I'm not an architect, but I need plans for a house I want to build. I've been watching all your videos so I can know how this is done. I'm so grateful for this knowledge. Sitting down with a professional and my crazy first sketches was fun. She asked me so many questions! I had photos of the site, which slopes, the views I wanted preserved, the things I want blocked. She was impressed. I saw how excited she was with my ideas and that's when I knew I was hiring the right person. The first guy I talked to didn't like that I wanted to preserve as much of the topography as possible. He wanted to bulldoze it flat to force the site to fit the structure. Saguaros don't grow overnight, they are hundreds of years old. 🌵
I operate under the assumption that if I make good things here that subscriber counts will organically increase as a result...it does take time though! thanks for the recognition of the dedication it takes to produce these...liking and sharing helps signal to RUclips that this is a channel worth promoting, which helps me reach more people... Cheers...
30X40 Design Workshop yes sir. You are my first mentor in terms of Architecture...Now I have a clear vision of what actually Architecture is...And am in love with it...It takes commitment but am ready for it..I still have a bit of time as am 16 at the moment...And I love watching and learning from you🙏
I’ve built/designed every home I lived in and started at the age of 17 with my parents house. Had I known about your channel in the earlier years of my building ventures I could have avoided a lot of messy situations. Still I am happy to have discovered your channel! Thank you for the information.
u know Eric, when i see ur videos I see honestly ,a good person seriously nobody i mean nobody do this nowadays. they all blunt about their achievement and then they show u the screensaver.....and say if u wanna no more go to this link then is $$$$$$$ i mean i don't even know y u do this but believe me a lot are great-full for ur generosity and i wish u all the best in ur thoughts and may God bless u and ur family with health joy and sense of accomplishment; three things tht money fame or power can't get if u don't have it by blessing.
This man has a deep comprehension of informed design decision making. The mathematics of budget translated into design are not discussed thoroughly in architecture schools. His video gives a good idea how to "CONSTRUCT" an excel sheet on modular design. The budget characterization of soft costs and hard costs provides a true sense of reality on the redaction of a liftoff. He manage to translate the plausible to the possible. The best strategy shown there was that each square foot needs to be heated, cooled down, maintained, illuminated and cleaned for many years. The author gives a strategy of percents describing energy consumption per space. This IS the basics of performance based design. His 'thesis' is based on a well known principle of parametric architecture done on the basis of budget percentages and distributions. His witty explanations of size estimation for a building with the totality of the budget provides less room for uncertainty. The dialogue between client and architect becomes accurate without misguidance or false heroics. I watched four times this video. This hits the nail.
They say that if you make quality stuff , no matter what current situation it is that people are going through, everyone will come for it. Because it was so damn good. And so is this video. I wish I came across this while I was studying. Thanks as always Eric.
Your comment about involving a contractor early on in the design process is right on point. Thank you for reminding people about the importance of involving a builder during design to help evaluate costs. I can't tell you how many times we've had potential clients bring us plans and they are shocked when we complete the cost estimating. They either have to make concessions to get the project built or scrap it completely. What a waste of time and money! Involve a builder from the start. Cost estimating is time consuming, and while we charge for this service, if a client understands the value of having a builder involved during design they will save time and money in the long run. We are the ones estimating projects every day and we have our fingers on the pulse of labor and material costs which are constantly fluctuating. Keep up the great work, Eric! May I add a link to this video on our blog? I think it is full of very useful information our potential clients could really use. P.S. Love the advice about being ruthless when evaluating what space you really need. We are currently remodeling a house half the size we are in right now with the intention of downsizing and the process is forcing me to really think creatively about the function of each space.
Hi, Erin...Together we can help educate our clients that both an architect and a builder are an asset to their project! Would be happy to have you share the video (with attribution) on your site, that helps me continue to create these videos. All the best...
Hello, I’m looking at building a house and I came across your videos researching. Just wanted to say thank you! Your videos are super informative and your presentation style shows how much effort you put into these. Really nice!
Such a fantastic run through. Love the idea of using 'factored' rates rather than changing the square foot cost per space. Great strategy Eric - thank you for sharing in such detail. For those watching in locations that use metric measurements, there's roughly 10 SF / 1 square metre. So multiply Eric's amounts by 10 (so $300/SQ becomes $3000/m2). And divide areas by 10 (so 400 SQ becomes 40m2).
Undercover Architect Thx! Now I can tell u guys, it's somewhere between 1600 and 2000€ a m², for a high standard building in Germany, in building costs. so something around 180 - 220 $ per SF ? Meaning to build in brick&mortar/concrete, 3-paned windows, floorheating, nice bathroom and so on. But without furniture. I wonder why stuff is so expensive at the US at your place?
I wish all clients, builders and architects could watch this video. Great content, great presentation. I'm an alternative builder in the Black Hills of SD, I specialize in natural building with reclaimed materials, Strawbale, shipping container, tree houses etc. The budget is always the hardest part of my job. Thanks for putting this info out there. Cheers
you are so kind to share your hard earned education with us :) thank you! i'm a daughter of a lifetime homebuilder :) i'm about to build my dream home, long house dog trot, i'm so excited! thank you for being the voice of my father in this process :)
from 12:13 to 12:25 is the most impressive statement of this video! Attention all Architects and Students, take heed! I am a QS with over a decades' worth of experience internationally, square footage is directly related to construction costs, not materials alone.
