This is great news for many people who have been saving up to place a deposit on their first home. However, what about those who are planning to build a house? The question is, how much does it cost to build a house in Northern Ireland in 2021? Housebuilding is expected to slightly drop in the coming year, however the good news is that it will prove slightly cheaper. It is thought that many people may choose to hold off on building as most have seen their income drop in the last year. However, if you were fortunate enough to maintain your income and save – 2021 could be the perfect year to start your new home build!
Costs
As with any year you choose to build, the first thing to consider are the costs that you are going to incur. The costs are dependent on a range of factors (which we will look at in this blog) and it is important you not only consider each factor carefully, but also have a small extra bit of budget set aside for contingency plans.
When building a home, it is not just the house that you need to consider, but everything around it. If you were buying a home, you would look into the neighbourhood, see what the surrounding environment is like and if you’ll fit in there. Similar decisions need to be made for building a house, but more practical yet – you’ll also need to purchase the land! You cannot go building your home anywhere you please, there is a process of purchasing land and acquiring permission to build there. Depending on the location you are looking at, some land can be cheaper than others. So, you have a few important decisions to make, not just on price, but if you will be happy in that location.
Size of Home
The size of the home you are planning on building will have a big impact on price. As it stands, building a house in Northern Ireland can cost anywhere between £60 to £100/sqft, depending on the specifications of the house. The size of your house is measured in square metres and builders will provide a quote based on size, design plan, and also the number of stories in your house.
Design
Design plays a large factor in house building. Everyone knows exactly what their dream home will look like and even though an architect will plan and design your home, it is important you give your input as undoubtedly one of the reasons you are choosing to build instead of buy is because you have very specific ideas on what you would like your house to look like. Whether you have a simple and traditional plan in mind, or something a little more complex and modern – these ideas should be discussed at a very early stage so you can understand the cost implications and how this can be factored into your budget. The more straightforward your designs are, the cheaper your build is going to be. It is important to decide if you are willing to lose certain features in your home for the purpose of saving a little bit more money.
When hiring, you should look into a few different options before you choose your architect, as you want to make sure you choose someone that has design experience similar to what you are looking for. The same goes for any hires you make during your self-build project. You should be hiring people that can clearly envision your house just as you can. This means also having builders that can work well to the specifications they are given for both inside and outside the home and can complete the project on time without it running over budget.
Project Manager
To ensure your project stays on its approved timeline, you may choose to hire a project manager. This is not an essential part of building your home, and many people choose to save money and oversee the project themselves. However, the question is, do you have the experience? A project manager may add significant costs to a self-build project, but so can a project badly managed by someone who does not fully understand what they are doing. It is worth considering hiring someone that can keep the project on track and within your specified budget.
Finally, once you have settled on an area, a design, and those who are helping you build – you will need the materials to do so. This includes everything from timber to brick, to mortar, and the glass for the windows. There is a lot to consider, and as with any home project, there are lots of different materials and brands to choose from. Some you may be picky about and should choose high quality, and some you can choose a cheaper material to save a little money. You should understand the pros and cons of each type of construction material as it will greatly help you in making a decision on which is best to use. If you have any queries, why not call into your local Haldane Fisher branch and speak to one of our experts?
Haldane Fisher: Self Build
Our Haldane Fisher website show a wide range of building materials that we can provide for your self-build; however, our best tool is our handy self-build cost calculator. We can give you an estimate on what your build is likely to cost, taking into consideration the plans you have in place. You can find lots of other useful information on self-build on our website, but if you prefer, you can book an appointment instore where we can talk you through all the considerations of a self-build and hopefully help you on your way to having your dream home.