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Q&As
Which package home route would you recommend for a tight budget?
We have inherited a plot of land and are thinking about beginning our first self build project. But, we have no building experience and are worried about exceeding our tight budget of £250,000. We like the idea of following the package home route as we want a say in the design but to let the experts do the work – which package home route would you recommend for us?
One Answer
Package homes are an ideal choice for first time self builders, particularly those working to a tight budget. They provide a vast array of products and services which are ‘packaged’ together to make the build process easier and more convenient. A package would typically offer the architectural design and planning services, as well as the building structure itself and various optional extras such as roof coverings, external joinery and so on.
Which package is right for you will very much depend upon your intentions rather than budget. If you plan to cut costs by rolling up your sleeves, then the basic architectural and building structure could be ideal, as there’ll be plenty of work left for you to manage and get stuck into. If you don’t have the time or inclination to manage the heavy trades, then opt for a package where the structure is progressed by the company to a stage where it is weathertight, safe and secure.
The key to making a package work for you is to design a home of the right scale and complexity that can be built within your budget. Typically, package companies will be very interested in what you can afford because they don’t want to get planning permission for a house design that’s beyond your means when you come to placing your order.
Mark Stevenson (Build It project management and package home expert)