The Self Builders Podcast

Jamie and Helen are a project manager and a cost engineer. If anyone was going to get a self-build to the pound, it was them. Then a car park behind an old pub in a Cumbrian town came up for sale, and their three-storey, five-bedroom home began.

Now wind and watertight and still mid-build, they talk honestly with Jack about what self-managing a build is really like. They had to keep pace with the build-to-sell going up next door. One design tweak meant a crane and bespoke beams. A lorry got down a narrow lane with an inch to spare, and they spent two weeks with roof trusses propped against the house. They also cover why the small costs hurt more than the big ones, why trades used to estate builds can struggle with airtightness, and how they're juggling all of it with two young children and full-time jobs.

They also explain why they wouldn't project manage it themselves again, and give one piece of advice for anyone at the start of their own build.

This episode covers:

• Buying a plot with outline planning and taking it through to detailed approval
• Sharing a planning application with the build next door to save costs
• Why they chose traditional block construction with a modern rendered finish
• How one design change led to a six-metre beam, a crane and bespoke steel
• The hidden costs that come from dozens of small decisions
• Keeping pace with a build-to-sell next door when you're building to live in
• Finding trades who understand airtightness and current standards
• Two weeks of roof truss chaos on a site with almost no space to put anything
• Juggling self-management with full-time jobs and two young children

Their advice for anyone weighing up self-management is honest: it isn't difficult, but it is all-consuming. Make sure you have the capacity before you take it on, and think about bringing in someone experienced to oversee it, even if you don't hand over the whole project.

Their advice on budgets is simpler. Deal with what's in front of you, and don't get drawn into optional extras.

If you're thinking about managing your own build, working out a realistic budget, or wondering whether professional experience is enough to see you through, this episode is an honest and practical listen.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #SelfBuildUK #SelfBuildProject

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

Sophie designs buildings for a living. She still says she'd do things differently.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Sophie, a structural engineer who is partway through building her first ever home on a family plot in Shropshire — while living and working in London, three and a half hours away.

She's never had a standard mortgage. Her first one is a self-build mortgage.

Sophie is candid about what her professional background did and didn't help with, why she's glad she didn't project manage it herself, and the small design decisions she'd revisit if she started again.

This episode covers:
• Building your first ever home rather than buying one
• Adapting existing planning permission rather than starting from scratch
• Going through two architects before finding the right fit
• Why she chose traditional block and brick construction
• Handing the shell to a builder, and taking over from watertight
• The utility connection costs that catch people out, including three phase electricity
• What happens when your valuation comes back higher than your budget
• Managing a build remotely, and the trade-offs that come with no fixed deadline

Sophie's advice for the planning stage is refreshingly specific: find an architect whose existing work you actually like, and when your approval comes through, read the conditions properly — then read them again.

Her advice for anyone mid-build is simpler. Enjoy it. She says she'll be a little sad when it's finished.

If you're a first-time buyer considering a self-build, managing a project from a distance, or wondering how much a professional background really helps, this episode is an honest and encouraging listen.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #SelfBuildUK #SelfBuildProject

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

Neil has built three family homes. He calls this one the last one. He's said that before.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Neil, a property developer who has now built four homes across two roads — and is four months into the biggest one yet, a 14,000 sq ft ICF new build with a substantial basement, replacing a house from the early eighties.

As his architect once told him, he doesn't love the finished product. He loves the process.

Neil is unusually well placed to talk about what carries over from one build to the next: the floor plan mistakes he's repeated, the features he thought he wanted and never used, and the confidence it takes to overrule the professionals when you're the one who has to live there.

This episode covers:
• Buying a plot with no planning and gambling on the planners' support
• Using a planning performance agreement to speed the process up
• Why he chose ICF, and how quickly the shell goes up
• Self-managing the build with his own team for the first time
• Working from a QS cost estimate, and why he expects to exceed it
• Why the cheapest build often costs more over the following five years
• The sheer volume of decisions a self-build demands, and the time that takes
• Knowing when to overrule your architect, engineer or builder

Neil's best money is spent before anything is built: a really good architect, and enough time with them to get the decisions right at the start rather than changing things mid-project.

