| What is the square ft. cost of the homes | | | | the permit costs of tapping into the |
| you build? I'm sure that every veteran | | | | sanitary sewer and water line make up |
| builder has heard this question many | | | | the biggest part of the total permit |
| times. In truth, only a range can be | | | | costs. This cost is the same, regardless |
| given. There are just too many variables | | | | of square footage of home. This is also |
| to give a price based on just square | | | | the same from a labor and material cost |
| footage. These variables range from | | | | stand point when the contractor connects |
| design, materials used, and size. | | | | the piping involved from the main lines |
| How is the square footage calculated? Do | | | | to the new home. |
| you count the garage, a basement, what | | | | The examples go on and on, making it |
| about rooms that are cathedrals or | | | | impossible to state a builders square |
| raised? I've seen these questions | | | | footage costs on all the homes they |
| answered differently by many builders or | | | | build. Obviously, once a plan is bid, |
| their marketing departments. | | | | the square footage price can be |
| The design alone is a huge factor with a | | | | calculated. |
| ranch home being the most expensive to | | | | If a low square footage cost of your new |
| multi-story homes which offer the lowest | | | | home is your goal, it is suggested that |
| by dividing the foundation and roof cost | | | | you build a large two story home with |
| by the number of stories. With the | | | | standard materials. The reason is a |
| building materials that are available to | | | | large home is likely to have a lower |
| most builders, a square floor plan or | | | | square footage cost, is that there are |
| box shaped home offers the highest ratio | | | | so many costs that are or to close to |
| of floor space to the area of the | | | | the same on a small home as a larger |
| exterior walls. This certainly may not | | | | home using the same building materials. |
| be the most pleasing design, but it is | | | | The examples of this goes on and on. |
| the most efficient as to cost to | | | | Here's some things to think about. If |
| construct on a square footage cost | | | | the lot and the materials are the same, |
| basis. | | | | the exterior concrete costs will be the |
| The materials used can cause a huge | | | | same. The driveway, lead walk, and |
| difference on the same floor plan. A | | | | public walks. The front door, the house |
| brick or stone veneer usually has a very | | | | to garage door, and garage door will |
| attractive appearance, giving the home a | | | | cost the same. The garage door opener |
| rich, substantial look, but adding a | | | | will cost the same. Going to the inside |
| tremendous amount of cost in comparison | | | | is much more of the same. If there is |
| to the same sized home with vinyl | | | | the same amount of bathrooms, the cost |
| siding. One example of many. | | | | of these will be the same. I'm sure now |
| The kitchen is the most expensive room | | | | you can see the trend and these costs |
| in a home. The cost difference of | | | | will be divided by a smaller number of |
| cabinets can vary from affordable to | | | | square feet on a smaller home than on a |
| very high end with prices many times | | | | larger home. This effects the square |
| higher. Today, many customers are | | | | footage costs when the building |
| choosing granite countertops, very nice | | | | materials are the same. |
| but hugely more expensive. The same is | | | | These are some thinking points for you |
| true for appliances. | | | | to use if planning to minimize the cost |
| Permits are another issue when planning | | | | per square ft. of your new home. |
| on building a new home. In most areas, | | | | |