Introducing Homebuilding Essentials
A complete guided pathway for self-builders who want clarity, confidence, and control, from planning application to completion certificate.
Self-building is exciting, until you realise how much you don’t know yet.
You’ve submitted your planning application.
You’ve got a vision.
But now the real questions begin:
Who do I hire, and when?
What are the steps between here and building?
What does this actually cost?
How do I avoid delays?
Why is everyone telling me something different?
Self-builders often tell me:
“It’s like stepping into a world where everyone else knows the rules except me.”
The Real Problem
Nobody teaches homeowners how the building process works.
Architects design.
Builders construct.
Suppliers sell.
But who explains the whole journey?
Mistakes happen because homeowners:
Don’t know the sequence
Don’t cost-plan early
Don’t understand preliminaries
Don’t coordinate professionals
Don’t structure procurement correctly
Don’t know the risks they can’t see
There is a way to lead your project with confidence.
After 25 years managing complex projects, tendering contractors, coordinating consultants, and preventing six-figure mistakes, I noticed something:
Self-builders were failing not because they were inexperienced, but because they were unsupported.
So I built a complete, structured pathway that gives homeowners:
A clear roadmap
A correct sequence of steps
Cost clarity before tender
Real programme understanding
Risk awareness
Procurement structure
Consultant guidance
Contractor strategy
Tools, templates, checklists
And live expert support every two weeks
Everything the industry never teaches you, finally explained, supported, and delivered at the right time in your build.
“ Because this isn’t “just a project.”
It’s where your family will live.
It’s your biggest financial commitment.
It’s months of coordination, communication, and decisions you’ve never made before.
When you understand the journey
everything becomes calmer, clearer, and easier to lead.
Hi, I’m Oliver Steele-Perkins MCIOB, Chartered Construction Manager.
I’ve spent more than 25 years delivering new-build homes, major refurbishments, and complex residential projects, coordinating design teams, managing contractors, resolving issues, and guiding homeowners through decisions that genuinely matter.
One of the projects I managed, Hill Top House in Hampshire a striking oak-frame, sustainable family home was featured in Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and recognised for its eco-conscious, modern-meets-agricultural design.
Along the way, I’ve also built a trusted network of:
Architects
Structural engineers
Cost planners
Temporary works & drainage designers
Interior designers
Smart home & AV specialists
A leading self-build finance broker
And an industry-leading structural warranty broker
And I’ve seen first-hand how hard self-build becomes when homeowners aren’t shown the correct process.
That’s why I created Homebuilding Essentials so you don’t have to learn any of this the hard way.
“An exceptional Head of Construction — committed and consistently excellent.”
“Oliver played a pivotal role in transforming the construction delivery side of the business. His ability to juggle multiple high-end residential projects, each with design, programme, and budget complexities, was exceptional.
Oliver combines deep technical knowledge with practical site awareness and a methodical approach to project management.
He’s an excellent communicator, able to manage consultants, contractors, and clients with equal professionalism. His leadership helped us build trust with clients and ensured quality outcomes on some of our most complex builds.”
— Caz Milns ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Introducing Homebuilding Essentials
A complete, three-phase guided pathway for self-builders who want to do their project properly, with clarity, structure and expert support.
This is not a self-paced course.
This is not information shared all at once.
This is a supported, phased learning experience of your build.
The 3 Phase Model
PHASE 1 — PLAN IT
The essential foundation.
PHASE 2 — BUILD IT
Support during construction.
PHASE 3 — CERTIFY IT
Ensures your project is complete, compliant and protected.
Pathway 1: Plan It
The essential foundation.
Cohort begins end of March 2026
You will learn
How the Plan It (Pre-Construction Phase) is organised (The Roadmap)
How to set a realistic budget and keep control of costs
How and when to get consents, drawings, and specs aligned
How to spot common traps before they become problems
How to assess what surveys are needed (and when)
How to coordinate the whole design team
How to avoid delays caused by missing steps
How preliminaries work (and how to control them)
How to structure procurement safely
How to approach, assess, and brief contractors
How to prepare for structural warranties
How to plan enabling works & utilities
How to feel confident before a builder sees your plans
Includes:
Bespoke Project Workspace
Interactive project programme, the roadmap for the Plan It phase
Templates and checklists
Plus:
Fortnightly live group sessions with Oliver.
Plan It content is released during the phase. Nothing is delivered instantly.
Oliver on-site during a live residential build (Build It guidance is drawn from real project delivery experience).
Pathway 2: Build It
Support during construction.