Amazing, I've just watched a few of your videos and am in the process of hiring an architect to restore and expand a home here in Spain, I'm grateful for your efforts!
I’m a retired architect with 40+ years experience and the basic idea here is an essential step in any design project. You can adjust the factors and base SF prices to fit your situation. There are published guides you can get in a library (RS Means, for example) with cost factors for different building types. The SF costs reflect not only regional factors but types of materials and level of detail. For example, in another 30x40 video Eric discusses details he likes to avoid using typical residential baseboard and door and window trim, which are much more expensive to build because they eliminate a worker’s margin for error and require much more precise work. Those little architectural touches can have a big cost impact. This budget method should be taught in architectural school, which has always focussed too much on only design.
Candi Sitati : Great question! Yes, I enjoyed my long career as an architect, because the programming, planning and design process involves analyzing and then creating solutions that meet needs and constraints. The most memorable times are when a client said later ‘your design was a great solution, you had great insights’. I chose to specialize in healthcare projects, because I thought the complex problems were more interesting. My job as an architect took me to 40 states and a dozen countries all over the world. I worked for 9 different firms, including a few large international design firms, and I was never without a job, which is unusual in this field. I think you will enjoy architecture if you like problem solving and talking with people, going behind the scenes like a journalist to understand new organizations and their facility needs.
Richard Sprow thank you,I would like to achieve more than you got in this life science of architecture, and come up with new designs for the future,to increase in quality and to cut on cost,to make up a country full of cities with new designs for the market, environment and people
Candi Sitati : Go for it Candi, I am glad you want to develop your skills and use them productively. One of the things I enjoyed was building useful long term projects like schools and hospitals. As you look for ways to reduce cost and improve quality, don’t forget to look at how real people and families use space and what they need. Good luck!
Excelent! I really don´t understand why they don´t teach this real world information in our Universities. Thank you for your autenticity and generosity.
Having lived in older houses and watched their repairs, I've noticed how frequently the utilities and pipes were placed poorly, limiting remodel options or preventing repairs from going smoothly. Add to that the invention and addition of new utilities like television cable, and these homes could become a mess of exposed cables that the original builders never anticipated a need for. My college dormitory, for instance, was such a rats nest of ethernet cables and new plumbing that every hallway felt like a basement. I'd be interested to know if a video exists that explains a modern best-practices for something like home utility layout, and whether or not enhancing old homes with things like natural gas, cable, internet, and so forth has prompted designers to begin intentionally leaving space available for easy installation of new services as they're available/invented so that the building can more easily become modernized. For example, not making it nearly impossible to convert from electric to gas water heating.
Just found your channel and as a non archyectoial person with a project and design in mind I am grateful for a the knowledge already saved a few videos to watch to educate myself and hubby on our vission design.
Your video is the most comprehensive approach to figuring out build cost, the model is solid. However, your numbers are extremely high. I COULD find a builder that would gladly take $400/sqft but on the Super Premium side of things, I don't find anyone charging over $175/sqft. I know prices change with location and the model is workable with any amount, so no quarrel there. I'm not complaining or trying to say you are incorrect, I just can't believe anyone would ever get gouged that bad on price per sqft. Thank you for the video, it has been very helpful in determining a baseline cost in the building process. P.S. if you ever get a quote of $400/sqft to build a house, please reach out! I'll build it for $390! LOL Cheers
Very clear explanation from Arch’s perspective.. and a positive contributor. So I give y’all back GOLDEN RULEs to save SqFt # ( sliding doors to save floor space & roof top patio to make use of the floor sqft typically waisted on roofing.)
FABULOUS. The knowledge you give, relaying it in a humble and thoughtful way, is a joy to listen to and a resource I will refer back to over and over as we look to build a lake house. Thank you so much.
excellent discussion on costs. unfortunately at the early stages of a construction project, we often tend to be over optimistic... your video brings us back to the harsh reality of how budget will be the first limitation on creative design
Not sure how I missed this one Eric. Great insights. I wish more home buyers would watch this! Ha (dreams of a child). Thanks as always for your efforts and consideration with your videos. This sort of thing is priceless and invaluable.
Sir, that was an awesome tutorial. Although I am not an Architect I will use some of the things I learned from you in this video. Thank you so much! Cheers
Awesome video again Eric! I feel like this should be taught as part of the architecture course and find it very useful learning about the reality of what an Architect has to do. Thank you
cheers +James Mason, I agree completely...it's our professional responsibility to help our client's understand the relationship between their budget, the design and ultimately the construction cost...not sure why it's absent in our education...
Given it's a key limiting factor in building of any kind you would think it would be an integral part of any Architecture course. Very informative video, I guess we have to go by the precedent of like builds.
Awesome video again! I do interior renovations from small to medium size projects. It’s so nice feeling to hear do things in very similar way that you do. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge. 👍🏻
This video was superb. I’m not an architect but I am thinking about having a house built and want to start scratching the surface around what the process is like. This helped a ton!
