How to Build a House Cheaply: 7 Sneaky Ways to Save on Home Construction

agent top miami real Want to know how to build a house cheaply? That’s understandable, given that the median price of erecting a single-family home is $332,524. That’s more than it costs to buy a house that’s already built. Yet if your heart is set on building your own house from the ground up, rest assured that there are ways to lower the expenses entailed. Here’s some budget advice on how to build a house cheaply. 1. Build up rather than out Start saving on the cost by simplifying the design of your home. Face reality: Building a geodesic dome will clearly cost a lot more than constructing a traditional rectangular box. And the cost lowers further if you opt for a two-story house (or three) over a one-story building of equal square footage, since the foundation of the two-story home will be smaller—and the foundation’s the expensive part. In fact, excavation and foundation work are by far the most expensive aspects of building a home, according to Morgan Franklin of Kentucky’s LexHomeHub. So anything you can do to tighten the construction footprint translates into money saved on the build cost. 2. Do your homework when hiring a homebuilder to build your house cheaply It may sound counterintuitive, but in order to build a house cheaply, you need to hire the best homebuilder, even if he costs a bit more. An inexperienced, unlicensed, or uninsured homebuilder can end up costing you a fortune if construction goes over budget, says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “An experienced homebuilder isn’t cheap, but he will save you big bucks by knowing how to avoid problems,” Hicks says. Start by searching for reputable local contractors with experience in building the type of home you want to construct. And make sure to see proof that they’re appropriately licensed, bonded, and insured. Here’s more advice on how to find a good contractor. 3. Become your own general contractor for your house If you are willing and able to get more hands-on with the homebuilding process, consider becoming a general contractor—which can save you about 20% on the cost of building a home. It’s not as far-fetched as you might think. “I did this for my house,” says Sam Jernigan, an interior designer in Northern California who built her own home. She recommends “The Owner-Builder Book,” by Mark and Elaine Smith, which includes a variety of DIY forms to facilitate the building process. You’ll want to bring in subcontractors, of course, for the things you aren’t comfortable doing (e.g., bidding on materials and plumbing). Here’s more advice on how to become a contractor. 4. Submit paperwork for the build promptly One of the most costly types of building delays is getting your plans approved. Avoid a budget disaster by seeking the input of the folks who have to sign off on your project early, and ensure you’re filing paperwork in the way they specify, says Jernigan. Here’s more build info and smart advice on how to get a building permit. 5. Save on building materials Make sure to price out every single item needed to build your house—down to nails and drawer handles—to make sure you can afford what you want. Another tip: Know that your bottom line will be greatly affected by the type of building materials you use. On the pricier end is “custom grade”; on the cheap side, look for materials that are labeled “quality grade” and, cheaper still, “builder grade.” But don’t buy on price alone. Builder grade may sound fine, but it’s important to understand the consequences of opting for less durable products. You could end up having to replace a cheap, failing roof on your house sooner than one that cost more initially. As a fail-safe, always opt for grades that offer long-term warranties. 6. Plan carefully on the front end to avoid costly change orders A change order essentially means you want to send back an appliance or tile and pick out a different one. This entails waiting for the new item to arrive, which often adds substantial fees by your general contractor, says Jernigan. Change orders also threaten to upend the apple cart of what is typically a tightly sequenced scheduling of subcontractors, each doing his part in the detailed construction process. And as we all know, time equals money. 7. Add energy-efficient features, which can come with rebates and tax credits Many energy-efficient home features come with tax credits, rebates, and other savings. To search for ways to save where you live, visit energy.gov/savings/search, where you can check by state and feature. One no-brainer to add? Blow-in insulation in the attic, where nearly a third of the home’s energy typically escapes as air rises. The return on investment for attic insulation is more than 100%, which means you’ll make back all the money you invested and more once you sell your house. The post How to Build a House Cheaply: 7 Sneaky Ways to Save on Home Construction appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. best bienes realtor
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