Construction costs are among the most important aspects to consider when building a home. Although fees may increase or reduce during construction, you should have a rough estimate to plan the project effectively. The following tips can help you to calculate the cost of building your home correctly. 

Start with the Basics 

Building a home from scratch requires a general view. Do not start pondering about the interior features and finishes just yet. Instead, look into the basics like the location since building in urban centers or highly sought-after neighborhoods is usually costly than small towns and rural areas. 

Choose Floor Plans 

A floor plan offers a comprehensive illustration of the size of the home, the number of rooms, building style, and features. You may develop one or hire an architect. Nevertheless, the chosen floor plan will provide better insights into the needed materials and work to complete the project. 

Estimate Price Per Square Foot 

An experienced builder will estimate the cost of the project based on the given floor plans. You should divide those costs by the total number of square feet in the home to create a rough estimate of what to expect at every stage of the construction. 

Consider the Quality of Materials and Building Style 

Think about the specific style you need for the proposed home since it would impact the number of materials and work required to complete the project. Simple designs often cost less compared to houses with complex roofing and details. You should also carefully evaluate the quality of building materials, keeping in mind that high-quality materials will cost more. 

Think About Additional Costs 

You may inevitably overlook some details during the project planning. Those details could require minor or significant changes during construction. So, it would be best to consider any additional costs that may arise when calculating the cost of building your home. 

Building a home is not cheap and could put you through a lot of financial strain. But, these tips will enable you to understand and streamline the costs to your budget, avoiding unnecessary delays and costly overruns on the project. 

The construction industry is a vast field with a rapidly changing landscape. The industry has experienced several changes in the past years, and a similar trend will continue. As such, there are several things about home building that even savvy builders may not know. Check out the following five surprising facts about construction that most people do not know. 

Concrete is the World’s Most Popular Building Material

Concrete is the most famous building material, which people have used for construction projects worldwide for centuries. The Grand Coulee Dam is currently the world’s largest concrete structure, with over 11,975,521 cubic yards of concrete. 

The World is Currently Facing Construction Workers’ Shortage 

The construction industry is growing fast but faces an acute shortage of workers worldwide, hindering it from meeting the housing demand. Many firms now have to offer highly competitive benefits packages to attract workers. 

Women Account for Only 10.9% of Construction Workers 

Women make up for about 47% of the entire labor force but, only a handful are in the construction industry. A majority of them work in office settings, leaving very few on construction sites today. 

Drone Use in the Construction Industry Has Increased 239% in the Past Year 

Technology has revolutionized the construction industry in many ways, including improved safety and efficiency. Drones are among the main drivers behind that revolution, whose usage in the construction industry has grown by more than 239% in the past year. 

Construction Rentals Contribute 47% of the Construction Industry Revenue 

Construction rentals enable builders and project developers to reduce costs significantly. Reliable reports indicate construction rental sales now account for 47% of the entire sector’s revenues and are expected to increase to about $59 billion in 2021. That makes them a critical part of the construction sector. 

The rapid changes experienced in the construction industry have ensured several things go unnoticed. However, knowledge is a powerful tool you should possess to understand those changes and how they impact the different aspects of the home building today.

You’ve probably heard a construction-related horror story. And this could be the reason you’re cautious when selecting a builder for your construction project. Well, nobody wants to pay a builder for shoddy work. You also don’t want your project to run over the budget. For this reason, you want to hire somebody that understands what your construction project means to you. To make the right choice, follow these helpful guidelines.

Plan Your Construction Project

Before selecting a builder, plan your construction project. That means deciding what you want and establishing your project’s parameters. Assess a potential builder’s suitability will be difficult if you don’t know what you wish to achieve from your construction project. Therefore, don’t reach out to the nearest builder without even knowing what you want. Instead, decide what you want and then approach the builder.

Establish Your Project’s Requirements

After planning your construction project and deciding on what you want to achieve, determine the requirements of the building. And this shouldn’t be challenging for a small project. For instance, decide on the fixtures that you want your bathroom or kitchen to have. You may have seen something at your friend’s house, and you want to have it in yours. Also, check out various building designs and then settle on what you wish to have.

Consult Family and Friends

Perhaps, you know a friend that completed building a house recently. Maybe you have a friend that commissioned a construction project and is progressing well. Talk to such people for tips on what to do and avoid. Ask them questions that will enable you to pick the best builder.

Vet Potential Builders

With all this in mind, start vetting potential builders. Ask each builder several questions to determine whether they are ideal for your construction project. Don’t settle on the bid of a contractor only. Instead, check out their past works and reputation.

Selecting a builder for a construction project might seem difficult. However, picking the wrong builder will leave you with more problems and losses. Therefore, take your time to identify and hire the right builder for your construction project.

