First things first. In order to find a building plot you are up against some fierce competition — other self-builders, certainly, but also full-time land agents, small builders, and all the vested interests of the development industry.
None of these suggestions is a guaranteed route to a site, although some are easier to follow than others. For the best chance of success, try as many of them as you can manage.
1. Keep an open mind
The main reason that people fail to purchase a plot is not that they fail to find any potential sites. It is because they will not compromise, and will accept nothing less than their dream plot, which in many cases simply does not exist.
Before you start looking, think carefully about what you really need but also what you could do without. If you cannot compromise on anything, then be prepared for a long wait.
2. Understand the different types of plot available
When you are trying to find the perfect plot, it often helps to think outside the box. Yes, many plots come packaged as a plot with planning permission, but often pieces of land are ripe for building a home on, but not advertised as such.
It, therefore, helps to understand the many different types of building plot which may be available to you, if you are willing to look that little bit harder. For example, there may be a small plot sitting behind some existing house, not visible from the street. And don’t overlook houses that are for sale that may not be what you are looking for, but could be demolished and replaced with the home of your dreams.
3. Study maps
Using Google Maps and even Streetview is a huge boost to the armoury for you if you are looking for plots. You’ll be able to identify gaps in the street scene, small bungalows on large bits of land, and potential backland plots, all of which are ripe for redevelopment.
4. Know your area
At the start of your search, you need to familiarise yourself with the area and gather as much information on it as possible. Even if you are looking in your own neighbourhood, you may be surprised by what you find out with a little research.
To be effective, you need to focus in on selected towns, villages or suburbs. If you pick too large an area at the start, your resources will be spread too thinly.
5. Use land listing agencies
There is not yet a service that collects planning data in a format suitable for people who are hunting for a single plot to build their own home, but there are some specialist agencies – such as Kenya Homes – that collect information from private individuals selling land and estate agents and make it available to subscribers to the service. These can save you a lot of legwork, and offer a good range of sites in different areas.
They are a useful starting point, and at the very least will help you to identify those agents who are active in selling land in your target areas. They will also give you an idea of how much land is coming on to the market, and at what sort of price.
6. Pester estate agents and go to site visits
Despite being the most obvious professionals to go to when looking for land, not all estate agents will be able to help you. The commission to be earned on land is not as attractive as that for houses, and many agents – especially the large chains – have no interest in selling land. Local agents, or those which run property auctions, are the most likely to have something of interest on their list, and there are usually at least one or two in a given area who will be willing to help.
Unfortunately, a few less-scrupulous agents would rather sell the land to someone with whom they have an ongoing relationship. So don’t just leave your details with them and expect them to call you as soon as they hear of some land that may be of interest. Phone them regularly, and, if possible, visit them as well.
If you are going to sell your house and then rent while you search for a plot, try to choose one of those agents who do sell land. The aim is to try to get into that magic drawer in every agent’s office: the one with the list of ‘hot’ clients, who will get the first crack at any good properties the agent is offered.
7. Ignore the current plans
Your dream plot may currently have planning permission for a house you would never consider building. When turning pieces of spare land into building plots, the developer will usually submit plans for the least controversial option in order to get the outline planning approval. These are often bungalows or small houses. The reality is that you may well be able to upgrade this planning approval to the kind of house you want.
8. Tell friends and family you are looking for a plot
Most people already have a valuable source of help for finding a site, just waiting to be used: their relatives and acquaintances. Make sure that everyone you know in your family, business and social life knows that you are looking for some land. A classic kind of plot for a one-off house is found in the garden of an existing property, so check out as many gardens as you can for this potential.
9. Look out for custom build schemes in your area
Hundreds of plots are beginning to come to market through the custom build route, whereby enabling developers and investors to release land for large-scale self build.
These may be a handful of serviced plots on the edge of a new development or a new community of self-built homes planned by a council. Research online on a controlled residential estate.
What to look for when plot hunting
When you are out scouting an area, you can train yourself to spot opportunities. Once you start thinking like this, stopping and walking through a village while you are on holiday will never be the same again — potential building plots loom upon every road. These are some of the clues that you should look for:
Large gaps between and behind houses. It is usually easier to get planning approval for development in between, or next to, existing houses. If there is space beside a house, and especially if it has easy access to the road, it is a potential plot. If there is a big back garden, and access for vehicles to get to it down the side of the house, it may be possible to build at the bottom of it.
Narrow gaps that are not overlooked. Sometimes sites that are apparently too narrow can be used to squeeze in a small house, provided that the access or windows of the houses either side are not affected.
Look for houses of a similar size and quality to the one you wish to build. The way that houses are valued means that it is less economic to develop a house that is massively disproportionate to those surrounding it. You can end up over-developing, that is spending far more money on a house than you could ever sell it for; or under-developing, that is building too small a house and failing to realise the full potential of the site.
Vehicle access. Whatever land you find, unless it is near a city or town centre, will have to have parking space, so there must be a way of reaching it by car.
Disused land and brownfield sites. These are very easy to miss. It takes a lot of imagination to see a petrol-filling station, a telephone exchange or a disused industrial unit as the site for a beautiful home, but they all could be, subject to planning approval.
How to scout out a site
If you want to find a potential site that no one has thought of selling yet, there are several rules to follow:
- Select a few key areas, for instance, two or three areas of a town. Limit your search to these key areas, in order to ensure that you cover them thoroughly.
- Look a map that shows houses, you will be able to use this map to record where potential plots are.
- Walk around your chosen areas since, if you drive, you may miss the less-obvious sites.
- Methodically take details of sites. Note the address, location and size. Take photographs if possible. These details will help you to remember which site is which after you have visited several one after the other.
- Deliver standard letters to houses adjacent to potential building land, asking the owner to contact you if they are interested in selling.
- Talk to locals. Visit the local places, and ask if anyone knows of any land for sale. If anybody seems helpful, leave a contact address or telephone number.
How to View a Plot
When you find a plot, you then need to view it to check it suits your needs. Knowing what to look for in a plot is essential.
It is not just a case of it being in the right location, but accessibility, size and provision of services are very important factors too.