Measure Twice, Build Once
Real UK self-build case studies, costs and lessons for better decisions.
Welcome to Measure Twice, Build Once!
MTBO studies completed self-builds to show what was planned, what changed, what it cost (in today's money) and what future self-builders can learn.
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Make better self-build decisions before they become expensive
Building your own home involves hundreds of decisions about money, land, design, materials and people.
General advice can tell you what should happen. Completed projects show what actually happens.
Measure Twice, Build Once analyses real UK self-builds to uncover the decisions, constraints and mistakes that shaped each project. You can then use that evidence to make better decisions about your own build.
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Learn from the builds that have already happened
A finished house rarely tells you the full story. Behind it may be a difficult plot, an unrealistic budget, a planning restriction, missing experience or one decision that changed the course of the project. Each MTBO Grand Review examines the complete build through three areas.
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Finance
How the land and construction were funded, what was originally budgeted, what was eventually spent and where financial pressure affected the project.
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Land
How the plot was found, what made it suitable, which restrictions came with it and how the location shaped the eventual house.
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Knowledge
What the self-builders already knew, where they needed professional support and which gaps in experience caused delays, additional costs or avoidable mistakes.
The review then brings together the build story, important decisions, practical lessons and any biases that influenced the outcome.
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A growing self-build evidence base
MTBO currently includes 50 detailed Grand Reviews drawn from real UK projects.
I have also mapped 179 self-builds for further study, creating a growing body of evidence covering different budgets, construction methods, locations and levels of experience.
Historic costs are adjusted to a common baseline, allowing older builds to be compared more fairly with recent projects.
This makes it easier to look beyond the finished photography and understand what each project required in money, time, land and knowledge.
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What you will receive
As an MTBO subscriber, you will receive
- New Grand Reviews examining real self-build projects
- Important UK self-build, planning and housing news
- Practical frameworks, maps, checklists and research tools
- Lessons you can apply before making expensive commitments
The newsletter and membership are currently free.
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Who MTBO is for
MTBO is designed for aspiring and active self-builders who want to understand the process before committing substantial money and time.
You may still be deciding whether self-build is realistic, searching for land or working through the early decisions on an existing project. You do not need to understand the entire construction process before starting. You need a reliable way to identify the next important decision and investigate it properly.
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Use someone elseโs hindsight
Every completed self-build contains lessons that could save the next person money, time or frustration.
Join Measure Twice, Build Once for free and learn from those projects before making the same decisions on your own.
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Who Am I?
The Measure Twice, Build Once newsletter is written by Brendan Burr.
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My background:
- Aerospace Engineer - since 2008 my main role has been designing and manufacturing fixed and rotary wing aircraft. During that time I have worked, in one capacity or another, across the following platforms: โAW101โ, โAW159โ, โAW189โ, โAW609โ, โA350โ, โA400Mโ, โNGCTRโ, โApacheโ and have also been a part of delivering interior products for โA380โ, โ767โ and โ787โ.
- Private Pilot - in 2016 I obtained a Private Pilots Licence in minimum hours.
- DIY Hobbyist - in 2018 I purchased and refurbished my first property gaining first-hand experience in household plumbing, electrics, plastering, decorating and design. Polishing my problem solving skills and learning the meaning of hard work!
- Property Manager - in 2020, I co-founded โVesta Lettingsโ to manage a portfolio of investment properties for clients that continues to grow.
- Chair BADSBA - in 2024, I became the Chairman of the โBuild A Dream Self Build Associationโ. Since 2002 the Association has helped Self Builders connect with like-minded individuals and professionals to support them through their builds.
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I'm a firm believer that anyone can build their own self-build property, regardless of privilege. It's not reserved for the mega rich on Grand Designs. I'm not saying it's easy, but it is possible and I want to help shortcut the path by sharing frameworks and knowledge from contacts I have from BADSBA and as being a Property Manager.
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