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The Essential Guide » Initial Stages of a Project » Thinking About Self Build or Property Renovation?
Thinking about Self Building Property Renovation or Property Conversion?
(How to use this guide to help you)
The fact that you are interested in at least taking a look at this guide suggests that you are either thinking seriously about planning a project of some sort, or you already have one underway. 
Either way, there is a good chance that you have already had the initial ideas, and you are in the process of starting to try to find out “What’s going to be involved?”
The chances are that you are don’t have a huge amount of time to spare to dedicate to planning this project, and in the majority of cases you will have plans and ideas which could “push” your budget, your patience, your nerves (and sometimes your relationships) to their limits!
The “trick” is now finding the best way to turn your ideas into reality in a reasonable time period, within your budget, and without putting a heavy strain on you, on the family or on any of the relationships within the family. – That’s often one of the “hardest bits”! – At least it always has been. – And that is why this site has been created and it’s also why this guide has been written.
I honestly believe that if your make full use of this guide, and all the rest of the features of this site, the whole process will become much less daunting, quicker and less stressful. I also believe that your chances of “pulling it off” successfully will be significantly increased.
One of the problems in this industry is that, up until now there have been no clear guidelines to steer people (who may have NO experience of building or DIY) through the process.
Don’t get me wrong; there is mass of information “out there”. There are thousands of people who are willing, eager and able to help you from the outset to completion. There are hundreds of thousands of building products for you to choose from. BUT there is very little guidance which “sits you down” and goes through “what you need and what you want”, tells you if your plans are feasible, and then helps to steer you, first of all to the right “starting point”, and then stays with you and guides you through the whole project to completion.
If I have done my job, this guide WILL help you with all of the aspects of your project where you may have no experience or knowledge, but which it is vital that you get right in order to make a success of your project.
So what do we do first?
1) Try to make time to read all of the relevant parts of this “Guide”.
This guide has been written specifically for people like you. Its content has no commercial bias, so you don’t have to worry about the text of the different sections trying to sell you something! It is simply a tool to help you to start to understand the “procedures”, “processes”, “decisions” and “implications” which are going to be involved in whatever sort of project you are considering taking on.
The guide is written mainly to cover the larger projects, but within each section you will find information that is relevant to smaller projects. You just need to “cherry pick” what you need from the relevant section.
By the way, you’ll also find that this guide doesn’t try to give you all the technical “mumbo jumbo” (important as that is). There are hundreds of books and “reams” of reference materials which already do that and are freely available to do that. - This guide looks at the whole thing from the perspective of, in a way, sitting alongside someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience in building, and who basically wants to know about the generalities of: “What to do”, “What not to do”, “When to do it” and “how to go about doing it”. – Just giving them answers to their questions when they ask them, and highlighting all the “pro’s and “con’s” and helping them to make “sensible decisions” along the way.
If you are contemplating a major building project, but are not sure whether a “new build” or “refurbishment” type of project is best for you, it would be a good idea to read as much of the first 70 or so sections as you can. They cover many aspects of all of the types of residential construction (including one section which deals specifically with the question “Which type of project is best for us?”). So, by reading them all, you may find that things start to become clear, and that you “naturally” start to formulate a plan for what is probably going to be best for you, your family, your budget and your future.
2) Utilize the rest of the site.
Just as this guide has been written to give you an unbiased insight into all the different parts that are associated with an “Amateur building project”, the rest of the site is designed to do the same thing.
The Trade Directory:
We have created a directory with an innovative system to help you to quickly and easily find suitable people for your projects. For a start, you should only find people listed in our Directory who WANT to work with people like you, and whose business can actually cover the area where you are!
One of the major weaknesses with many Trade Directories is their lack of “targeting and accuracy”.
Many allow businesses to appear under trade headings which are actually nothing to do with their business. Others will allow adverts to appear from businesses which don’t cover the area where the search originates (but hope to persuade the user to “shop outside” their local area). Yet others still use the “alphabetical” system which penalises the business whose name starts with any letter other than “A” (when the BEST contact for the person making the search may actually be a company whose name begins with the letter “Z”!). And, worst of all are those who often list page after page of “high fee paying” companies which appear before ANYONE relevant in the area you are actually looking.
