try out selfbuild / low carbon house for weekend!

I don’t know why no one has thought of this before, but it’s taken an innovative Hereford-based green oak builder, TJ Crump Oakwrights, to pioneer the concept in the UK. Not only have they constructed a showhouse, but they offer it for weekend lets to prospective customers as well. Now you can get to live the dream, even if it’s only for a couple of nights.

Ever wondered what Lutron Homeworks is like to use? Or whether you can get to grips with MVHR? Or underfloor heating? Or a body shower? Or how a boiling water tap works? Or a whole house audio system? What are these big glazed gables like at night time when the stars are out? Or in the morning when the sun shines through? Or just what it’s like to pad about barefoot in a huge hallway, with cathedral ceilings? Seeing this stuff on tele and in magazines is one thing. Staying in a top of the range show house puts a whole new perspective on it.

OK, I admit it, I was a guest. It was a favour in return for a speaking engagement at their open day. But I learned a lot and really enjoyed the weekend. Not surprisingly, the house is booked up months in advance. And also I am not surprised to find that here is a housebuilding business with a full order book.

To-Do...

Check mortgage amounts

new job

rent somewhere to get to know area

building land or house probably looking at tail end of 2009 - and will be able to judge whether it's sensible, or even leave uk.

house prices - prediction dec 2009

using futures, halifax average house price down from

168K oct 2008
to
130k (ish) dec 2009

ie 23% fall.

so
250k => 182.5
300 => 231

i also reckon on another 10% 2010.

MUCH more for building land