I usually end up advising self-builders after the fact but I have no hard and fast advice. 
Posters to AAM who have gone down the self-build route reflect a wide range of experiences.
Here are some general principles I can outline.
Do a LOT of research.
- getting to know people in the building industry generally.
- talking to self-builders where the project went right and those where it went wrong.
- doing an enormous amount of reading here and on boards.ie about the problems that can occur on a self build.
Too many self-builders simply refuse to believe the prices quoted and think they can do better.
A few can do better, many cannot and disaster can follow unless they are very competent individuals.
One thing is obvious, chasing a price involves short term savings, a lot of compromises and few long term benefits.
Consider employing competent professionals
My best advice is that everyone, including self-builders, should employ competent professionals like architects and engineers.
Many self builders seem to discover what a lonely station self-building using direct labour can be only after the problems have arisen.
Some of these problems stem from lack of experience, some from sharp practice on the part of suppliers or builders, some from simple incompetence.
Competent building works arise from a process where there are complementary checks and balances in place to "catch" errors before they are built into the work.
These are usually caught at the design stage by competent design professionals.
Given the complexity of modern houses and the legal, contractual, health and safety issues I also recommend they should consider using a competent Main Contractor.
Failure to employ such a person means that all of the work of health and safety co-ordination, insurances and site planning and organization that he/she would do falls to the self-builder.
Benefits of employing professionals and a contractor is that they can undertake a buildability exercise to reduce the cost of the built work significantly, often with only minor amendments to the design.
Size and specify the house properly.
Too many people think they need a 3,500 sq.ft. mansion when a 1,500 - 2,000 sq. ft. house would be more than adequate.
Such builders engage in
- chasing square footage
- cutting costs
- forgetting that structure is only about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the cost of the final house
- trying to justify not employing professionals
- trying to justify not employinga main contractor
all of which seems unwise all round.
You'll end up with a property that's too big for the family, too dear to heat, to clean and to maintain and that you may not we able to furnish for years.
You need to take a balanced view of your needs from all the above advice and don't go mad.
Invest in some energy conservation measures (including water harvesting!) and take competent advice.
Be aware of the known consequences.
Do not expect to keep your health, social life, family and job in good repair if you undertake a self build house.
All will suffer, and when you look at what you saved and the time you put into it you'll be asking - was it worth it?
For some the answer is yes, it was tough but worth it.
Some even get a taste for it and continue to build houses and trade up.
However others have difficulties that continue to haunt them to this day and cost them dearly.
Stick to what you're good at.
Its no shame to admit that a task is beyond you.
Its incredibly unwise to proceed with a task you know is beyond you, or one you haven't even assessed properly.
But its criminal to proceed with work you know nothing about and places yourself and others in danger through your own lack of competence and ability.
Never be afraid to ask somebody more competent than you are for help, and this applies to otherwise competent building professionals who find themselves out of their depth.
The worst problems are those that are left unattended for longest and its better to foresee and avoid than not see until too late.
HTH.
ONQ.
[broken link removed]
All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.
Posters to AAM who have gone down the self-build route reflect a wide range of experiences.
Here are some general principles I can outline.
Do a LOT of research.
- getting to know people in the building industry generally.
- talking to self-builders where the project went right and those where it went wrong.
- doing an enormous amount of reading here and on boards.ie about the problems that can occur on a self build.
Too many self-builders simply refuse to believe the prices quoted and think they can do better.
A few can do better, many cannot and disaster can follow unless they are very competent individuals.
One thing is obvious, chasing a price involves short term savings, a lot of compromises and few long term benefits.
Consider employing competent professionals
My best advice is that everyone, including self-builders, should employ competent professionals like architects and engineers.
Many self builders seem to discover what a lonely station self-building using direct labour can be only after the problems have arisen.
Some of these problems stem from lack of experience, some from sharp practice on the part of suppliers or builders, some from simple incompetence.
Competent building works arise from a process where there are complementary checks and balances in place to "catch" errors before they are built into the work.
These are usually caught at the design stage by competent design professionals.
Given the complexity of modern houses and the legal, contractual, health and safety issues I also recommend they should consider using a competent Main Contractor.
Failure to employ such a person means that all of the work of health and safety co-ordination, insurances and site planning and organization that he/she would do falls to the self-builder.
Benefits of employing professionals and a contractor is that they can undertake a buildability exercise to reduce the cost of the built work significantly, often with only minor amendments to the design.
Size and specify the house properly.
Too many people think they need a 3,500 sq.ft. mansion when a 1,500 - 2,000 sq. ft. house would be more than adequate.
Such builders engage in
- chasing square footage
- cutting costs
- forgetting that structure is only about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the cost of the final house
- trying to justify not employing professionals
- trying to justify not employinga main contractor
all of which seems unwise all round.
You'll end up with a property that's too big for the family, too dear to heat, to clean and to maintain and that you may not we able to furnish for years.
You need to take a balanced view of your needs from all the above advice and don't go mad.
Invest in some energy conservation measures (including water harvesting!) and take competent advice.
Be aware of the known consequences.
Do not expect to keep your health, social life, family and job in good repair if you undertake a self build house.
All will suffer, and when you look at what you saved and the time you put into it you'll be asking - was it worth it?
For some the answer is yes, it was tough but worth it.
Some even get a taste for it and continue to build houses and trade up.
However others have difficulties that continue to haunt them to this day and cost them dearly.
Stick to what you're good at.
Its no shame to admit that a task is beyond you.
Its incredibly unwise to proceed with a task you know is beyond you, or one you haven't even assessed properly.
But its criminal to proceed with work you know nothing about and places yourself and others in danger through your own lack of competence and ability.
Never be afraid to ask somebody more competent than you are for help, and this applies to otherwise competent building professionals who find themselves out of their depth.
The worst problems are those that are left unattended for longest and its better to foresee and avoid than not see until too late.
HTH.
ONQ.
[broken link removed]
All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.