on a project, make sure you’re up for the ride ahead. There will probably be days when you question what you were thinking. But the lows only make the highs more enjoyable.

Timeframe

If you buy a house, you can often move in pretty swiftly. With a building project, it may be months, even years before you can move in once you’ve purchased the land. You can save time and money by calling in favors from generous friends and family. It’s also worth getting some equipment on site. You can hire everything from a truck-mounted crane to a forklift.

Unexpected costs

You may have a cost in mind, but this might be dramatically different to the price you end up paying for the entire build. Often, you hit unexpected hurdles, or things take longer, which boost labor costs.

If you’ve struggled to find your perfect home on a property search, you may be considering building a house. Building has its pros and cons, just like buying. Hopefully, this guide will help you to make your mind up. Weigh up your options, arrange some viewings, and get some quotes. It may also be beneficial to have a look at what other people have achieved. You’ll find features and pictures in magazines and on the Internet.