Ben Adam-Smith

Ben Adam-Smith, an expert in creating detailed and realistic budgets for self builds, shares 10 tips for budgeting. They discuss the importance of a starter budget, dealing with provisional amounts, allocating costs for various trades and suppliers, setting a contingency, using a quantity surveyor, and making smart financial decisions. They also cover challenges in preparing strip foundations for a masonry build.

Ben Adam-Smith, self build expert, outlines 5 strategies for taking your land search into your own hands, including spreading the word to friends and family, utilizing social media, and seeking out connectors. They discuss the process of designing and printing flyers to target specific areas for land acquisition and explore different strategies for finding and purchasing land, such as checking notice boards and contacting big landowners. They also touch on the concept of sweat equity in self-building and introduce a quarterly progress call for community members.

Ben Adam-Smith shares his journey of finding a plot of land for his eco home project, including challenges with the legal process and excitement about ancestral connections. He also discusses updates, plans, and calls to action for listeners to join the waiting list for his hub.

Ben Adam-Smith shares his 6-year house build journey through an audio journal. Topics covered include: interest in architecture, understanding of modern architecture, sustainability, passive house, searching for a plot of land, designing the house, meeting planning permission requirements, role of a project manager, dealing with unexpected issues, and reflections on comfort in their new passive house.

Ben Adam-Smith, a self-builder, reflects on his completed house build, discussing successes and setbacks. Topics include the challenges of budget updates and compromises, choosing driveway and path surfaces, checking window and door specifications, and the importance of creating a snagging defects list.