Building per Sq Ft price

[Barrett]

If you have a large garage and porches, that seems about right to me. For instance, assume you have 3000 Sq Ft heated/cooled, with another 1500 sq ft in garages and porches on the slab. If the house is built for $400,000, that would be $133 per ft for the living space, but only $89 for the slab Sq Ft.

Got it. Thanks for the explanation, as Im not very educated in this. Im planning on building the sleeping porch and decks myself. Already has a garage on site. Looking like it gonna be around 1200-1500 sq ft.

[Barrett]

I can do it for $75-$95 per sq ft too. That's not what I charge my customers though. I gotta eat.

My cost at $75 would be straight up junk.

My cost at $95 would be run on the mill tract housing on a slab. Prefab cabinets, granite tops, laminate flooring, vinyl windows, fiber cement siding, cheap fixtures, ect.

As a general rule, square foot quotes are for heated/cooled(under air) square footage.

Interesting, well this was gonna be just a getaway house for now but if I look into the future the chance of living out there some day is good, especially after this beer virus, so we don't want to build too cheap.

[Gclyde28]

Im in the luxury residential construction sector and I don't see how in the heck someone can say they can build at $95 per sq ft and actually make any money or the house not fall apart. I get it that I deal with a different set of subcontractors than production builders but that's unbelievably cheap in todays world.

Hell i'm in the process of pricing out my own build and calling in every favor I have with our subs/suppliers and I don't think I will be able to get it below $120. Framing lumber alone is in the neighborhood of $10 / sq ft.

[ThisLadyHunts]

In all the years i’ve walked this earth (and they’ve been considerable), I’ve never known ANYONE who’s been happy with the outcome of a too-good-to-be-true estimate or bid. So, as a general rule, I won’t consider them. Nevertheless, if you choose to pursue his offer, I would do two things to vet him first: 1) Let him know you find his bid/estimate somewhat equivocal, based on your research (and don’t skip over the “research” language), then come right out and ask him why his bid’s so low. He’ll give you a reason, but it will most likely be “fluff” so, next, ask him to tell you HOW he plans to meet that bid when nobody else can (don’t skip over the “nobody else” language). 2) Ask him for his three most recent references. Three. Most recent. You can choose any number for references, what’s important is that you ask for the “most recent.” Asking for references in this manner tells you several things outside the obvious. Like, how long it’s been since he last worked. An uninterrupted continuum of work speaks well of him in terms of his work product and his (seemingly miraculous) ability to meet his bid; however, I’d be surprised if this is the case in this instance.

I hesitate to put in writing what I suspect will happen but, again, I find this highly suspicious. Good luck to you.

[kkp005]

In Normangee our builder quoted 85-92 a Sq. Foot

Who was that? I’m in the area and looking to build

[Take Dead Aim]

What all was included in quote? Did you tell what kind of flooring, wall texture, cabinets, ceiling heights, countertops, tile, appliances, roof, exterior finsih, roof pitch, hardware, etc. All of those things matter. Flooring could be concrete, carpet, tile, wood, etc. Eaxh has it's own cost. Anyone that tells you "x" per foot without ALL of those plus more has no clue and is trying to pull one over on you. Expect this. You are going to go over on cost it's a matter of how much. The more you prepare and chose ahead of time the less you go over.

[Cookiemonster1]

$134 sqft around Austin is a dang good price if you get decent finishings.

[Ksbowhunter]

Try $160-170 per foot. Could easily get to $200 per foot if you get carried away

[Cookiemonster1]

Doesn't take long does it.

[Sticks&Strings]

I haven't quoted one under $200/ft in a couple years. Sounds like yall are building substantially different final products.

But when people as this question, the best answer I have heard, is....how much is a basket full of groceries?

You get what you pay for just like the grocery basket.

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[Dirtymike]

Can I have his number?? Haha


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me too

[deerslay3r]

.

$134 sqft around Austin is a dang good price if you get decent finishings.

Let me know, I'll give you his information.

[GA Bowhunter]

Here is a comparison on pricing a new home on a per square foot basis.

It's like pricing a car on a per pound basis.

A new Chevy may cost $10. per pound while a new BMW may cost $40. per pound and a new Aston Martin may cost $100 per pound.

You can also get that same model Chevy for $10 per pound to $30 per pound depending on how it is optioned.

A lot of people will not know the difference at first glance.

[BlackoutRam2500]

It's all about the spec level. Can it be done for $75? Yes, but what are the specifications of the build? For example are you doing a post tension slab with 12" beams or a pier and beam slab with #5 rebar 12" O.C.? 2x4 or 2x6? Will the house be wrapped in nothing, cardboard, or OSB? Are all of the windows 3-0, 4-0 or do you have a plan full of 6-0, 7-0, windows? Is it foam insulated or basic batt? What's the roof pitch and do you want a shingle roof, metal roof, or Spanish tile? Is it all siding, brick, or stucco? What about drywall thickness, plumbing materials, and what guage of electrical wiring? And these are the bones of the house. Once you get into finishes it really gets crazy! A basic GE fridge can be $1,000. A subzero fridge can be $18,000. Is your landscaping included? Will he sod the backyard? On and on....

Not to overwhelm you. Just saying yes it is possible but your are more than likely going to make a lot of compromises or be put on an escalator during construction because you didn't know what you didn't know. Make sure whatever you do you get as much of that spec list in writing as you can and research the builders "standards" to make sure you are ok with those.


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[Cookiemonster1]

Doing a change order back door currently that costs $22,000 so home owner expects to pay $22,000 for the door but what I had to explain to them is that door sets off a chain reaction of things that have to happen. Concrete guy has to sink an area for the track to go in and he has to be exact on his measurement, framer has to now make that a 2x6 wall and add a steel header due to the span, have to hire a certified installer for this door or it voids the warranty. A lot goes into some of these nice things people are wanting. Lucky they made this decision before we poured concrete or that would have been more issues.