Chartered surveyor Keith Kelliher chats to Cathal Keane of Graf who’s just finished building his own home, and to quantity surveyor Jimmy Walsh of Modern Eco Projects, to uncover the hidden costs of a self-build, including:
– Costs associated to being gifted land
– Site suitability report, cost of the test and watchpoints, how long they are valid for
– Average cost of an onsite wastewater treatment system on a self-build, average maintenance costs
– Solicitor fees
– Development contribution fees
– Site clearance and scaffolding costs
– Service costs, how to get connected and how much, watchpoints
– Issues with lead times for electricity connections
– Insurance costs
– Difference between direct labour and hiring a builder
– Costs of running the site
– Professional fees and who to hire at an early stage
– Sequence of works and planning ahead
– Plumbing package costs
– Planning permission tips and typical conditions
– Next steps after planning, where to start
– Grants available
– Cost-design pendulum and the need for accurate costings
– Assigned certifier – what it is and what cost – opt in versus opt out and how it works with mortgages
– Health and safety – roles of PSDS and PSCS – and who to assign those roles
