Im building a house what is the best way to cut cost?

Answer 1

The best way to cut costs is to get involved with all of the contractors and subcontractors on the project. Schedule the build yourself to ensure quick completion. If local codes permit, ask the plumbing contractor to use pex tubing to cut costs (about half the cost of copper, and twice as fast to install). Pex tubing for water lasts forever and if properly installed, will circulate your water continuously, saving on hot water costs.
Pre-stain and polyurethane all the molding yourself for the trim carpenter.
Make sure that your house plans have been reviewed by all of your contractors to minimize conflicts.
As for drywall and finishing work, unless you have experience, it isn't recommended. After all, this is a new house. You don't want it to look like your old house.
Agree to have a temporary electric service set up ahead of time to get a discount from your contractor on the cost of running generators ( the Electric Co. will help you with this).

Answer 2

Budget, budget, budget. Know what you are going to spend before you spend it. Land and framing costs are the most expensive parts in typical construction. A good plan that maximizes materials is going to help. Get bids from several people, but realize that the cheapest bid may not always be the best in the long run. And I'm not just talking about a cheap bid meaning substandard work, although that is part of it. If the person drags the project out, and causes other people to fall behind than saving a bit of money now isn't worth it. And that goes for the builder, too. If you take on some of the labor, don't hold up the other contactors. It's not a hobby, it's a job. And if you aren't sure you can do the work, then it is best to hire a professional. I wouldn't do foundation work, although I can do some of it. I don't have the time. Which leads me to your time. Your time is worth money, too. If you can save $1000 by doing some of the work, but you can make $1500 working a little overtime in the same amount of time, well it's better to work and hire someone.

Shop materials, but don't get too hung up about finding the best deal. You are already saving money by building yourself. Like I said framing and land is the most expensive parts. Don't spend a whole lot of time trying to save $20 on flooring. You'll never make a decision, if you spend all your time shopping.

Most important is budget. And add 10% at least. Especially for the first time builder. Maybe even 15%. And stick to the budget. Get a good plan and stick with it. Changing things cost more in the real world than on paper.

Good luck

Additional stuff I thought of:
Check local lumber yards (not Home Depot or Lowe's) They sometimes give discounts if you buy more than one "package" If buy theframing package, the trim package, and the cabinets, they may give a discount. Plus local lumber yards will give you a salesman that will help you. He can estimate your materials. If you give his name and phone number to your framer, the salesman can take care of the framer, without bothering you, just tell them you need to know about any material shortages.

Lowe's and Home Depot aren't great places to buy lumber or millwork, but you can find deals on other things. Fixtures, plumbing, lighting, door hardware, etc.

When comes to your labor stick with what you know you can do. If I were to build, I'd stick to trim, tile, and paint. I know how to other things, roof, frame, siding, concrete, but I also know that some of things I would have to hire help, and I'm better off making money to pay someone to do it, instead of spending my time struggling to get it done.

Yet another thought.
Think about how long you are to live there. Lifecycle cost is the cost to run mechanicals (plumbing, HVAC, electrical) in a building for the life of a building. For example, a high efficiency furnace cost more initially, but over the life of the home you save money. The same goes for florescent lighting. That is why speculative builders don't worry about efficiency. Initially it cost more, but over the life of the building the homeowners pay more. The other thing is check into solar heating and cooling of the house and solar heated water and photovaltics for electricity. If the house is a rural area, use a septic system and well water. Combining all these your lifecycle cost will be very low.

Answer 3

Keep ceiling heights reasonable. Eliminate crown molding, and window trim.
I really have no other suggestions...I would not take short-cuts with : Structure, Electrical, Plumbing, or Mechanical. Windows are another area I would not try to save on, but they do make some nice exterior doors reasonably priced. Interior doors can be hollow core, but I would have solid on the bathrooms, (for noise), the master bedroom, (with a one way deadbolt on the inside), and the bedrooms of children you may have become fond of, (If any....for fire barrier).
You can install laminate counter tops, but I would spend the money on the cabinets, and go with real wood frames and faces.
Flooring is another area, carpet is cheapest, followed by sheet linoleum, tile , hardwood.
If all else fails, reduce the square footage. That always works.

Answer 4

FIND SOMEONE THAT HAS AN OLD BARN THAT IS FALLING DOWN.....ASK THEM IF YOU CAN HAVE THE WOOD IF YOU TARE IT DOWN..IF SO, YOU ARE ALL SET FOR THE WALLS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE...THE ROOF WILL SAVE YOU A BUNCH IF YOU GO WITH THAT NEW CORRUGATED ROOFING...IT WILL SAVE IN COST IN THE LONG RUN AND IT IS ALOT EASY THAN SHINGLES TO PUT UP......THE OUT SIDE YOU CAN SIDE...GO TO THE LOCAL PLACE WHERE YOU LIVE, LIKE LO WES OR THE HARDWARE STORE NEAR YOU THAT SELLS SIDING...ASKS THEM IF THEY HAVE ANY SIDING THAT THEY ARE DISCONTINUING..IF SO MAKE A BARGAIN WITH THEM TO BUY IT ALL FROM THEM AT A LOWER COST TO YOU...YOU CAN ALSO BIA TOR WITH BUYING NAILS,ETC..YOU'LL BE SURPRISED THAT WHAT YOU LOCAL HARDWARE STORE WILL DO FOR YOU IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRADE THERE OFTEN.....YOU CAN GET WINDOWS THAT WAY OR YOU CAN GET WINDOWS IF YOU SEE AND OLDER HOUSE GETTING NEW ONES...THE CONTRACTOR DOESN'T WANT TO BE BOTHER TO HAUL THEM AWAY SO YOU CAN HAVE THEM LOT OF TIMES FOR FREE...THAT IS A GET IDEA BECAUSE NOT ALL YOUR WINDOWS WILL BE THE SAME SIZE...IT WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE PEOPLE TALK IF NOTHING ELSE ...SO GOOD LUCK...YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AROUND......

Answer 5

Be your own general contractor. It can be a pain in the #$% trying to find good contractors (ex electrical, concrete, sheet rock)and getting them to show when you need them but you can save some $$. Also do as much work as you can yourself ex painting, staining, etc. Use plastic pipes instead of copper. shop around for everything. A lot depends on your own preferences, abilities and tastes.

Answer 6

Quality materials are important, so I'd try to cut labour.
Make sure the major work is done by professionals but there are things you can easily do yourself or with friends, such as drywall, flooring, painting, etc.

Answer 7

sweat equity. Do whatever you can yourself. We are planning on building our own home. We will hire out part of the framing, ,the electrical (definitely not a place to cut corners) and probably part of the plumbing. The rest we will do ourselves.

Answer 8

Do as much of it yourself as you can, and enlist friends to help by offering to help them with projects at their house. And make sure you price shop (by calling so you're not spending money on gas) when buying building supplies or finding out who to hire.

Answer 9

Check the schools around. All the work that you would do yourself, see if the schools have programs that you could utilize. They get class credits. you get your work done. Everyone wins.

Answer 10

make sure your plan is what you want, any changes after construction has begun will cost a lot extra