Affordable Houses: 3 Design Tips to Save
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- Опубликовано: 5 ноя 2021
- In this video a builder discusses three design tips for creating affordable houses. Actual costs to build a ranch (one story) and a two story home are reviewed to compare the options available to those wanting to build a new home that provides maximum value. Square foot costs are reviewed for ranch, two story, and basement finishes to help people understand how affordable houses are designed and built.
For those wanting to save extra money and build their own home visit: ownerbuilderclass.com/
For details about the material costs from this video visit:
www.menards.com/main/building...
For more details about the two affordable houses shown visit:
www.advancedhouseplans.com/
Disclaimer:
The costs used in this video were derived from multiple sources including but not limited to: 2021 National Construction Estimator by Craftsman Books, the builders own experience, and the latest NAHB (i.e. National Association of Home Builders) Economics and Housing Policy Group, Cost of Constructing a Home. Construction costs can vary greatly from one location to the next due to material and labor shortages and local market conditions. Individual customer finish and design choices can also create large swings in labor and material costs for a given project. Building code differences from one location to the next were not considered when preparing the labor and material costs presented here. Armchair Builder, Michael Luckado, and Open Book Build LLC have no affiliation with Menards or Advanced House Plans. 
Хобби
Excellent video and I've pretty much settled on everything you've said here. Having already built a house in 2009, I now know what NOT to do. I did my homework and did a lot right, but there are several things I'd change. First, smaller footprint...much smaller. Our house is a 3,200 sqft walkout. Next house, half that or smaller, shed roof. Property taxes alone will be less than half, and that's a lifetime bill that only goes up. It will also allow me to do a lot more of the work myself.
Also, garage/shop on the bottom, living space on top, no basement, and this is in -45C winter Saskatchewan. We're building on jackpine sand (which is as hard and dry as bedrock, so no piles required. No stairs, just an elevator. We can still use the stairs on the outside elevated deck if we need to move furniture or bigger stuff in, but the elevator will probably be big enough.
Biggest gouging contractors the first time were (in order) the plumber, flooring, roofers, concrete, electrician, etc. I did the flooring and insulating myself, and also did the stucco on the ICF bottom. The plumber almost tripled the cost of materials (all electric, no gas) so when I found that out I told him to take them out and I went and got them myself, from the exact same supplier that he was getting them from. He wasn't happy, but who cares. He did really nice work that other trade guys I know still comment on, but he was gouging me bad.
They quoted me $5,000 labour to install laminate, floating flooring, so I did that and the bathrooms myself (final cost $1.28 per sqft with Costco flooring). 14 years later, it still looks like new, even with two boys in the house. The guy everyone recommended to do finish trim wanted $5,000 for labour (for some reason these guys all had nice, round numbers...nothing suspicious there 😉). I balked and found a guy that my kitchen guy recommended and he did an excellent job for an hourly rate. Final cost, $2,300. Took him a week as we have a lot of big windows (and a 1,000 sqft vaulted ceiling). My point, look around and get lots of other quotes to avoid being gouged.
great points
I KNEW it. I want to build my own home someday, and I'm either making them give me an exact cost breakdown or buying the stuff myself. I 1000% do not trust contractors.
how many crew did the finish trim guy have? Just him?
@@EdsPlace Yes, just him. That included all the closets and doors installed, including 3 pocket doors.
I will be a chalet in quebec on an insulated slab ….thanks for sharing your experience
Great video. I work at menards, there are so many ways to reduce the cost of these packages. It’s kind of nickel and diming, but it adds up. Go in to the building materials desk and talk to the guys there, they can help :)
First thing I’d do is change the siding on most of these packages. Many times it’s fiber cement or smart side, which is just absolutely nuts right now as far as cost goes.
What siding would you choose then?
How do iget the package for the build up from your company.
It's such a durable item. Hardi just works especially for fire resistance
Come on, man. LP is about $1.30 a sq ft. How much cheaper can you get?
I have clicked around on Menards website don't think I ever got their whole house packages location and then I live in SC and didn't see that they would ship.
