*
I have a friend who wants to build a house ECONOMICALLY. Everyone she approaches is talking $75/sq ft. and up. She wants 1400 sf and lives in eastern Pa. Can she realistically expect to achieve her goal? ps. She has her own land.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
When running cable to a subpanel for a home addition, pay attention to the size of the wire and the amperage of the breaker.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Don,
I've never liked the 'Square footage' approach to building a home. Add a fireplace or high end interior finish and watch the sqft figure leap skywards. Economical shouldn't mean cheap. It should translate into what your friend realistically wants. Land is only part of the battle. Well drilling or septic systems are far more expensive than public utilities as far as installation costs can go. Her best bet is to locate an architect who specializes in economic construction. Its worth the additional expense.
*... or she could talk to someone who specializes in pre-fab housing (generally not architects). $75/SF is medium-range free-standing garage construction cost around here (not far from eastern PA).
*The only approach for a modest price on a home is to do much of the work youself. The more you can do, the lower your cost per sq. foot. If you want a turn key house where all you have to do is decide the colors, the short answer is NO!!!!! On the other hand I know a few first time home builders that have built great homes for less then $20.00 a square foot. They did 95% of the work themselves, shopped agressively for materials. They were willing to take advantage of "finds". Friends and family were there for them and they made everyone that showed up feel special for helping them out. You were treated so well that it wasn't really work, more like a social gathering. The quality of the work was great and because they let people do what they liked some of the features were really wonderfull. A nice stain glass (is it still stained glass if all the glass is clear?)arched window over the entryway. Wonderfull site built cabinets and counters. There were a lot of "used" lumber and second hand pieces that were obtained for little more then some sweat. When they found a good deal on returned windows, they built around what they got. This is not instant house, in that one couple lived in a trailer on site for over 4 years. Another lived with his former inlaws for 2 years untill the house was in good enough shape to move in. Its not done yet over 5 years after he started. (he's doing this on a teachers salary. The good news is that there is NO mortage involved). These were not poorly done or ramshakle. One is a very cute cottage style with a good view of farm land and meadows. It needs paint and some outside trim and it would probably sell for $150,000. the other has the outside presentable but a lot of the interior rooms are little more then studs.
*b WBA At Your ServiceDon Send me an e-mail telling me where you live. I know a builder that is very reasonable in the Lehigh Valley area. Tim
*The simpler the better. Employ "Optimum Value Engineering," which essentially means maximizing standard dimensions and minimizing waste. Read about it in FHB a while back and used it with success. Also (though this may not fly with many subscribers), work with materials that your suppliers regularly stock (windows, doors, etc.). Usually less expensive than special-order items.
*Do not build all at once! You may not have the skill or the free time to add your own sweat equity, but consider your patience. A great way to save money is to take your time. Too many people want to move in and have their house complete down to the decor. If you are on a budget, plan your construction to complete the parts of the home needed most. Live with a little dust and rough finishes so you can wait for the best deals on material and labor. One good long strike in the trades might mean another trade is willing to work 'off peak for you'.Some things are cheaper done in one shot. For instance, go ahead and drywall the guest room, but casings, flooring or even paint can wait for a bargain. Good project and expectation management can save you money and/or get you better quality work that you thought you could afford. I had a friend who worked on a clients house for nearly ten years between jobs. The house is a work of art and the client's daughter has a great godfather!
*rein has some good points... both of the houses we've lived in took two years each to build....we moved in after about 18 months...just working in free time.. and the occasional hole in the schedule....and the cabin we have in NH took two years of weekends...
*Don, what is your friend willing to put into the operation?Auctions for good buys--they regularly have new Kohler sinks and toilets at the one i attend that go for 10 bucks or so. I got 35 thermalpane windows in mostly two sizes for just over $130 last year, designed the house/solarium to work with them. Door and window manufacturers have year-end sell-offs of merchandise that didn't move, or sell them to brokers. I get thermal glazed doors of VG fir for $40-75. Talk to house movers. I got a '40's model 35' x 42' that had to be moved (i.e. mover got paid on that end which brought my cost down on this end) for about $17K moved onto the site, which i figured would have only bought me rough framing materials. Have to do foundation and cosmetic stuff--prob another $30K, but the quality of the materials they used then and the craftsmanship is just superb! Does your friend have a skill to trade? I got many thousands of dollars' worth of house parts from a builder who was gutting a barely-used house to remodel for new owners with too much money; cost to me exchanged for my woodwork was approx. $2000. Friends of mine do graphics, computer, pottery for trade for carpentry. ARCHITECT!? She wants economical!
*
I have a friend who wants to build a house ECONOMICALLY. Everyone she approaches is talking $75/sq ft. and up. She wants 1400 sf and lives in eastern Pa. Can she realistically expect to achieve her goal? ps. She has her own land.