Question: how did you bring down build costs?
homey_bird
15 years ago
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Comments (19)
allison0704
15 years agocasey_wa
15 years agoRelated Discussions
How much did your build cost over budget?
Comments (9)We did not go over budget. I picked out almost everything - with the exception of light fixtures and kitchen cabinetry - before we broke ground. I bought a ton of things on the internet (all plumbing fixtures and faucets, light fixtures, cupola for examples) and priced door hardware online and locally. Found it for less locally. For the online purchased, I shopped online and bought during sales (holiday sales were really good - Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day) Be sure to buy/order things ahead of time so they are there and ready before needed - not after! My best advice it to have your plans perfected before breaking ground so there are no changes (only minor minor ones) during construction. Our GC was awesome and did not charge for changes. We built at cost plus his fee - set before we started based on bids. If we were under, his pay went down but if we went over, his did not go up. His idea! He looked after us, was always after the best bang for our buck and wasn't afraid to ask for a better price when an invoice came in he thought was too high (scaffolding rental, for example). He was quick to remind me it would cost what I made it cost. lol Ask yourself what do you have to have and what can you live without....or how can you still have what you want but cost less. Hope that makes sense! Stick with what you can afford and don't do "well, while we're building..." additions during construction. They will add up fast. Good luck!...See MoreHow do you keep your utility bills costs down?
Comments (37)Well...we only run the heat at a warmer level 65-68 during the morning while we get ready for work and the evening before we settle down for the night. The rest of the time, the thermostat is either at 60 or off. To be honest, we also avoided buying a house that faces east/west to avoid the heat in summer or with high cathedral ceilings so we could better control our utility costs. It’s just the two of us, so the dishwasher is only used once maybe twice a week, our washer is also a European front loader and laundry is done during off peak times. We have well water so no bill there. Our windows are old and leaky as well, so new windows are on our to do list as well adding thicker insulation in the attic. Our gas bill during peak winter months has been fairly consistent from year to year and low when compared with others in the neighborhood. I’ve heard of the cellophane window coverings but haven’t ever considered using them; maybe we should! ETA: I forgot to say that I agree with 3Katz in that during the summer months, I’m less willing to sacrafice comfort over cost. BUT as crazy as it sounds, we like to sleep in colder conditions so during summer months, we turn the a/c way down at night (during the off peak hours). And because we face north/south we get limited sun from the windows which keeps the house cool for a larger part of the day. On the weekends, we usually don’t turn the a/c back on until mid afternoon and the house will stay incredibly cool until then. The only exception is when it’s very humid. Then the ac will go on whenever we need it to....See MoreTear down and build dream home- how to start...
Comments (8)First step is getting a sense of what your budget is. Next - this is a tricky topic here. This board believes STRONGLY in going the architect route. We are doing that, and there was never any question that we wouldn't. BUT it is definitely more expensive. And definitely worth it. But people have different budgets. If you are dealing with a reasonable non-shoestring budget, then yes - DEFINITELY hire an architect. But whether to go to a builder or architect first - there are mixed opinions on this. If a friend has a recommendation for an amazing builder or architect, you should look into them. (If you really think you are going to go with a stock plan instead of an architect - which again, I don't advise - you definitely should interview and choose a builder first. They WILL have specifications on what they will and won't do. If you are looking at eco-friendly, guaranteed if you have a builder who does this without a custom architect it is because s/he builds a very specific design. You're wasting your time and money looking at plans that your preferred builder may not be willing to build.) Otherwise - you say you want eco-friendly. That is not going to be hard to find in Washington State. But it is still something that only select builders and architects do well. If you want to go as energy efficient as possible, you are talking Passive House. Which is expensive. However, it gives you a good framework to start looking for builders. You don't have to go to the expense of pursuing full Passive House requirements. But this will narrow down your search specifically to builders who build eco-friendly homes. Again, this only matters if you are serious about eco-friendly, as in this is the area you would prefer to focus your budget on, as opposed to tile and molding and cabinets and the like. If you are, this is not something a regular builder does. Or at least does well, in my experience. There is a huge difference between a builder who thinks foaming all the walls constitutes a well-sealed home, and a builder who does blower door tests to ensure they have plugged as many tiny leaks in the envelope as they can find. Architecture also plays a big part in designing an eco-friendly home, and there are architects who specialize in it. Again, search for passive house architects or green building architects. (Personally, I would look at builders first if you are SERIOUS about eco-friendly. Sometimes green builders do things in very particular ways, such as SIPS or modular, and you would be better served finding that out first and choosing an architect they work well with.) You will get a good sense of what is out there. Narrow down a list of professionals, and then contact them. You will probably rule several out over the phone, just based on budget requirements and other issues. Then meet with whose left and go from there. They will definitely have answers to your listed questions. And for questions like timeline, those answers will vary quite a bit between builders, so will perhaps play into your hiring decision....See MoreWhat additional costs did you incur when preparing a lot to build a
Comments (15)Did you decide to build with Diyanni? i know your post is from last year, but we built with Diyanni last year in Marengo, Ohio (Morrow County). We have 5.23 acres, no land clearing costs involved, poured wall basement for a 2,000 sq ft ranch (with 3 car garage) tapped in to City water system (tap fee $5,300 plus line run charge)had septic system installed $10 k, and electric run roughly 160 feet, 270 ft drive way cut Diyanni budgeted us just under $50 k. Lucky for us my husband has been in the construction field for over 25 years and knew when they didnt use additional gravel for topography and elevation, set a temporary power pole (which the electric company did not do) and a few other things in Diyannis budget that weren't needed or done and he asked for a credit back. The credits back totaled almost 7k. We know had he not kept an eye on land improvements being done and not done, Diyanni would have never voluntarily give us these credits or acknowledged that some of the budgeted land improvements were not need or not done....See Moreallison0704
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