A few years ago, I decided to build my own house, which turned out to be quite an adventure. Today, I want to walk you through the process to see if it makes sense to you. First off, it’s important to note that where I live, there’s a lack of reliable architects. People often claim they know what they’re doing, but after a short while, it becomes clear they don’t. I faced a choice: either get a poorly built house for the price of hiring an architect or build my own house to my specifications.

When I started, the first thing I did was imagine living in the house. For example, if you open the door, you should find a light switch nearby, so you don’t have to walk around the door to find it. Unfortunately, many architects I consulted created designs with such inconveniences. I thought, “Why should I pay 10% more for a house to someone who doesn’t care about the details?” So, I decided to become the architect of my house.

Besides the home warranty that covers major structural defects after building, you don’t need much when you decide to design the house yourself. Here, an architect would typically charge 10% of the total project cost, which includes not just labor, but also materials. For every £1,000 spent on materials, you’d have to pay £100 to the architect. This didn’t seem fair to me. I was okay with paying extra for labor since the architect oversees the process, but paying extra on materials didn’t sit right with me.

I took on multiple roles: main contractor, plumber, electrician, and supervisor. It was tough because people knew I lacked experience and often underestimated me, but I didn’t let that stop me. I pretended to know what I was doing, and for everything else, I turned to Google. The time spent researching how to work on a three-way switch or plumbing hook was worth it. This knowledge prevented overcharges and helped me handle repairs confidently.

The most rewarding part of building my house was the empowerment it gave me. Managing a team and seeing the house take shape was incredibly fulfilling. A house is likely the biggest expense of your life, possibly bought just once or twice. Knowing I was in control the entire time was exhilarating.

However, it was also a lot of work. Building a house requires immense time, dedication, and decision-making. There were moments I hated it, feeling torn between asserting my authority and deferring to the experienced workers. It was a real struggle.

It took about nine months to complete 90% of the house, and the final 10% has been dragging on for over a year. It’s been exhausting. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to hire professionals and move in or rent the place earlier. Technically, I’m losing money since I can’t rent it out yet. But on the flip side, I know exactly what went into the house—the materials, the costs, and the reasons behind every choice.

In the end, building my own house was a worthwhile experience. It made financial sense and felt incredibly satisfying. However, it’s not something for the faint of heart.