Everyone knows that building a custom home costs time and money, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to cut the costs. Many people are looking for new ways to save money when building a home.
The good news is that there are ways to make building a house more affordable.
We’ve found 10 ways to cut the costs of building your home, but remember that cutting costs comes with risks. So, let’s find out how to build a more affordable home.
Get A Professional Builder In Early
You may think bringing in a professional builder earlier will cost more. Still, they can educate you on the design process. Engaging with your builder will allow you to consider the most cost-effective designs and the materials you need.
While some builders might charge pre-construction fees, others will add them to construction costs. If your builder is involved in this stage, it will allow them to save money on their construction costs, which will benefit both of you.
Build A Smaller Home
Most people believe you need a bigger house if you want to build one. However, larger houses are more expensive. Instead, it’s better to maximize the space that you have. For example, you can always add more multi-use spaces to your home.
There’s no reason to make a larger house as it will only increase the space you must look after. Instead, there are other ways to ensure you use less square footage.
Consider Adding A Basement
We already said that smaller homes can be more beneficial to you. Still, basements don’t actually add much to your home. A basement doesn’t require any roofing; you only need to excavate the flooring and pour the material for the flooring in.
You can add your basement as a recreational area or storage center to keep your boilers and water heaters.
Use A Simple Building Design
No one can deny the temptation of making a complex design; however, unless you are an architect, it’s better to stick to the essentials. Instead of making a complex design, you should consider a simpler one to save costs.
A simple design isn’t as at risk of mistakes as a complex design.
Many builders have made simple designs for their home buildings before, so you don’t need to worry about mistakes. Instead, you can make your home different in other ways to ensure it stands out.
Plan Through Everything
When building a home, it’s better to remove the guesswork when possible. There’s no reason to stop planning once the blueprints are down. You should find out where you want the plumbing to go and work with your builders and general contractors for advice.
The sooner you plan your home, the quicker you can all work together to move in. If you bring in a contractor soon enough, they can advise you and your builder to ensure you won’t have to make many adjustments later.
Don’t Make Your Roof Complex
Your roof is one of the most expensive parts of your house, so you shouldn’t make it too complex. Although adding hips and valleys to your roof is tempting, it’s better to stick to a single ridgeline and a shallow pitch.
If your system is more complicated, it may stand out among the crowd, but it will be more expensive to look after. There are higher labor costs, and the material is way more expensive, so you shouldn’t spend too much on an elaborate one.
Consider Starting Modest
The rooms in your home don’t have to be expensive when you build them. It’s easier to add more to your kitchen and living room later than to start building this way.
Your kitchen appliances can and will be upgraded over the years, and you’re likely to refloor your living room.
Instead of worrying about impressing everyone, consider planning how you want your kitchen to look in the future. There’s no rush, and it’s better to take your time.
Use Drywall Inside
Although other walls look great, there’s no reason not to use drywall inside your house. Wooden paneling may seem great, but it’s roughly twice the price of drywall, and you may regret it.
Drywall is still better than building your walls with plaster and has a faster drying process. It’s also pretty durable and strong, so you shouldn’t worry about doing work on your walls too much.
Try To Avoid Change Orders
There are always changes during construction, and no one can avoid them. They’re also one of the biggest issues when you suddenly shift your budget.
Change orders are simply last-minute changes to materials. Taking too many change orders will cost you a lot more money when your house is built.
Instead, you should only use a change order as a last resort. If you change any orders, you should consult the builder first to see if it’s better.
Don’t contact your subcontractors directly, and always keep a record. After all, some builders can make cash through change orders, and you don’t want to accidentally be taken advantage of.
Don’t Do Everything Alone
Last but not least, you should not try to do everything alone. Some people believe that if you don’t hire a professional, it will save you money in the long run. This isn’t true.
You shouldn’t do everything alone, or you could spend more time fixing issues that could have been avoided. If you work with a professional, they have more contacts with subcontractors and know everything there is to know about the administration process too.
If you work on your own with little experience, it will show in the final product of your home.
Final Thoughts
These are our top ten ways that work best if you want to cut costs when building your own home. Ideally, the best way to do this is by consulting with a professional and ensuring you don’t have too extravagant a design.
You should always be practical when building your home and clearly know what you want to do next. If you want more advice on the subject, please check out some of our other articles.
Hey! My name is Luke. I am the Co-founder of PowellCustomHomes.com, it’s great to have you here at our site. With a combined 20 years of experience, we can help you build the home that you want, specific to your requirements and lifestyle.
No task is too small. We can guide you and offer advice, no matter if you are filling in gaps in the wall, hiding cords, or simply fixing up construction mistakes. We love to help, and strive to do so in any way that we can.
