Often left to last, the outdoor space is probably the most neglected part of a self-build yet one of the costliest.
For many self-builders, when the time comes to complete “the outside” it is usually more of a sign that the house project has reached completion than the start of a new phase in the build. In many cases this is because the landscaping budget has been sacrificed to pay for a cost overrun elsewhere.
Then, once life moves on from the main house build, a lack of time and energy often results in the garden being put on the long finger, to be completed months or years down the line when funds allow.