Architecture - What is a typical cost per square foot?

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What is a typical cost per square foot?

john@vieth.info

2006-09-05, 1:25 pm

I'm trying to compare my general contractor's bill to the "average" or
typical house construction. Can anyone tell me what is a typical cost
per square foot for a new house these days?

I assume that, in order to do a apples-to-apples comparison, the
garage, land, and finished basement costs should be excluded, but I'm
not sure. Should I include the cost of the well, septic, excavation,
etc? How is this number derived?

I don't have a break-down of materials and labor in front of me. I
only have the individual sub-contractors' estimates and the general
contractors bill, which I was going to add all together, minus the cost
of the garage and finishing the basement. Will that give me a good
number?

I suppose all of this depends on the type of house. So here is some
basic information about our new house:

- 2 story
- 2,350 sq. feet not counting basement and garage
- First story is 1,550 sq. ft.
- Second story is 800 sq. ft.
- Stick-built home
- Vinyl siding with some limestone accents
- Nice vinyl windows, but nothing exotic
- 30-yr. architectural asphalt shingles on roof
- No hardwood floors, just carpet and vinyl
- Top quality cabinets, but not custom
- White painted MDF doors and trim

Any help on this would be *GREATLY* appreciated.

Thanks,
John

RicodJour

2006-09-05, 5:25 pm

john@vieth.info wrote:
> I'm trying to compare my general contractor's bill to the "average" or
> typical house construction. Can anyone tell me what is a typical cost
> per square foot for a new house these days?

Define typical. Define where typical is located.

> I assume that, in order to do a apples-to-apples comparison, the
> garage, land, and finished basement costs should be excluded, but I'm
> not sure. Should I include the cost of the well, septic, excavation,
> etc? How is this number derived?

Thanks for reminding me - define cost. If it's built, you include it.
If you have to tear it down, you include it.

> I don't have a break-down of materials and labor in front of me. I
> only have the individual sub-contractors' estimates and the general
> contractors bill, which I was going to add all together, minus the cost
> of the garage and finishing the basement. Will that give me a good
> number?

Define good. If you're asking if that number will be accurate or even
precise, no. The odds of you avoiding any cost overruns is minute.
Have a contingency fund.

> I suppose all of this depends on the type of house. So here is some
> basic information about our new house:
>
> - 2 story
> - 2,350 sq. feet not counting basement and garage
> - First story is 1,550 sq. ft.
> - Second story is 800 sq. ft.
> - Stick-built home
> - Vinyl siding with some limestone accents
> - Nice vinyl windows, but nothing exotic
> - 30-yr. architectural asphalt shingles on roof
> - No hardwood floors, just carpet and vinyl
> - Top quality cabinets, but not custom
> - White painted MDF doors and trim
>
> Any help on this would be *GREATLY* appreciated.

http://www.rsmeans.com/calculator/index.asp

R

john@vieth.info

2006-09-05, 5:25 pm

Alright, I'll just come right out and say it. Is $260,000 for a 2,350
sq. ft. house (3,000 sq. ft. including finished basement) a good deal?
This includes *EVERYTHING* except land, including well, septic,
excavation, garage, finished basement--EVERYTHING. I'm just looking
for a little affirmation to relieve my anxieties. Yes, I know that it
only matters that it's worth it to *ME* but it also helps to compare to
what other people are paying. Any advice? Thanks. - John

3D Peruna

2006-09-05, 8:25 pm

john@vieth.info wrote:
> Alright, I'll just come right out and say it. Is $260,000 for a 2,350
> sq. ft. house (3,000 sq. ft. including finished basement) a good deal?
> This includes *EVERYTHING* except land, including well, septic,
> excavation, garage, finished basement--EVERYTHING. I'm just looking
> for a little affirmation to relieve my anxieties. Yes, I know that it
> only matters that it's worth it to *ME* but it also helps to compare to
> what other people are paying. Any advice? Thanks. - John

Having seen your plan & images, I'm amazed that you're getting it for
$260,000. In these parts, you'd be paying at least $400K, not counting
the land. I've seen it done for less, but they go low end on most
finishes, except maybe fancy tile in the master bath and granite in the
kitchen (it makes it seem like lots was spent, when it was only the
countertops).

It works out to $110.64/sq.ft. That's a pretty darn good deal... We
tell most of our clients to start at $150.00, not $110.00 (that's
because most of them want tile and hardwood and granite and lots of
windows and.... you quickly add it up).

Of course, YMMV...

P

RicodJour

2006-09-05, 8:25 pm

john@vieth.info wrote:
> Alright, I'll just come right out and say it. Is $260,000 for a 2,350
> sq. ft. house (3,000 sq. ft. including finished basement) a good deal?
> This includes *EVERYTHING* except land, including well, septic,
> excavation, garage, finished basement--EVERYTHING. I'm just looking
> for a little affirmation to relieve my anxieties. Yes, I know that it
> only matters that it's worth it to *ME* but it also helps to compare to
> what other people are paying. Any advice? Thanks. - John

Snipped this from one web site:
You may also want to check with local mortgage bankers, real estate
agents, or friends who have recently built a new home or addition to
see what type of "ballpark" numbers they can provide. Local contractors
and homebuilders associations might be able to quote "average"
homebuilding costs and figures. However, before you put too much faith
in "average" numbers, keep in mind that the only house that you really
care about is the one that you are about to build. Home prices of $55,
$76, $84, $95, $116, and $264 per square foot combine to produce an
average of $115 per square foot, which is probably a reasonable figure
for many areas of the country, yet the difference between the lowest
figure and the highest is very substantial.

The only way to get a number that has any meaning at all is to work
_your_ end of it.

R

Jude Alexander

2006-09-06, 9:25 am

"RicodJour" <ricodjour@worldemail.com> wrote in message
news:1157502666.624874.157030@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> john@vieth.info wrote:
>
> Snipped this from one web site:
> You may also want to check with local mortgage bankers, real estate
> agents, or friends who have recently built a new home or addition to
> see what type of "ballpark" numbers they can provide. Local contractors
> and homebuilders associations might be able to quote "average"
> homebuilding costs and figures. However, before you put too much faith
> in "average" numbers, keep in mind that the only house that you really
> care about is the one that you are about to build. Home prices of $55,
> $76, $84, $95, $116, and $264 per square foot combine to produce an
> average of $115 per square foot, which is probably a reasonable figure
> for many areas of the country, yet the difference between the lowest
> figure and the highest is very substantial.

Here in Louisiana, homes are being sold for anywhere from $75-$120/square
foot. However, if one chooses to become their own contractor, they pretty
much half that $.

Don

2006-09-06, 9:25 am

<john> wrote
> Alright, I'll just come right out and say it. Is $260,000 for a 2,350
> sq. ft. house (3,000 sq. ft. including finished basement) a good deal?
> This includes *EVERYTHING* except land, including well, septic,
> excavation, garage, finished basement--EVERYTHING. I'm just looking
> for a little affirmation to relieve my anxieties. Yes, I know that it
> only matters that it's worth it to *ME* but it also helps to compare to
> what other people are paying. Any advice? Thanks. - John

Way too cheap.
There's going to be alot of cut corners on that house.

May as well go ahead and get them britches off right now and reinstall them
backwards, with the zipper in the back.
Leave the zipper down........payday is in 2 days. LOL

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