Running the Numbers: The Cost of a Custom Built Home

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Estimating the cost of a distinctive custom built home can be time-consuming, but worth every penny. The information and cost estimates you gather are going to bring you straight to the matter at hand—can you really afford to build the home you want or is it more practical to invest in an already existing home? If the news is good, you are on your way to designing your dream home, and hopefully, you are building it with Whitestone Builders.

But wait! Before you leap to the fun stuff—what the house will look like, its fine carpentry, its masterfully crafted luxury features, you’ve got some serious information gathering to do. To find a mortgage company to secure your construction loan, you need a solid estimate of the project’s total costs. This total will primarily include the price of your lot, construction costs and closing costs.

One of the most confusing cost measurements associated with the cost of construction is cost per square foot. It can vary from $135 – $250 per square foot. It’s easy enough to quote this figure after a home is completed because you know what you spent and you know your home’s square footage. Before construction, however, there are many variables that contribute to the cost per square foot. In fact, the price tags of houses with the same square footage vary dramatically based on the shape of the house, roof pitch, foundation type and the number of corners involved in the design. For instance, a 2,000 square foot ranch will have higher roof costs than a 2,000 square foot house with two floors because the area of the roof is cut in half.

Another, more obvious variable in square footage is the number of special features and finishes you include in your home. The average cost per square foot in the area you are building may be $120, but that will increase as you apply the flexibility and creativity of custom building–a sophisticated master bath, marble tile in the entrance hall or a one of a kind curved staircase.

Whitestone Builders specializes in creating these types of custom flair. Whitestone also specializes in helping you realistically estimate your costs up front. They’ve been through the building process many, many times and have a proven process that ensures an exceptional building experience for each customer.  They know exactly what you need to make your home building project a success and they are happy to walk you through it.

If you are ready to begin building your dream home in the Houston area, choose Whitestone Builders, winner of a 2011 Star Award from the Texas Association of Builders. Whitestone is second to none when it comes to craftsmanship and customer service and support.

Have an interesting home building challenge to share? Please comment below. And don’t forget to visit or call Whitestone Builders at (832)274-3848 or visit www.WhitestoneBuilders.com to view current and past Whitestone homes.