Are you on the market for a brand new house construction from the ground up? Are you wondering what goes into the process of creating the perfect home for you and your family? Are you worried about the cost to build a house vs buying a house? Here’s an article that will help you out through the process. Be sure to keep these steps in mind.
“Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
The Planning Phase
First thing’s first, you’re going to want to set some goals and begin working out the details for your home. You’re essentially going to try to figure out how much does it cost to build a house from scratch? Let’s take a look at the following:
- Land site
- Construction costs
- Plumbing
- Appliances
- Framing
- Roofing
- Electrical
- Water/sewer
- Paint
Figuring Out Expenses
The name of the game here is budgeting. Figuring out the cost to build a house yourself. The largest price tag is usually going to be tied to the framework. Otherwise the most expensive aspects, ranging from highest to lowest, are as follows:
- Foundation
- Landscaping
- Windows/Doors
- Cabinets/Countertops
- Siding
- HVAC
- Drywall
- Flooring
Ground Up vs. Older Home
There is also the decision of whether or not to use a previously built home and fix it up, as opposed to starting from scratch. Obviously this limits your options when it comes to customization, but in the end choosing a pre-existing building might well be worth it in terms of savings. The cost to build a house per square foot is dramatically lowered. The decision to build vs. buy will be a gigantic monetary decision either way.
Getting in Touch with Contractors
When it comes to selecting an architect, you’re going to want to get someone you can trust. Of course, this is true about every contractor that you’re going to employ. You’re not going to want pretty good house plans, you’re going to want the best in the business. So avoid the red flags that contractors can have and ask about the following:
- Being licensed, bonded, and insured
- Having a portfolio
- Recommendations from previous clients
- Having a website
- Working under contract
The Hurdles
You can have everything perfectly planned out from the beginning, only to have some speed bumps disrupt the process along the way. In these cases you just have to roll with the punches. It’s important to stick to your guns and not to change you mind too much, as this could result in costly delays that will end up losing even more money as a result. So be prepared to stay the course, even when there’s rough water ahead.
The End Result
Finally, you can rest and relax in your brand new home. It may have been a long road, but you’ve finally completed your dream house. The last step is usually to have a home inspector swing by and make sure everything’s in order and done properly. Otherwise you now have a comfortable place to call home that is also a tremendous investment.
Any tips on buying a home that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more great tips and inspiration!
Continue Reading:
- 7 Home Improvement Projects to Boost Your Home's Value
- 5 Red Flags to Look for in an Open House
- All the Home’s a Stage: The Secrets to Selling Your House