So I am going to build a home in Western Michigan and all the bids have come back at $125 dollars a square foo

Question

t. We were told that we could definitely build a home for under 115. What would be a good number considering the economy that we are in? We are really surprised that it came in so high. Our home is just over 1700 sq ft. The bids do not include the lot or any landscaping. Any hints to save some money here? We don't know what to do. Thank you. It seems to us that for 125 a foot we would get more than we had hoped but does not look that way.

Answer 1

The actual bids come in at 125 a foot - from the people actually building the home.

Someone told you 115.  Why not get them to build the house?

Answer 2

Kat,

With energy costs almost guaranteed to increase, even 125 a sqft may not be what you need. No, this would not include the lot or any landscaping other than possibly sod and a driveway if required by local zoning.

I suggest making a trip to Grand Rapids for this event  

http://www.greatlakesgreen2008.com/

Here are some cost estimating calculators

http://www.building-cost.net/

If you are looking for a green builder, try looking on the HUD website for someone local,

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordabl...

Answer 3

Just because the economy is 'down' does not unfortunately mean that the price of building your house will be lower.  Energy and transportation costs are higher than ever, which raises the price of the materials.  We just built a house, our original estimate per sq foot was $80 per.  It ended up costing us almost $135, quite a change in less than a year.  No change in houseplans.  Moderate-grade materials.  Did not include the land, landscaping, electrical system, or plumbing/septic!  We are going to check out modular-type homes the next time we build...this site in particular is one I am interested in:www.modernistmodularhomes.com.

Good luck.

Answer 4

The nightmare comes when you accept the low bid and the builder can not perform at that price.  Watch the tv show Holmes On Homes.  Pay the money.  Build small if you must save money. /

Answer 5

As a home builder in West Michigan, I'd be happy to look at your plans and specs to give you a good price. Every home and every builder is different so the price differentials I'm seeing here are normal.  

Answer 6

I agree wtih Real Estate Guy. Get a bid from the person(s) who told you $115 a square foot. If all the bids came in at $125, consider doing a lot of the finish work yourself, that doesn't require licensing or skill.

You could do painting, floor tile installation, or woodwork finishing to save money.

Answer 7

Ask the bidders if they have any ideas to reduce the costs.  Sometimes the design adds to the overall expense, like a complicated roof-line or a room that needs the next size beam due to two or three extra inches.

Answer 8

That sounds pretty cheap to me.   The economy effects custom built homes by making them more expensive, although this is really dirt cheap if you ask me.    Labor costs have not gone down, fuel and materials has gone up.

You can save money with low quality materials, cheap roofing, cheap windows, cheap flooring, cheap fixtures.    But it sort of defeats the purpose of building to build yourself a cheap little box.

Answer 9

The reason that your home is coming in more expensively is simply $4/gallon gasoline and $4.75/gallon diesel fuel.  Materials are definitely more pricey due to the fuel costs, and do remember that everyone who works on your house pays the same rates to get to and from the jobsite.

The only way to cut down on your per SF cost is to go with lesser quality materials.  Labor is the same to install a flush door as it is to install six panel oak doors.  Same applies to everything else.