Whoa whoa whoa. Are the centre flutes on scale rulers designed for bulldog clips? I mean, it’s not that important whether it was intended but seeing you do that was a real shift in perspective. I love rulers.
700k subs?!! I thought you atleast had 1 million wth. You deserve sooo much more views!! I'll definitely share your channel to my future mates in Archi school
Very informative and thought-provoking. You stated a $300-$400 per sq ft cost. Surely that 's a regional cost and not applicable to the entire country (or is it? [gasp!]). Look forward to more videos.
Great topic thank you! the important thing with any program goal to budget goal method is first to do it and second that it help to establish an appropriate amount of design slush needed to find the design. Its liberating to realize that it will be all wrong, as long as when you squint at it that it is generally right. I am curious if clients are getting the factors?... I wonder if it would be easier for them to keep the square footage pinned and apply factors to the cost side? One thing to also account for is the amount of perimeter envisioned. Stretching out and spreading the plan across a site and into multiple volumes will have an impact on the amount of foundations and area of insulated exterior walls etc. I recently blew past the budget goals on a project while hitting the SF targets and when I analyzed it there was something like 30% more foundation and perimeter wall than a the more compact design the builder typically executed. I have since started to apply a compactness factor to early budgeting worksheets to try and cover this when the project seems like it wants to sprawl. great job!
Thank you so much for your generosity of sharing such great and informative videos! I'm learning a lot and your video on the portfolio review is helping me immensely at the moment. :D
Thank you for your time and view it's very much appreciated even though you should have much more subscribers. Good luck and thank you again for your effort.
Very useful. I learn so much from you videos. If you have not done so in another one of your videos, I would like to see you go through the same exercise but in the case of a renovation / remodeling project. I realize that some of the same principles would apply, still I think it would be interesting to see how and why the various steps would differ.
As always fantastic, great video! I was wondering if for future video projects you could talk about architectural thesis development, or thesis you found interesting while you were studying. I find your videos very informative even if we are in different countries.
Hey wanted to let you know i redid my custom CRM I did and I included factorials in a budget form when entering "areas". Thank you so much for this video!
I’ll jealous that architects can get a real number for their clients budget. I’m a finisher (plaster, paint, wallpaper, etc) here in bc and I would do better work and faster work if I knew what people were budgeting for each space.
Generally good advice, but the cost per sqft for just building seems insane. The average cost per sqft of a home in the US is currently ~$150 per square foot, which included the land, plans and everything. There is a given that you likely are only working on higher then average homes, but at $300-$600 per square foot, it makes many mansions in Calabasa look cheap. Looking on Zillow, a $2.3M mansion is ~5,000 square feet which is ~$450 per square foot. It is extremely high end, so $450 per square foot could seem reasonable, but that is not the construction cost, it is everything. The land cost is likely close to $1M...
This is super useful. Thanks for sharing! How do you determine your fees? Estimating is one of the toughest things for me. Do you feel that $300-400 is an accurate "safe" value to use or could it be lower in the south?
Wouldn't be easier to implement BIM from the get go? Or at least use it to estimate more accurately... Thanks for all the effort you put on to these lessons, it really helps
hi, +gabriel teran , thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm really interested to see where BIM takes the industry with respect to estimating in the next decade, however, with respect to the context of this video it's important to note a few things: 1) As an architect, I don't want to contractually own the estimate (or any liability associated with it) as part of my scope of work. I want to develop a reasonable methodology for aligning the client's budget with an estimated cost to construct, but there are too many factors out of my control that prevent me from bearing the responsibility an accurate estimate. Ideally, I want a contractor as a partner who will assume responsibility for determining the building cost. This makes sense as it's their labor, their subs, their material suppliers that will handle executing the work. The framework I shared should get you close (in a residential setting at least) and from there you can begin designing. 2) Early on (before you start drawing/designing) there is no BIM involved yet. You want to set the direction, scope and size and these rough estimates help you do that. Once you build the BIM model and have information to draw upon, it will no doubt be useful for estimating (depending on how granular your model is). It might even serve as an alternate revenue model for architects (additional service) to provide to the contractor. There are inherent liability issues with these kind of arrangements (accuracy, errors, omissions) so be sure to discuss with your insurance provider. Hope that helps!
30X40 Design Workshop it helps a lot thanks, are you planing to make a video about the supervision of the project in this series? in another subject please consider to make a video about what type of laser cutter you recommend.
BIM will definitely be incorporated in the future of construction. Who is responsible for the quantity is a problem. The priority hierarchy right now is contract, specifications then the drawings, BIM at the end. Once we go 3D only with no 2D drawings in the future, we may just state in the contract that the contractor is responsible for all the quantity even it's in the BIM or not, so it is onto the contractor to look at the BIM and its quantity and decide if there is anything missing.
Just a quick question. When assigning your factors, are you not including the costs of appliances to this? I noticed that you have the kitchen factored at 1, and the living factored at 1.5. This might be just because I design and build in Texas, but our kitchens are the most expensive rooms in the structure.
