ARCHITECTS ROLE IN COST SAVING DURING HOUSE CONSTRUCTION:
Excesses in the construction costs of residential buildings can have an impact on restructuring or construction projects. It happens so often that it is recommended to include a 5-10% emergency fund in the budget. You can utilize this fund for situations that you have no control over, such as the field’s problems after the excavation started.
A good Residential Architectural firm hired will help give guidance while cutting down the house construction cost and streamlining the project, ensuring the project completes on time.
Below are the five tips to save the costs of building a house and minimize high costs:
PLAN THE COST OF BUILDING YOUR HOME:
Take the time to plan on paper the way you want your home to look. As you build your budget, visit the stores to see appliances, accessories, cabinets, floors, and more. This helps you know what you want concerning project requirements, and more importantly, how much it costs. Include this amount in your budget so that you do not experience any surprises later.
DETERMINE BUILDING MATERIALS:
When working with a contractor, ensure that the specific materials you want to use are included in the offer and then in the contract. If your residential house plans include all floor plans for all floors designed considering your needs like hardwood floors and you expect teak and oak, your appeal is limited because you did not specify this in writing.
CHANGE ORDERS:
If you take the time to plan your home design project before you begin, you can minimize the number of change orders if one changes the floors plans or do alter the construction work on-site during the project execution, which will lead to an increase in construction cost from the originally planned budget.
If you accept a change order and an expense is involved, you bear these costs unless the Building contractors have agreed to pay for the change.
Depending on the change’s scope, there may be a change in the original plans and local authorities’ permission to review the changes, including labour and material.
Always monitor changes to the initial design and schedule, and take the time to determine the financial implications of the change in your project.
SIZE, STYLE, AND SHAPE OF THE HOUSE:
These three factors can add significantly to the cost of building the house of your dreams.
Size: Work with even numbers and round up the house’s dimensions in two (2) foot intervals. It reduces material waste. Build a house no more than 32 feet away to avoid the need for specially designed frames.
Style: In general, the construction of a two-story house costs less than a one-story house with similar floor space. A two-story home will have a smaller roof and a lower base. In two-story houses, the pipes and ventilation are also more compact.
Shape: More angles and corners increase the amount of work and materials needed to build the house of your dreams. A rectangular or box-shaped house has lower construction costs.
TWO MOST COMMON TIMES FOR COST ESCALATION:
The beginning of your construction and housing: When you dig and possibly place a well. You will not know what’s underneath it before you start digging. When you drill a well, you have no control over how deep you need to drill to get water. Here the emergency fund is indispensable.
The second most likely time for over-spending is near the end of the project when you select finishes, such as cabinets, countertops, lighting, sanitary fixtures, floors, appliances, etc. If you had time to purchase before the budget, you could easily stay within your budget for the final selection.
Cost overruns are common in any housing project, but you can keep them within controllable limits with knowledge and planning.
