Without doubt, self build and renovation are affordable methods by which to attain that dream home.  Accustomed as we are to seeing ‘grand designs’ in magazines and on television, there are thousands of people in the UK building their own modest but beautiful family homes all the time.  Some of the bonuses of building your own home – apart from the satisfaction and pride that comes with it, of course – are that most self builders get ‘more house for their money’ (when compared to buying a home by the traditional method), and also often realise instant equity.

Whatever scale of home you’re thinking about building though, money and budgeting lies at the very heart of every self build.  Attending a day of the Affordable Self Build event will help you thoroughly understand how to be in control of your costs and ensure your project stays affordable.  The key seminars are split into three parts; with Part One looking at the impact your site and design can have on your costs. Part Two moves on to discuss how your choices and specification of materials can affect your budget, whilst the final Part Three goes into detail on Project Management.

Don't miss the chance to win a copy of Ian Rock's fantastic book Build Your Own House - The Complete Step-by-Step Manual! See below for more details.

At the end of this event, we truly hope that all our visitors realise that self build is a viable and affordable option for just about everyone.

Seminars At A Glance

Time	Seminar	Location	More info
09.45 – 10.30	Walking Seminar	Education Journey	Mike Hardwick
10.30 – 11.15	Part 1: Plots, Permissions & Professionals	Main Theatre	Mike Dade & Roy Speer
11.30 – 12.15	Part 2: Material Choices	Main Theatre	David Hilton
12.15 – 12.45	Case Study: Self Building to Downsize	PlotSearch Theatre	John Faithfull
12.45 – 13.45	Part 3: Project Management	Main Theatre	Mike Hardwick
14.00 – 14.30	Feature Seminar: False Economies	Main Theatre	Ian Rock (Sat) & Ron Willers (Sun)
14.45 – 15.30	Part 2: Material Choices	Main Theatre	David Hilton
15.30 – 16.00	Case Study: Build or Buy?	PlotSearch Theatre	Steve & Bernadette Wood
16.00 – 16.45	Part 1: Plots, Permissions & Professionals	Main Theatre	Mike Dade & Roy Speer

Seminars In Detail

09.45 - 10.30	Walking Seminar	Mike Hardwick
To kick off the day, the experts use the Centre's exhibits to explain various points and answer your questions about self build; covering in detail the costs of various structural options, building materials and finishes. Seminars are delivered to small groups of around 15 people, allowing for a lot of interaction with the expert adviser.
10.30 - 11.15	Part 1: Plots, Permissions & Professionals	Mike Dade & Roy Speer
This useful and informative seminar looks at the impact your site and design can have on your costs. Elements to consider here include plot logistics - the contours and location of the land; planning permission - how the planning inspector can affect your design; professionals - who to choose and the cost implications of design choices and cash flow - plot acquisition and the processes to go through with your mortgage lenders.
11.30 - 12.15	Part 2: Material Choices	David Hilton
Here, we move on to discuss how your choices and specification of materials can affect your budget. David discusses the pros and cons of varying product solutions and how to juggle price vs functionality. He will also introduce the BuildStore TradeCard and explain how to manage your cash flow throughout the build with your suppliers and merchants.
12.15 - 12.45	Case Study: Self Building to Downsize	John Faithfull
With children having flown the nest, John and his wife were looking to downsize to a smaller home. Their substantial front garden became the perfect building plot; John undertook much of the work himself and is now the proud owner of a beautiful new home which didn't cost the earth!
12.45 - 13.45	Part 3: Project Management	Mike Hardwick
In this seminar you'll discover how to manage your project timings and organise the work onsite, including managing your tradesmen and suppliers. You'll also get an understanding of what level of involvement will be required from you in order to make your project 'affordable' - bearing in mind this figure is different for every builder! Our experts will introduce the four broad
categories of self builder, help you understand which one you fit in and then communicate the cost implications of being in that category. They will also cover the different package building systems available, and discuss how to manage your budget.
14.00 - 14.30	False Economies	Ian Rock (Sat) & Ron Willers (Sun)
Leading Haynes Manual author Ian Rock looks at what, if anything, the self builder should attempt themselves. Many people like to get hands-on in the belief that it saves money when compared to the cost of a labourer, though this often ends as a false economy. Ian will share his top tips for jobs that you can do yourself and those that should be left well alone!
14.45 - 15.30	Part 2: Material Choices	David Hilton
Here, we move on to discuss how your choices and specification of materials can affect your budget. David discusses the pros and cons of varying product solutions and how to juggle price vs functionality. He will also introduce the BuildStore TradeCard and explain how to manage your cash flow throughout the build with your suppliers and merchants.
15.30 - 16.00	Case Study: Build or Buy?	Steve & Bernadette Wood
Steve and Bernadette had always liked the idea of becoming self builders and recently, tired of their search for a new home, decided that it was time to build a new home rather than buying one. Now, ten months into their build project, their experiences to date as novice builders should inspire you to have a go yourself.
16.00 - 16.45	Part 1: Plots, Permissions & Professionals	Mike Dade & Roy Speer
This useful and informative seminar looks at the impact your site and design can have on your costs. Elements to consider here include plot logistics - the contours and location of the land; planning permission - how the planning inspector can affect your design; professionals - who to choose and the cost implications of design choices and cash flow - plot acquisition and the processes to go through with your mortgage lenders.

Experts

Ian Rock: Build your Own House

		Most of us would love to design and build our own home. In fact, more people than ever are doing precisely this. But how exactly do you go about it? How much of the building work should you do yourself? This manual explains the entire process in plain English, backed up with hundreds of colour photos showing real self-build projects taking shape. Each chapter is devoted to a key stage of the build from the foundations right through to snagging and completion. Whether you tackle some of the works yourself, or employ architects and contractors, this step-by step guide will show you how to stay firmly in control and cut out the stress, completing your project on time and within budget, and saving a small fortune!
£19.99, hardback, (Haynes Publishing) www.haynes.co.uk Attend the 'False Economies' seminar at 2pm each day of Affordable Self Build for the chance to win one of ten copies of this fantastic book! (Five to be given away each day).