How To Determine Construction Costs?
Whether building a new house or remodeling an existing one, it is important to have an estimate of construction costs before the project begins. You will be able to determine what you can afford, and make adjustments beforehand. This will help make sure your project is completed before you run out of the money to pay for it. The cost to build a house refers to the cost of all labor, materials and fixtures supplied by any contractors and subcontractors that you hire. Also included are any taxes, licenses, charges and levies paid to any government authorities necessary for construction or remodeling. There may also be fees for engineers, architects, and interior designers if you have specific plans drawn up included in your construction costs. Additional fees come from inspections, utility hook-ups, and any recording and filing fees.
The cost per square foot to build a house would be the total construction cost of everything purchased to build the house divided by the total number of square feet in the building area. However some contractors use different criteria than others to determine their construction costs. Some determine square footage using exterior dimensions, while others use interior. Some contractors include basements and garages in the construction costs, while others only using living space. Be aware of which methods are being used when estimating building cost of your project. If you are building yourself you may even want to factor in land cost and landscaping. The type of house you choose also affects the actual house building cost. The cost per square foot to build a two-story house is usually less than it is to build a ranch-style home. Remember also that the materials used inside the house may increase the cost per square foot if materials like hardwood floors, and marble tiles are used. Built-in appliances also raise the cost. The location of the property is another factor in determining the house construction cost. If materials must be shipped a long distance the cost per square foot to build a house will be greater than if they don't. A house built in Alaska for example, would cost much more per square foot, than the exact same house built from the same materials in Iowa. So when estimating building cost it is best to decide what you want to build, where you want to build it, and ask for bids from several reputable contractors. They will determine what materials and fees are needed and give you an estimate. The keyword here is estimate. Labor and material costs can vary greatly depending on time of the year, weather conditions, natural disasters, zoning laws, availability of materials and works, and the list goes on and on. If you are doing the building yourself, you can decide on where you want to build and what plans you will be using. Next you must make up a list of all the building materials and bid all of the major construction phases to local contractors, and do all the proper paperwork. There are several websites and books available to help you with this task. |
