DESIGN & BUILD PACKAGES
If you are looking for a helping hand with your self build project, employing the ser vices of a package home company could prove to be the ideal solution. Here’s what you need to know about this route to a bespoke property
WORDS ANNA-MARIE DESOUZA
The package for this Welsh Oak Frame project included design, oak frame, glazing, softwood walling and construction of the house shell
The threebed LH702PD is a popular Hebhomes design. “This house shows how clients can amend it to suit their brief and site,” says architect and MD, Alasdair Stephen. “A glazed corner window frames mountain views, while the larch-clad walls are framed out to hide the rones (gutters) and rone pipes.”
Embarking on a self build project is an adventure – the journey is filled with creativity, excitement and challenges, with the destination being your dream home. And while many would-be self builders want to be hands-on, taking on the design, construction and finishings is not realistic for everyone.
For those who want a helping hand with the various stages of design and building, package home companies can be pivotal partners. These firms offer expertise and experience, resources and – of course – a structured process, which can enable dreams of a bespoke home to become a reality. So, how can collaborating with a design and build or package company assist you exactly? And what do you need to know to ensure that you’re well-equipped to navigate the home building process successfully? In this guide, we’ll look at the role these specialist companies can play and what services are on offer that will smooth out the bumps in your journey.
KEY BENEFITS
Package homes provide a unique combination of benefits that can make them an attractive option for those looking to build their own property. A package home route can offer a streamlined approach to achieving your dream home by functioning as a one-stop-shop that handles multiple aspects of the construction process. By engaging with a package company, you benefit from a single provider coordinating a big chunk of the build, tailored to various levels of involvement according to your preferences. These companies are experts in creating bespoke homes, and guiding self builders along the way. They can offer a wealth of experience, resources and systems to make the process more straightforward and accessible, even for complete novices.
Typically, design and build firms provide a sliding scale of services, allowing you to engage with them at a level that best suits your needs, skills and time. From supplying basic materials for the structural shell of your project through to managing the entire build process (a turnkey project), package home companies offer a customisable building experience. This flexibility ensures that whether you wish to be hands-on in every decision or prefer to oversee the project from a distance, there’s a provider and service level that matches your requirements.
Most package companies work on a supply-and-erect basis as a minimum. So, they translate the plans into a buildable house design and manufacture the structural element of your project before building it to watertight stage, using either their team or a preferred contractor. One element you’ll usually need to take care of is getting the groundworks and foundations in place before the build team arrives on site – though your package supplier may be able to recommend contractors for this stage.
DESIGN IN FOCUS
One of the main driving forces behind the desire to self build is the opportunity to realise a property that suits your lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. Opting for a design and build package is a simple way to go about this with a team of experts who know what type and style of homes work best with their particular build system.
WHAT ARE THE CONTRACT LEVELS?
Each path offers a different level of involvement and control, catering to various needs, expertise levels, and schedules. Choose what suits you based on how much you wish to be involved.
Supply & erect You’ll use an external architect, but your package supplier translates them into a structural design, delivering the engineering, manufacture and assembly of the house shell. You can then choose your own build team for the rest of the works.
Architectural design, supply & build Similar to the route above, but the package company also does the planning design. Great for those who want a single expert to guide them through these key stages.
Follow-on services may be available, or you can engage independent trades for the rest of the project.
Turnkey The most comprehensive option, the package home company handles every aspect of the build from planning and design to completion. This is best for those who prefer to step back and let professionals handle it all, with a fixed cost and timeline, but less flexibility for mid-project changes.