Self-builders - how did you find your plot/s?

[disco_monkey79]

Hi

I have seen several threads from people who are/will be undertaking self-builds, and I was wondering how you came by the land in which to build on.

I need to move, and am seriously considering this (as well as various other options) as a possibility. However, I must be doing something wrong as the plots I find for sale are far too big, and would suit someone looking to build a number of properties.

Thanks

 

[powertools]

We did a self build house in 2015 in the garden of our existing house that we had lived in for 30 years.
In my opinion there are 3 options build in a garden you already own, buy a house with a large garden you could get permission to build on or buy a run down house in the area you want to live and get permission to demolish it and build what you want.

 

[MikeG.]

Finding your plot is far and away the biggest headache of the whole self-build thing. Some councils now and then will designate a development as self-build, but by far and away the best way of acquiring suitable land is have a family member with a suitable bit of spare ground. Local developers will have deeper pockets than self-builders for the better small sites. I mean, look in the Self Build magazine list of plots by all means, but by the time they're featured in there they've generally proved difficult to sell for some reason or other.

 

[topchippyles]

Auctions/word of mouth from builders/estate agents/Local planning office

 

[RobinBHM]

The market unfortunately is rather well sewn up by developers, so the best plots dont get advertised to the public. I wouldnt like to suggest estate get finder fees.....

Patience and networking.

 

[flying haggis]

We found our plot via a local estate agent, perhaps different areas of the country have more plots available than others though

 

[doctor Bob]

I bought a derelict house, with planning permission for a new build in the garden. All through an estate agent, but we also got to know the owners quite well and I think they preferred to sell to us rather than a builder who would have tried to do 4 houses.
Paid a fair market price for it but the new house is worth far more than what I've paid in total.

I wasn't even thinking about doing a self build, just curious and fell in love with the plot.

A self build is extremely stressful by the way, so finding a plot from my point of view was the easy part.

 

[disco_monkey79]

Thanks all for the replies. I'll keep hunting.
Duly noted re the stress levels - I am conscious that this would be the hardest option. I am researching all options, and keeping everything on the table at this stage.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

You haven't mentioned whereabouts you're looking - Scotland has a lot of reasonably priced building plots around the place (they're seldom located near anywhere people might work etc. though!).

 

[whiskywill]

Many years ago our local authority devised a "local" plan identifying odds and ends of land as "for industry", "playground" or "for housing". I had a full copy of this plan for use in my sideline of preparing house extension and new build plans. Being included on this list suggested that planning consent would be almost automatic so I approached the local farmer who I believed owned the land I had in mind.
He immediately agreed to sell at a very favourable price and everything from then on was straightforward. I was even able to sell a third of the plot off for 30% more than I paid for the whole plot. So effectively free land.

 

[powertools]

For over 30 years we lived in a large 4 bed detached house sitting on a large plot that also had a 1400sq foot workshop and parking for at least 8 vehicles in a village that we would have never wanted to move away from.
The time came that we reached the conclusion that we needed to down size but we still had a need for parking space and a workshop plus space for the wife's rabbits and chickens and veg garden.
If every house in the village had come up for sale not one of them would have fulfilled our needs so we applied for permission to build the house of our dreams on the plot we had retaining enough parking and garden space and still being left with a 700 sq ft workshop.
We are delighted with house we now have but unless you have a particular need to live in a one of house in a certain area don't even dream about trying to find a building plot it just isn't worth it.