Image credit: cad-design-and-drafting

Part Two in the BCB Building Process Series: In the first of our series on the process of building a home, we discussed the importance of the site visit.

There are decisions you can make at the beginning of the home design process that will save you money. This is not a discussion about materials or finishes, as those decisions will come later in the process and the variances of those costs are well documented. This is about early-stage decisions that can help you to prioritize how you’d best like to allocate your budget.

Square footage even counts here. Photo: inhabitat.com.

Square Footage: Square footage is the holy grail of real estate: from how much money you spend, to how you use your space, to property taxes and resale down the road (if that’s the plan). Though it doesn’t fully capture all the details, “per square foot cost” is a standard measurement in the industry. All other things being equal (finishes, access, excavation, etc.), it is safe to say that larger homes cost more to build.

Take a serious assessment not only of your lifestyle in determining your square footage needs, but also of the comparable home sizes in your neighborhood and the subsequent tax and home insurance costs of adding more square footage.

A savvy homeowner will also be attentive to square footage “markers” established by architects, designers and builders. For example, the fee for the Woodhouse design process (see here) for a custom timber frame is a flat $4250 for up to 2500-sq.ft. Each additional square foot is $1.75.

This indicates two important notions. First, the heavy lifting (kitchens, baths, flow, etc.) of the design work will be represented in any home, regardless of size. Second, while large homes cost more, the costs may not necessarily grow in direct relation to the size of the home. To clarify: the Woodhouse per square foot design costs are only $0.05 more per square foot once you cross the 2500-sq.ft. marker. The minor increase in price respects the additional design work, but acknowledges that in some cases each room just gets bigger dimensionally.

Most importantly: You have the right to expect transparency of fees (such as Woodhouse details on its custom design page). Ask your architect, designer and builder directly.

Existing Plans or Simple Geometries: This point is straightforward. Many builders have a style they gravitate toward or even existing plans that can be altered to suit your desires. With Woodhouse, we have well over 60, pre-designed SmartWood plans that will save you 20-40% over a custom design.

As for how geometry affects price, it’s handy to know that a box is the easiest and most cost effective shape. I’m not advising square, boxy homes. Architectural interest is vastly underrated in my opinion. However, look for areas of the overall home design or specific rooms and rooflines that can be simplified without compromising the aesthetic value (or clearly the structural integrity!). The costs can be notable and the sacrifices are small.

Thanks!

Jared

970.903.9577