Understanding Design And Construction
Many people who are at the beginning of their process of planning for a custom home project benefit from understanding the components of the process. The costs below are only an average of typical projects and will include the following:
Design and Engineering
Good planning and design adds value. Good planning, creative design, co-ordinated trades, integrating the home, to the land all make for a home of lasting value. These are some of the pieces of that work:
Septic & well: $30,000 - $45,000 (if needed)
Storm water management, piping, & erosion control $30,000 - $100,000 for new homes, $5,000 to $20,000 for additions between 500 sf and ~ 1500 sf. SWM is almost always required over these sizes
Utilities, site work, grading, paving: $50,000 - $100,000. :New home, not including long driveway, terraces, decks, pools, landscaping.
Engineering: (for the above): surveyors plan including topo, existing features, utilities, easements, zoning information, Percolation test (one each for septic if no public sewer and for storm water structure) , Septic design (if needed), Architectural design, structural engineering, lighting, cabinetry, furniture layout, $20 /sf to $30/sf
Renovations and additions: Some or all of the services above will be required.
Comparing fees: here is a link to information from an outside source
Construction
Construction of Structure, New Home: $175 / sf (nice basic custom) to $300 to $400 / sf (fully custom design and detailing) custom level design and features.
Renovations and additions: vary with the type of room, from $150/sf ~$200 / sf for a nicely trimmed simple (higher for special features) spaces to ~ $400-$600 / sf for kitchens and bathrooms. Renovations will include site restoration, storm water management and tend to involve adjacent spaces which will increase the scope of the work. Cost / sf analogies may not be appropriate for renovations but may indicate probable costs.
Building Permits: 2% to 3% of the costs of construction.
Understanding Construction Costs: Houzz reports that “Architectural fees usually run between 8 and 15 percent of the cost of construction (linked here). Thus, on a project that costs $100,000 to build, the architectural fees would fall in the range of $8,000 to $15,000.”
Design Build LLCs fees range from 9% for larger projects to 12% for small projects.
Land
Expect a good building lot, with all required approvals and improvements to cost about one-quarter to as high as one-third of the market value of a home. Individual large lots will start at $90,000 / acre , varying with location, availability and desirability. These costs will vary widely based on supply and demand, and location.
Zoning, Site Analysis. Assure that any land considered for a project is able to be developed for the use you intend. We recommend working with clients early in the process for best siting of the home on the land.
"Custom" means just that. If these costs fit with your expectations, let's talk further