I am writing this blog following a fatastic site visit to The Group Headquarters of Porcelanosa in Spain. Courtesy of the Scottish sales team, I was part of a group of 16 professionals and designers who left Glasgow Airport on Wednesday to see the fantastic production facility.
We spent two fantastic days on the Thursday and Friday touring the production factories and showrooms for Porcelanosa tiles, flooring, bathrooms and kitchens. It was a long journey with lots of interesting products to see all of which would be a welcome introduction to any and every house hold. Now many people out there would claim that Porcelanosa is expensive being mid to top range however, we were educated that Porcelanosa is now being specified in Housing Association projects in Glasgow so it of course is proving to be cost effective.
I've posted a few images showing the quality of the range of products that Porcelanosa have to offer. It's definitely worth a look in their new showroom at Braehead, Glasgow.
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Throughout history human kind has created shelters and although technique, materials and construction methods are different, the basic instinct to build a home is still strong. Many people aspire to design their own home and whether you are looking at self build homes in Glasgow or self build homes in Edinburgh there are a few basics you need to get right in order for the project to run smoothly.
1. Engage An Architect
This may well be the most important thing you do before beginning your self build home. An architect has experience in all areas of construction and can see you through from ground breaking to completion and all issues in between. See additional information - "Appointing an Architect"
2. Budgeting
Get your budget sorted from the beginning and don’t allow the costs of your self build home to spiral out of control. Set your budget with help from your architect and have a ten percent contingency fund available if possible. This means considering buying a plot, creating access, the actual build, first and second fixes and interior decoration. Using the experience of your architect to set realistic budgets will actually save you money.
3. Mortgage Agreement
Many banks will agree self build mortgages and will release pockets of funds as each build stage is reached. Your architect can help ensure that these milestones are reached timeously so that your project can be completed and handed over to you at the right time.
4. Buying A Plot
Anyone considering a self build home needs a plot of land. Here again your architect will be worth their weight in gold as they will be able to see flaws that the average layperson cannot. For example is the plot properly serviced or are the utilities half a mile up the road? Is the plot sloped, sited under an electricity pylon or will those picturesque trees and that little river cause a problem? Watch the following short video which explains the important things to consider when buying land.
5. Applying For Planning Permission
Applying for planning permission and associated building regulation approval can be daunting if you are unaware of the finer legal points involved. A local architect will often have connections with the local planning office and will have developed a relationship with the officers working there. This can smooth the planning permission process as the architect will have a good idea of what will pass and what wont before handing in the plans. See additional information - "Why don't all Planning Departments work the same way?"
6. Finding A Builder
Finding a builder and agreeing terms can be an important consideration for your self build home and you are probably best to use a local firm where possible. Asking for names of previous customers and contacting them for a testimonial can prove enlightening. Often an architect will have contacts throughout all the trades required for your self build and will be on site to manage each one.
These are just some of the considerations for your self build project and throughout the entire process you will find the services of an architect invaluable.
So, planning is vital and engaging an architect should be seen as an investment in your vision.
If you would like to discuss the benefits and financial sense of engaging a professional architect please get in touch to book your free consultation and get your project off to a flying start!
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