I know that it is not easy finding a suitable plot to self-build

a home as more and more people decide it is a viable option and potential sites are snapped up. Here are a few tips explaining how to spot a plot.

1. Put on your walking boots. Yes, you can search online from the comfort of your own home, but so can everybody else. This lets you see the real potential of a site that you might miss driving past in a car or looking online.

2. Think about planning consent. If you find a plot which does not currently have planning consent you need to give a lot of thought to whether or not it is likely to be granted. Play Devil’s advocate and think about why it might get turned down. You don’t want to buy a plot that you then find you cannot build on.

3. Consider the access. Is there somewhere to park and can all the necessary services get to the plot? You need to consider this both from the point of view of carrying out the build and also when it has been completed and you are living in it or when you come to sell.

4. Use your imagination. You need to use that dreaded phrase and ‘think outside the box’. Consider brown field sites such as an old petrol station, disused car lot or abandoned industrial units.

5. Consider the neighbours. Perhaps think about how they will view you. It is much better to sell to a potentially nice new neighbour than a hard-nosed developer, so you can make that work to your advantage.

If you do manage to find a plot in the Gloucestershire area and need an expert company to carry out the build for you don’t hesitate to get in touch.