FINDING LAND

here will you start on your journey to self-building your dream home? With the land it sits on, of course. And how do you prepare for this daunting task? We got some tips from the Federation of Master Builders, the folks who know a bit about these things, to find out.

Money matters

Work out your budget first and how you will finance the land purchase. You can get a mortgage for land, but the lender will want to see that you intend to build on it. The Scottish self-build loan fund does not cover land, only construction.

Engage a solicitor that is experienced in land sales. They will be able to spot issues such as site access or water rights, and see about planning permissions.

WHappy hunting Focus

Narrow down your search area. It’s better to concentrate on the postcode that you really want, at least at first, and exhaust all possibilities in that area. Otherwise, you might miss out on a golden opportunity.

Auctions Legal eagle Local authorities

Land auctions are a good way to find suitable plots. However, transactions are conducted on a ‘sold as seen’ basis and therefore require a quick sale, leaving little time for research.

Utility companies

Once you have done these things, it’s time to start your search. There are several websites that allow you to search for details of plots for sale, although for some of these you need to pay a fee for membership. Traditional routes to find a plot include contacting your local property solicitors and estate agents or browsing their websites. Some kit home companies have a list of available self build properties that may have planning permission already in place. Then there’s the age-old method of driving around looking out for ‘For Sale’ signs. If you don’t get any joy using conventional methods, get a bit creative. There are alternate routes to land ownership, sometimes in unexpected places.

Utility organisations such as water, gas and electricity companies have surplus land available to buy, as do ScotRail and Network rail.

Private enquiries

Many private residential homes have large gardens with building potential. Churches and charities sometimes sell land, as well. Approach private developers with undeveloped or partly developed land to see if they would consider selling you a plot.

Existing abandoned buildings

Cash strapped organisations such as Councils or trusts often have parcels of land they are willing to sell. In addition to your council, others that sell land include harbour authorities, the Forestry Commission, churches and the lighthouse board.

Consider a site with a derelict structure on it that could be demolished or substantially renovated. Just make sure there are not planning restrictions due to it being a listed building.