Construction Tips to Low Cost Building

Lower Cost to Build – 15 Construction Tips and Other Waysย to Save Big When Building a Houseย No one wants to pay more than necessary when building aย home. But only the experts know how to save money onย construction, right? Not necessarily. Here are 15 tips thatย may help keep your building budget within reason, withoutย compromising on the home you want.
1. Buy a large lot with a friend or family member that can beย split into two smaller lots. Some of the most appealing
properties may be much larger than what you want or canย afford, yet the seller may not be willing to break up a large
parcel. So if you can share the cost with someone elseย (preferably someone you don’t mind having as a neighbor),
you may be able to pick up a great building site for aย reasonable price.
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2. Consider a so-called problem lot โ a hillside, narrow, orย in-fill property. Generally, these types of lots are not as
desirable as others, so they don’t sell as quickly and oftenย go for a much lower price. With the right plan and a capable
contractor, however, a potentially difficult lot might beย perfect for your new home.
Tips for Building a New Houseย
3. Choose a canal or bay lot instead of ocean or lakefrontย property if you must have a waterfront site. These choices
are usually less expensive but still water accessible. Plus,ย they provide great protection against inclement weather.
4. Buy low-maintenance building materials โ vinyl sidingย and metal roofing, for example. Even if they are somewhat
more expensive at installation, they will pay for themselvesย in the long run as you won’t have to repair, replace, or
repaint.
5. Collect salvaged materials from demolition sites. Oldย barnwood, used bricks, and distinctive wood doors add
inexpensive character to a home without exorbitant cost.ย Many times you can have the materials at no cost, as long
as you’re willing to haul them away. Just be sure to checkย first with the owner of the building being demolished.
6. Splurge only on those things you truly cannot liveย without. However, don’t skimp on structural components orย doors and windows โ for the safety and security of yourย home, you’ll want to purchase the best you can afford inย these areas.
7. Don’t overbuild for the neighborhood. A home that isย better and bigger than any other in its area will not
command a fair price at resale. Instead, the assessment willย be colored by the lower-priced homes around it.
8. Monitor construction allowances as the home is beingย built to ensure you’re getting what you asked for (and are
paying for). This includes decorative details as well asย structural elements. If you and your builder agreed, for
instance, that a particular brand of insulation would beย installed, don’t accept a lesser brand โ at least not without
a cost adjustment.
9. Use only a certified general contractor. The experience ofย a well-qualified contractor is invaluable to the home-buildingย process. In addition, seasoned professionals haveย established relationships with suppliers and subcontractors
โ something you cannot possibly hope to get without yearsย of experience in the business.
10. Try to avoid site preparation charges โ hauling in-fillย dirt, grading, clearing trees, blasting rock. These processes
are expensive and add time to the building schedule right offย the bat. Choose the best site you can afford and then pick aย plan that fits that site or can be modified to better suit theย site.
11. Avoid change orders โ the changes in materials orย blueprints that invariably occur in the midst of the building
process. Not only do change orders cost more money, theyย add considerable time and frustration to the building
process. Decide exactly what you want before ground isย broken โ and then stick to it.
12. Keep the depth of your home at 32 feet or less. Anyย more than that and roof trusses may need to be speciallyย designed, which can add significant dollars to the overallย building cost. If you have sufficient land and want a largerย house, consider adding width or additional stories.
13. If you really want ceramic tile or hardwood flooring butย feel you can’t afford it right now, consider vinyl flooring.ย Vinyl makes a good underlayment, and the tile or wood canย be installed right on top of it at a later date.
14. Choose a stock plan over custom-drawn plans. Theย savings in total cost are great and you can probablyย customize the stock plan to get exactly what you want.
15. Do you really need a three-car garage? If you only haveย two vehicles and you’re counting on the extra bay for
storage space, consider other areas of the home that willย work just as well โ attic space, space under a stairwell, orย spare bedroom. Or put up a garden shed, which is cheaperย than building a huge garage.
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