That was a perfect explanation of how to look at the cost of a new home. I have looked into the elevator option and it's great. An oversize drive-in basement slab with 2 floors above that + an elevator can give a great bang for the buck, And older people will never worry about stairs. Keep it up.
you gotta think about the maintenance on the elevator that’s what gets you
@@constancekang9914 You are correct if there are city codes that require inspections every month. I have been arround elevator maintenance manny years and a well built elevator is almost maintenance free. Many commercial elevators, like in hospitals, are used constantly but a residential elevator is not.
I don`t think affordable house design is the right term here. its more like how to get the most footage for your money. Affordable is keeping total price as low as possible.
Per square foot, affordable as possible
@@zacherybenavidez8177definition of click bait 😆
He said affordable homes with a good design
Totally agree.. misleading info
Love these videos…. Can you do a video on doing an addition to an already existing ranch home? We are thinking of building up instead of tearing down and building new. Thank you!
I would be very interested to watch a video about the cost break down of the trades.
As a potential owner builder, I know my lumber package is somewhat fixed, but the labor to build all aspects of the house are variable.
I would really like a list of what to expect each trade / phase so I can have a better idea of what I should be able to.
Example (with completely made up data):
Framing - $X-$X sqft
Siding - $X-$X sqft
Rough Plumbing - $X-$X sqft
Final Plumbing - $X-$X sqft
Rough Electrical - $X-$X sqft
Final Electrical - $X-$X sqft
Dirtwork - $X-$X sqft
Drywall - $X-$X sqft
Insulation Installation (Bat) - $X-$X sqft
Going to depend largely on where you are and what your plan set looks like. Could also be effected by payment terms, who brings the materials, etc. Cost control is an art and a science. Takes a long time to break down. Where you building? Have a plan set?
Great suggestion. And including the local hourly rate and estimated hours that are used in the calculations could help us adjust the costs for our areas.
Remember to include installation costs of : finish carpentry, painting,flooring, exterior masonry.
Also foundation, basement labor/sq ft
In my experience, it really comes down to how many trades of each there are in your area, and how busy they are. Plumbers were the most likely to quote me an outrageous price and it care when I told them to forget it, because there isn't many of them these days, and they are therfore pretty busy. Electricians are a dime a dozen in my area, so you have a lot more room to negotiate.
Anytime you deviate from a basic square and a simple roof strong enough for the maximal snow, you are increasing the cost...every jog in the house and every extra gable adds to the cost...there is a reason many Iowa farm houses are a square 2 story with a simple roof.
So true
My local builder told me that every corner on a house adds 10k to the price.
why not go with hip roof instead of gable since its better against wind damage?
@@aloiswinzinger1160 excellent point
Tell this to my wife
Excellent description. Many of my doubts are cleared. Thanks a lot.
Can you make a video on some typical single and two floor plans before we approach you to customize ours.
@Armchair Builder is producing the most helpful home building videos on RUclips.
Super helpful content you put out. Thank you for your efforts.
Many homes in St Paul had walk-up 3rd-story attics and those areas were usually very nice as long as you were not 7 ft tall.
This channel is everything ❤️ thanks so much!
My first option would be a single story, finished basement, and a small elevator to move stuff around. This would be my retirement home where square footage is not the priority but rather functional usage. The elevator was something I didn’t consider before.
Figure $40k for an elevator.
Thanks. I'm really struggling to find a builder I can afford. There's SO much to learn so I don't make mistakes.
you should do one on a passive house
Great info! One thing I would like to add to what was said. Adding extra square footage of living space, will increase your property tax cost, so you may be saving a bunch up front, but you'll be paying more in the long run😑
Great video. I GC’ed my house 3 years ago. It was challenging but rewarding. I also saved $150-200k on a 4000 square ft home. I agree with your analysis. We are seeing more and more residential elevators in my area. My retirement house will have one. Another consideration architecturally is going up gives you more flexibility to allow light in living spaces. Things to watch out with room above the garage include HVAC and steel. I used a heeled attic truss and a mini split system.
What did the price/SF end up? Curious as I plan myself the same.
Yeah...I can't see paying some dude that much profit to sit in his $80,000 truck and do nothing.
@@Johnnyprc how could you possibly know. You don’t know anything about the house, what the quotes were or what I paid?
@@Johnnyprc you obviously don't know what negotiating is. I used to negotiate all repairs for my rentals from ac replacement to roofs, electrical and plumbing. Out of work people will take jobs for less so they can eat too.