Cohort begins end of June 26
You’ll learn how to:
Manage the build programme
Protect against time risk and control preliminaries
Monitor contractor progress
Lead effective site meetings and keep weekly momentum
Track valuations and avoid over payments
Control scope creep and handle variation requests with confidence
Lead confidently while your team executes the work
Includes:
Contractor quick start guide
Variation, valuation, and meeting templates
Advice that protects your time, budget, and relationships
Plus:
Fortnightly live group sessions with Oliver.
Build It content is released during the phase
Pathway 3: Certify It
Ensures your project is complete, compliant and protected.
Cohort begins end of Sept 26
The pathway that helps you close out your project the right way, legally, financially, and professionally.
Includes:
Compliance checklist
Defects and snagging structure
Warranty documentation guidance
Handover requirements
Retentions and close-out
Plus
One live group session with Oliver
Released at the correct stage of your build, not on enrolment.
What’s Included
✔ Homebuilding Essentials Three-Phase Guided Pathway
✔ * Fortnightly Live Group Sessions (see below)
✔ * The Essentials Workspace (see below)
✔ Custom TeamGantt Planning Tools
✔ Essentials Network — Curated Suppliers & Professional Consultants
✔ Templates, Checklists & Frameworks (Released per Phase)
✔ Procurement & Contractor Guidance
✔ Support Throughout Your Build
Fortnightly Live Group Sessions
Every fortnight, you’ll join a live, guided group session designed to help you apply what you’re learning to your own project, wherever you are in the process. These sessions are not lectures or open-ended calls; they are structured, focused, and led to bring clarity to decisions, sequencing, and next steps. Each session draws on key parts of the programme, helping you connect the dots as your project evolves.
Interaction is encouraged but always controlled and purposeful. You can ask questions, explore real scenarios, and learn from others in the group without pressure to perform or be “on show.” Whether you’re sense-checking an early decision or navigating a live issue, these fortnightly sessions provide calm, expert guidance and reassurance that you’re moving in the right direction.
Essentials Workspace
Every guided pathway includes access to your Essentials Workspace, a powerful, pre-built dashboard designed to help you manage your project from start to finish with clarity and control.
Inside your Workspace:
Pre-set To-Do List. Editable and referenced to your project roadmap
Interactive Project Roadmap. Track key milestones and manage progress
Bespoke Document Hub. Pre-loaded with templates and folders used on live projects
Builders Cost Tracker. Stay in control of your main contractor costs
Project Cost Tracker. Stay in control of your total project costs
Learning Pathway Access. Revisit any module at any time
Messaging. A simple messaging space for team communication, stored in your project workspace
The Essentials Network. Linked access to the Essentials Network of trusted suppliers
*One to One Support. Book a consultancy call for extra help when needed *hourly rate applies.
What People Are Saying
-
Oliver kept us on track and on budget through a complex renovation - we hired him again for our next project.
★★★★★ 5-Star Verified Review
Ivan M - Former Client
-
Oliver delivered the highest standard of professional project management on our complex rebuild, breaking down the process clearly and keeping everything on track and on budget.
★★★★★ 5-Star Verified Review - Trustpilot
Hugh C - Former Client
-
Oliver managed the whole project extremely effectively, keeping us on track. He managed our expectations well and communicated effectively with other advisers. Would 100% recommend.
★★★★★ 5-Star Verified Review - Trustpilot
Richard K - Former Client
ROI Comparison
To hire a construction project manager for a typical £750k–£1m build: Approx: £60,165 + VAT
Homebuilding Essentials
Plan It: £2,340
Build It: £3,300
Certify It: £810
Total: £6,450 (inc VAT)
Bundle Price: £5,754
Bundle price includes all phases and a 1 hour one to one online project consultancy call.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The first Plan It cohort begins at the end of March 2026. Doors open for enrolment on 1st January 2026.
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Yes, but only if your project stage matches those pathways. If you’re pre-construction, Plan It is the correct starting point.
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No. Essentials is a guided pathway with content released at the correct time in your project. You also receive live support every two weeks.
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You get fortnightly live group support. You can also book optional 1:1 consultancy sessions if needed at an additional cost of £100 + VAT per hour.
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Yes. A couple counts as a single project seat.
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You retain access for the duration of your project, including all three pathways if purchased as a bundle.
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That’s fine, content is paced to your journey, you’ll still progress through the pathway making progress where you can, if you need to postpone your pathway to the next cohort we will support you.
Ready to Build with Confidence, Not Guesswork?
Doors open 1st January 2026.
Includes all future pathways, start with Plan It now, and unlock discount pricing for the full journey.
