Help please to set up rough draft of build costs

olddognotricks

Hi all

Waiting on a valuation for our current home to decide whether we sell, children are now in teens would love to downsize back to village area where have access to family site to build on. Would appreciate some points on how to set up a rough budget to see if this is all a pipe dream. Due to our age would be limited mortgage wise (12 years left)and from reading other posts on here the costs have terrified me! Can anyone add to following possibly looking at buying timber frame kit 3 bed would be fine no fancy build hopes here:

-site prep incl roadway in dig foundation fill with stone

-foundation itself-other piping ?

-scaffolding for erecting House frame

-carpenters hire for completion of house kit

-additional roof slates for roof

-indoor wiring plastering plumbing

-site connection fees water and electricity

-dev charge to co council

Please no one laugh!! We bought builders finish last time!!! Any pointers additional info appreciated thanks 😊

mike_2009

You could draw up a modest 3 bed rough plan/sketch or grab an existing plan from a house you've seen & like online and then submit to a Quantity Surveyor to get a cost. There is an online company in the UK and one in Ireland who can price based off plans if a QC doesn't suit and is cheaper. That said getting a builder led project is going to cost the farm! Especially now, even to builders finish! And prices will change rapidly in the next 3 - 6 months too. Getting a site and planning permission is the first hurdle and might take longer than you would like!

Maybe attend the self build exhibition in Citywest next Friday / Sat / Sun March 11/12/13 2022 if you've time and you can talk face to face with a few Architects and timber frame providers for costs and ideas based on their recent work? Also check out scanhomes in Galway if you live in the country and one of their vernacular homes could be adapted to suit your needs, it would be the quickest way to getting an off the shelf house fully designed and built to your needs, very comfortable if that route suited, again prices from them would be a good ruler for your budget. I'm a few years behind you in terms of retirement and it's already eating into my potential self build mortgage budget too, worryingly so!

The only other costs are all the development fees - to the council, irish water, ESB, self build insurance, Architect, skips, where to live after you sell - rental / family/ friends vs costs, Assigned Certifier paperwork if you opt out, homebond/structural guarantee insurance, gas connection, broadband connection, septic system, BER - preliminary one, air tightness test(s), final BER, contingency fund 10%+. Not to scare you but the type of ground, distance to ESB pole can play a huge part / risk in costs, be skeptical of any site someone wants to sell easy/fast. Use trusted professionals to look out for cowboys / unsuitable sites / wayleaves and huge costs to get electrical connection to the house! Check the county development plan and get a pre planning meeting to determine likelihood of planning.

Don't let all this scare you - it's like eating an Elephant, 1 bite at a time. Definitely doable!

Best of luck with the endeavour!