How Much Do You Charge Per Square Foot?

“Building a new custom home is a bit like buying a new car, right? Not exactly. If you asked a car dealer how much he charges per pound, you’d get some odd looks. Of course, there is some correlation between the cost of the car and its weight.” (For instance, a smart car that weighs 1,500 pounds will cost less than a suburban that weighs almost 6,000 pounds. But is the weight of those vehicles really what’s driving the cost?) “We all know car dealers don’t sell by the pound” – Dave Konkol

In the same way, a Custom Home Builder does not sell by square foot. So, if you get some funny looks or replies when you ask a custom home builder, “How much do you charge per square foot?” to determine the cost of your home…. it’s because the right question is not being asked.

There are many factors that contribute to the cost of a home. The size and style of the house must be taken into consideration, along with the finishes that are going to be used.

Using a price per square foot number for budgeting can be very misleading and dangerous!

People often pick up a square foot price from calling around to various builders and assume they should be able to build a house for that price on their own lot. However, those builders may be building multiple spec homes that economy of scale and repetition bring down the square foot price. Also, the square foot price may not include things such as large driveways, patios, decks, oversized garages, longer than normal utility runs, landscaping, certain types of interior finishes, energy-efficient construction methods, materials, and mechanical equipment, etc. The bottom line is, there are a lot of factors to consider when estimating the cost of building a custom home, and you should be very cautious of using a square foot price or trusting any builder that quotes a square foot price to estimate something as complex as a custom home. If someone is that careless in evaluating one of the biggest investments you will ever make, should you trust them to build your home?

At Keystone, we do not take liberties with your money. With our design and estimating team, we essentially help you to prebuild your home. You will be able to touch, visualize, and price all of your finishes and fixtures before construction ever begins! Keystone Custom Builders has developed an organized approach to designing and building a custom home, and we will help you each step of the way to make decisions and selections that will meet your aesthetic and budget goals. You will have no question as to what you are getting for your money. This process is geared to reduce the stress of the home building process so that you can enjoy the design process as much as you will enjoy living in your new home.

Contact us today so that we can begin the journey of building a Custom Home that is right for you!