Self-build for beginners

WHERE TO SPEND VS SAVE Want to make your budget go further? Our self-build expert advises the key areas to prioritise, plus where you can make some much-needed cut

- WORDS: MARK STEVENSON

If you're building your own home, the money side of things can be as stressful as the actual building. The choices feel endless, and everything seems to cost more than you expect. It’s easy to get swept up in the idea that you have to go all-in on every detail with expensive features to get the home you want, but here’s the truth: knowing where to spend and where to save is what really makes the difference.

A good self-build isn't just about having a big budget, it's about being smart with what you've got. Whether you're building for £150k or £1.5 million, the principle is the same: spend where it counts, and don't waste money on things that won't improve how you live. Here's how I'd approach it.

SPEND ON GETTING THE BUDGET RIGHT

It might sound strange, but one of the smartest places to spend money early on is getting your budget right, with real-world research and not ballpark guesses. People often build with just a rough idea of what they want to spend, but not much else. The problem is, if you don’t know how far your money will stretch, you'll start making panicked decisions halfway through as you try to balance the books. That’s when budgets explode.

My advice is to invest at the beginning by spending time talking to suppliers, getting quotes, comparing options, and understanding the full scope of the build. Get a proper cost plan drawn up by working with a quantity surveyor or project manager. In my experience, a small outlay at the start can stop runaway costs later on.

SPEND ON GOOD DESIGN

Don’t rush into building before you've nailed the design - a well-thought-out plan is worth its weight in gold. It doesn’t mean throwing tens of thousands at an architect, but it does mean investing in someone who understands how to design a house that suits your brief, fits the site and can actually be built affordably.