can you build a house with E180,000

1halfstone

Hey,
So me and the other half have decided to look into building a house this year. We are very much newbies so we are just looking for some ideas from those in the know (boardsies). Firstly we have decided that a mortgage of 250000 is our upper limit. So we dont have our site yet which we are thinking will be about 70,000. Leaving us 180g. Is it possible to build a fairly decent, 4 bed 2bath house on a mortgage of this amount nothing too special but with our own little stamp on it. What should be our first step peoples?
I dont know where to start, bank first see what they would agree to? look for a site first, then plans, then mortgage?

1halfstone

sorry I should have specified, looking around the meath dublin border ish, near where himself is from, hoping to get it on local needs.

Outkast_IRE

1halfstone wrote: »

Hey,
So me and the other half have decided to look into building a house this year. We are very much newbies so we are just looking for some ideas from those in the know (boardsies). Firstly we have decided that a mortgage of 250000 is our upper limit. So we dont have our site yet which we are thinking will be about 70,000. Leaving us 180g. Is it possible to build a fairly decent, 4 bed 2bath house on a mortgage of this amount nothing too special but with our own little stamp on it. What should be our first step peoples?
I dont know where to start, bank first see what they would agree to? look for a site first, then plans, then mortgage?

I think its entirely possible, i dont know about the site price, thats your own business depending on where your looking etc.

But i would say this to you make sure you get a good architect and quantity surveyor. When on a budget a smart layout and design will mean everthing.

Also would you need all 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms finished when you move in ?

Alot of people on a tight budget would only finish 2 bedrooms and leave the other two as shells (they would have rads and electrics and be plasterd) but no floor finish or painting/skirting etc etc until they are needed ?

Having a good architect and QS will mean when you are pricing the build and looking for quotes that you are pretty bang on .

1halfstone

thanks outkast, yea a finish of even one bedroom at the beginning would be fine by me. Thanks for the advice. Do you think the budget would be verrry tight that would have to skimp on a nice finish?

Outkast_IRE

1halfstone wrote: »

thanks outkast, yea a finish of even one bedroom at the beginning would be fine by me. Thanks for the advice. Do you think the budget would be verrry tight that would have to skimp on a nice finish?

Thats what you sit down and bash out with the architect and QS , the QS should be in a postion to leave you know.

My only concern would be the fact you want a 4 bed house on this budget, in general the best way to save money is by building a smaller house, by wanting a 4 bed house straight away your making it tough..... talk this through with architect. Everbody has different requirements, i worked on one build a few years ago where every bedroom needed a walk in wardrobe and the client was complaining when it turned out so expensive, every job is different.

And it also depends on how much control your going to take yourself, people have been know to save thousands by ringing round for the best price on every single aspect and item of the build. Just remember with tradesmen the cheapest is quite often not the best, and what you save with money will be lost will call backs and lost time etc etc.