Episode 28 - Helen and Simon share their Self Build Journey
Apr 25, 2025
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Join Helen and Simon as they take you through their adventurous journey of building a three-story dream home. They candidly share lessons learned while navigating planning permissions and rising costs. Discover their strategies for land acquisition and the importance of trust with landowners. Get insights into managing a self-build while juggling full-time jobs and the challenges of material logistics. Their experience reveals the significance of clear communication and careful planning, essential for any aspiring self-builder.
Helen and Simon's successful self-build journey was significantly aided by their real estate expertise, enabling effective negotiation and management of a challenging brownfield site.
Daily involvement and clear initial specifications during construction were critical for the couple to mitigate problems and ensure a smoother building experience.
Deep dives
Finding the Ideal Plot
The journey of finding a suitable plot for self-building can often be challenging, but for the guests, it began serendipitously during the lockdown when they discovered a brownfield site listed as a development opportunity. This particular plot had a complicated history, previously serving as a petrol station and later a garden machinery sales shop, making it less appealing to typical buyers. Leveraging their real estate backgrounds, they were able to negotiate the purchase without prior planning permissions, proving instrumental in navigating the complexities of the land. Their expertise allowed them to confidently reassure the landowner of their ability to manage the property's redevelopment despite its contamination issues and lack of planning approval.
Effective Project Management
Managing the construction process closely and being present on-site each day significantly contributed to the project's success. The couple took charge of overseeing their self-build while simultaneously balancing their full-time jobs, emphasizing the vital role of hands-on involvement in decision-making. This approach allowed them to mitigate any potential problems promptly and ensure that critical elements like wall placements and electrical socket locations were executed correctly. Their commitment to daily oversight not only streamlined the project but also kept communication with the builders and contractors efficient, reducing delays in decision-making.
Planning and Specifications Matter
Establishing clear plans and specifications from the beginning proved essential in avoiding costly and time-consuming changes during construction. The couple highlighted the importance of having a well-defined specification to avoid making later modifications that can complicate timelines and budgets. For instance, they experienced challenges with finalizing the design details of their staircase, which underscored their lesson to nail down specifications early on. By committing time to outline preferences before beginning construction, self-builders can save themselves significant stress and expenses down the line, ensuring a smoother building experience.
