A. It Depends. A number of factors influence the cost of construction. These include the cost of the lot or land, soil conditions at the building site, terrain, size of the house, finishes chosen, cost of materials and labor, real estate agent fees, closings costs, interest rates, and the cost of your builder.
Q. Does the size of the house affect the cost per square ft.?
A. Yes. In general, a mid sized house, say 1,800 to 2,300 square ft, costs the least per square ft. to build. As the house gets smaller or larger the cost per square ft to build goes up.
Q. What is the first thing to consider when deciding to build?
A. Location. Location affects almost everything..... Resale value, access to schools, sometimes the size and style of your home, privacy, access to work, entertainment, shopping and church, and of course, the cost of the land greatly affects the total price of your new home.
Q. Should I purchase my lot or land before contacting a builder?
A. No. As a builder, I make myself available to a prospective client to advise on any and all aspects of building a new home. Site selection greatly impacts many other aspects of new home construction.
Q. When I hire a builder, how do I know what finishes will be used in my new home?
A. Finishes will be determined before a contract is signed or allowances will be agreed upon in advance so that you can choose the appliances, flooring, lighting and other finishes you want.
Q. How long does it take to build a house?
A. Generally, it takes 3 to 4 months to build a house. Larger houses take longer and numerous other factors affect completion time including, weather, availability of materials and labor and most importantly, the ability of your builder to stay on top of the process and manage it effectively.
