A SAVVY young couple’s smart approach to building their dream home in the Irish countryside has seen them €175,000 better off.
Newlyweds Jodi and Philip Kerr were “first time buyers and builders all in one” when they started their new home project on a tight budget.
The pad is located in the countryside and is only weeks away from being finished[/caption]
And they’ve now shared all of their tips to other couples looking to follow suit[/caption]
But thanks to tight cost control and smart budgeting the young couple are just weeks away from living happily ever after in their dream pad – and it’s already worth €175k more it cost them.
As house prices continuing to skyrocket in Ireland, self-building can be a practical way to cut costs and have complete control over the design decisions.
Statistics show that the average price of a three-bed semi in Ireland was over €397,000 in 2024 – the most expensive at any point in Irish history.
And the number of self-build mortgage approvals has also grown steadily, with over 1,300 approved in Ireland last year alone.
Many of these are young couples choosing to build their own pads from the ground up.
And one such savvy couple is Jodi and Philip who are in the final weeks of building a breathtaking home in the Northern Irish countryside.
And after two years of building, the couple, who are only in their 20s, have revealed how they went about their bargain dream build.
Jodie said: “We got engaged in February 2023, and we went straight to an architect.
“My husband had a plot of land near where we were living and that’s what we wanted to start working on.
“We had no experience at all. Both of us were only 24 when we first started the process and we were just thrown in there – first time buyers and builders all in one.”
Now only weeks until it is finished, building the pad cost the couple €408k – but it will have a market value of a whopping €584k.
The couple chose to build near Philip’s family land that was inherited from his grandfather, which helped reduce the overall cost of the project.
Since teenagers, Jodi and Philip also saved money in a Help to Buy ISA.
And while this did not directly apply to funding their self-build project, it still gave them a strong start and helped them build good savings habits early on.
The pair also secured a self-build mortgage through Ecology Building Society in the UK.
ECO COST-SAVING
To qualify for this mortgage, their home had to meet environmental standards such as installing solar panels and an air source heat pump – both of which will also save them money in the long run on utility bills.
However, despite being their last resort, it turned out to be a suitable option for their stunning pad.
Jodi said: “So we had a lot of savings to start off, and then we got a self-build mortgage with Ecology Building Society based over in England.
“When going with them we had to have an ecological house – heat pump, solar panels, and a different septic tank to make sure that everything’s economical.
“We had to prove all of that on our plans and that they were going ahead, and then they accepted us.”
CASH BACK
At the time they began their project, there were no government grants available specifically for self-builders in Northern Ireland.
However, they now will be eligible for a £500 (€584) eco-friendly home grant once the build is complete and the house is signed off due to their choice in mortgage.
“We had no experience at all. Both of us were only 24 when we first started the process and we were just thrown in there – first time buyers and builders all in one.”
Jodie Kerr
Up next was sourcing an architect that fit all of their needs while sticking to a budget – and they happened to find their ideal match on Instagram.
Their architect provided a lot of advice on both the design and budgeting, and helped them find ways to reduce overall costs.
What’s more, they also sourced cheaper materials where possible and adjusted some design features along the way without compromising quality.
FLEXIBLE PLAN
And whenever costs went over budget in one area, they cut spending in other areas to stay within their overall financial plan.
Jodi said: “We’ve been able to kind of reel it in in different places, splurge and cut back on different things.
“But we’ve been so happy with our architect, he was able to guide us to stay within the budget.
“There’s no point getting stressed with spending more money in one area because it’s always possible to save on other things along the way.
“It just kind of weighs itself up. You can stay in your budget with good advice and planning.”
COST CHALLENGES
However, there building experience was not without its challenges – such as the cost of building insurance and worker absences, which caused some setbacks.
But living close to the building site allowed the couple quickly solve any problems that came up – only delaying their move-in date by a few weeks.
The couple also admitted that managing the budget required a lot more of their time and effort than they could have imagined.
And to help, they even hired a quantity surveyor who kept a close eye on pricing and costs.
But despite the difficulties, building their home from scratch did also come with a surprise benefit – it brought the newlyweds even closer together.
ADVICE FOR OTHERS
The experience also taught the savvy couple many lessons about planning and patience.
And they are keen to share their insight with others as they are sharing their building journey on TikTok, offering tips and encouragement to others thinking of taking on a similar project.
Her advice to other young couples is to work with a reliable and trustworthy team throughout the process to alleviate stress.
It is also essential to be clear and realistic about your budget from the start as costs can add up quickly and unexpected expenses are almost guaranteed.
“There’s no point getting stressed with spending more money in one area because it’s always possible to save on other things along the way.”
Jodie Kerr
What’s more, patience is crucial because delays and changes are almost inevitable in any self-build project.
And finally, make sure you listen carefully to the professionals, such as architects and builders, as it will save you time and money in the long run.
‘BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT’
Jodi added: “Make sure that you’re working with a team that you trust, and then your builder and your architect are trusting and listening to you too.
“Be clear about whether you want an energy efficiency house or whatever sort of design elements you want while making sure you’re set in your budget and don’t run off on it.
“Be patient within the whole situation, we’ve waited two years for our house to come together, and it finally feels like it’s coming home straight.
“And just listen to the people that you employ – take their advice on board, and you’ll be 100 per cent.
“If you just kind of go off with your own ideas and think that you know better, then that’s where you come into problems.”
The property is now worth €180,000 more than it cost to build[/caption]
