Whats the cost of building a custom home?

[Vertnut]

A very big house (3200-3500 ft) might take 15k brick. Nice brick runs me $350 per 1k, and my guy gets $325 per 1k to lay it...about $10k for all the brick ($675x15). I guess my point is that I usually have less than $15k in all the brick, stone, labor and materials. For a nice quality build-job, look to save money elsewhere.

[mustang1200]

Do those prices include the architect to do the design work?

[FATHERFORD]

A very big house (3200-3500 ft) might take 15k brick. Nice brick runs me $350 per 1k, and my guy gets $325 per 1k to lay it...about $10k for all the brick ($675x15). I guess my point is that I usually have less than $15k in all the brick, stone, labor and materials. For a nice quality build-job, look to save money elsewhere.

I might have been thinking stone over brick. I remember him telling us also that it was more expensive down here in Houston then say Austin/dfw because they have to ship everything.

I agree though, go all brick stone and save money elsewhere.



One thing my parents builder is letting us do is go do some of the wiring ourselves. Running cat 5e, speaker wire, etc.

[FATHERFORD]

Think my parents paid 3-4k for plans outside the cost of the house.

[fordracing19]

I already had my plans but my builders design guy did make some changes for us.

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[mustang1200]

So likely you'll need to come to the table with some plans. Thanks.

[8mpg]

So likely you'll need to come to the table with some plans. Thanks.

Corey... There are tons of places online to get plans. In Texas, you dont even need an architect stamp on the plans. You can have a draftsman or designer draw up the plans. I believe if it is over 10,000sqft you need an architect. If you do use an architect, their prices depend on their work. A drawing is relatively cheap but if you want them to oversee your build, they can charge 10% of the build costs.

For drawing, Id expect $.50/ft for a draftsmand, $.75/ft for a home designer and $1/ft for an architect.

[Sean88gt]

Corey, it depends on the project. Some commercial jobs we've had them provided, others we had to source.

[mustang1200]

Corey... There are tons of places online to get plans. In Texas, you dont even need an architect stamp on the plans. You can have a draftsman or designer draw up the plans. I believe if it is over 10,000sqft you need an architect. If you do use an architect, their prices depend on their work. A drawing is relatively cheap but if you want them to oversee your build, they can charge 10% of the build costs.

For drawing, Id expect $.50/ft for a draftsmand, $.75/ft for a home designer and $1/ft for an architect.

Tim- Thanks for the info. I'd have to browse through a bunch of plans to find what I like. I have a few specific things I'd like to see in a custom home. It will be a few years before we build anything from scratch.

Corey, it depends on the project. Some commercial jobs we've had them provided, others we had to source.

Thanks for the info.

[FATHERFORD]

Corey... There are tons of places online to get plans. In Texas, you dont even need an architect stamp on the plans. You can have a draftsman or designer draw up the plans. I believe if it is over 10,000sqft you need an architect. If you do use an architect, their prices depend on their work. A drawing is relatively cheap but if you want them to oversee your build, they can charge 10% of the build costs.

For drawing, Id expect $.50/ft for a draftsmand, $.75/ft for a home designer and $1/ft for an architect.

At most places to get construction loans you must have stamped plans.

That's what my parents ran into at least. My parents found a general layout online, and I cad it for them with a few changes. They went to a few banks and they wouldn't accept that and had to have stamped drawings.

[Vertnut]

Typically, you need "approved" plans (stamped), and an engineered slab (stamped). They are also starting to want some kind of "energy" specs, depending on where you go/build.

[8mpg]

At most places to get construction loans you must have stamped plans.

That's what my parents ran into at least. My parents found a general layout online, and I cad it for them with a few changes. They went to a few banks and they wouldn't accept that and had to have stamped drawings.

very interesting.... My cousin is an architect and said you wouldnt need a stamp. This might be legal but not allowed by banks/cities/etc.

[FATHERFORD]

Typically, you need "approved" plans (stamped), and an engineered slab (stamped). They are also starting to want some kind of "energy" specs, depending on where you go/build.

Also had to have soil samples(might be part of the engineered slab??).

Something we did luck out on is the culvert to get on their property. We live on a private road, so we were able to just get the (5)4' 18" concrete pipe sections for $125 a piece, then $300 for two truck loads of the crushed concrete mix. Paid the neighbor a $100 to use his tractor.

If the road was a county maintained road it would have cost them nearly $5k.

I think the power pole is $2k to put in. That price included the temp power pole.

[elvis100]

Depending on your home building plan and what kind of design you want.

[GeorgeG.]

Also had to have soil samples(might be part of the engineered slab??).

Something we did luck out on is the culvert to get on their property. We live on a private road, so we were able to just get the (5)4' 18" concrete pipe sections for $125 a piece, then $300 for two truck loads of the crushed concrete mix. Paid the neighbor a $100 to use his tractor.

If the road was a county maintained road it would have cost them nearly $5k.

I think the power pole is $2k to put in. That price included the temp power pole.

What do they look for in soil samples? We're planning on buying land with the idea to build later on and I heard of soil samples being needed before... I don't know if that means that if it's certain types of soil that it's not recommended to build or what or you won't be able to get a construction loan or if the house will fall into a sink hole...