self build case study 1

	Name:	Tim & Ellen Bailey	Location:	West Cork, Ireland
	Age:	52 & 40	Land Cost:	£40,000 (1998)
	Profession:	Oil Rig Engineer, Midwife	Build Cost:	£220,000
	House Type:	Modified Hardwick from the Heritage range. 3,000sq ft	Current Value:	£590,000

When Tim Bailey first saw a Potton home at an exhibition in 1978, he decided that one day he would become a self builder.
Then in 1995, he had managed to convince his wife Ellen that they should visit the Potton show centre at st Neots , it was from then on they both agreed self build was the route for them. And that the best place they might be able to find a plot would be Ireland, Ellen’s family were from Tipperary so it seemed a natural thing to do.
The couple together with their 2 sons rented a house in West Cork and after six months agreed they had made the right decision, so decided to stay and follow their dream of running a bed and breakfast.
With Tim’s job taking him out of the country for long spells it was left to Ellen to go on the hunt for a building plot, she went round to local farms, talked to people in the vicinity and generally made it known that they were looking for building land, 2-3 months later she met a farmer who knew someone he thought might be willing to sell a piece of land, they visited the site, both fell in love with the location overlooking the sea, met the owner and negotiated to buy it. It was then that they had to take on the local authority as there were serious planning issues to overcome, “every time we met them we seemed to hit a brick wall” says Tim, that was until they came into contact with Potton’s architect who was based in county Wicklow, he took on the local planners went armed with all sorts of designs and still the planner was not happy.
Unfortunately the land they wanted to build on was on the tourist route and therefore a very sensitive area.
However, 18 months later through a combination of determination, professional know how, Irish charm and a Hardwick design modified to suit the location, planning was finally approved and the plot purchased.
Site works started in February 1999 and apart from a minor hiccup setting the foundations out so as to have the best views of the sea, by mid march the foundations were complete and the garage almost finished ready for the family to move into while building work was going on.
By the time christmas was approaching the house was far from complete and the baileys had invited 10 relations over from England, the plumber worked all night and even came in christmas morning to make the final connections, at the end of the day they were thrilled to spend christmas entertaining all the family in their new home. This gave them the incentive to pick up the pace and get the house finished, 2 years later they were welcoming the first guests to quietwaters B&B a beautiful house overlooking the sea.

“it was not the quickest self build project ever but we always planned to take our time and despite the occasional stressful side of the work we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and now many of the contractors are our friends as well as our neighbours”

Land cost [1998]: £40,000

Build cost: £220,000

Current value: £590,000