@@Johnnyprc depends on where you are. Here in California if you are paying $500/SF in some areas it's EASY to save that much
Hi Michael, always you articulate well. Really appreciate all your efforts, could you please post a video about adding morning room to the existing home, including cost, different options etc., is it good to construct morning room on the existing slab which is not foundation slab. Please advise.
Great breakdown! Thanks for the information!
You are the best!!!
Hopefully I'll be one of your student soon so I can build my own house myself
Could you make a video comparing costs of a build going down vs build going up? That is, cost of full walkout basement using ICF construction versus building up with a crawl space.
It would seem that it would be cheaper building down with ICF construction as there would be greater potential for labor savings. Using a 32 by 40 footprint as an example with no attached garage.
Thank you for sharing the subject and knowledge.
I really love your channel and I subscribed.
I've heard conflicting things on the savings of going vertically vs laterally with building. Most builders I've spoken to concur with what you said that it's cheaper to go up. However, I've had a couple builders in the past say it will be much more if the workers have to go on the ladder to the second story. They didn't elaborate on that point but I'm curious what your thoughts are on this?
It does take a little more effort to work on the second story for rough carpenters, siding installers...etc. However, the cost difference is minimal. Overall, you should save a significant amount of money with a two story over the one level home.
Thank you so much! I did know Menards offered this!
It also helps a bit to let go of the designer roof. A simple, traditional roof is cheaper.
whats a designer roof?
Very well thought out discussion.
Great job Michael. I didn’t even know Menards had these packages. I have bought one of your courses. My biggest fear is not knowing how to inspect the work after it’s done. I’m sure one of your courses covers that with pictures or you have a different method. Currently, I’m building with a general contractor but I hope to build a house or barndominium for my parents down the line. My house is going to be a two-story with the master bedroom over the garage. It saves a lot of money over a ranch.
hire a pro to inspect
Master over garage...then you better have a storage shed out back then for flammables. Your floor will also be colder. Detached garages are safer.
@@BigBirdy100 uh. this is done in millions of homes. come on.
@@justthink5854 And cars have caught fire...I'd add a sprinkler system. At least.
Don't forget that certain rooms like bathrooms, kitchens etc have a much higher cost/sq foot than rooms like unfished basement or bedrooms. Odds are both of them have pretty similar sized kitchens so as a percentage of the house you end up with a much higher total cost/sq foot
How much less do you estimate the cost would be if no cabinets are installed in a kitchen? I want a very minimalist house and don't want the hassle of cleaning inside of cabinets or them taking up space. I will have a simple pantry closet to store all kitchen supplies and have a fridge, stove, sink and oven. Just something simple that I can wipe down without having all of those corners and shelves collecting dust.
@@moonsyoungestsun6550 All sorts of fools spend 25-50k on kitchen cabinets. You can easily get used ones on FB for cheap or free.
@@MrSteeDoo Home Depot has basic kitchen cabinets for around $200 each.
I need y’all in Florida for when I’m ready to finally choose an area on my land to build on!
Thank you for the video. Really helpful
You explained that really well. How much does a basement instead of a crawl space add to the cost of the foundation? That would be a good video.
I imagine most of the expanses would come from excavation. When comparing basement VS crawl
Great content, just came across this channel, new subscriber!
slab on grade and use the slab as finished floor. That actually saves tons especially if you want a smaller house to begin with.
but isnt that a possible plumbing issue down the road if there are leaks.
@@aloiswinzinger1160 always the excuse but they seem fine in Europe. When you count the costs savings vs having to break and dig a small part, it's not bad
More videos like this please !
great video. you just answered a ton to my questions in one 8 min video. I know now I can't afford to build unless I want to be house poor. :0)
I am so happy to see your video.
very informative video thank you for sharing 😀
Very well done video...wish I could make one.
I love my large, flat (don't like split level) single story with it's beautifully designed roof and 22,000sq.ft. half acre lot...on a hillside with a very nice view. I helped build it as I became a plumbing contractor in my early 20's (63 now). If I stacked a second level on top... It would become a 4,200 sq. ft. house. Don't need that... and I work hard... hate to come home to relax and have to deal with stairs. In SoCalif, you only build up if you have a small or narrow lot. I also don't want to live 10 feet away from anyone.