His worst? A £50,000 scaffolding quote. Necessary, and you get nothing to look at for it.

And his advice for anyone stuck mid-build: put yourself six months into the future. Whatever is going wrong right now will be dealt with by then. There is almost always a way through — it just costs time, money, or both.

If you're planning a demolition and rebuild, weighing up ICF, considering managing the build yourself, or on your second project and wondering what you'd do differently, this episode is full of perspective you only get from doing it repeatedly.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #ICFBuild #SelfBuildUK

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

Bethany and Chris were 22 when they started. A lot of people told them they were too young.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Bethany Travis, who is partway through converting a derelict barn on her grandma's farm in the Peak District into her and Chris's first home.

They'd been snubbed at building shows because of their age, and told repeatedly that a project this size wasn't for them. Three years on, they've secured full planning permission in one of the country's strictest planning authorities, underpinned an entire barn that had no foundations, and are hoping to be watertight by the end of the year.

Bethany is completely open about what they didn't know at the start, and about the one approach that has kept the whole thing manageable: treating every stage as its own mini project rather than one enormous one.

This episode covers:
• Starting a self-build in your early twenties, and being taken seriously
• Converting a derelict barn on family land
• Getting planning permission inside a National Park
• Underpinning a barn with no existing foundations
• Why breaking the build into mini projects stops it becoming overwhelming
• Using a structural and civil engineer to get comparable, accurate quotes
• Self-funding the early stages, then moving onto a self-build mortgage
• Playing to your strengths as a couple, and what a supportive neighbourhood is worth

Bethany's advice to anyone younger who's thinking about it: back yourself.

Nobody knows what they're doing at the start. Chris learned to drive a digger a few weeks ago. Work out what each of you is good at, vet everyone you bring on, and remember that the right team are your cheerleaders — the people you call when something goes wrong.

And her advice for planning: listen to what the planners are actually asking of you. Work with them and they'll work with you.

If you're early in your career and wondering whether a self-build is realistic, sitting on family land you don't know what to do with, or facing a barn that looks impossible, this episode is proof it can be done.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #BarnConversion #SelfBuildUK

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

Three brokers told Nicki and Emma their house couldn't be mortgaged. They were days away from losing it.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Nicki and Emma, who ended up with a renovation project entirely by accident. They were looking for a very specific layout in a very specific part of the west of Scotland, and after months of searching it came down to one house or no house.

The house is a converted farm building, beautiful in the photos, but renovated a decade ago to a standard they describe as negligent in places. What they thought was a damp proofing job has turned into a full scope of works with an architect, a structural engineer and a conservation-experienced builder.

They're a year in, with around 18 months still to go, and they're refreshingly honest about the middle stretch where both of them wondered what on earth they'd done.

This episode covers:
• Buying a renovation project you weren't looking for
• Why the survey wasn't what revealed the real problems
• Finding an architect with the right skill set, and rejecting the ones without it
• Why a full schedule of works before quoting saves money later
• Being told a property is unmortgageable, and what actually happened next
• Getting a three-year renovation mortgage in five days after months of no
• Buying in Scotland with an English lender, and the extra surveys that came with it
• Replacing £45-a-day electric heating with an air source heat pump

Nicki and Emma's biggest lesson is about people. The right architect, the right builder, the right broker — every breakthrough in this project came from finally finding someone who listened rather than sucking their teeth at the problem.

Their advice for anyone at the start: get a complete list of the problems before you start fixing any of them. Everything takes three times longer than you think, and involves at least two more people than you expected.

And for anyone stuck in the middle of a renovation right now: it will end. Just keep going.

If you're taking on a renovation, worried a property is too complicated to finance, or in the difficult middle stage of a project, this episode is an honest and encouraging listen.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #RenovationMortgage #SelfBuildUK #HomeRenovation

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

Most self builders worry about running out of money. Denise actually did.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Denise Franks, who left a large detached house on an estate to convert an agricultural building on the Lincolnshire and Peterborough border into a home. The building had Class Q permission and a previous life as a potato store.

Denise and her husband sold their house quickly, moved into an old static caravan on site, and lived there for two and a half years while the build went on around them. Then, at plastering stage, the money ran out.

