3 Important Things To Know Before You Start Building A House

25 April 2017
 Categories: Real Estate, Articles


If you are looking for a contractor to build a house for you, and if you have never done this before, the experience can be both exciting and overwhelming. There are so many decisions you must make to have a house built for you, and the contractor you hire will walk you through all of these. Here are three important things you should understand about building a house:

Factors That Affect The Costs

There are many factors that will affect the cost of the house you build, and the square footage of the house is one of these things. The average price per square foot right now is around $150. This means that if you build a house that is 2,000 square feet, it will cost approximately $300,000 to build it. This typically does not include a basement in a house, so that will be extra if you would like the extra space.

The type of house you choose can also affect the costs. A simple plan that is easy to build will cost less than one that is very chopped up and complicated. In addition, it is often more affordable to build a two-story home than a large one-story house, simply because the cost of concrete is high. The lot you choose to build on will also affect the amount you spend to have a house built for you, unless you already own property for this.

You Will Have Decisions And Deadlines

One of the hardest parts of building a house is making all the decisions and sticking to the deadlines. One of the first decisions you may have to make will involve the exterior material on the house. You will need to choose the siding, brick, or stone as soon as the contractor starts on the house. After that, you will have deadlines for choosing the cabinets, countertops, and bathroom fixtures.

You will also have deadlines for choosing trim types and colors, paint colors, flooring options, and electrical fixtures. These are just some of the things you must decide, and there are deadlines for two main reasons:

  1. It often takes time to order and receive the goods, and the contractor will want the materials there when they are needed.
  2. Delays lead to homes taking longer to build. When the supplies are not there when they are needed, the contractor cannot keep moving on the project. This means that you will not get to move in when you originally planned to.

Changes May Result In Extra Fees

A lot of contractors will want all the decisions made before they begin on the house, while others will divide these out over a period of a few weeks or months. The one important thing you should realize is that you can make changes as you go; however, the contractor might charge you for the changes.

There might be charges simply because the contractor may have to redo something that has already been done. There might also be charges for upgrades. For example, if you change your mind about your kitchen cabinets and choose some that cost $3,000 more than the original ones, you will end up owing an extra $3,000 on the house for this upgrade. Contractors also typically charge a fee simply for making a change order with the home.

If you are interested in building a custom-home, you should contact a construction contractor in your area, such as those at Mirabella. If you prefer to buy a brand-new home that is already built, you can talk to a real estate agent in your area about new construction homes for sale. 


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