Key Factors That Affect Cost per Square Foot

 One of the greatest benefits of being an owner of a custom-built home is that you get to determine how much you pay for it. Although, in the idea of building your home, you may wonder how much does it really cost to build a house? The answer is not as straightforward as you might have hoped, but the cost does depend on a few factors that you should be mindful of when building so that you can build the home of your dreams within your budget. 

The Cost Per Square Foot Explained

The cost per square foot is simply a combination of the cost of the materials, labor, and the calculated building area. It is also good to note that the more building area you have, the lower the cost per square footage will be. Based on who you are talking to, the terminology of what is considered a “building area,” like a garage, deck, or porch, will make a difference in the cost per square foot calculation.

Factors that Affect Cost Per Square Foot

The Size

As you may have imagined, the bigger the house, the more it will cost. However, the cost per square foot will drop dramatically as the size of the home increases. Although this seems a bit backward, the materials will be spread across more square footage in the calculation, giving you the best cost-effective use of your materials.

Smaller homes, on the other hand, cost less but will have a higher cost per square footage. This is because there is not a lot of space to spread out the materials within the home as it would be in a larger home.

The Design

Custom-built homes with simple layouts, such as a basic box shape, tend to be more economical than homes with complex designs because of the difference in cost per square footage to build. The more complex a home design is, the more time it will take for the builder to complete the project adding more to the cost of labor. 

The Materials

The materials, fixtures, and finishes you choose will affect your home’s cost per square foot. For example, a granite countertop may be a little more expensive than a laminate countertop. Custom features such as glass showers or granite countertops add on to the cost of a home’s square footage.

The Source

Where you get your materials from matters just as much as what you choose to add to your home. Sourcing local materials is more cost-efficient than having materials and products shipped and delivered from faraway places, like Spain, Italy, or Greece. The added cost from the shipping and delivery fees adds more to your overall cost per square foot, making your home a more expensive one to build.

 We only highlighted a few of the key factors that play a part in determining the cost of building your custom home, but there are other ways your custom home’s cost per square foot can vary. Build a place you’ll love to call home with Chris Mill Homes. To learn more about our custom home plans, visit our plans page, or to talk to a professional about building a custom home, call (229) 249- 0901.