km, just make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Some product comes in variable lengths such as 2'-12' and some are 'strips' mainly just 2'. The strips being a lower cost..sometimes significantly. Just my 2 cents, but I would not sign a contract stating you have to use the builder's suppliers. We sourced many of our own products from plumbing to windows to floors. Our builder had zero problem with it. Sure, that is money lost to him, but it is very competitive out there. One builder we automatically put in the no file after he said we had to purchase our plumbing fixtures thru him. I would shop around. I found the flooring places that also sold carpet were the most expensive. Those with showrooms were more expensive. We found out where local flooring installers shopped and purchased directly thru that warehouse. We also purchased flooring online via 'web specials'. If you still have some time, I would find some online stores that offer web specials and check daily. We snatched up some beautiful reclaimed hardwood this way at a large discount. There is nothing wrong with the product. They are usually over-runs or canceled orders or flooring that was sitting in inventory too long and the company just wants to move it.

Price per/sq ft is rough estimate. Let's say basement: -excavate -footers -gravel -pre-plumbing -poly -walls ln ft -corners -flatwork -proofing Each item adds $/sq ft. So let's say 23$/sq ft. Finishing of that space is nowhere near as expensive as finishing the kitchen with the cabinets. Garage space is ~ cheap. Foundations and roofs are expensive. Two stories are cheaper. Costs depends on soooo many variables it is difficult to predict. With windows - sky is the limit. One can buy $100 WOW window or $1000 Ultrex. Carpets vs wood floors, deep houses can require expensive joists,steel because of span. Same with complex roofs. it is complex to nail down the price. Software helps. But you have to know how to use it. Some software underestimates, other overestimate the cost. House like you designed it most likely will cost $350 with full foundation.

In the end, there are largely two types of people who comment on these threads. Those who are building houses and those who have built houses. While I admit certain people who have built houses in the past are a bit jaded, I think you need to realize that experience does count for something. I advise those who are starting the process to not so quickly discount the advice of those who have been through the process. I have built two houses in the past and was solidly into building the third when I decided not to do it. I had firm pricing to get it done and was pretty confident that I had an initial cost laid out, and my house came back more significantly higher than the OP's. Construction labor in my area is only 8% higher than Texas, but my house came back at almost 30% higher, and this price didn't include flooring, bathroom fixtures or cabinets. I do realize that it is possible for this to happen but become concerned that the OP is focusing on the wrong items. I feel my concern was validated when he posted the specs of his custom build. A 14 SEER AC in Texas is a bit silly. In fact, it doesn't even meet the currently enacted future minimums. The marginal cost of 16 or 17 SEER is reasonable in North Texas, which has something like 3,000 cooling degree days. My experience tells me that this isn't the only questionable thing going on here. Someone who is willing to cut that corner is probably going to cut others. The question isn't whether or not you can build a house in North Texas for $120 per square - the question is should you build a house in North Texas for $120 per square. In the end, labor and overhead are only so much of the build. Please don't feel the need to answer that question for me. I don't need, or even care, to know. However, you might consider listening to some of the people who have completed their build, because it is tends to be a bit of a humbling experience.

Don't go to the big box. Go to a quality broadloom specialty carpet store. There are a million nylons that will be beautiful None of them will be cut and loop. That said, your best long term investment is hardwood in the bedrooms, with generous and inexpensive area rugs that can be cleaned.......and styled to suit future kids as well. Most especially best with dogs unless they are fenced from sleep areas altogether. One rip out of even a high quality rug will teach you that. If they snooze on carpet, their body oils remain in it. Thus attracting more hair, more soil, grime.......and yes...doggy scent. If you do not believe it, ask the carpet store. The same is true of your own bare feet btw as it relates to soil .........: )