Chris and Helen Kessling
Leicestershire 2005 05-276
The Decision to Self-Build
Having renovated a number of houses we felt it was the perfect opportunity to design a home practically and aesthetically we wanted to live in. We wanted a good family home which flowed from room to room and which was light and airy.
How did you find out about Potton and why did you choose them?
We researched a number of companies both in the UK and abroad (Europe and US). We settled on Potton because we loved the various design options and the ease of taking a standard design and altering it to our personal taste. We visited the show homes and were impressed with the quality of the houses and also the professionalism of the staff.
We noticed from our research how it was possible to personalise the designs by adding, for example, nonstandard windows or beams.
The net result for us were attractive designs which we could alter to taste, professional staff, a company with an excellent reputation with its own factory and good value for money.
Which design did you build and why?
We chose the Caxton J which we altered quite a bit by stretching it by depth and length. We also added a sunroom to the rear and a covered walkway from the utility room to the detached garage. We liked the warmth of the Caxton J and its open beams which lent themselves well to producing a house with a classic design. We live in a village with numerous thatched cottages and needed a house style which would keep the planning authority happy; the Caxton J was exactly the type of design which could fit in with the locality whilst retaining a sense of difference and independence.
Internally we liked the way we could plan the rooms to flow into one another. There was plenty of space and more than enough room for a family to work together well. The sunroom at the rear floods with light and works as the main dining/family room next to the kitchen.
Square footage of your new home: Just over 3000 square feet
The Service
We were impressed by the Potton Service, from initially going to the show homes to meeting our Regional Business Manager, who was extremely enthusiastic. He was very helpful when it came to choosing the design and gave us plenty of useful information. When we were putting the final touches to the design we always felt able to phone up and ask questions without feeling embarrassed by our inexperience.
When it came to building the house we used the Potton subcontractor Timber Construction who were fantastic in building the frame and thinking ahead for us regarding a number of things which if done now would save time later. The technical staff at Potton were always helpful and we made contact on a regular basis. This is exactly the type of support that self-builders need sometimes and we were very grateful for it, particularly when we needed real technical support; as a company, Potton were clearly more than a match for any man from the NHBC! Similarly, by reputation, Building Regs were very happy to take on board the views of Potton and would always go with what Potton suggested. To this extent a good reputation is worth its weight in gold. This was true both at the planning and subsequent construction stages.
Across the board we found the Potton staff extremely friendly and this was never truer than visiting the factory and being given a personal tour and explanation of exactly how the houses are designed and made.
Did you manage and oversee the subcontractors yourself, use the services of a project manager or did you employ a builder?
We did manage and oversee the subcontractors ourselves and Helen was the Project Manager (the boss!). Timber Construction built the frame and were excellent and extremely professional (Rob and his team). After this we used numerous builders and tradesmen for various aspects of the job (too numerous to mention) but we would certainly single out Timber Construction for their efficiency and expertise.
How did you find the self build process? Was it easy, rewarding, inspiring, challenging? Is there any part of the process that sticks in your mind? Any funny experiences, worrying times?
The whole process was rewarding and terrifying. Rewarding in the sense of achievement at having built your own home, sometimes terrifying when nothing seems to be going your own way. There were fantastic moments such as sitting down with a bottle of wine, taking the basic design and working on it and setting out the house which, down the line, you are actually standing in - it's like Lego for grown ups! Seeing the house delivered on a lorry was a fantastic experience and wondering how on earth anyone could understand how it could all fit together.
Then there's the experience of watching the house go up which is, literally, uplifting, particularly since up to this point all you have been doing is pouring money into digging holes and then filling them with concrete and, when 50% of the footings are 2.7 metres deep, that's a lot of money in concrete. The beauty of a timber-framed house is that it goes up quickly and you can actually see the skeleton of your future home.
How long did it take you to build your house from digging foundations to completion? 12 months
How did you finance the build? Which mortgage did you apply for?
By cash and mortgage with Buildstore
How did you find out about your mortgage? Self-build magazines
Cost of the plot and year purchased: £200,000 purchased in 2005
Cost of the kit from Potton: £85,000
Cost of the build excluding plot and the kit: Approx £220,000
Current valuation: £750,000
Author: Helen Liddle
DateAdded: 16/07/2009 00:00:00
