In this episode, Jenny from Building Willow Cottage shares her decade-long journey of land hunting, planning, and self-building her dream home. She offers practical insights into navigating land issues, planning, design, and the emotional rollercoaster of creating a custom home. In this episode, Jenny Balfe shares her journey of building her dream home, the lessons learned along the way, and practical tips for managing a self-build project. Joanne and Jenny discuss how to fall back in love with your home, the importance of planning, and navigating the challenges of construction and renovation. keywordsself-build, building a house, land acquisition, planning process, home design, building tips, Irish housing market, construction, project management, homeownership self-build, home renovation, building a house, project management, interior design, construction tips, home improvement, mental health, decluttering, gardening key topics Land acquisition challenges and strategies Planning process and regulatory hurdles Designing a functional and personal home Managing construction and decision-making under pressure Emotional and financial aspects of self-building The emotional impact of home renovation Scenario planning for home design The importance of appreciating what you have The science behind focusing on negatives Simple ways to fall back in love with your home Managing stress during building projects Choosing the right builder and tradespeople The value of good communication in construction Lessons learned from building a house during COVID Future planning for gardens and outdoor spaces Chapters 00:00Introduction to Jenny and her building journey 00:01Introduction to Jenny Balfe's Home Building Journey 02:04The 10-year process of land hunting and planning 02:59The emotional side of renovating and falling out of love with your home 04:00Challenges with land sites and drainage issues 07:06Using scenario planning to visualize home design choices 08:01Deciding to self-build and choosing a contractor 10:59Designing a home that fits family needs 11:48The science of focusing on negatives and how to shift perspective 14:11Managing decision-making and staying on budget 16:48Practical tips for visualizing and planning your build 17:18Simple ways to rekindle love for your home 19:58The importance of expert advice and flexibility 21:52Managing stress and expectations during a self-build project 23:00Balancing emotion and practicality in building 26:03Involving professionals and staying ahead of decisions 27:01Choosing the right builder and the importance of good communication 30:00Reflections on the journey and lessons learned 32:01Lessons learned from building during COVID-19 36:56Future plans for outdoor spaces and garden design 41:57Reflections on regrets and things to consider for future builds 47:00The support and community around home building and renovation 52:04The importance of patience and realistic expectations 57:06Final thoughts and advice for listeners embarking on a build