Hi, +Mark Watson - in the example shown, the living was factored at 1.5 because it had taller ceilings. Once you start thinking about it as a detailed measuring tool (what appliances are included, etc), you're off the spirit of what it's meant to be. It's difficult to get too granular with this kind of basic cost study because it's inherently an imprecise tool. For example, if you assign a higher factor for the kitchen, then you must also assign a reduced factor for lower cost areas like closets or hallways. This is purely based on footprint and volumetrics. Hope that helps...
Hi Eric. You have no idea how useful this material is! thank you so much! I have a question regarding this video. Where did you get those factors from?
I wish I could give millions of like and bring in billions of subscribers to this channel. Your videos are incredibly useful for a student of engineering and architect. Please make a video to bridge between a student life and a fresh engineer when he gets into a job. Please mention dos and don'ts. I have seen many of your videos and your CAD drawings in that videos too, especially in the video in which you talk about templates of CAD drawings, but the annotation I found difficult to understand. Would you mind explaining about that bubble annotation in any of your upcoming video or if you have already made it, can you please link me there?
very helpful easy to follow and straight to the point keep it up . And man your drawing quality is so damn goooooooood can you plz make a video about how to produce a good quality drawing like yours ?
Fantastic videos! I am redoing my kitchen and would like to find the exact same kitchen cabinets finishing that is shown at 5:27. Would you know the material brand and model? Many thanks!
Thanks, 30x40 Design, I have been searching around for "how to's" when it comes to budgeting a project and this video was finally a really clear method of starting out a rough budget. Do you have any suggestions for additional sources on this topic? Thanks again!
I graduated from Virgina Tech in 1979, Started my own one man practice in 1987. I like your videos and I find them very informative and realistic. I do commercial work down here in NC. Love the profession. Father was a mechanical engineer by degree, commercial lighting rep by profession. I went into the profession with a realistic attitude. Your presentation is very professional and organized.
Very educational video. How would you estimate for other finished areas? like for finished walk-out daylight or flat basements?. Thanks in advance for your time.
Wow $200 per square foot to get a house built?? Well looks like I won't be getting one built this lifetime. Are those numbers accurate for Mississippi contractors?
In my experience, there is no 'typical' cost with custom work. Costs vary quite a bit regionally, which is why I recommend soliciting cost feedback from local contractors before you begin design work.
This is solely based on where you live. If you tried to charge that here in Texas you would be laughed at. I would assume that is more along the lines of California pricing.
![Eminem - Somebody Save Me (feat. Jelly Roll) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vwa0HenQMi4/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm not an architect, but I need plans for a house I want to build. I've been watching all your videos so I can know how this is done. I'm so grateful for this knowledge. Sitting down with a professional and my crazy first sketches was fun. She asked me so many questions! I had photos of the site, which slopes, the views I wanted preserved, the things I want blocked. She was impressed. I saw how excited she was with my ideas and that's when I knew I was hiring the right person. The first guy I talked to didn't like that I wanted to preserve as much of the topography as possible. He wanted to bulldoze it flat to force the site to fit the structure. Saguaros don't grow overnight, they are hundreds of years old. 🌵
Amazing paragraph, as an architect, I adore your passion for preserving nature!!
I really wish you had more subscribers, your dedication and work on the channel is quite good, few architecture channels discuss the topics as you
I operate under the assumption that if I make good things here that subscriber counts will organically increase as a result...it does take time though! thanks for the recognition of the dedication it takes to produce these...liking and sharing helps signal to RUclips that this is a channel worth promoting, which helps me reach more people...
Cheers...
Keep up with the good job please. The world needs it :D
30X40 Design Workshop yes sir. You are my first mentor in terms of Architecture...Now I have a clear vision of what actually Architecture is...And am in love with it...It takes commitment but am ready for it..I still have a bit of time as am 16 at the moment...And I love watching and learning from you🙏
cheers my friend...keep making things out there...
I agree 110%
I’ve built/designed every home I lived in and started at the age of 17 with my parents house. Had I known about your channel in the earlier years of my building ventures I could have avoided a lot of messy situations. Still I am happy to have discovered your channel! Thank you for the information.
how did you start building and designing homes?
u know Eric, when i see ur videos I see honestly ,a good person seriously nobody i mean nobody do this nowadays. they all blunt about their achievement and then they show u the screensaver.....and say if u wanna no more go to this link then is $$$$$$$ i mean i don't even know y u do this but believe me a lot are great-full for ur generosity and i wish u all the best in ur thoughts and may God bless u and ur family with health joy and sense of accomplishment; three things tht money fame or power can't get if u don't have it by blessing.
This man has a deep comprehension of informed design decision making. The mathematics of budget translated into design are not discussed thoroughly in architecture schools. His video gives a good idea how to "CONSTRUCT" an excel sheet on modular design. The budget characterization of soft costs and hard costs provides a true sense of reality on the redaction of a liftoff. He manage to translate the plausible to the possible.
The best strategy shown there was that each square foot needs to be heated, cooled down, maintained, illuminated and cleaned for many years. The author gives a strategy of percents describing energy consumption per space. This IS the basics of performance based design.
His 'thesis' is based on a well known principle of parametric architecture done on the basis of budget percentages and distributions. His witty explanations of size estimation for a building with the totality of the budget provides less room for uncertainty. The dialogue between client and architect becomes accurate without misguidance or false heroics.