@James Karrie I remember as a kid I'd jump from house to house (roof to roof) putting counter flashings on all the plumbing vent pipes.....that's less than 10 feet apart....way too close for me. It doesn't sound like much but if your house is 40 to 50 feet away from the house next door?....it's a big difference...especially on 10-15 foot terraced lots. I can live with that, although I grew up on farm land with hardly anybody around.
Tract housing made my family financially independent but it also over populated SoCal. I wanna go back to less people and more room to get lost.
Is there a video on how to hire a GC for one of these projects, or how to find/hire quality tradesmen for each specialty?
Wow! Menards had a massive increase! The Daniel's model shown here went from $80,313 only two months ago when this video was uploaded, to $99,608! That's about a 25% increase in two months!
My feeling is, hopefully folks will refuse to build right now thus causing a surplus in building supplies which should bring the prices back down. Supply and demand absolutely drives this market, as we're seeing.
Are the increases mostly caused by lumber? If so then what about about alternatives to this?
Yes the prices for houses and Semi Trucks are crazy. Are people even buying at these rates? when is this bubble going to burst?
It's freaking ridiculous, mortgages are supposedly to surpass 8% by 11/3/22
Joe Biden and Company are complete idiots, a Cancer to society.
@@ayliniemi You got that right!
A super important factor in increasing affordability: keep the footprint and overall square footage modest. Less everything = lower cost. Not just in the short term (construction) but in the long term (maintenance/repair). For example, the "Daniel" ranch model is just under 1200 SF for $88k (when this video was made). Affordability factor gets even better when you build 1200 SF on two levels. In the post-WWII USA, "bigger is better" became embedded in our culture; we hardly notice we're doing it. But it doesn't make sense.
Timber Frames and Hempcrete will be the future of quality affordable home building.
Nah
We found the fan boi! Lol. 🤡
As of Jan. 3, 2024, the "Daniels" Menards materials package is listed for $96,765 here in Illinois. That's a 20% increase from the $80,313 shown in the video.
Actual cost if you hire a guy who will work with you on a weekly/monthly salary style basis you can build with all materials for about $75 per sq ft. Add $10 for land and prep. $85 all in. The numbers here include a significant mark up on materials and labor. Just fyi... build for 85 all in and be worth 135 per sq ft minimum up to 350 per sq ft.
Amazing video and information.
Wow, thank you, you are a beautiful blessing 🙌 ❤️
Very interesting! I wasn't aware that Menards sold fully packaged homes like this. I watched your video this morning and immediately called the closest Menards which is unfortunately like 1000+ miles away. I'm curious if you or any of your clients have bought one of these packages from Menards to build out of state and if so what their experience was. Did the price drastically increase? How difficult was it dealing with shipping? Managing the process from out of state? THanks!
I wouldn't advise using a material supplier from out of state. Besides, the builder supply companies out there should be very competitive in price.
Buy the plans with material list from Menards. Take that to your local box store and get them to price match.
Hi. Good video. I agree with a finished basement, but IMO, It has to be a daylight basement. My preference, is a ranch on a full basement. Two master on-suites on the main level with 2 more bedrooms in the basement. I do not like living space above the garage at all. The spaces are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. From experience living in hot and cold climates, I do not like a 2-story house. Too uncomfortable. Upstairs is always HOT in both summer and winter. I am totally willing to pay more for a house that is comfortable all year round.
Invest in good insulation and your concerns are taken care of...
Hi Craig. You are so right on the living space over the garage. It takes careful consideration in the design and build process to make sure that space is comfortable. People forget that a room over the garage has only one warm wall and the floor is adjacent to the cold garage. So, insulation and HVAC needs to be carefully put together or the room is always too hot or too cold. Thanks for the comment.
build with ICF and you will not have those issues
I will never understand people who don't want stairs. Going up and down the stairs each day is easier than going to the gym to help seniors stay fit. I live in a four story (basement, first, second floors and full finished attic) Victorian home that I call "The Stairmaster". Best exercise ever!
