Finding
Land - Hints and Tips
Some of these
may be very obvious but as finding land
is often the most challenging aspect of
Self Build so it doesn’t hurt to go back
to basics.
Network -
Mention that you are looking for land
to friends, relatives and colleagues you
may be surprised at what or who they know.
Estate Agents
– The Estate Agent is your best friend
at least until you find your plot! If
possible go and see them face to face
rather than speaking over the telephone,
as they will view you as a more serious
prospect. It is true that most Estate
Agents are not normally instructed to
sell land but occasionally they will have
an old house that needs knocking down
and rebuilding on a lovely plot.
HINT - You will make a friend for life
if you give them a tip off on a house
that’s due on to the market and they will
be keen to repay the favour.
Don’t restrict
your search to the big names or those
with the glossiest advert in the local
paper, most towns have a little Estate
Agency which has been trading for many
years, stepping into their office will
be like stepping back into the 1950’s.
They very likely also have a surveying
department, which makes up the majority
of their income. They have a surprising
insight into what is available.
Put your own
classified ad in the local paper, make
it clear that you are an individual rather
than a company as a company will very
likely want to pay below market value.
Auctions –
Every Tom, Dick and Harriet looking for
a plot will no doubt be using this avenue
as well. Don’t restrict yourself to the
Auction Houses who are established in
your area, for some reason some vendors
instruct companies who are based a long
way from the plot, keep an eye on the
local papers as those companies will likely
place a small classified advert promoting
that lot.
Surf the net
– There are a myriad of online companies
trying to get you to sign up for there
services, most will charge a fee but some
will search for free. If you do decide
to pay make sure that the same information
isn’t available free of charge somewhere
else.
Right
Move is an excellent resource for
finding land you can set up an account
to send you an email when something becomes
available.
Google
Earth – Some of the bigger developers
use online mapping to get a literal birds-eye
view of where houses with big back gardens
or potential plots are located. This is
a real long shot and even if you spot
something you have to find the owners
contact details and hope that they want
to sell.
For a small fee you can find out who owns
a plot using the Land
Registry online Service.
Look out for
new developments – Sometimes large developers
will be willing to sell you a piece of
land within one of their developments.
Finding Service
– For a fee of anything between 1% and
3% you can employ a finder to do all of
the legwork for you.
If you are
a developer or a serial self-builder,
put a sign on your current site advertising
who you are and telling passers by that
you are ‘always looking for land’.
Direct mail
– Seen a plot that you like? If there
is an existing house on the site drop
a note through the door expressing an
interest, alternatively drop into the
local pub and get chatting with the Landlord
and locals.
Keep in touch
with Solo Timber Frame – We occasionally
have clients who due to a change of circumstances
have decided to sell rather than build,
tell us where you are looking and we’ll
let you know if something comes up.
GENERAL HINTS:
Be quick,
if it’s a good plot you will not be the
only person viewing.
Have your
funds ready, if you can promise a quick
sale you have a better chance of securing
the land.
Sell your
dream to the Vendor, tell them about you
and your family and how passionate you
are about the plot, invite them for a
glass of champagne when the house is finished.