I watched four times this video. This hits the nail.
They say that if you make quality stuff , no matter what current situation it is that people are going through, everyone will come for it. Because it was so damn good. And so is this video.
I wish I came across this while I was studying.
Thanks as always Eric.
always a student my friend...always a student...
Your comment about involving a contractor early on in the design process is right on point. Thank you for reminding people about the importance of involving a builder during design to help evaluate costs. I can't tell you how many times we've had potential clients bring us plans and they are shocked when we complete the cost estimating. They either have to make concessions to get the project built or scrap it completely. What a waste of time and money! Involve a builder from the start. Cost estimating is time consuming, and while we charge for this service, if a client understands the value of having a builder involved during design they will save time and money in the long run. We are the ones estimating projects every day and we have our fingers on the pulse of labor and material costs which are constantly fluctuating. Keep up the great work, Eric! May I add a link to this video on our blog? I think it is full of very useful information our potential clients could really use. P.S. Love the advice about being ruthless when evaluating what space you really need. We are currently remodeling a house half the size we are in right now with the intention of downsizing and the process is forcing me to really think creatively about the function of each space.
Hi, Erin...Together we can help educate our clients that both an architect and a builder are an asset to their project! Would be happy to have you share the video (with attribution) on your site, that helps me continue to create these videos. All the best...
You are good at explaining the business and profession of architecture without providing us with unnecessary information. keep up the good work.
Hello, I’m looking at building a house and I came across your videos researching. Just wanted to say thank you! Your videos are super informative and your presentation style shows how much effort you put into these. Really nice!
Such a fantastic run through. Love the idea of using 'factored' rates rather than changing the square foot cost per space. Great strategy Eric - thank you for sharing in such detail. For those watching in locations that use metric measurements, there's roughly 10 SF / 1 square metre. So multiply Eric's amounts by 10 (so $300/SQ becomes $3000/m2). And divide areas by 10 (so 400 SQ becomes 40m2).
cheers +Undercover Architect...thanks for doing the mathematical translations...
Undercover Architect Thx! Now I can tell u guys, it's somewhere between 1600 and 2000€ a m², for a high standard building in Germany, in building costs. so something around 180 - 220 $ per SF ? Meaning to build in brick&mortar/concrete, 3-paned windows, floorheating, nice bathroom and so on. But without furniture.
I wonder why stuff is so expensive at the US at your place?
I wish all clients, builders and architects could watch this video. Great content, great presentation. I'm an alternative builder in the Black Hills of SD, I specialize in natural building with reclaimed materials, Strawbale, shipping container, tree houses etc. The budget is always the hardest part of my job. Thanks for putting this info out there. Cheers
I feel the need of watching ALL of your videos! Thanks so much!
totally support that need...
cheers...
you are so kind to share your hard earned education with us :) thank you! i'm a daughter of a lifetime homebuilder :) i'm about to build my dream home, long house dog trot, i'm so excited! thank you for being the voice of my father in this process :)
You are a true inspiration, thank you for your job. I hope to start my own firm one day and to become a good, passionate Architect like you. Thank you
Download the building cost + square footage worksheet here: courses.thirtybyforty.com/p/program-square-footage-worksheet
from 12:13 to 12:25 is the most impressive statement of this video!
Attention all Architects and Students, take heed!
I am a QS with over a decades' worth of experience internationally, square footage is directly related to construction costs, not materials alone.
Amazing, I've just watched a few of your videos and am in the process of hiring an architect to restore and expand a home here in Spain, I'm grateful for your efforts!
I feel almost as if I were attending architecture school, thank you!
kind compliment...cheers my friend...
In Architecture School you don't learn such pratical informations.
I’m a retired architect with 40+ years experience and the basic idea here is an essential step in any design project. You can adjust the factors and base SF prices to fit your situation. There are published guides you can get in a library (RS Means, for example) with cost factors for different building types. The SF costs reflect not only regional factors but types of materials and level of detail. For example, in another 30x40 video Eric discusses details he likes to avoid using typical residential baseboard and door and window trim, which are much more expensive to build because they eliminate a worker’s margin for error and require much more precise work. Those little architectural touches can have a big cost impact.
This budget method should be taught in architectural school, which has always focussed too much on only design.
Richard Sprow hey am an architect student,did you enjoy your life as an architect?
Candi Sitati : Great question! Yes, I enjoyed my long career as an architect, because the programming, planning and design process involves analyzing and then creating solutions that meet needs and constraints. The most memorable times are when a client said later ‘your design was a great solution, you had great insights’. I chose to specialize in healthcare projects, because I thought the complex problems were more interesting. My job as an architect took me to 40 states and a dozen countries all over the world. I worked for 9 different firms, including a few large international design firms, and I was never without a job, which is unusual in this field.
I think you will enjoy architecture if you like problem solving and talking with people, going behind the scenes like a journalist to understand new organizations and their facility needs.