She's completely open about that moment, what it took to keep going, and why having someone who genuinely understood self-build finance made the difference.

This episode covers:
• What Class Q permission is and why it was their route in
• Going back for full planning to add a mezzanine second floor
• Handling neighbour objections during the planning process
• Living on site in a static caravan, and what she'd do differently
• Working with a local builder who'd never done a barn conversion
• Where the budget actually went, and the costs that crept up
• Getting a self-build mortgage partway through the build
• Solar, batteries and an air source heat pump, and an electricity bill that's now barely more than the standing charge

Denise's biggest regret? Not planning further ahead, and not spending a little more on expertise where it mattered.

Her biggest lesson is about honesty. She was able to tell her builder exactly how much money was left before it ran out, and that conversation kept the project moving. Choose someone you can have that conversation with.

And her advice for anyone halfway through and struggling: a low point is normal. Don't lose sight of what you're building or why.

If you're considering a Class Q conversion, weighing up living on site, or worried about what happens if the money runs short mid-build, this episode is an honest, reassuring listen.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #ClassQ #BarnConversion

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

What if the first person you called wasn't an architect?

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Charlie, who bought a tired 1,200 sq ft bungalow on an acre in Berkshire, knocked it down, and replaced it with a 4,500 sq ft three-storey ICF home that blends Georgian proportions with modern, highly energy-efficient construction.

Charlie project-managed the entire build himself over three and a half years, and he's refreshingly honest about what made it work: research, strategy, and being on site almost every single day.

He also shares the one piece of advice he repeats more than any other — get a planning consultant on board before you speak to an architect. It's a reversal of how most self builders start, and Charlie explains exactly why it changed the outcome of his project.

This episode covers:
• Why a knockdown and rebuild is often easier than finding a plot
• Why a planning consultant should come before an architect
• Using permitted development rights and a heritage consultant to get planning through
• Building on a sloping site, and why he built a retaining wall instead of a basement
• What ICF construction actually is, and why he chose it over timber frame
• The realities of project managing your own build and coordinating multiple trades
• Delivering the whole project at around £250 per square foot
• Running an all-electric home with no mains gas, and why air conditioning was his best decision

Charlie's biggest lesson? Be there.

He was away from site for just five days across the whole build, and something went wrong on every one of them. If you can't be there yourself, he says, have someone independent of your builder who can.

His other message is about pace. When a problem appears, the instinct is to fix it and crack on. Charlie's advice is to stop, step back, and consider the knock-on effects before you commit — because it's always cheaper to think now than to unpick it later.

If you're planning a knockdown and rebuild, considering ICF, weighing up an all-electric home, or wondering whether to project manage your own build, this episode is full of practical, hard-won detail from someone who has just done it.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #SelfBuildUK #ICFBuild

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual's needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

What would you sacrifice to build your dream home?

Would you sell your house, move into a caravan, and live on-site while managing your self-build?

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Rachel to hear the honest story behind her self-build journey: from buying a plot with planning permission to living in a caravan during the build, all the way through to completing the home she still loves today.

Rachel shares the highs, the lows, the stress, the unexpected costs, and the moments that made it all worth it.

Her story is a brilliant reminder that self-build isn’t always easy, but with the right mindset, the right team, and the determination to keep going, the rewards can be life-changing.

This episode covers:

• How Rachel got started with self-build
• Buying a plot with planning permission already in place
• Selling her home to fund the build
• Why she moved into a caravan on-site
• Managing the build while working from home
• Budgeting for unexpected costs
• Where extra money gets spent during a self-build
• The reality of being over budget
• Choosing the right builder and trades
• The most stressful stages of the build
• Mistakes Rachel would avoid next time
• The small details that make a big difference
• Why finishing strong matters
• What life feels like after moving in

Rachel shares one message throughout the episode: Just keep going.

Self-build can be stressful, exhausting and overwhelming at times. But every challenge gets you closer to the home you’ve worked so hard to create.

Now, years after completing the build, Rachel still has moments where she walks into her kitchen, looks out through the sliding doors into the garden, and reminds herself exactly why it was all worth it.

