| The first thing most people think about when | | | | tops. The other homeowner would prefer only a |
| building a new home is the cost. You may have | | | | brick front and siding on the sides and rear, |
| seen a cost per square foot calculator of | | | | the economy line appliances, chrome plumbing |
| some sort on a few house plan broker sites | | | | fixtures, carpet flooring, stock cabinets, |
| and home designer websites showing you the | | | | and laminate counter tops. The difference in |
| averages of building a particular home in the | | | | price would be several thousands of dollars. |
| south, north, east, and west coast. | | | | |
| Unfortunately, the cost per square foot | | | | As a rule, you should not rely on the CPSFM. |
| method (CPSFM) tends to mislead unaware | | | | The most effective way to narrow down the |
| homebuyers. When calculating square foot cost | | | | cost of building a home is to have your |
| of say a 2,000 square foot home, you are able | | | | builder prepare a bid with a complete |
| to compare the numbers on home builders who | | | | estimate done based on take-offs. Take-offs |
| use this method to quote you a price to | | | | is a process by which homebuilders would |
| build. As you will find, the estimates can be | | | | disassemble a house plan (1 set of house |
| very different. | | | | plans such as a study set) and calculate the |
| | | | cost of seperate components of the entire |
| Here are several reasons why the CPSFM is | | | | home. Seperate components includes every item |
| ineffective: | | | | used in building the home. Some examples are |
| | | | lumber, concrete, masonry, windows, doors, |
| (1) Home styles – A country house plan | | | | appliances, drywall, finishes, mechanical and |
| with wood siding and a traditional house plan | | | | electrical systems. There is much more but |
| with brick at the same square footage would | | | | these are a few of the items that would be |
| not cost the same to build. | | | | included in a take-off. |
| | | | |
| (2) Home type – One story house plans | | | | Performing a take-off estimate is a lengthy |
| and two story house plans of the same square | | | | task that can take a week or two depending on |
| footage would not cost the same to build. | | | | the builder. Some builders do it the old |
| | | | fashion way using a calculator, pencil, and |
| (3) Specifications – This is the true | | | | paper. However, more builders are using |
| tale of why the CPSFM is unreliable. Take a | | | | computer software designed for take-off |
| 2,400 square foot house plan for example. Two | | | | calculations in order to cut there bidding |
| different home owners, one who wants an all | | | | time in half, improve price accuracy, and |
| brick home with stainless steel appliances | | | | present you with an easy to read cost |
| and plumbing fixtures, hardwood and marble | | | | breakdown of building your home. |
| floors, custom cabinets, and granite counter | | | | |