Richard Sprow thank you,I would like to achieve more than you got in this life science of architecture, and come up with new designs for the future,to increase in quality and to cut on cost,to make up a country full of cities with new designs for the market, environment and people
Candi Sitati : Go for it Candi, I am glad you want to develop your skills and use them productively. One of the things I enjoyed was building useful long term projects like schools and hospitals. As you look for ways to reduce cost and improve quality, don’t forget to look at how real people and families use space and what they need. Good luck!
Excelent! I really don´t understand why they don´t teach this real world information in our Universities. Thank you for your autenticity and generosity.
Having lived in older houses and watched their repairs, I've noticed how frequently the utilities and pipes were placed poorly, limiting remodel options or preventing repairs from going smoothly. Add to that the invention and addition of new utilities like television cable, and these homes could become a mess of exposed cables that the original builders never anticipated a need for. My college dormitory, for instance, was such a rats nest of ethernet cables and new plumbing that every hallway felt like a basement.
I'd be interested to know if a video exists that explains a modern best-practices for something like home utility layout, and whether or not enhancing old homes with things like natural gas, cable, internet, and so forth has prompted designers to begin intentionally leaving space available for easy installation of new services as they're available/invented so that the building can more easily become modernized. For example, not making it nearly impossible to convert from electric to gas water heating.
Just found your channel and as a non archyectoial person with a project and design in mind I am grateful for a the knowledge already saved a few videos to watch to educate myself and hubby on our vission design.
Your video is the most comprehensive approach to figuring out build cost, the model is solid. However, your numbers are extremely high. I COULD find a builder that would gladly take $400/sqft but on the Super Premium side of things, I don't find anyone charging over $175/sqft.
I know prices change with location and the model is workable with any amount, so no quarrel there.
I'm not complaining or trying to say you are incorrect, I just can't believe anyone would ever get gouged that bad on price per sqft.
Thank you for the video, it has been very helpful in determining a baseline cost in the building process.
P.S. if you ever get a quote of $400/sqft to build a house, please reach out! I'll build it for $390! LOL
Cheers
Can't get anything built where I live for $400/sf.
Very clear explanation from Arch’s perspective.. and a positive contributor. So I give y’all back GOLDEN RULEs to save SqFt # ( sliding doors to save floor space & roof top patio to make use of the floor sqft typically waisted on roofing.)
FABULOUS. The knowledge you give, relaying it in a humble and thoughtful way, is a joy to listen to and a resource I will refer back to over and over as we look to build a lake house. Thank you so much.
excellent discussion on costs. unfortunately at the early stages of a construction project, we often tend to be over optimistic... your video brings us back to the harsh reality of how budget will be the first limitation on creative design
thanks +Varuna PUNCHOO...cheers...
This is a wonderful resource. Building techniques absolutely vary and you're so right about your comments surrounding the budgeting process!
Such an essential piece of knowledge for young architects in the making. Great Video!!!
+Bola Lasisi-Agiri thanks my friend...
Thank you for sharing!! We all hate reality checks, but knowing what you’re getting yourself into early allows for realistic adaptation!!
Not sure how I missed this one Eric. Great insights. I wish more home buyers would watch this! Ha (dreams of a child). Thanks as always for your efforts and consideration with your videos. This sort of thing is priceless and invaluable.
Sir, that was an awesome tutorial. Although I am not an Architect I will use some of the things I learned from you in this video. Thank you so much! Cheers
Awesome video again Eric! I feel like this should be taught as part of the architecture course and find it very useful learning about the reality of what an Architect has to do. Thank you
cheers +James Mason, I agree completely...it's our professional responsibility to help our client's understand the relationship between their budget, the design and ultimately the construction cost...not sure why it's absent in our education...
Given it's a key limiting factor in building of any kind you would think it would be an integral part of any Architecture course. Very informative video, I guess we have to go by the precedent of like builds.
Awesome video again! I do interior renovations from small to medium size projects. It’s so nice feeling to hear do things in very similar way that you do. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge. 👍🏻
You are so generous and eloquent with giving precise information. I am so grateful for that. Thank you Sir🙏
You r really great. Every time i see your videos it gives me new inspiration.
This video was superb. I’m not an architect but I am thinking about having a house built and want to start scratching the surface around what the process is like. This helped a ton!
Glad it helped...you might find my new course relevant too: thirtybyforty.com/the-welcome-home-course
thanks ERIC I LOVE what you do
this is what i always wanted
some one like you
let me tell all my Ugandan architectural pals about you
thanks.
thanks for sharing and spreading the word...cheers...
YOU ARE WELCOME
Whoa whoa whoa. Are the centre flutes on scale rulers designed for bulldog clips?
I mean, it’s not that important whether it was intended but seeing you do that was a real shift in perspective. I love rulers.
700k subs?!! I thought you atleast had 1 million wth. You deserve sooo much more views!! I'll definitely share your channel to my future mates in Archi school
Very interesting and informative. I’m hooked on your channel! I’ve been in construction all my life and this is fascinating. Thanks for your efforts!
of course...glad to have you join us...thanks for watching...!
Same here!
Thank you for the fascinating and incredibly valuable information communicated in such a concise and articulate package. Man, this is so useful!
Totally agree!
Very informative and thought-provoking. You stated a $300-$400 per sq ft cost. Surely that 's a regional cost and not applicable to the entire country (or is it? [gasp!]). Look forward to more videos.
