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Judging by the number of home buying, DIY and building programmes you see on the TV, it is fair to say that Britain is a nation obsessed by property. Yet many of our actual houses are dull, uninspiring, developer-built boxes. However, if you crave something different and distinctive what’s the answer? Well, how about building your own house?

Land Ahoy!

The first step to building a house is of course to obtain some land to build it on. This may not be quite as simple as you think. Getting permission to build on a green field site is difficult if not impossible in some areas so don’t just dash out and purchase a field with a nice view. You’re better off going to an estate agent and finding an existing ugly or dilapidated house. Most councils will not object to your pulling it down and starting again, especially if it’s a bit of an eyesore. However, beware of buying anything pre-WW2 as it may have claims to historical value and therefore might be protected.

Getting Permission

Of course before you can build anything you need to get permission. Planning regulations tend to be relatively conservative and you’ll struggle to get approval for anything too avant-garde. However, provided you give a nod to local building styles and materials you should be okay. This needn’t mean that the house has to be a dull copy of those around it; it simply means that by cleverly incorporating contemporary design with local materials you can create a distinctive and interesting outcome.

Choosing an Architect

An architectural consultants role isn’t just to design the building as they can also help to manage the whole process. By negotiating with contractors, a good architect can take much of the stress out of a building project. It’s a good idea to engage with a firm that has knowledge of the local area as they’ll be able to advise on specific conditions and requirements and offer a wide array of architectural services.

Talk to several firms about your project and ask if they’ve done similar types of work. They should be happy to show you examples of other similar jobs they’ve done and have recommendations from other clients.

It’s important to find an architect that you’re at ease working with as you’ll be having a lot of contact with them over the course of a project. Of course you need to talk about fees too. Some will charge according to the time they spend on the project others will take a percentage of the project cost.

Building your own home isn’t an easy option. But as a way of getting your ideal property it has a lot to commend it. It can also be enormously fulfilling to see your project realised in three dimensions and you’ll have the knowledge that once it’s complete you’re living in something truly unique.

If you’re planning on building your own house you need a good firm of architectural consultants in Lincoln or your preferred area. It is vital that you speak to local experts when choosing an architect to find one who can offer you exactly what you want and who will work well with you.

Having your house extended can seem like a minefield at the best of times. Simply sticking a box on the side of your property might be functional in terms of giving you more space, but ill-designed extensions can be both an eyesore and a missed opportunity to really maximise your house’s resale value. Conversely, quality extensions can be as good an investment as the original house itself.

Here are a few tips to help you make sure the design of your new extension is up to the job.

Get Inspired

The best way to identify the kind of extension that will suit your house is to get out and about in your neighbourhood. Make note of the houses that have a similar building design to yours and see if they’ve had any work done. If you’re not the shy type, you could even try knocking on doors and asking the house’s occupants about past work.

The key here is that you’re getting a good idea of what your extension could actually look like in the flesh. Architect’s brochures and even blueprints are all very well for giving you a rough idea, but looking at building designs close to your own and how they have been extended is a great way to work out what you can and can’t do with your property, especially if it’s your first extension.

Work Out What You Want from Your Extension

It may seem obvious, but it’s important to be clear in your own mind as to why you want an extension in the first place. There are many different reasons for wanting a little more living space: you could be expecting a child, building a home office, or simply want a bigger kitchen.

However, it is important to remember that each reason for extending comes with a subtly different set of requirements. For example, if you’re looking to give your children more room to themselves, you may want to put in some large shared spaces as well as extra bedrooms. A home office, on the other hand, might be a case of creating something as snug and cosy as possible for you to work from.

Make sure that Your Extension is Legal

It pays to know your Permitted Development (PD) Rights when designing an extension. In effect, PD Rights grant you automatic planning permission for certain types of extension on certain homes, allowing some projects to bypass the long and sometimes arduous process of obtaining planning permission.

The full list of rights is available online, but it might also be worth speaking to your local authority. Many councils offer a consultation service, allowing them to look at your proposed extension and ascertain whether or not it falls within the scope of PD rights or not. Using this service can prevent you from being in a position where you have only found out that you need planning permission after work on your extension has started; a state of affairs which could add a lot of time and cost to proceedings!

Worried that your dream house extension could turn into a nightmare? Speak to a building design professional to get an expert opinion on your plans.