I know this is a common problem that is often attributed to mods, however in my game this still happens when all mods are disabled apart from Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn.

From the beginning:

I acquire the land rights to Windstad Manor in Hjaalmarch, go to the site and build the small house layout. Normally the quest will update with a slight pause before directing me to build the foundations. When the quest has updated, the rope layout will appear on the floor.

So I build the foundations and the quest does not update nor do the foundations physically appear. Even when I build all the parts to the small house all that is there is the rope that sections off the area, or nothing at all.

Has anyone else experienced this and most of all, is there a work around?

Cheers