construction budget software
Kathy Harrington
10 years ago
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virgilcarter
10 years agoKathy Harrington
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Windows, what percentage of a construction budget?
Comments (43)If Youre building a contemporary home with lots of glass, the budget will go up. If you want specialty operating windows like bifolds, and multi paneled doors ...that will also raise the price. Figure ten percent or more on moderate contemporary jobs. But the sky is the limit. On an average traditional style home, plan to spend $25,000 to $35,000+ for a mid range home in $475,000 build range. unless youre only staying a couple years in the house you really don't want to use vinyl. Most will start having problems around year 10. No way around it. A $4,000 window budget is NOT realistic for someone building a semi custom home. For $4,000 you get Single hung windows with practically no warranty. It is probably the lowest priced windows that the above contractor could source. He is trying to make a profit and its getting harder and harder to do. A good clad window or Fiberglass window is expected to last 20 plus years. Read your warranties. Just because it has a lifetime warranty against rot, just means it doesn't have any wood in it. Look farther than that. What is the glass warranty and paint warranty. Steer clear of clad windows that have rolled form aluminum on the sash. Better brands have discontinued manufacturing rolled form clad wood products. Here is what anyone in the construction industry should tell you if you plan on staying in the home long term. Buy the Best Windows You Can Afford. Doing exterior renovations later on are a hassle and typically cost more than interior renovations. Spend a little less on your counter tops and spend a little more on your exterior materials. Hope this helps....See MoreConstruction Budget, Cost Breakdown & New Home Construction List
Comments (12)Hi, ideamom...yup, we sure do have the same taste! :) Thanks for your kind words, never did I imagine that I'd ever build on a property like this and I guess it will seem more real when something happens like BREAKING GROUND (impatient sigh). :-p Anyway, don't feel like you have to "match" all the light fixtures in your home if you like more than one collection, I think it's part of what makes a custom home "custom" (JMHO). After my DH and I discussed lighting, we decided to use Belcaro in our entry/foyer, gallery, terminus, living and dining room. For our master suite, we are going with Bellasera. We also found another line for the kitchen, nook and great room, it's the R.A.M. Lighting Monaco Series. For the rest of the home, it's still TBD, but I think each bedroom suite will be different, as well as the wine room, game room, home theater and office. Anyway, you can see our lighting selections on our home-building website at VineyardAvenue.com (just click on "Decor"). I'll be adding much more to the site as the time progresses! Here is a link that might be useful: Our lighting selections...so far!...See MoreBudget Software/Worksheet
Comments (0)Hi guys- Any owner gc's out there find a good budget worksheet online or homebuilding software they can recommend? We are nearly done(live in a small town, already know everybody!) but want to make sure we didn't miss anything, and to be able to keep track during the build. Thanks for your help!...See MorePlanning and budgeting your house construction
Comments (8)I am GC on my house. I have never done this before, but I have two brothers who build houses in the other part of the state. They encouraged me to do this and offered to help out if I needed it. So far, I haven't needed it, except for a bit of hand holding. I think the builder you hire is very important. I worked out a deal with mine, he builds what he can build (he is a gem and does nearly everything from concrete work to framing, to siding and roofing), uses his subs if I don't have anyone to use and he charges me for his time. He orders what he needs to get the job done, within a few parameters. I used our lumberyard to help design our house and I have spent the time to choose styles, colors, etc. I schedule all the subs as needed. I handle all the payment of the subs, the lumberyard and other items like plumbing and lighting fixtures. I am at the job site everyday, 9-5 and beyond if I have subs there in the evening. I do everything from making decisions on the fly to pounding nails side by side with the crew. There are times when I have nothing to attend to and cannot participate in what is going on, so those days I spend on phone calls, on the internet looking for fixtures, etc. This is a full time job+++++ for me. As a previous poster said, attention to detail, control freak, demanding, all describe me. I am not sure how much I am saving by not paying the builder a general contracting fee, but I am sure it is significant. I don't think it would be as nice of a house, it wouldn't meet our needs or expectations if I wasn't there daily. I talked with my builder and he said that it would have worked, but he would have made many more decisions on his own or else had to wait until I arrived to make some of them. He said it was much easier to have me there during the day....See MoreMFatt16
10 years agoKathy Harrington
10 years agoSageGuyPhil
10 years agoUser
10 years agolazy_gardens
10 years ago
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