Where to spend and where to save on your project
Once you’ve got your self-build budgets and a cost breakdown in place, you’ll need to stick to the numbers so your project doesn’t swallow up the contingency and run over. Here are eight tips on where to spend and where to save.
1. Use an oak frame designer
When considering your Self-build budgets, invest in a designer who understands oak framing so that the design they produce doesn’t have any hidden surprises. We can turn an architect’s drawings into a buildable oak frame house, but why pay for the design process twice? Come to us first, and tap into the expertise of our oak frame design team to achieve a buildable oak frame design to your brief first time.
2. Pay a quantity surveyor
A quantity surveyor will take your plans, calculate material quantities and give you a detailed cost breakdown. You’ll pay for this service but it could save you in the long run. You’ll have a true picture of prices that you can use as a benchmark when shopping – and for negotiating.
3. Use builders’ merchants
You’re going to be buying lots of materials so it’s worth setting-up a trade card with the merchants you plan to go to. You’ll get a discount, access to trade prices and cheap delivery if you’re local. Independents may be willing to negotiate or match online prices. Some offer a service where they will work out material quantities and prices from a set of drawings.
4. Spend on the structure
Ultimately you want your house to be structurally sound and look good. Think carefully about the quality and aesthetics of roof tiles, bricks, wood cladding, windows and doors, which would be an expensive mistake to get wrong. Our oak frames can be as elaborate or as simple as you like. We can also help save costs by using softwood framing in hidden areas like utility rooms and bathrooms.
5. Save on your kitchen
You don’t need to go all out to have a kitchen that performs well and looks aesthetically pleasing. Without a high street presence, online companies like DIY Kitchens cut out the middle man, and they’ll send you door samples to look at. Howdens also have good deals but only do business directly with trades. Your builder can get a price for you, or you may get an even bigger discount if you employ a kitchen fitter who uses Howdens on a regular basis. Mix standard and high-end fittings: an affordable cupboard with luxury handles or a stone worktop, for example.
6. Save on your bathrooms
Buy the same suite for multiple bathrooms and switch-up the look with a different wall paint colour and size/colour variation of the same tile. A bulk purchase from a local plumber’s merchant is likely to get you the best deal – you may be pleasantly surprised at the range of bathrooms they have for sale. Use their knowledge to learn the pros and cons of the quality and material finishes of products in different price brackets, so you can make an informed decision for your budget. If you already have ideas that seem expensive, consider simple swaps: an acrylic freestanding bath instead of a cast iron rolltop, or luxury vinyl floor tiles that look like porcelain.
7. Save labour costs
There’s always loads to do to keep a site ticking over while a house is being built. Taking delivery of materials, moving them into place ready to be used, tidying-up at the end of each day – even supplying tea and biscuits to keep everyone’s spirits up! If you feel confident, then you may want to get more involved doing jobs like laying the underfloor heating, fitting insulation, tiling, decorating – just let trades get on with jobs that are skill-specific.
8. Spend or save on project management?
Project managing yourself can help with self-build budgets – but only if you have the time, motivation and commitment. The most successful project-managing self-builders treat the role as a full-time job, managing the budget, researching and ordering materials, organising deliveries, employing trades – all to a planned timeline. Remember the longer you’re on site, the longer you’ll be paying for scaffolding, site insurance and sometimes rent or a mortgage.
