Estimating Your Home Build

The million dollar question. HOW MUCH?

The cost of building a home varies greatly depending on size, location, desired finishes, etc. This free guide will help you see where the construction budget is typically spent by percentage to help you get a better idea of where you can expect to spend your money.

INTRODUCTION

In the intricate dance of home construction, accurate cost estimation takes center stage. This article delves into the crucial role of precise estimations, guiding you through the labyrinth of expenses that accompany building your dream home.

PRE-CONSTRUCTION

Permits

Ah, the bureaucratic labyrinth of permits! Securing the necessary legal approvals is the cornerstone of any construction project. From zoning laws to building codes, permits are the gatekeepers of legality and compliance, demanding attention to detail and patience in the pre-construction phase. Your final building permit will come from your building department. They should also have a list of other permit approvals that are required prior to submitting for your building permit number. 

Fees

Hidden beneath the surface of construction are an array of fees waiting to be unearthed. Application fees, inspection fees, impact fees—the list goes on. While often overlooked, these fees can add up, significantly impacting your project's bottom line. It pays to factor them into your budget from the outset. 

Architecture

The architectural phase breathes life into dreams, translating abstract visions into concrete plans. Architects are visionary artists, sculpting space and form with precision and creativity. From initial sketches to detailed blueprints, their expertise guides the journey from concept to construction. Architectural design can be shown on the elevation of the home to give it the feel you are searching for (cabin, contemporary, traditional, farmhouse, etc). Finding where to get house plans can be tricky and finding an architect who designs in your style is crucial. Each architect will be more experienced with certain designs such as modern (contemporary) house plans or maybe farmhouse plans. 

Engineering

Beneath the surface, structural integrity reigns supreme. Engineers are the unsung heroes, ensuring that every beam, column, and foundation is sound. Their calculations and designs lay the groundwork for stability, safety, and resilience against the elements. Structural engineers will complete load calcs (calculations) on items such as tall walls to ensure the building remains structurally sound based on the factors in your area such as wind shear, soil type and sometimes risks for earthquakes. A civil engineer will help the architect to relay all engineering to the drawings.

CONCLUSION

The pre-construction phase will encompass a wide range of unique tasks that will be dependent upon your ability to make selections and order materials with long lead times well ahead of your delivery date. Making your material selections prior to construction is a must. It is the most efficient way to obtain an accurate quote from suppliers and laborers as well. 

Pre-Construction Phase for Your Custom Home Build

Site Plan

A crucial preliminary step before breaking ground on any construction project is the development of a comprehensive site plan. This blueprint serves several purposes such as communicating where the house is to be placed, where utilities will be placed, property access points and sometimes landscape design. Through consideration of elements such as terrain, vegetation, and drainage patterns, architects and engineers can strategically position structures and infrastructure to optimize functionality and mitigate potential challenges. It is also helpful to consider which cardinal direction your home faces (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST OR WEST). If you enjoy spending time in your back yard and would prefer shade, you will want the FRONT of your home to face in a Southerly direction. This will provide light on the back patio and yard in the mornings when it is cooler outside and shade in the evenings, when it is warmer. If you are in a four season climate, this will also help to naturally remove snow from your driveway because the sun will shine directly onto it for most of the day.

Floor Plan Design

The floor plan design serves as the architectural foundation for the interior layout of a building, dictating the arrangement of rooms, the size of the rooms, corridors, and amenities. This crucial step in designing a blueprint not only communicates spatial organization but also considers factors like traffic flow, accessibility, and compliance with building codes. By integrating custom features such as shower drain locations, finish material types, custom closet layout, and other architectural principles with aesthetic considerations, designers can craft floor plans that maximize space utilization while considering usability and efficiency.

Electrical Plan Design

Often overlooked yet crucial to overall functionality, the electrical plan design maps out the distribution of power and lighting systems within the building. This plan communicates the location and type of fixture that will be placed there. Often times a switching diagram will also be mapped out to show what switch controls each fixture and how they are linked together. The switching diagram can also be covered with the electrician on site prior to the electrical rough-in. If you are using your site plan to show your landscape design, it is recommended that any landscape lighting is also shown (called out). The electrical plan also encompases the low voltage layout. Low voltage is any electrical device in your home that is “smart,” such as cameras, cat six ports, low voltage panel, etc.

Exterior Elevations

Exterior elevations provide a visual representation of a building's facade from different viewpoints, capturing its architectural character and detailing. These renderings showcase design elements, materials, and proportions, illustrating how the structure will interact with its surroundings. Through careful consideration of aesthetics, scale, and contextual relevance, architects can create elevations that harmonize with the environment while conveying the desired aesthetic and functional attributes. It is recommended that several notes be added to the elevation to call out different materials (identify) such as siding type, window color, roofing material and paint selections.

Landscape Plan Design

The landscape plan can be completed by the architect, draftsperson or a landscape designer. Integrating landscape design into the overall site plan enhances the beauty, sustainability, and functionality of outdoor spaces. Landscape architects carefully assess factors such as climate, soil conditions, and site usage to create cohesive outdoor environments. From lush gardens and recreational areas to sustainable hardscapes and water features, thoughtful landscape planning enriches the built environment, fostering connectivity with nature and enhancing the quality of life for occupants. Curb appeal is the first impression your home will make, and it is important to relay the type of message you want to your guests and passer by’s. If your home will be in an area that has specific guidelines for landscaping you will need to make sure your landscape designer is aware of those prior to design.

Selecting Finishes

Once your floor plan is designed, and you have identified fixtures like lighting, plumbing, flooring, countertops, etc., you can begin selecting those materials with the providers. This process will take several different meeting with the expert in each material or fixture. It is important to call the supplier to see if the material type has “long lead times” (time duration from order to deliver). You can then construction portion of the schedule to determine your deadline for each item to ensure it is on site when the contractor needs it. This will eliminate

Permitting

Securing permits is a vital aspect of the construction process, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and safety standards. This is one of the final steps in the pre-construction phase. In this step, the county or city you are building within will review the setbacks, engineering and structural information described by the draftsperson.