5 Essential Costs to Factor into Your Home Build
So, you have decided to build your own house. You know it's the only way to have a home that suits your needs entirely. You've probably considered all the main costs of building a home, but have you considered unexpected expenses? This list will help you make a more accurate budget for your build.
Soil and Contour Tests
To get an accurate quote from a construction company, they will need to know what soil they're working with. For this, you'll need a survey and should factor in $1,000 to $2,000. Hope that the investigation doesn't find rocky soil, or issues that add to the difficulty of the building phase. These results will mean more money needs to be factored in.
The contour survey will indicate any limitations of your land. This will determine whether you'll need to make any adjustments to your home's design.
Land Surveyors
Surveying the land is a vital step before beginning the construction stage. You'll want to ensure that your house complies completely with your building plan.You'll need accurate measurements of the property boundaries of your site, and preliminary markers to state where your new home will be situated on your land. This is essential so that you can avoid problems with your construction. Following consultation with your land surveyor, the builder can begin the process of 'setting out' the property.
Driveways
This is often overlooked when budgeting for your home build, but don't forget that many building quotes will be for the house only. The cost will depend on what driveway you choose. You may opt to do this at a later date, or you may want to save some money by doing it yourself. Gravel is an excellent temporary solution until you can afford a more solid drive.
Flooring
Most build estimates include concrete flooring only. Assuming you're not going for the cold industrial feel of concrete, you'll have to factor flooring in for the whole house. Tiles and wood or carpeting, while not a huge expense, could end up costing up to $10,000. The cost is substantial enough to warrant being in the budget.
Site Costs
Your site costs are likely to be the most significant expense, depending on the soil and contour tests. The costs can range from $10,000 to $70,000. You will also need to consider the expenses associated with connecting and maintaining services such as water, sewage, utilities, telephone and fire control.