Why should you build your own home?

Building your own home is no easy feat and one that most people can only dream of.

How often, like me, have you spent watching Grand Designs, imagining what you would do if you were to design your home? Mostly glass or mostly wood? Traditional house or something more suited to your personality?

   

But before you can begin deciding what it will look like, you need to consider, why would you build your own home?

It’s something my husband and I have always wanted to do. If you haven’t already seen on my Instagram, we’re currently attempting to buy our second home. We’ve both agreed that this probably isn’t going to be our forever home. That’s because we want to build our forever home.

Now I know that it’s a pretty big goal to have. Around 240,000 new homes are built in the UK alone each year. But, according to Self Build Zone, around 55,000 people signed up to the Right to Build register in January 2020 to be approved to self build a house.

 

What are the pros of building your own home?

Now, let’s get to the exciting part: why building your own home is actually amazing. There are plenty of reasons why it could be one of the best decisions you ever make.

Pro #1: You get complete creative control

Every single aspect of your home can be designed exactly as you want it. This means you get to decide the layout, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, where windows and doors are positioned, and even the width of your hallways. You can choose materials, colours, finishes, flooring, and fixtures that perfectly reflect your style.

The benefit of this level of control is that your home is truly yours. You don’t have to compromise on things that matter most, whether that’s a huge kitchen island, a home office, or a cosy reading nook. Even small decisions, like where plug sockets or light switches go, can make day-to-day living more convenient.

For anyone who’s bought an existing home, it’s easy to feel frustrated when you can’t change structural aspects or have to spend years redecorating to make it feel like yours. With a self-build, the house is ready from day one.

Pro #2: You can choose your ideal location

Location is one of the biggest compromises when buying an existing home. You may want a house in a particular village, town, or school catchment, but the houses that fit your needs might not exist, or could be out of budget.

With a self-build, you can find a plot that matches your ideal location and design a home to fit it. You can choose which direction the house faces, the size of your garden, or even the shape of your driveway. Want a south-facing patio for maximum sunlight? Or perhaps privacy from neighbours is a top priority? All of these choices are possible.

Another benefit is that you can consider local amenities, transport links, and future development plans when choosing your plot, helping ensure your home’s value remains strong over time.

Pro #3: It’s usually better value for money

Building your own home can often cost less per square metre than buying an existing one, especially if you want a bigger or more customised space. Research shows that the average UK home costs significantly more per square metre than the estimated cost of a self-build, meaning you could get a larger, tailor-made home for less.

Additionally, self-builds avoid the hidden costs that come with existing properties. Older homes often need updates, repairs, or complete redecorations to meet your taste or modern standards, and these costs can quickly add up. With a self-build, your home is brand new, built to the latest regulations, and designed to suit you from the outset.

Pro #4: You can create a properly energy efficient home

One of the biggest advantages of building your own home is that you can integrate energy-efficient and sustainable technologies right from the start. Triple-glazed windows, high-quality insulation, solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy-efficient heating systems can all be incorporated during the build.

This isn’t just environmentally friendly, but can also save you thousands of pounds on bills over the years. Modern homes are also designed to minimise drafts, heat loss, and energy waste, creating a more comfortable living environment. For families or anyone planning to live in the home long-term, this is a major advantage.

Pro #5: There’s reduced maintenance costs immediately after the build

With a brand-new build, everything is up to current building regulations, which means your home is safer, more secure, and built to last. There’s no worry about outdated wiring, leaking roofs, or damp patches.

Maintenance costs are lower in the early years, giving you peace of mind that you’re not inheriting someone else’s problems. And because everything is new, warranties often cover key elements for years, adding another layer of protection.

Pro #6: It offer long-term investment potential

A self-built home that’s designed with modern tastes, energy efficiency, and quality materials in mind often holds or increases in value over time. Buyers are drawn to homes that have been well-planned, future-proofed, and cared for from day one.

You can also increase resale value by incorporating popular features such as open-plan kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, or flexible spaces that can be adapted as family needs change. This makes a self-build not just a home for today, but a smart long-term investment.

Pro #7: It gives you so much emotional satisfaction

Perhaps the most rewarding part of a self-build is the emotional satisfaction. There’s something incredibly special about creating a home from scratch, watching it take shape, making all the decisions along the way, and eventually moving into a house that’s completely yours.

It’s more than bricks and mortar—it’s a reflection of your vision, taste, and effort. Many people describe a self-build as a labour of love, and that sense of pride and achievement is hard to replicate with an existing property.

