How Much Will Your Home Cost?

Square footage of the home. How busy and how much in demand the builder is that you want. Roofing surface you want. Mainly: the Quality Level you select. Where your home is to be constructed: Region of the World/Country/State Steepness of your site (affects foundation costs tremendously) Amount of detail you desire in the Exterior and Interior of your home. Appliances you select (make and model). Light fixtures you desire. Earthwork required/desired. size of garage. Finishes you select. Driveway surface you want. Landscaping: formal or natural. Siding materials desired. Interior wall finishes. Interior flooring desired (hint: 11” wide heart pine will cost a lot more than Lumber Liquidator’s $0.99/sf prefinished remnant 12” long blond oak cabin grade). Electronics/Smart home features. Amount and size of windows and doors both interior and exterior. Size of outdoor living spaces/porches/garage If there is to be a basement level, how it is constructed, whether or not blasting is required, amount and type of waterproof coatings/systems, amount of finishing desired, amount of windows desired, etc. And many more factors.

We actually have people send us e-mails before we know anything about what they want and they ask us “How much does it cost to build a mountain home?”  That’s like phoning an automotive dealer and asking them “How much is a car?”  That’s why we say above: “It depends.”  Many of our clients do not have a budget.  Even if they do, it is important for you to engage your selected Contractor to begin monitoring costs on the design.  As your architect, I include what you ask into the design, to give you the house you have always dreamed of having.  Your builder needs to coordinate with us and you to estimate the project costs.  When design changes are being made in many areas of the project, it will be difficult for your builder to assess costs.  When the design has been finalized is when you will likely receive the most precise costing from your contractor. You have the responsibility to understand that your continued upgrades in size, material, features and other improvements will increase the cost of your project.  As your architect, I am not monitoring how the design changes affect your cost; we have found that is the proper function of the entity to build your home, which would be your contractor.  I may make a comment about some particular feature or choice you make that appears to impact cost, but your builder will be the one to actually price the project, as he is the one you will be paying those funds to for the construction.  We are happy to coordinate with and answer your contractor’s questions to assist him in his efforts to price your project.  We have seen costs vary from a low of $65/sf of heated area for tract housing in Arkansas which is about $150/sf heated in the Western North Carolina area (once again, for tract-type lower-end housing), to $190/sf of heated area for a nice Arts & Crafts style home west of Chicago in the countryside of northern Illinois, to $1,000/sf for high-end custom Colorado homes near ski resorts.  The project location makes a big difference!