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It is a dream of a lot of people to build their own house - finding just the right
plot then designing the house to perfectly suit your needs and taste. It sounds easy, and in a way it is a lot easier and a lot more practical than many people imagine.
Itīs understandable how a lot of people will be put off by thinking of huge expenses and labarynths of red tape
and other awkward bureaucracy, especially in a foreign land and a foreign language, but actually itīs not nearly as difficult, or as expensive, as all that.
The simplest option of all is to purchase an "off plan" property. What this means is that the plans
for the building are already prepared and you just pick the plans that best suit your needs. This means that all the hard work of designing the house, and getting architect plans and building estimates
are all taken care of, and whilst you have control over style and finish, and can even change aspects of the design, you are buying a proven house and a tried and tested model.
This is, to many, the best of both worlds. The brand new house built from standard specifications, but under
your control.
The great thing about an "off plan" house is that they can be built anywhere. Some people may prefer
a private plot in a beautiful country location with stunning views of mountains, whereas someone else may want to be on the edge of town, or overlooking the sea ... as the plots are sold entirely
separately from the house, you can choose the plot that best suits your taste and budget and build your dream home just where you want it.
That still doesnīt offer quite enough flexibility for everyone though. Off plan purchases are a great option,
but you are largely restricted to the plans available. If you can find the right choice for you, then itīs great, but if not, you have to think about designing it yourself.
The first step is to find an architect, or better still use Advanta Homes (we manage this whole process for
anyone seriously wishing to consider this option). Getting those initial plans just right is hugely exciting and really rewarding - getting the cost estimate back from the architect less so. The design
phase is a process, as each and every detail is understood to ensure that you get just the house you want.
Following the initial designs and architect drawings, itīs important to find the right plot. Advanta Homes has
a wide selection of plots, and we offer discount on any to anyone who also takes advantage of the Build Your Own project management service.
Finding the plot is great fun - each plot offers a unique combination of factors - with views, privacy,
neighbours, access, size and shape - some are flat, some are sloping, some are at the tops of mountain. Finding just the right place can be painstaking work, but itīs worth it - and when you find it,
those dreams start to look a bit more real. But not so fast, having got the design and the place, it becomes neceesary to start the legal ball rolling and investigate the planning permission requirements
for that particular plot of land - after all, it might be a lovely piece of land, but if they wonīt let you build on it, itīs not really worth buying it!
The whole legal process is managed by Advanta Homes as part of the Build Your Own project management service,
and once permission is granted, the build itself can begin. Typically this takes between three and nine months, depending on the construction and the plot. It is usual to make staged payments throughout
the build process and so it is not necessary to have all the money available upfront - indeed many banks now lend money according to the payment schedule to allow people to pursue this option.
Once the house is finished a government architect will inspect the work and issue a certificate declaring the
property complete and conforming to appropriate standards and regulations. The house can then be registered and the utilities switched on!
Advanta Homes manages this whole process on behalf of our clients, leaving you free to do the fun bits of
design and controlling the style and quality of the finish.
If you are interested in our off plan options, click here
If you are interested in building to your own design, click here
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