Most home building projects will come up against potentially time-consuming problems, however, understanding the common pitfalls before you get started will help keep you on track, says Mike Hardwick

Buy the correct quantities of the right materials, and make sure that they arrive on site on time for your tradesmen

There is no such thing as a trouble-free build. Some self builds will be easier than others, but regardless of how thoroughly you have planned your project, there will be lots of little issues that will invariably crop up. As soon as you’ve dealt with one thing, the next is not far away. It’s perfectly normal and is all part of the fun, as each problem solved represents a little victory. However, there is a difference between dealing with these common issues and tackling serious mistakes that can add time and cost to your scheme by delaying progress. Here are 10 potential mistakes to avoid during your build. Forewarned is forearmed!

1 Not having a soil survey done

You will never know the true cost of your self build until the foundations are complete and you are ‘out of the ground’. Standard strip foundations will be factored in to most projects’ cost estimations, but more complex engineered solutions such as piled foundations can add a significant sum, and therefore put pressure on your budget.