+Jeff Goldenberg yes, local...sf costs are heavily influenced by regional labor & material costs...cheers...
Thank you so much sir! All of your videos are very informative and they do help me a lot. I do appreciate your dedication on this channel.
you're quite welcome +Min Min...thanks for subscribing!
Great topic thank you! the important thing with any program goal to budget goal method is first to do it and second that it help to establish an appropriate amount of design slush needed to find the design. Its liberating to realize that it will be all wrong, as long as when you squint at it that it is generally right. I am curious if clients are getting the factors?... I wonder if it would be easier for them to keep the square footage pinned and apply factors to the cost side?
One thing to also account for is the amount of perimeter envisioned. Stretching out and spreading the plan across a site and into multiple volumes will have an impact on the amount of foundations and area of insulated exterior walls etc. I recently blew past the budget goals on a project while hitting the SF targets and when I analyzed it there was something like 30% more foundation and perimeter wall than a the more compact design the builder typically executed. I have since started to apply a compactness factor to early budgeting worksheets to try and cover this when the project seems like it wants to sprawl. great job!
Thank you so much for your generosity of sharing such great and informative videos! I'm learning a lot and your video on the portfolio review is helping me immensely at the moment. :D
fantastic...glad I could help!
Thank you for your time and view it's very much appreciated even though you should have much more subscribers. Good luck and thank you again for your effort.
glad to help +Kas Janss !
Very useful. I learn so much from you videos. If you have not done so in another one of your videos, I would like to see you go through the same exercise but in the case of a renovation / remodeling project. I realize that some of the same principles would apply, still I think it would be interesting to see how and why the various steps would differ.
As always fantastic, great video!
I was wondering if for future video projects you could talk about architectural thesis development, or thesis you found interesting while you were studying. I find your videos very informative even if we are in different countries.
thanks +fabroc8...
I do recall selecting a thesis was a challenge at the time...I'll see what I can do...!
Nice videos. You mentioned that building your own home is a great educational experience for architects. Do you have a video about that?
I don't, but it's a fantastic idea...adding it to the production queue...
...thanks...!
Hey wanted to let you know i redid my custom CRM I did and I included factorials in a budget form when entering "areas". Thank you so much for this video!
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
We use an exceptionally similar system, but I could not explain it as well as you have here. I will be showing your video to my clients.
What a cool and informative video! Thank you a lot! I haven't seen any of this topic before!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have learn so much by watching your you tube videos.
300$/SF is pretty high, i guess it is for the high quality materials used. Normally its like 150$ 160$ per sf
RB where are you located ? I am in Louisiana and from I what I have found $150 psf to work - where is this 300$ coming from ( down town boston ?)
Very nice and informative. Thanks!
I’ll jealous that architects can get a real number for their clients budget.
I’m a finisher (plaster, paint, wallpaper, etc) here in bc and I would do better work and faster work if I knew what people were budgeting for each space.
what a legend. Thank you, Eric
Generally good advice, but the cost per sqft for just building seems insane. The average cost per sqft of a home in the US is currently ~$150 per square foot, which included the land, plans and everything. There is a given that you likely are only working on higher then average homes, but at $300-$600 per square foot, it makes many mansions in Calabasa look cheap. Looking on Zillow, a $2.3M mansion is ~5,000 square feet which is ~$450 per square foot. It is extremely high end, so $450 per square foot could seem reasonable, but that is not the construction cost, it is everything. The land cost is likely close to $1M...
This is super useful. Thanks for sharing! How do you determine your fees? Estimating is one of the toughest things for me. Do you feel that $300-400 is an accurate "safe" value to use or could it be lower in the south?
Awesome info! So very helpful. Thank you!
You such honest on how to use resources carefully.
Wouldn't be easier to implement BIM from the get go? Or at least use it to estimate more accurately... Thanks for all the effort you put on to these lessons, it really helps
hi, +gabriel teran , thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm really interested to see where BIM takes the industry with respect to estimating in the next decade, however, with respect to the context of this video it's important to note a few things:
1) As an architect, I don't want to contractually own the estimate (or any liability associated with it) as part of my scope of work. I want to develop a reasonable methodology for aligning the client's budget with an estimated cost to construct, but there are too many factors out of my control that prevent me from bearing the responsibility an accurate estimate. Ideally, I want a contractor as a partner who will assume responsibility for determining the building cost. This makes sense as it's their labor, their subs, their material suppliers that will handle executing the work. The framework I shared should get you close (in a residential setting at least) and from there you can begin designing.
2) Early on (before you start drawing/designing) there is no BIM involved yet. You want to set the direction, scope and size and these rough estimates help you do that. Once you build the BIM model and have information to draw upon, it will no doubt be useful for estimating (depending on how granular your model is). It might even serve as an alternate revenue model for architects (additional service) to provide to the contractor.
There are inherent liability issues with these kind of arrangements (accuracy, errors, omissions) so be sure to discuss with your insurance provider. Hope that helps!
30X40 Design Workshop it helps a lot thanks, are you planing to make a video about the supervision of the project in this series? in another subject please consider to make a video about what type of laser cutter you recommend.