I'm honestly scared of aging in a staired home. My grandpa was a pretty fit guy and the last 10 years of his life he couldn't manage stairs. My parents are in the same boat now. I don't want to grow out of half of my own house, you know? I want to be comfortable in my own house, my entire house, to the end. I'm interested in the elevator idea, but for some reason it just doesn't set right with me (most likely because I've never thought about it a day in my life).
@@gladdenhandymanllc962 I have an older neighbor going through that. He does not use half of his house cause of stairs. I have a two story home. I have knee problems and would much rather live in a one story. My goal is to eventually have a 2 story home where the master is on the first floor so that I dont need to go up stairs.
Dangerous as one ages.
@@renanhcoelhosilva they have those things you can sit on and takes you up the stairs on rails
I'm disabled. Can't walk up and down stairs easily.
Nice video. What are your thoughts for savings on doing a steep rafter framed roof and dormer windows for a loft above all but the living room? Leaving the living room with a high ceiling. Vs a full wall second story.
If you can make use of attic space it’s a win in my book. Just keep in mind your costs will go up for the steeper roof framing and roofing. But if you were going with a steep roof anyway…big win.
Very Professional videos well done. Hi, Mike, I'm an aspiring OB residing in Connecticut. I own my building lot and I'm currently in the planning phase gathering pricing still waffling between a few home plans, dealing with bank financing, etc. Do you have any advice on securing OB loans some banks are beginning to shy away from OB loans even if they used to offer them. My current lender just asked I add a GC I'll find a way to deal with it but this was not expected. Thanks for all you do.
Have you seen this video? ruclips.net/video/LPDEXsDF7Ss/видео.html
Nice video! Is it true it costs less to build a house when it's "even numbers" on all four sides? I read that some years ago.
Can you please address the difficulty in efficiently heating/cooling a two-story vs a one-story? Thanks
Two-stories are more efficient to heat and cool because they have a smaller ratio of exterior surface to conditioned volume.
I think roof top patios are underestimated. Rest outside with no risk of strangers or animals. Pets could stay up there and a spice garden. I also like designing according to available timber measurements… less cuts if done right. Also design utilities along center wall with access wall.
I love this video!
I did this exact thing in 2000, built/sub contracted my own house. The only work i intended to do was the electrical being an electrician. As it happened my framer made too many mistakes and had to rebuild some things and the house became unprofitable for him so i ended up doing the finishing carpentry as well.
The house, land and labour all cost me about 131,000 and 1 yr later to avoid capital gains i sold it for 152,000 which was under the cost we origanlly projected to just buy same/similar house which was about 155,000, so couldve waited a few months for 3-4 more grand but we were happy walking away with 20,000 profit, which we used as down payment on another rental house in the city with 2 basement suites
Very interesting. What general area is your market located in? I am in dallas tx myself.
@@matthewfuller9760 western canada
Here are a couple of practical tips for an owner managed build:
1.) When you meet with the prospective trades on the jobsite, don't get out of your Mercedes in slacks and loafers, keep a modest presentation and drive a modest vehicle to the meeting.
2.) Don't come across as rigid or difficult, communicate what you are looking to achieve and ask the trade for their thoughts on how they see it best being achieved at a reasonable cost.
3.) Build at least a 10% contingency into your line item budget.
If the trades sniff you are flush, your bid will reflect that. If the trades perceive you as difficult and all knowing (when they know you aren't), they'll juice the bid as well. Contingency will provide you with the needed cushion to complete the work.
Best of luck on your adventure, it will be one heck of a learning experience, and nowhere close to as easy as these videos make it seem. Go in eyes wide open, and patient.
I saw a chart which showed that per square foot since 1973 prices have stayed about the same new home (adjusted for inflation.)
How sad is that? New technology of the 21st century should make our homes more cheap.
Of course labor is labor and should be paid well, but with more efficient building techniques that should also go down.
That 197,000 or something dollar home should be 150,000 or less in 2023.
Interesting perspective
what is the average cost of the exterior work, framing, sheeting , roof , siding windows and dorrs
What are your thoughts on construction loans being an owner builder? Is it possible to get financing?
Does Menard deliver in Orlandl FL
Does Menards have material packages using insulated concrete form ?
what about the hvac cost? I don't see that anywhere and it's not included in the menards package. how much does that add?
