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Finding the right building plot is a critical step in your self build journey. 

It can be very difficult to find a plot that fulfils your every requirement. But don’t worry we’re here to help!

The first step is figuring out where you want to live. This can be tricky at first but if you don’t have specific locations to search in you’re not going anywhere fast. Focus on an area, visit and spend some time there - enquire at shops and talk to locals. 

Once you have a few locations to target, you need to make a list of your essential requirements. Whether it’s cost, views, amenities etc., you need a way to rank plots against each other. This will make it easier to decide which plot is best for you.

Once you have a list of requirements, you’ll need to rank them in terms of how important they are. Is a great view more important than being close to amenities? If you’re having trouble finding a plot that meets all your requirements, you can focus on the things that are really important and drop a few of the less important requirements. This should help you find more relevant plots.

The planning process can be difficult to navigate and can seem like an insurmountable obstacle without the right approach. In this post we’ll clarify what planning is, how it’s different from building control, and among other things how Neat Living can help you. 

We also discuss the benefits of using the pre-application for planning service available from local authorities. It is a much underused tool which we discuss below. 

According to the Homebuilding & Renovating Self & Custom Build Market Report 2017, more than half of self build projects go over budget.

In fact, researchers surveyed over 500 self builders and reported that projects typically went over budget by a whopping 20% - so on a £250,000 project, that means spending an extra £50,000. That’s a lot of money to find, never mind at the end of a build. 

Let's get started - do you:

1. Want to know how much your self build project will cost you - and you want to get a grip on the main issues?

2. Want to reduce the chances of your self-build going over budget?

3. Want to get your numbers prepared - so you are ready to speak to a mortgage broker?

Great - then we've got a quick 5 min read that's perfect for you. Onwards!