So I’m looking at house designs and mentally assessing each one I like, to categorise it as too big, too small, not enough storage room, etc. I found one by a certain building company operating in the South West. Looking at the plan, the elevation, the rendering and the materials I thought it was great; spacious, looks ok, extra room for my Star Wars collection etc, I guessed that it should be within our price range.

I was very wrong. It cost about 150% more than I guessed. I’m really not sure where the cost goes because it seems like a fairly simple design and seemed to use fairly cheap materials.  But, anyway, there’s another hope dashed. We aren’t after a mansion. How hard can this be?