It depends on what you want. The video is just addressing the structure.
Probably 10k for a forced air system.
Great info. I would like to buy a land and get a constructor make the whole house. (Except for things I'd be able to do myself as painting and other easy stuffs) Any advise for the most cost effective solution? Thank you.
Take a lot of time to research general contractors in your area to find one highly recommended by people who have used him or her already.
How do you find set ups for a foundation with a basement?
Exelente explicasion
two stories have AC issues and floor just creek all day unless you pour the ceiling of the first floor as well
I think their is a 3rd option also bonus a single family single story high pitch roof bonus room rafters instead of trusses so if you have a basement unfinished and bonus room unfinished and your house is only 1200 the basement is 1200 and the bonus room 600
Adding 1800 sqft to a house that is 1200 sqft is a huge deal and can grow with the families needs as they get the funds
Failed to discount the the 2 story square footage by the loss of usable SF due to stairs/elevator (4-8%) and keeping the primary bedroom/ensuite on the main floor which is difficult to include in the shrunken two story footprint.
Great point. The stairs and elevator would definitely take up space.
If you have a full basement then you are already wasting that 40 sq ft or so for the stairs. Stacking the 2nd floor stairs over the basement stairs involves no further sacrifice.
Great vid
HI. I live in Southern California and it does not look like there's a Menard here. Is there a similar type of company I can use in So Cal? Thank you!
After looking at some two-story designs I learned that large open layouts are difficult to do. Since the weight of the floor above must be carried with ordinary lumber the need for columns and beams will eat into the open floor space. Truss floor construction can solve those problems but will add to the overall cost.
Great point!!! I want a 2 story, 1800 sq. ft.minimalist house, with the 2nd floor just being an open space with a full bathroom. It would not be the same size as the 1st floor. It would sit on top of my kitchen so it won't be too big. I keep wondering how it should be designed so that it's supported heavily by the 1st floor, while also allowing my den to be open to the 2nd floor.
@@moonsyoungestsun6550 They make floor joists that are truss constructed. They can be engineered to span 30 to 40 ft. they are taller than regular lumber but have an open web design to pass HVAC and plumbing.
@@ToIsleOfView Thank you!!! I'll definitely look into that.
@@ToIsleOfView I hear these floor trusses are springy when used for long spans.
Pam here….you really gave me some food for thought. To ma, the ideal use of moneys would be these homes that are prominent in Chicago. 2 levels with a garden apt. Or basement level apt. Your basement sq footage is more valuable with egress windows which all basements should be built with these as standard, they are so much cheaper to do at initial build. To add them later is doable and would be worth it too. To ma, every 2 story or 3 story apartment buildings, the 4 tp 8 units should have an elevator, making them ADA accessible. 20k is a BIG BANG for your buck with an elevator.
I have a small sawmill that can cut 95% of the wood building materials needed. Nothing pressure treated. I have drawn up tons of building on my laptop and it looks like my largest expenses are excavation and concrete. I have worked in construction for years doing almost every phase of home construction so doing most of the labor myself would be fine. I’m just working out details for design so I don’t run into any problems and the long term operation costs and efficiency look good.
Do you factor using footers for regular construction and then a finished basement with concrete walls and floor? I think it would be a lot more than $40 sqft
So sorry does Menards also build it when you contract them or is it just the equipment
Could you compare using slab on grade?
One way to save money is to stop with the crazy roof and ceiling angles. That adds up in material cost and especially labor cost. Simple shapes are easier and faster to build.
A box without any windows or doors is very cheap. As a carpenter and building lover, I sure prefer intricate detail, especially at the roofline.
Rooflines has gotten out of hand
As a senior with knee/hip issues, a two story home is a potential death trap. An elevator mitigates some of that but who is going to go onto the roof 3-4 times per year to clean out the pine needles and leaves. Every valley collects debris and, again, becomes a potential death trap for either the home owner or the house. Simple gable or offset shed roof is the only way around that.
Is there somethng like this in Florida? or one that ships to a warehouse in Fl
if i wanted a minimalist house that looked basically like a short cube, something like 24 x24 x20, would that be a good idea? it seems like that would give the most sq/ft for the money but i don't know much about the real world costs.
