If you’re planning to build a custom home, that means you’re set on getting the special conveniences and design elements that fit your style and living preferences. It’s your dream and you don’t want to cut corners if that means compromising your vision of comfort.
However, certain home elements have the potential to drive construction costs out of your range of comfortability.
Custom home costs are in your control. So homeowners like you are empowered to make smart choices about what they include in their plans. By striking the right balance between cost and design, you’ll have a home that meets your aesthetic and comfort preferences while staying within a budget you’re happy with.
Here are 5 ways to manage costs while planning the custom home of your dreams.
1. Build in a non-flood zone. Find a lot in a non-flood zone that doesn’t require an elevated building. This will reduce your insurance costs as well as the construction costs associated with your options above.But if you must have those great views, LaBram can deliver a waterfront home that works within your budget. With their proper planning and creative design, you’ll have the home you want in that perfect location.
Note: – Because of FEMA requirements, choosing to live in a flood zone will affect your buildings costs as well as your insurance. If you have your heart set on a property, however, there are three options available to you, presented in ascending rate of expense:
- Stem Wall – This is the traditional block-and-dirt foundation and is the least expensive of your flood zone options.
- Elevated Home — This is a home with a first-floor garage and between 100-300 square feet of air-conditioned living space. That space would include a foyer, stairs and sometimes an elevator on the main floor) – (This is the next level of cost in building in a flood zone).
- Three-Story Elevated Home – This is the most expensive option in a flood zone. The third story of the home is built with scaffolding. The views may be amazing, but the tradeoff is that it will require more time, labor, materials and, of course, money.
2. Soil Testing: Test the soil in your lot before buying. This simple step can save you tens of thousands of dollars you’d otherwise have to spend on pilings. If you’re set on a home, and the soil test proves it’s going to require pilings, you can negotiate the price of the lot, thus off setting your increased expense.
Pilings. Pilings provide structural support under a home and may be necessary based on the quality of the soil or the municipality you are in. Pilings are not always a need in Florida and only about 10-15% of LaBram homes require them. However, if your lot requires pilings, this can add significant costs to your project.
3. Combine roof materials. By combining roof materials, you can use less expensive options and place them higher on your home. That way, they won’t be as visible and won’t take away from your curb appeal.
Expensive Roofs. When it comes to roofing materials, you’ve got three main options: 1.) a shingle roof, which is the least expensive option; 2.) cement tile (barrel or flat tile which is the middle price point) ; and 3.) a standing seam metal roof or flat roof (the most expensive type of roofing materials).
4.Choose your outdoor spaces wisely. Choose the outdoor spaces that will most benefit your lot assets and lifestyle without putting you over budget. Do you really need a large front porch when your views are in the backyard, where you overlook the water? Maximize your best views and the ways your family will enjoy the spaces you design.
Outdoor living (including porches and lanai). Spaces like porches and lanais are one of the main stays of an ideal Florida home. But they can add substantial costs to your home-building project. Although these spaces don’t require air conditioning, they still require substantial materials and labor to build.
5. Stick to a budget for lighting, cabinetry, tiles, countertops, etc. To keep costs down, LaBram will assign these home features an allowance. Finding ways to keep within the assigned allowances will help keep your project on budget. Through LaBram’s design service, we can help you select items that will give the home you’re dreaming of.
Allowances. Be mindful of the choices you make for these and other home elements, including plumbing fixtures, landscaping, appliances, tile, and flooring. While these items might seem small as individual selections, they can quickly drive the costs of your project over budget if they are not chosen wisely.
Now you know a handful of definite ways you can keep costs under control. The next step is taking action and putting your plan into motion. Contact the experts at LaBram Homes today to get started on realizing the home of your dreams.