+gabriel teran indeed, construction observation is an important phase...cheers...
BIM will definitely be incorporated in the future of construction. Who is responsible for the quantity is a problem. The priority hierarchy right now is contract, specifications then the drawings, BIM at the end. Once we go 3D only with no 2D drawings in the future, we may just state in the contract that the contractor is responsible for all the quantity even it's in the BIM or not, so it is onto the contractor to look at the BIM and its quantity and decide if there is anything missing.
Well done. Very informative. Thank you for your time.
This was a really well made video please more real estate videos
Just a quick question. When assigning your factors, are you not including the costs of appliances to this? I noticed that you have the kitchen factored at 1, and the living factored at 1.5. This might be just because I design and build in Texas, but our kitchens are the most expensive rooms in the structure.
Hi, +Mark Watson - in the example shown, the living was factored at 1.5 because it had taller ceilings. Once you start thinking about it as a detailed measuring tool (what appliances are included, etc), you're off the spirit of what it's meant to be. It's difficult to get too granular with this kind of basic cost study because it's inherently an imprecise tool. For example, if you assign a higher factor for the kitchen, then you must also assign a reduced factor for lower cost areas like closets or hallways. This is purely based on footprint and volumetrics. Hope that helps...
Fantastic videos and great info!
+1
Hi Eric. You have no idea how useful this material is! thank you so much! I have a question regarding this video. Where did you get those factors from?
Thanks for sharing this
I wish I could give millions of like and bring in billions of subscribers to this channel.
Your videos are incredibly useful for a student of engineering and architect. Please make a video to bridge between a student life and a fresh engineer when he gets into a job. Please mention dos and don'ts. I have seen many of your videos and your CAD drawings in that videos too, especially in the video in which you talk about templates of CAD drawings, but the annotation I found difficult to understand. Would you mind explaining about that bubble annotation in any of your upcoming video or if you have already made it, can you please link me there?
very helpful easy to follow and straight to the point keep it up .
And man your drawing quality is so damn goooooooood can you plz make a video about how to produce a good quality drawing like yours ?
+demo0503 thanks my friend...kind words...I will make a vid on drawing technique...cheers!
love these!
+Derek Sibinga thanks!
Fantastic videos! I am redoing my kitchen and would like to find the exact same kitchen cabinets finishing that is shown at 5:27. Would you know the material brand and model? Many thanks!
you're amazing
I'm sharing your beautiful lessons to many Architects
Thanks from Japan
$300-$400 regional cost! Question-does this include land grading?
How much does the cost change for hillside building?
You are the best man...
appreciate it my friend...
Do you have any tutorial on how to design foundation plans or any video where you talk about it? I'd like to know how architects manage this topic
only one i have (currently 11/17) is this for the studio: ruclips.net/video/54i6PLXunUA/видео.html
So thanks for this very useful tips!!!
Thanks, 30x40 Design, I have been searching around for "how to's" when it comes to budgeting a project and this video was finally a really clear method of starting out a rough budget. Do you have any suggestions for additional sources on this topic? Thanks again!
$300 per square foot? Ouch. There must be a cheaper way besides using cordwood. Interesting video series...thanks.
Overpriced is a understatement!!!!
Good Stuff! Great Video.
thanks +Tim Barber ...appreciate it...!
I graduated from Virgina Tech in 1979, Started my own one man practice in 1987. I like your videos and I find them very informative and realistic. I do commercial work down here in NC. Love the profession. Father was a mechanical engineer by degree, commercial lighting rep by profession. I went into the profession with a realistic attitude. Your presentation is very professional and organized.
It's great hearing from a professional with such a positive perspective...thanks for sharing your story and for supporting my channel +Tim Barber
Great video. Thanks! :-)
I see on the budget you have 2939sf twice, but I'm not sure where that number is coming from?
Very educational video.
How would you estimate for other finished areas? like for finished walk-out daylight or flat basements?.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Very interesting. ¡SUPER LIKE!
cheers +Raul Augusto Almonte
I love this guy better than BIG
Excellent video!
Quality information
thank you so much for everything
you're quite welcome...
Wow $200 per square foot to get a house built?? Well looks like I won't be getting one built this lifetime. Are those numbers accurate for Mississippi contractors?
thank u for sharing
+valian yoga of course!
Do you accept vacation time trainees? I'm in love with your explanation and even more with the design used (with orange color)
Hi architect, tell us about your project (pond house ) it's amazing
would love to, alas with some projects it just isn't possible...
30X40 Design Workshop no problem it's ok
What is the Circulation/Walls line item for? Great video BTW
Thank you!
Cheers +Roberto O , thanks for your continued support!
thank you so much !!!
What's included in $300-400/sqft? Is it the typical cost for high standard designer homes?
In my experience, there is no 'typical' cost with custom work. Costs vary quite a bit regionally, which is why I recommend soliciting cost feedback from local contractors before you begin design work.
AWESOME!!!
$400 per square foot!?! I guess the house I'm planning on building is going to be ultra ghetto.
This is solely based on where you live. If you tried to charge that here in Texas you would be laughed at. I would assume that is more along the lines of California pricing.