If you’ve been trying to answer the question, how much does it cost to build a house, you may get the same reply from each and every person you talk to and that is, “It depends”. There are a wide variety of different aspects to consider when it comes to building homes.
One cannot just come up with a magic number and tell you, with the specific dollar amount, how much it will actually cost to build a house. If someone were to throw a number at you, and try to reassure you that that number is correct, you will need to run in the opposite direction as fast as you possibly can.
There are so many different factors that will play a part in determining the price for a home, and each of these will need to be looked at on an individual basis and then added all together once everyone has come to an agreement.
The cost to build a house will start with the property in which the house is located upon. The location of the property will also play a large part because this will determine the costs that will be incurred in obtaining proper zoning and construction permits. This will make a big difference when it comes to determining the cost to build a house.
The size of the home
It will be important for the future homeowner to understand that the size of the home will play a huge part in determining some of the other factors. If the homeowner has a larger property, they may want a larger home. They may also want this home built using certain types of materials. A home that is built using more traditional items such as lumber and siding will cost less than a home that will use brick and mortar, or green materials. The size of the home will also determine how much plumbing and electrical will need to be performed. This will surely be a determining factor when it comes to how much it cost to build a house.
How many rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and other amenities?
When building a home, sometimes you can obtain a blueprint or the house plans from a contractor and simply build a home that is similar to another home you may have seen in a different location. But there are those individuals that would like a home built from scratch, and if this is the case, you will need to determine how many rooms you will need in the home.

In addition, you will need to choose the size of the kitchen, the dining room, the den, the bathrooms, or any of the other rooms you would like in your home. If you are planning to have a garage for your vehicle(s), this will also have a great deal to do with the cost of building a house.
How much does it cost to build a house – some of the materials
When asking the question, “How much does it cost to build a house?” It will be extremely important to consider the different materials that will be needed such as lumber, drywall, windows, doors, paint, all of the hardware, all the plumbing pipes, all the electrical wires, roofing materials, siding, concrete for foundation – driveway – and walkways, all the tools needed, and all the manpower it will take. These are only some of the materials that will be needed for building a more traditional home. If you plan to build a green home or a fully automated home, there will be a lot more that will need to be considered as well.
How much does it cost to build a house – Plumbing
When it comes to the cost of building a house, you will not be able to just figure that all the plumbing will be done at a basic cost. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You will need to make sure that the home being built can attach to the local sewer system. If not, you will need to consider a septic system.

If you have received the OK to attach to the local sewer system as long as you can access it, you will need to find out where it is, and pay a plumber to make sure they can properly connect. If you have to bring in a septic system, that is a whole different ballgame, and could very well change the price for the home.
Electrical
You will need to consider the type of electricity that will be needed for the home. Are you going to connect to the local grid? If so, you will need to have your electrician find out about all the necessary inspections and authorizations that will need to be obtained.
When determining the cost of building a house, the electrical aspect alone will need to be considered in a big way. This is because, if you do not pass an electrical inspection on your home, this could halt construction efforts. So, it will be important to determine the type of electricity you plan to use and make the adjustments as necessary. If you plan on going green, this is an entirely different set of issues that will determine the price of your home.
Glass
All of the windows that will be installed in the home will have an impact on the price of the home. Most windows today are double pane; however, there is triple pain, shaded windows, tinted windows, framed windows, heated windows, and lighted windows to choose from.

Once you have taken the time to choose your windows, you will find that this will take a nice chunk out of your home building budget, thus having a great impact on how much it cost to build a house.
Roof
The roof price will be determined by the size of the home and the type of materials that will be used.

It will be extremely difficult to pinpoint a price; however, if you can decide on the type of material that will be used and the size of the roof, you should be able to determine a price before the home is built.
Siding
Are you going to go with the different types of siding available? Are you planning to use brick, or are you going to use a different type of material.
When it comes to building a house, unless you live right next door to a house that was built on the same type of property as yours, you could expect to spend around the same amount; however, this may not even hold true.
n order to answer the question how much does it cost to build a house, you will need to know all the information listed above, as well as additional information that will give you a calculated cost.
If you liked this article, please leave me a comment!
Thanks, Martin Montgomery.
References:
- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n5-uPQAACAAJ
- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xw3FBgoDfDwC
- http://www.emporis.com/building/homeinsurancebuilding-chicago-il-usa
- http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=914
- http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/hammurabi.htm
- http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/model/model.shtml
- http://www.cabe.org.uk/AssetLibrary/2205.pdf
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flooring
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_wiring
- http://earth1.epa.gov/region09/waste/p2/pdf/flooring-final-071126.pdf
- http://bct.nrc.umass.edu/index.php/publications/by-title/common-failures-in-wood-structures/
- http://www.nema.org/stds/electricalinstall.cfm

