Pre-Design – Collating your ideas PRE DESIGN Menu Site assessment Basic site checklist Road openings Wastewater Water and electricity Planning red flags Buying land with an existing house on it Site access Pre design Working out your requirements Other key structural decisions Energy efficiency, airtightness & the environment Direct labour vs main contractor Collating your ideas Choosing an architectural designer Building methods Budget & Financing Design Cost savers Getting the space right Kitchen and bathroom designs Designing the outside space Choosing external finishes Choosing windows and doors Securing planning permission Heating systems Heat emitters Ventilation Provisions for on-site electricity, water Construction drawings Health & Safety: Appoint PSDS Getting started on site Building control: Register your product Health & Safety: Appoint PSCS Insurance and warranty cover Direct labour tasks Before you start to dig Living arrangements Appointing a main contractor On site Quality control: Inspection schedule Construction overview Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints Wastewater systems, wells: Watchpoints Insulation and airtightness: Watchpoints Ventilation and heating systems: Watchpoints Windows and doors: Watchpoints Roofing: Watchpoints Joinery: Watchpoints First fix Second fix Choosing lighting Choosing wall and floor finishes Choosing the kitchen Choosing the bathrooms Landscaping: Watchpoints Signing off Snag lists and retention if main contractor Certificate of compliance Final stage payment for mortgage Conveyancing Collating your ideas Scrapbooks, online ideas or mood board such as Pinterest, Houzz or SB+ Inspiration, as well as pictures on your phone of designs, features, building materials, finishes and products are all good ways to collate ideas for building your new home. Already a member? Click here to sign in.