The eight stages of building your own home

Are you starting with an empty plot or converting an existing building? Planning regulations, preparation and access to services will be different for each.

If you’re rebuilding an existing structure, it may be close to electricity, water and gas supplies already. If you’re building from scratch, this may not be the case.

You should seek professional advice before buying land, as not all is suitable for building on.

Make a wish list of the features. Which way will it face? How many stories will it have? Do you want a garage or a garden? Will the style be classical or contemporary?

You might also consider solar panels, rainwater collection tanks, eco-friendly insulation and hot water recirculation.

While there are online communities dedicated to building your own home, it’s worth using an expert unless you know exactly what you’re doing.

You’ll need to apply for outline planning permission first, which tells the authorities what you want to build.

If you've bought land with outline planning permission in place, plans have already been submitted by the previous owner and approved.

Be careful not to divert from the original plans unless you obtain written approval from the Planning Service. For full details about this stage of the process, have a look at the NI Planning Portal.

Think about how much you can afford to pay upfront for things like land, architectural sketches and planning applications. This is in addition to the money you’ll need to see the build through.

Danske Bank offer self-build loans, rather than mortgages. This is a short term, variable loan where you only pay the interest, which frees up as much cash as possible for the build itself.

This loan is not repayable until the house is actually built, at which point you'll need to apply for a mortgage.

You’ll need an architect, quantity surveyor and a team of builders. In time you'll also need plumbers, electricians, tilers, painters, and more.

If you haven’t got the time to manage the build yourself, you can appoint a project manager. They’ll organise sub-contractors and keep an eye on overall costs.

It’s important the property is finished to a habitable standard, and you receive all relevant documentation, like your NHBC 10 Year Guarantee or Architect’s Warranty.

Building Control is responsible for ensuring your property meets building regulations. These cover structural stability, fire safety, energy conservation and accessibility. They’ll issue a Certificate of Completion if all’s well.

If you’ve taken out a self-build loan, you’ll need to convert this to a traditional mortgage or repay the loan in full once the building nears completion.