Like the purchase of an existing house, a self-build dream can only become a reality if the behind-the-scenes work is done properly. Here at Travis Perkins we have set up an entire website, dedicated to helping you plan that dream. We can help you every step of the way to gauge the materials costs and ensure that your dream is fulfilled to time and to budget.
If you are taking your first steps into the self-build arena, here is some food for thought when it comes to the sale of land. We have also prepared information on gaining permission to build, costing your project, getting the most help possible from the VAT man, finding a reputable builder, ideas to whet your appetite and events to visit throughout the country.
Finding the ideal spot
The first stage of any self-build dream is finding suitable land for sale and gaining permission to build. If you aren't lucky enough to have inherited a suitable plot, there are a wealth of places to look on the internet to find a plot at the right price. So, why not visit www.plotfinder.net to see what plots are available in the area you want to build? To ease your searching still further, we are offering all Travis Perkins customers the opportunity to search plotfinder.net for FREE for the first week. All you have to do is click on the link below and register your details. You will then be sent a special unique token and instructions on how to start your search.
Taking the plunge
The old adage, "it's not what you know but who you know" is nowhere more relevant than when looking for a plot of land. Making sure that you are one of the first to hear about new plots of land that come onto the market will require you to use a variety of outlets, ranging from estate agents and online plot search facilities, to land agents and auctions.
Using the agents
A ring around the local estate agents is well worth considering as some will have building land on their books as well as existing properties. Another agent that is sometimes overlooked is the land agent. Although they will take a cut of the plot price, land agents can be an invaluable help in finding land from a wide range of sources. Land agents in your area can be sourced via the internet.
Going, going, gone...
The word "auction" conjures up sales of furniture in old barns, but land auctions can be an excellent source of reasonably priced land. Obviously the same rules apply to land auctions as to normal ones - always have in mind an upper limit you are willing to pay for the land and you will have to do your research beforehand on the plot of land, as there are very few comebacks once the land is purchased.
Also, if you are interested in a particular area, why not take a drive around and see if there are derelict buildings or other viable plots of land that might warrant a discreet conversation or phone call?
One area worth considering when looking for a plot of land is the replacement build option. Obviously this is only recommended for those areas where it is particularly difficult to find viable land by any other means and where it is financially viable. So, when looking into this option, work alongside local estate agents to find the right property for sale.
Whether you are looking to purchase brownfield or greenfield land, it is worth getting experts involved from the outset, to make sure that the land is suitable for your self-build dreams. They will do the prerequisite searches to see if there is any planning permission already in existence on the plot, as well as rights of access issues and if you get to the purchase stage, register your ownership details with the Land Registry.
Although it might seem overwhelming, the first step is always the hardest. Why not pick up the phone and call a few local agents, do some online searches and see whether that particular patch of paradise is within your grasp this year?
