Building a House?

[Freeway]

I recently purchased a home that needs to be renovated and the seller threw in the lot next to the house. I checked with the city and it is a buildable lot. I'm wondering how much does it really cost to build a house? I've heard quotes everywhere from $65sqft to $110sqft.

[Debbie]

Well.....it really depends on your location.

I live in Springfield Illinois. We're in month 5 of building a 2 story house with a full basement.

We're paying upper $90.00 per square footage.

Part of the reason we're paying extra is because it's not a stick built house. It's concrete house (between $8K to $12K more compared to stick built house).

Debbie

[SlumLordMike]

Many of the major homestores sell kit houses and plans. Then there are pre-fabs as well. So, if you want a ballpark figure you can calculate:

A basement if you want one
Driveway

and

A bid on a conventional built home
A pre-fab
A kit house plus labor

[EricD]

Well.....it really depends on your location.

I live in Springfield Illinois. We're in month 5 of building a 2 story house with a full basement.

We're paying upper $90.00 per square footage.

Part of the reason we're paying extra is because it's not a stick built house. It's concrete house (between $8K to $12K more compared to stick built house).

Debbie

Debbie,
Are you using the styrafoam forms? How is the process going? I've thought that the next house we build I will look into doing a concrete house.

Eric

[JR_FL]

Prices are going to be different in certian parts of the country. I am building as we speak two homes. One cost is running me 62.00/PSF (actual cost) and the other is 77.00/PSF. By the way I own a contracting business. These are costs between these two homes. The first is for an affordable housing project here in my area the the other is a regular 2 story. Both are Block. The 2story has frame 2nd story.

[Debbie]

Debbie,
Are you using the styrafoam forms? How is the process going? I've thought that the next house we build I will look into doing a concrete house.

Eric

Yes, it is the Styrofoam form by AARX.

It's pretty neat!

If you have any questions, let me know. I'll have Jeff answer cuz he's a little obsessed on concrete stuff!

[Mrlouis]

I recently purchased a home that needs to be renovated and the seller threw in the lot next to the house. I checked with the city and it is a buildable lot. I'm wondering how much does it really cost to build a house? I've heard quotes everywhere from $65sqft to $110sqft.

Freeway, I'm a general contractor, and the price all depends on the complexity of a house. We are operating @ $154 /sq ft. and to be honest thats just a ball park figure until the lines items are tabulated. My GC just throws that number out there to separate the serious from the curious. The ones who are lower seems to need the job the most, but be careful , cause they're the ones who will be running out of money toward the end of the project cause they are using your deposit as cashflow to pay for an existing project. :whip:

Just and FYI

[Debbie]

Freeway, I'm a general contractor, and the price all depends on the complexity of a house. We are operating @ $154 /sq ft. and to be honest thats just a ball park figure until the lines items are tabulated. My GC just throws that number out there to separate the serious from the curious. The ones who are lower seems to need the job the most, but be careful , cause they're the ones who will be running out of money toward the end of the project cause they are using your deposit as cashflow to pay for an existing project. :whip:

Just and FYI

Mrlouis,

Welcome to the Magic Bullets Fambly!

The amount you just quoted, would you also mention where you are located?

Thanx!
Debbie

[AIR]

concrete is a wonderful thing, anyone know the price range for putting in a new normal sized driveway and patio?

[brianb_cobbres]

I have been quoted between 6 and 8 dollars per square foot to form and pour.

[Freeway]

The land is in Petersburg Va. The "lowest" price I was given was $65sqft for a 1000sqft home. Anyone know if modular homes are cheaper/more expensive/better way to go?

[Debbie]

The land is in Petersburg Va. The "lowest" price I was given was $65sqft for a 1000sqft home. Anyone know if modular homes are cheaper/more expensive/better way to go?

I've always heard that the modular homes are cheaper and better built because it's pre-fab from the factory.

I recall hearing from a few realtors that they really like them for several reasons. The only downfall is that their clients had stereotype ideas about modular homes.

Hubby and I have discussed that if/when we build rental home, it'd be pre-fab home(s).

[EricD]

A friend of mine had some land and opted for a pre-fab home to save time. He & I had framed a couple of houses together, so he could have built his own. I thought the finishes inside looked cheap--like a mobile home.
We were asked to do a faux finish on a pre-fab home that was brought in for a demo at a Home and Garden Show. It was better built & looked nice inside. The cost was about the same as a stick-built house though.

Eric