Perfect
1. Avoid complicated dimensions. Roof lines, wall lines, corners, all those things take *forever* to detail properly, cost alot of materials, cutting, etc, and it raises costs.
2. Standard stuff is always cheaper, so don't be weird about a thing unless it actually matters to you.
3. Don't have spaces you don't need, and have spaces you do. Most people have 4 living rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3 car garage, and then they have one kid, but because someone sews they end up in the garage with the soccer balls and carpentry equipment. Don't be this.
Most people have 4 living rooms? What?
The cost from Menards is after a 11% in store rebate credit. You pay the higher price and get the 11% back to spend in store.
Correct. You can apply online for the rebate...easy to do. Also keep in mind, you won't be paying for the entire material package at once. And, it takes months to build a home. So you will be able to use most of your cash back rebate funds on the same house.
$55/sqft DIY. Buy rough cut from a mill at reduced market prices and avoid big box stores. Seek non-retail. Smooth wood is just a made up need.
Yep I am building a 4,500 sq ft house right now on a $150k budget. Doing it all myself except for the concrete basement walls. I own a sawmill and have plenty of trees. It’s definitely doable!
There is a discount lumber yard here where you can buy 150 sheet bundles of plywood for $11 per sheet. You have to buy the whole bundle but if you are building a house that’s not a problem. I agree, stay out of Lowes as much as possible
If you're in a super hot housing market, framers do not care about the details. They charge X per sq ft and you have to pay. They have a dozen jobs lined up and the charge what they charge. Now if you have an over the top roof, thats different, but they couldnt care less if its a perfect square or had 8 additional corners. One price and its not the low end.
There are so many reasons to prefer a single level house. I’m happy we payed 100K+ more for our new single level house vs going with one of the split level or 2 story plans.
Y
@@liveandletlive2894 as you get older you won’t want stairs. At least 2 bedrooms are needed on the first floor for me. The master bedroom so it’s easier to age in place without needing to worry about climbing stairs when old or if ever injured. Along with a guess bedroom on the first level so parents can visit without needing to climb stairs.
Imagine being 80 years old and due to failing health you can’t make it up stairs to your bedroom. Your only options are to figure out a place to sleep downstairs or sell and move. Moving always sucks but it must suck more at 80 when your health isn’t great to begin with.
@@brent1041 Younger people never realize this until it's too late, and then end up selling the house for another or a condo. We watched my parents go through it after my dad was injured in an accident. Thankfully they were able to build what they wanted to retire in and sell the house they built when I was young. Everything in the new house is on one level with no stairs to get in and out. Also, showers are walk-in with no rise.
If I am ever able to afford to build a house, I will likely build a story and a half with the master suite on the first floor. Upstairs would be extra for my kids (never can tell if they are going to leave or not these days). The roof would also be as simple as possible. I don't understand pouring money into external features that add nothing to the living experience. It's vanity money.
@@brent1041 They make lift chairs that can be retrofitted to common stairways. They're 6k for a simple, straight stairway.
Cement is expensive, try to get as close to square as you can. 120' of wall 30',30'=900 sq ft. 40*20 =800'. Absolutely go up also
How much would ICF change this somewhere like the southeast?
True but not as efficient as reported, single story home delivers more usable square footage, two story home loses a lot more square footage to hallways, walls, stairs, etc. 3000 SQF Ranch feels roomier than 4000 SQF 2 Story.
As someone who just retired, I would be prefer the ranch plan.
You could maybe get just the framing materials alone here in Southern Ontario for that price. Not even close to reality here. You could build a nice tiny home on wheels parts only*, for that price.
Great breakdown and tips!
Looking to build myself and the builder quoted average of $235, per sqft, which is cost to build, permits, licenses, clearing lots, septic, well (March 2024).
So whether it is 2000 sqft ranch or 2000 sqft 2 story, cost to build is the same.
No savings here??
That is an insane price!!!! I am working on mine now and believe I can stay under $50 per sq ft.
Are your services available in Canada?
OMG THATS 🔥
Pitch of a roof and wood cost makes a BIG difference.
What about now? how much it will cost?
i lovo this chanel
Can this be done in NJ
Can these homes be purchased for western states such as CA?
Is the Amish labor better and cheaper?