People using some of these sites can waste call after call, contact after contact, hour after hour, trying to find someone suitable. The advertiser often either “doesn’t do that sort of work – Sorry!”, or “Doesn’t cover that area - Sorry!”
In our directory, all Architects listed should be “RESIDENTIAL Architects, NOT “Commercial Architects”. – Electricians will be happy to work on RESIDENTIAL projects, and not be limited to factories and maintenance. The same will apply for every other trade (if you find anything different from that, please let us know).
We also use a unique “quick reference system” as part of each listing to allow you to see the scope of the work of the advertisers, at a glance, without having to read their whole ad, or having to contact them to find out what they actually do.
Then there is the accuracy of our search results in respect of “who appears”:
When an advertiser books an ad, they are asked to choose the area they cover and can operate within. We list your search results to only include businesses who can work where YOU need them to work. Using a map location system, you can also see exactly where they are located (again, if you find any different, please let us know).
Our advert format is far more informative than most directories, and we offer advertisers the ability to be able to update their ads as often as they wish. So, hopefully you won’t waste any of your time ringing “unobtainable” numbers. Also, by being able to update their ads, if they wish to promote a sale / special offer or special event they can do so. – Their ads can be used in the same way they would use a magazine to help them promote their businesses (which could be of great benefit to you if it brings with it the chance for you to grab a few bargains).
To use the directory, you simply enter a post code and a trade and “click” to be presented with RELEVANT businesses who ACTUALLY work in your area, and who WANT to work with people like YOU!
The “Building Plots and Property For Sale” section
Offers you:FREE ACESS to our full database of plots and property for renovation and conversion, for sale across the UK. – In this section, as with all the other sections of the guide, we have given thought to “improving the existing system” generally in use on other sites. We offer the sellers the opportunity to advertise FREE OF CHARGE, so there is NO REASON why MOST sellers should not use the site once we get established.
We also give them the opportunity to present more of the important information that you want to see. We include the option to add photos, and when a plot is advertised on the site, the seller actively has to confirm that is still available EACH MONTH, otherwise it is removed from the listings. – Our system deals with, and hopefully answers the major complaints about “on line” plot searching.
The Self Build & DIY Forums
This section could be of immense help to you, if you use it correctly.
The idea of that section is to enable you to interact with other “like minded” people across the UK. You can simply talk to each other, pass on tips and advice, and talk about the experiences you have each had on present or past projects.
However, it has far more potential to help you with your individual projects than just being a “chat room”, to dip into occasionally. My hope for the “Community” section is that people will use it for a whole “raft” of purposes, which, as well as chatting to each other, will include:1) Forming local groups which meet to discuss ongoing projects and to actively help each other.
2) Providing a “centre” for all sorts of “relevant” businesses across the UK to offer advice and help, free of charge, to anyone who needs it. – You may be surprised to know that not every business is ONLY “in it” for the money! Many businesses are happy to help where they can, in the knowledge that sometimes they won’t make a financial gain out of every contact they make.
If the site is well used and has a high number of members, then businesses will want to be associated with it. Being associated with, and offering free advice, will help to build a positive image of their company in the eyes of their potential clients. So, by “giving a little of their time” away free to help you and people like you, they could actually benefit in the longer run.
3) Providing a “platform” which can be used as a “supermarket” where people can sell anything from unwanted materials, to plots of land. – Especially useful for the seller at the end of projects, and for the buyer at the start!
4) Acting as a “Blog” or “Podcast” for people who are working on projects. Keeping on line diaries, discussing problems which have arisen or passing on information to others about how sometimes major problems have been solved.
5) Presenting an up to date “News wall” where “Members”, “Federations”, “Associations” or “Businesses” can post news or other items of interest; - from “Government” actions related to this market, to “a nice plot of land” someone may have seen and which they think may be of interest to other members
3) Be prepared to do plenty of research.
This guide has been designed basically to “point you in the right direction”.
If you spend some time reading all the sections relevant to your project, your knowledge and confidence should both have been increased.
BUT, REMEMBER: This is not a “Technical Manual” and it is not a “Research Database”.
After you have read each section of the guide, you should have a better idea of what you need to do to facilitate that particular part of your project. - But you have to then go and do it! – I will in some cases be suggesting (Not recommending, - we have no bias), that going to one of the shows could help you with a particular section, or buying one of the monthly magazines, and possibly one of the relevant books which are available. – Reading this guide is meant to equip you with some of the knowledge you need, and a basic grasp of how to go about doing what you need to do, but after reading it you need to take the next steps yourself.
