Monthly Archives: October 2011

Building a House – Tips for the New Homeowner

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For the house builder, the experience may be ordinary and routine. But for a new homeowner, it can be an exciting and incredible experience. This usually leads to clashes although this is a good sign and shows your active involvement in the process. An experienced contractor or architect usually offers suggestions on how you can avoid disappointing mistakes that lead to unnecessary costs. Here are a few of them:

Understand the contract with the builder. – This is the all-important first step. The key is to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. Remember, you are spending a considerable amount of money on the project. Make sure you understand all its provisions before you sign. Clarify anything that may seem ambiguous to you and any changes must be clear to both parties. This will save you a lot of headaches in the future.
Check the building code. – Knowing the provisions of the building code will give you an idea on what the finished house will be. At the close of your mortgage, require a proof of compliance to the building code. In some jurisdictions, a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. This will indicate at least minimum compliance with the building code and safety standards. You must realize that there are things in construction that are done a certain way and is unacceptable if done any other way such as the construction of the foundation and structural systems. Make sure that these things are done right. Do not let variables such as coverings and finishes distract you from focusing on the basic sound construction requirements.
Save on construction costs – Keep expenses in the right perspective. Paying a few dollars more, for example, for a quality material may not affect the overall cost of the house, anyway so why settle for a material of less quality? On the other hand, too much fancy stuff and gadgets may require you to compromise construction quality which may not be worth it. Make sure that every square footage counts as you are paying for it, used or unused.
Always be flexible – Unexpected problems may arise that may put you in a compromising position. You have to weigh each situation as to what you may have to give up. Although the contractors may be fully competent and know what they are doing, they will often give in to your request after giving their opinion on the matter.

Building a House – Things to Consider

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There are some things you need to consider when intending to build a new house. Taking care of them before beginning construction will minimize the problems you are likely to encounter in the future.

Land – Finding a suitable land to build your home on is an important first step. Compare prospective locations as to the following factors: exposure to sunlight; availability of utilities such as water, electricity and telephone; road access; zoning regulations; wind and weather conditions; drainage system; size of the land; and others.
Location Plan – Secure a site or location plan on the land you are considering building your house on. This will help you identify the available roads, outbuildings, power and water lines, and septic systems. Make a map on the property; a surveyor can help you on this. Plan and decide on how to lay things out.
Preliminary Design – Initially prepare rough floor plans that will help you put together the various sections of the house. Factors such as privacy, approach and sunlight direction may be considered. Consider also the finished house in relation to the neighbors’ houses, the streets, and the zoning regulations.
Final Design – If you decide to hire an architect or a contractor to build your house, you must be involved in the design process. The final design will more or less give you an idea on how the finished house will be. All your specific requests and needs must be communicated with the contractor for consideration. This will eliminate, or at least minimize, changes once the construction starts.
Contract – Make sure that everything you agree on with your contractor is put in writing through a contract including the design, deliverables, cost, schedules and penalties. This will give you some form of security in case of delays and failures to deliver.
Materials – Once the building plan is done, review the bill of materials. Make sure that they conform to the agreement as to the quality and cost. Check for any substandard materials or those included in the bill of materials that are not necessary.
Financing – Secure a bank loan to finance your home building project. Usually, the bank will require the presentation of the building plans, cost estimates and bill of materials. Proof of capacity to pay will also be required.
Building Permits – Before beginning the construction, necessary permits must be secured such as building and safety permits. Usually, securing such permits is part of the services to be provided by the contractor.

Build a House – Cost of a New House

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Usually, the cost of a finished home can be estimated based on the final design and building plan. Knowing how much your ideal home would cost will help you determine how much funds you will have to raise or how much adjustments you may have to make in case it is not possible for you to afford to build the house you want.

Following are some ideas on how to estimate the cost to build your dream home:

Confer with a local contractor. – Meet with a house builder in your area and discuss your ideas on the type of house you need. From his experience, he can give you a ballpark estimate on the price range such a house would presently fall on. Contractors usually bill on a per square footage basis and the size of the house will be a good gauge on the final cost. The materials to be used will also be a factor in the determination of the final price.
Estimate the Square Footage. – You can also estimate the cost of the home based on square footage. Check out a newly constructed house that may be of similar size, style, and quality of the house you have in mind. Get the price of the home without the land cost and divide the amount with the total area of the house in terms of square feet. The quotient will be the per square footage cost of the house. Use the formula to get the cost per square foot of several other homes in your area. Just make sure these are approximately of the same quality of the first house you calculated. Average the quotients and you will know the average cost of a house in your community. Multiply the result with the total area of your ideal house and you will have an estimate on how much it would cost to build it.
Additional features will cost more. – Bathrooms and kitchens are normally the most expensive areas in a house. The size, number, and quality of the doors and windows can also add up to the cost. Likewise, elevated roof pitches and vaulted ceilings have the same effect on the total cost.

Remember that smaller houses will usually carry a higher cost per square foot than a bigger house. This is because there are fixed costs related to house construction that are not directly proportional to the total size. Only the variable costs will increase or decrease depending on the size. Likewise, it is generally more expensive to build a one-storey house than a two-story structure with the same floor area.