Finding the right builder for your construction project should be your priority. However, the price of a contractor plays a significant role when it comes to picking a builder. That’s because the average price of a contractor is 30% of the overall budget. As such, considering the quote given by a contractor happens naturally. But, getting a cheap contractor comes with many dangers. Here are some of them. 

Incorrect Pricing 

Some contractors leave out some costs when giving quotes. This is a way of attracting more clients and hooking them before they realize their trick. Therefore, take the time to go through the quote carefully. Make sure that every item is included in the estimates. If you find something that you don’t understand, ask before proceeding. 

Designs Ignored 

Another danger of settling for a cheap contractor quote is having your designs not followed properly. A contractor can give you a low quote but end up cutting corners when it comes to executing your construction plans. Therefore, make sure that the contractor understands your house design properly. Find out how they intend to build your house just to be sure that you’re on the same page. 

Insufficient Labor 

A contractor can’t handle your construction project alone. They need subcontractors and other workers to build your house. If a contractor gives you a cheap quote, they might not have enough funds to hire laborers. This can hinder the timely and proper completion of your construction project. 

The Contractor can Go Bust 

Going bust is a very common pitfall of working with cowboy builders. A cowboy builder can use a low quote to lure you. That’s because the company wants to get more money before declaring itself bankrupt. And, though a contractor can be declared bankrupt, they can change their name and choose another director to appear new. That’s why you should be careful about contractors that give you ridiculously low estimates. 

To avoid these dangers, work with professional and reputable contractors that give you reasonable quotes.

The outcome of earthquakes is usually devastating when they hit poorly built houses. To avoid the devastating effects of an earthquake, your house should be built to resist or withstand it. That means your house should have a special structural design. The right materials, proportions, dimensions, resistance, and blueprints should be used. Building regulations and norms should be adhered to. Also, construction compliances should be met depending on the location’s seismic incidence. 

Essentially, many factors should be considered when it comes to building a house that can withstand earthquake damage. Here are useful tips to help you construct an earthquake-resistant house. 

Check Soil Stability 

A major reason why location is so important when building a house is that soil stability plays a very important role when it comes to the strength and structural integrity of a building. The soil on which you build a house should be stable. The area should not put your house at risk of mudslides or rockslides. Therefore, consult with a soil specialist or a soil engineer when choosing the place to build your house. 

Check Material Resistance 

The materials that you use to build your house should be of a higher quality and uniform. That way, you can avoid any compromise. You do not use a single piece to build a home. Therefore, ensure the uniformity of your construction material. That’s because total integration will make your building earthquake-proof. The materials that you choose should be capable of absorbing earthquake energy and dissipating it as required. 

Check Rigidity and Flexibility 

The materials that you use to build your house should be spliced together and bonded monolithically. These include enclosures and slabs, columns and girders, as well as, flaps and load walls. Make sure that these are cast into the concrete at the same time. Joints should have the same steel pieces when it comes to arms. The structure should be rigid and stiff in the event of seismic movement. However, the structure should be flexible to avoid stretching and collapsing or even contracting when a seismic movement occurs. 

Everybody wants to live in an earthquake house. However, constructing such a structure requires careful attention to detail. Talk to your contractor about the ability of your house to withstand earthquake damage before your project starts. A good contractor will explain everything they intend to do to make your house earthquake-proof.

Indeed, home construction is a complex process that requires various kinds of resources for success. The way you plan for the project and manage those resources will determine the progress of the entire project. Nevertheless, the following are the essential resources that you should have in place when planning to build a house. 

Finance 

No matter the type or size of the house that you plan to build, the procedures of home construction usually attract a series of expenses that you will have to pay for with money. Even if you already have the land to build on, there are other costs such as the permit and certificate fees, home design, building materials, and labor that you will still have to pay for. Therefore, you should secure adequate financing to cover all the expected construction costs before the start of the project. 

Land 

Before choosing the design for the house, you need land. The ideal plot of land to build a house must be approved for residential buildings and not subject to any zoning regulations or restrictions. 

Design 

You can select the design for your new house from a catalog of production home designs or hire an architect to develop a custom design. Nevertheless, the design is an essential aspect of home construction that you must keenly look into. 

Building Permits 

While the construction laws usually vary from one area to another, all the local authorities require homeowners and builders to obtain valid building permits before commencing any form of construction works. The permits are only issued after the authorities have thoroughly assessed the house plans against the local building codes. Based on the house plans and the prevailing regulations, you may sometimes need to alter the design. 

Professional Builder 

Even if you are opting for DIY home building, there are some complex tasks that only an expert builder can do best. A builder will manage the day-to-day construction activities as well as coordinate labor and materials on the site. 

Overall, there are different kinds of resources required for building a house. However, the ones discussed above are the most essential resources that you should give proper thought.