One thing I strongly recommend is that you don’t let yourself get “bogged down” with information. Piles and piles of “information paperwork” on your kitchen table is, to my mind, believe it or not, NOT a good thing. It can be just as damaging to your prospects of completing a successful project as knowing nothing at all! (I will explain this in later sections)
4) Make sure the family are “on board”.
There are sections later in the guide which cover how starting out on one a major "building" project can affect your family. It is always a good idea to try to “bring everyone on board” early on. - If you don't, and consequently you find yourself fighting one or two members of the family who are strongly against the whole project from day one, you will facing a very steep uphill battle.Before you even start to read the rest of this guide properly, or take any other of the first steps, why not get everyone in the family together who is going to be affected by "whatever happens", and give them some idea of what you are planning. - Try to make it all sound as "positive" as possible!– You should be able to do this! - After all, it IS an adventure, and it CAN be exciting, and the benefits can make it VERY worthwhile, but you need to get this to be a consensus of ALL, not just ONE if you want the project to succeed.
5) Be ready to make some big decisions!
If you are planning a “Self Build”, “Renovation” “Extension”, or “Conversion” project, be prepared to make some major decisions as early as possible, for example, on a new build, what sort of construction methods will you use? Do you want “Timber frame” or “Traditional”? If you are renovating or extending your own property, what do you need to do to it to make the project and all the upheaval worthwhile? – It will almost be a pointless exercise if you carry out months of preparation and work, and at the end of it realise that “We should have added an extra room, its not going to be big enough!”, or “We should have installed that new damp course after all!”
Use what you learn from this guide, and from possibly reading a few of the monthly magazines may help you to make some of the big decisions: Using these “up to date” and regular sources of information can be a good way to increase your knowledge base and to help you to make the right decisions for your project. - Reading about other people’s experiences in these publications may also help to stop you making mistakes. – It far better to learn from other people’s mistakes than by making your own! – You’ll have plenty of opportunity to make some fresh ones once you get going! – And when you are finished, why not pass on what you have learned via the “Community” section of this site. - Once you are a seasoned “Self Builder or Renovator”, pass your knowledge on to help the “new guys”!
If you give some thought very early on to what you actually want, what you need, and what you can afford, AND STICK TO THOSE IDEAS, it will make the whole process a lot quicker, simpler and less daunting. If you get distracted by “new idea” after “new idea”, or with “this fancy product” that you like the look of, or that new “gizmo”, you will find yourself continually having to start your planning all over again, and you’ll never get the thing built!
Whilst you make your big decisions, a separate list of “Would likes” is good to have as an option, “just in case” you can include some of them, - but only start to research the items on the list if you are fairly sure that they could be viable. Remember: Your time is valuable, you are probably busy people, so don’t waste your time early on, on “if’s”, “possibly’s” and “maybe’s”. – Concentrate on the “needs”, the “musts” and the “have to’s”!
6) Don’t spend too much time “pondering” – Just get on with it!
If you successfully complete a major Self Build”, “Renovation” or “Conversion” project, the benefits to you and your family could be very substantial and can actually be “life changing”. However, one of the main reasons why there are not more major projects completed each year is that too many people “dabble” and “ponder” and “peruse” but then don’t have the confidence to “Get on with it”!
Hopefully if you use this guide as it is meant to be used, you will be better equipped to be able to successfully complete a project of any size. – But you won’t see the benefits unless you can gather yourself together, take a deep breath, and get on with it! – I know of many people who have planned a project for 2 or three years! – Researching, sketching, planning, pricing, visiting shows, buying books etc., - and then doing nothing!
What often happens is that the more you think about it, the more daunting it becomes and although you REALLY want to have a go at it, your confidence starts to actually reduce as you find out more and more about the subject and gather more and more information. – It all becomes very daunting, “There are so many choices we would have to make which could go wrong: Where? When? How? How big? How much? Who do we need? Can we afford it? Shall we wait till the kids are older? Too many choices, too much information!
The people who are successful in these projects are generally the ones who get the idea, research what they need to, and then get on with it!
Why shouldn’t that be you?
Why shouldn’t that be you?
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