Seize the Moment: Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Self-Build Your Dream Home

Managing Director, Sarah Mathieson, provides some insights into why now may well be the ideal time to Build the Life You Imagine.

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”
Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen’s* quote captures a powerful truth that’s particularly relevant to self-building. When the housing market feels uncertain, when interest rates continue to feel elevated in comparison with the record lows of 2020-2021, or when material prices fluctuate, it’s tempting to put the brakes on our plans – to hold off until things calm down.

But here’s the truth: there will always be uncertainty. Markets shift, prices seesaw, and global events, including trade wars, unfold beyond our control. And beyond external conditions, we can be blindsided in our personal lives. But, if we make every decision based on “what if,” we risk never making one at all.

We often believe we’re waiting for the right conditions – hoping for prices to drop, or inflation to cool, or the economy to feel more stable. But really, we’re just reacting to our own thoughts – a passing story we keep telling ourselves. And while these thoughts may seem rational, they don’t always serve our best interests or help us achieve our goals.

Consider the years you might spend waiting it out until the time is right. That’s years without the space, comfort, and pride of living in a home that has been designed around your needs. It’s years of making do, compromising, and putting your life on hold. In holding out for the perfect conditions, you miss out on benefits that planning, but more importantly executing and finishing, a self-build project will bring.

Yes, materials might become cheaper. But then again, they might not. And even if they do, will saving a certain amount outweigh the personal cost of delay? Often, the greatest loss isn’t financial, it’s the missed opportunities – the experiences we’ve missed out on, the memories we’ve not made, and the missed personal satisfaction of achieving our hopes and dreams. It’s fair to say that most people regret the decisions they don’t make rather than the ones they do.

We all like to think delay is caused by external factors – by market conditions, rising costs, and economic uncertainty. However, hesitation often stems from our own thoughts and prevents us from moving forwards. Recognising this can be empowering. It allows you to stop waiting for perfection and trust something more profound – the knowledge that you’re ready.

Driven by increased demand for high quality housing, more people than ever are interested in self-building. Research suggests nearly a third of UK adults would consider a self-build project. Yet, despite this, self-builds account for just 7–10% of new homes annually. This gap between interest and activity is telling. It’s not that people don’t want to build – they do. But they get caught up in self-doubt. So, they wait. And wait. And wait.

Self-building your own home isn’t just a construction project; it’s an investment in how you live your life, in your well-being, and in your future. The longer you delay, the longer the life you aspire to stays ‘on hold’.

Case Study: Arhaven, Orkney ^**

For Fleming Homes’ self-build customers Adam and Raema Lyon, it was falling in love with a particular plot of land that triggered them to pursue their self-build adventure. However, timing couldn’t possibly have been more off for the couple. Their build coincided with COVID. Manufacturing took place at a time when material costs were at a steep climb. Moreover, they had toddler, Eilidh, in tow and their second child Ollie was born three quarters of the way through their build. Introduce the fact that Adam’s work schedule saw him away for a month at a time, and it’s clear the Lyons had a lot to juggle.

But when you ask the couple why they chose to go ahead in May 2021 when material costs were high and their life was so busy, they talk about how “a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy the right plot” arose and once purchased, they were so excited nothing could hold them back.

The truth is, life is inherently unpredictable. If you let uncertainty dictate your choices, the home you dream of may remain just that – a dream. So, ask yourself ‘What is the cost of doing nothing?’ The answer might be all the motivation you need.

Whether you’re full of ideas or just starting, Fleming Homes can help you turn your self-build thoughts into action.

To borrow the words of John Lennon: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Notes

* Alan Cohen, M.A., is the author of 31 popular inspirational books, including the bestselling ‘A Course in Miracles Made Easy’ and the award-winning ‘A Deep Breath of Life’.
** Arhaven is a new timber frame family home located within a World Heritage Site on Orkney. It was completed in 2021 by first time self-builders, Adam and Raema Lyon. You can find out more about the project in our success stories: Arhaven.