 

 

Why you must take cost into account when building your own home

There are a number of costs associated with building your own home, including the purchase of land, paying the labourers/tradesmen and buying building supplies. Don’t forget to include additional extras such as legal fees and stamp duty.

But one of the benefits of building your own home is that you can own a bigger home in a location of your choice for less than the cost of a house that already exists.

How much does it cost to build your own house?

In 2020, the estimate cost of a self build is between £1,800 and £2,500 per square metre. However, you should add an additional 10 to 15% to your estimated cost as a contingency should anything go wrong or should the build take longer than expected.

The most expensive aspect of building a house is the structure itself and the roof. Other aspects that you have to consider are the plumbing and heating, electrics, internal carpentry (kitchen, built-in cupboards, etc.), plastering, drainage and foundations.

It’s also important to factor in insurance, such as site insurance. I cannot stress how important it is to have self-build insurance. It could cover the new work that’s been done, the existing structure (if there was one) as well as the rest of the site. It protects you again fire, theft, flood and even vandalism. You wouldn’t get a new car without insuring it so please don’t do the same with your new build.

   

The average UK home is around 75m2. At a cost of £2,000 per square metre, this would cost you a total of £150,000 to build yourself. However, most people choose to build a house that’s bigger than the average.

Is it cheaper to build your own house?

According to new research by Rightmove, the average asking price for a home in England and Wales is nearly £3,000 per square metre. This is more than the estimated cost of building your own, as mentioned above.

Therefore, to buy the average UK-sized home of 75m2 would cost around £225k, a whopping £75,000 more than if you were to build the same house yourself.

But it’s not just about the cost. A home that’s already built may need some fixes, updates and redecorating to your taste and these things all cost money. A new build can be designed to your own tastes at the time it’s being built, meaning you may not need to redecorate for years to come.

Can I claim VAT back on building materials?

You can claim some money back on the supplies that have been sue to build a new house. This is why it’s important to keep the receipts for any materials that have been bought and keep a note of each item.

However, there are certain terms that need to be followed in order to qualify for a refund. You have three months to apply once the build has finished and the materials

To apply, just fill out the claim form on the government website.

You can’t claim back on items that were purchased with no VAT, for materials that aren’t permanently attached to the building itself or for fitted furniture, electrical and gas appliances or carpets. There’s more information around what you can’t claim back in the form linked above.

 

How to choose your perfect location for a self-build

When you’re buying a house that is already built, there are always compromises that have to be made.

You may want a house in a particular village but it only offers 3-beds and you want a 4-bed. You may want a large garden but are limited in towns and cities.

Though finding the perfect plot could take time, you’ll have more flexibility when it comes to your build. You can choose which way the house will face, how big you want the garden to be and the shape of it. You can even decide how big of a driveway you want. The options are endless and each decision can be made by you to create the perfect house.

   

How to pick the perfect plot and location for your self-build

First, you need to understand how buying land works. Before purchasing, you need to ensure that the plot will come with planning permission, that you can build on it, and that the land doesn’t have any issues, such as water-logging or aggressive plants, like Japanese knotweed. There are a lot of things to check, so ensure you do this properly to prevent problems further down the line that could be costly.

You also need to know where to look for land. There are estate agents who can do this for you, but these plots are often in high demand and can be costly. Instead, you could study some maps to see where there are gaps or backland plots that could work.

You should do your research too. Databases such as Plotfinder can give you an indication of what you can expect to pay as well as helping to find the plot for your perfect home.

 

Building your own home is undoubtedly a big undertaking, but as we’ve seen, the rewards can be huge. From complete creative control and choosing your perfect location, to better value for money, energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and long-term investment potential, there are plenty of reasons why so many people are taking the self-build route.

The emotional satisfaction of moving into a home that you’ve designed from scratch, tailored to your needs, and built to last, is something that’s hard to put a price on.

Of course, building your own home requires careful planning, research, and budgeting. But with the right plot, the right team, and the right insurance in place, it’s a goal that’s entirely achievable. Whether you’re dreaming of a modern eco-friendly home, a cosy family nest, or a forever home designed exactly how you’ve always imagined, a self-build can make that dream a reality.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself watching Grand Designs and thinking “I could do that,” maybe now is the time to start planning your own home. After all, there’s nothing quite like living in a house that’s truly yours from the ground up.