An in-depth survey of would-be home owners to build or renovate their dream homes has found that their visions are still on track.
The National Self-Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC), which is based in Swindon, Wiltshire, questioned 644 people looking to build their own home or renovate an existing property, and asked about factors as wide ranging as budget, priorities and motivations of those taking on these kinds of projects, as well as sustainable building practices.
Whilst the results show that more than half of those surveyed say the economic downturn has had some effect on their plans, it hasn’t resulted in people changing their minds about their projects, with just two per cent saying they’ve shelved their intended build.
Adjustments such as being more ‘hands on’ to save on labour costs were cited by almost half (47%) of the people surveyed; and planning more energy-saving measures to lower costs in the longer term was also a key finding – with more than a third of respondents stating this as a direct response to the current economic conditions.
Harvey Fremlin, managing director of the NSBRC, says these findings are borne out by what he and his team see on a daily basis with the people who come through their doors.
“Sustainability and thinking about the energy use of the future is a key priority for our customers. The recent news of possible fuel rationing this winter shows more than ever how important it is to invest in sustainable, energy-efficient measures, and it’s obvious to us from the conversations we have that people are absolutely clear on not compromising on this issue. It’s really important to them.”
While it’s tempting to think of self-build projects as ambitious and flamboyant, Harvey explains the kinds of builds and renovations seen on TV programmes such as Grand Designs are not what the majority of people are looking to achieve.
“Most self-builders actually have a relatively modest budget and an overall household income of less than £50k a year,” he said. “As our survey shows, they just want a well-built, sustainable family home with their own particular needs in mind.”
The NSBRC was established in 2007 and has become a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to build their own home, make significant renovations to their existing property, or retrofit sustainability options.
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Showcasing businesses working in all stages of building and renovation projects, as well as the latest technologies and innovations, it has been described as a ‘permanent trade show’ and is the only one of its kind in the UK. However, it is as much a place for education as it is for sourcing materials and systems.
“We’re particularly proud of the workshops and training we offer both on site and online,” said Harvey. “It’s so important that, as well as providing people with the material goods they need to build their own home, we help them become as knowledgeable as they can about the projects they’re undertaking.
“Our survey found almost 70% of people embarking on this kind of project are at least 55 years old and 35% of them are retired. For many, this is their first self-build project and their intention is to build a home that will carry them through the rest of their lives, so it’s vital they are as well-informed as possible, especially in light of the evidence that more and more people want to be hands-on in order to reduce overall cost.”
Workshops at the centre cover topics such as project management, building systems and internal finishes. November sees a focus on sustainability with events on eco-friendly builds and retrofits and a special workshop on ‘Passivhaus’ an approach to building which is designed to deliver comfort, craftsmanship and a 90% reduction in energy use to heat a home.
“We’re really excited about these free workshops,” says Harvey, “and we’ve revised the sustainable home workshop on 12th November to reflect the current energy crisis. With costs spiraling and environmental impact ranking high on people’s priorities, it’s a chance to hear about government incentives, green investment opportunities around different technologies, and issues such as insulation and ventilation considerations.”
The event will now be split into two separate theatres to cater specifically for those renovating an existing property and people taking on a new build.
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