14 tips to finding your perfect plot

Finding a plot for a self-build isn't always easy, as the chances are you will be up against stiff competition from builders, land finders and other potential self-builders, but knowing where to start and putting in the legwork will set you in good stead to find your ideal location.

- JO MESSENGER

1 Keep an open mind

Perfect plots rarely exist, so having very rigid requirements of what you are looking for - such as a level site or a greenfield location - could create insurmountable difficulties for yourself. Try to be flexible where you can and manage your expectations. Think about exactly why you want to build, what you want to achieve, what elements are essential and where you could possibly compromise. By relaxing your brief just a little you could open up your options quite a bit further - it's worth bearing in mind that sometimes challenging plots can yield the best designs.

2 Be realistic with your budget

"Before starting on your plot search, it's really important you know what you can afford," says Mark Stevenson, self-build expert and former managing director of Potton. "If you only have £100,000 to buy a plot and the market for the land you're looking for is generally in the region of £200,000, you're set to fail. So crunch the numbers and prove that you can deliver the project within budget. If you can't afford the market rate for what you want, rejig your plan and either raise more capital or downscale your ambitions. It's worth having your plan reviewed by a specialist self-build mortgage broker."

3 Get to know the area

Really focus on the location you're interested in and do plenty of research. As well as the classic routes, there are many different ways of finding land, so familiarise yourself with the towns or villages in the area.

Think outside of the box and use tools such as Google Maps and Streetview or the Ordnance Survey Plan to identify plots of land, small houses on large sites and potential gaps or backland plots that could be ripe for development.

4 Don't dismiss custom-build plots