WHY would you buy a perfectly good home and knock it down just to start again? This may seem a nonsense exercise to many people but there has always been a tendency for those looking for their dream home to take this approach.

If you follow the Exe Estuary cycle trail and keep a keen eye out you should be able to see some prime examples where contemporary detached houses have replaced dilapidated bungalows. But why do people choose to knock down and start again rather than refurbishing or buying an empty building plot?

Refurbishing a home can be hugely expensive and time consuming especially if you are trying to bring it up to current standards of energy efficiency. It can often work out cheaper to start from scratch rather than take on a major renovation project – and if not it is definitely easier to accurately estimate the likely cost of the project. Add to this the fact that new builds are VAT-free and often sell for more than refurbished old properties and the financial incentives become clearer.

Starting from scratch gives a blank canvas to build the house of your dreams without being restricted by what's already there. This is often one of the biggest drivers for people looking to self-build (see the stunning Teignmouth home opposite).

Whether it's creating an eco-home, a modern villa or a bespoke layout, sometimes starting from scratch is really the only way to get what you want. It can create the opportunity to make the most of views, maximise connections with the outdoors and provide a family home that suits your particular needs. Building to current building regulations or even exceeding these standards can also greatly reduce the monthly costs of running your home by reducing heating demand, water consumption and the need for artificial lighting.

So why not just start with an empty plot? Buying a plot with a house on it gives a certain sense of security when it comes to applying for planning permission. It is generally more straightforward applying for permission for a replacement dwelling than for a completely new house. Also there are very few green field plots (land which has not been built on) available in built up areas so it is often easier to find a wreck to pull down if you want to build in an existing settlement. The alternative would be to buy a more remote plot of land, but if it is outside the local authorities settlement boundaries it will be difficult to get planning permission for a new house.

Buying an old wreck in the perfect location is therefore often thought of as the easiest and safest option for building a dream home.