A-Z of Self Build Guides How To Sell A Self Build Home

Date Published:

02/06/2008

Move over property development, and make way for self build. Building your own house is fast becoming the popular choice for those who want to obtain a 'designer' dream home, at a relatively affordable cost.

But as with any house, even if it is your ideal home, you can outgrow it. Just as it takes some people three or four moves to find their perfect house, it can take some people three or four self builds to realise their dream abode. So we may soon begin to see an increase in the number of self builds on the buyer's market.

But how saleable are these dream homes? And do other people really want to buy someone else's dream?

Self builds are very personal to their owners. It is a case of carte blanche, within certain building perimeters of course, but nevertheless if the self build home is to be an art nouveau homage or a gothic chateau, then that's what it will be.

Ian Clarke, manager at Exeter-based estate agent Fulfords, Country and Waterside, currently has two self builds for sale on his books. Often they are termed as 'architecturally designed', 'individually designed' or even 'painstakingly designed' properties.

'The unusual and quirky will sell,' says Clarke. 'Everything sells eventually. Such homes may push some design boundaries, but still people want the custom-built kitchen with an Aga. They want a conservatory or indoor swimming pool that has been well built.'

Quality

And that's the key selling point to self builds - they are nearly always well built. Also states Keith Burrell, of the Association of Self Builders - a voluntary body offering impartial advice - the majority of self builds are at the cutting edge of building legislation and technology.