If you’re planning a self-build, currently mid-build, or feeling overwhelmed by the journey, this episode is full of reassurance, perspective, and honest advice from someone who’s been through it all.

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:

Mayflower Booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:

Free Self-Build Resources

#SelfBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #SelfBuildUK #DreamHome

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual’s needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

For many people, self-build is exciting in theory. But in reality, managing planning, utilities, contractors, budgets and timelines can feel overwhelming.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Adrian and Mike from Greenlee Developments to explore a different route: custom build.

Greenlee specialises in sourcing land, securing planning, and delivering high-quality bespoke homes through a model that gives buyers the flexibility to personalise their home, without the pressure of managing the entire build themselves.

The conversation explores how custom build sits between traditional self-build and buying from a standard housebuilder, why demand for this model is growing, and how Greenlee helps clients create homes that feel truly personal.

This episode covers:

• What custom build actually means
• How it differs from self-build and standard housebuilding
• Why custom build is growing in popularity
• The benefits of a turnkey self-build solution
• How Greenlee helps source land and secure planning
• Why early-stage planning and due diligence matter
• Common challenges in self-build projects
• The importance of utilities, infrastructure and site servicing
• Why early customer involvement improves project outcomes
• How buyers can personalise layouts, finishes and specifications
• The role of expert teams in reducing risk and stress
• Why collaboration creates better homes

Adrian and Mike share a clear message throughout this episode:

Building a bespoke home doesn’t have to mean taking on every challenge yourself.

With the right team around you, it’s possible to create a home tailored to your lifestyle, while avoiding much of the complexity that comes with traditional self-build.

This episode is ideal for anyone exploring self-build, custom build, land opportunities, or alternative ways to create a home that truly works for them.

You can find out more about Greenlee Developments here:
https://www.greenlydevelopments.co.uk/

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:
https://www.mayflowermortgage.co.uk/free-self-build-resources

#SelfBuild #CustomBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #DreamHome #PropertyDevelopment

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual’s needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.

What if self-build decisions were easier?

One of the biggest challenges in any self-build project is knowing what decisions to make, when to make them, and how those choices affect everything else down the line.

In this episode of the Self Builders Podcast, Jack sits down with Michael from Home by Milestone, an innovative new centre designed to help self-builders, renovators, developers and industry professionals make better decisions earlier in the building journey.

Located in the historic Masson Mills, Home by Milestone is far more than a traditional showroom. It’s an immersive experience where visitors can explore sustainable building products, understand how modern systems work together, and learn what it really takes to create healthier, more energy-efficient homes.

The conversation dives into Passivhaus principles, sustainable construction, and why collaboration between designers, suppliers, builders and finance experts can dramatically improve project outcomes.

This episode covers:

• What Home by Milestone is and why it was created
• Why it’s different from a traditional construction showroom
• Passivhaus explained in simple terms
• Why energy-efficient homes are becoming the future
• The key principles behind better building performance
• Why build quality matters just as much as product choice
• Common self-build mistakes made too late in the process
• Why early-stage decision making is so important
• How poor collaboration creates costly delays and issues
• The importance of aligning design, build and finance early
• How sustainable building can improve comfort and reduce running costs
• Where self-build and construction is heading over the next 5–10 years

Michael shares a powerful perspective throughout this episode:

The future of construction isn’t just about better products.
It’s about better planning, better collaboration, and better decisions from day one.

If you’re planning a self-build, renovation, or major construction project, this episode offers valuable insight into how to future-proof your home and avoid costly mistakes.

You can find out more about Home by Milestone here:

Home by Milestone

📞 Book a call with Mayflower Mortgage here:

Mayflower Booking

📘 Download our FREE Self-Build Resources:

Free Self-Build Resources

#SelfBuild #Passivhaus #EcoBuild #SelfBuildMortgage #SustainableBuilding

The views and information discussed in this video/podcast are intended for general informational purposes and do not constitute regulated mortgage or financial advice. Mortgage recommendations depend on a full assessment of an individual’s needs, objectives, and financial situation. Before making any decisions, please ensure you obtain personalised advice from a suitably qualified and authorised mortgage adviser.