Construction Cost Software-Accuracy

Carl,

Regardless of what we end up doing, your website is a great resource!

I went to the building-cost.net that you link to on your “Getting Started” page on byoh.com and have a few questions.

Is the cost to build without the "contractor mark-up" what it would cost was an owner/builder?

Also, there are a few of the sections, mainly the siding and roofing where the options (1-6) have things like wood siding or wood shingles, or stucco.

Do you know what category Hardiplank siding would fall in?

And, what category world just plain “good old” asphalt shingles fall in?

Best regards!

Joyce

Thanks Joyce,

Yes, an owner builder should be able to save the “Contractor Markup” that appears at the bottom of the cost breakdown form generated by the construction estimating software (Cost to Build Calculator) found on my “Getting Started” page.

Jpeg of cost breakdown form: click to enlarge

As for HardiePlank® lap siding (the most popular brand of siding in America), it would most likely be covered under Quality Class 5: Average Standard Stucco or wood siding, some trim or veneer.

Courtesy of HardiePlank®

And, as for (good old) asphalt shingles which top the list of popular roofing materials in the United States and are the choice of 4 out of 5 homeowners, it should be covered under Quality Class 6: Minimum Standard Simple roof plan with minimum composition tile cover, small open soffit.

Quality Classes for Single Family Residences

I say that these two building products “should be” covered under their respective categories because the process used by any construction estimating software used is not going to be that accurate.

Until you or your contractor(s) start getting actual labor material bids and completing an actual “real time” cost breakdown, any costs generated by any construction estimating software program are going to be at best an “educated guess”.

Good luck with your project,

Carl

Construction Estimating Software-Cost to Build in Taos NM

Summary: Construction estimating software allows YOU to estimate and adjust the cost to build your dream home in advance, before you make any decisions.

Hi Carl,

We are looking at moving to Taos, New Mexico 87571 and the housing is quite expensive compared to the Midwest rural area we live in now.

We are trying to downsize and still have a custom home with all the bells and whistles.

We were hoping to go a bit smaller and decrease the mortgage, but still have some bells and whistles one would have in a custom home.

Can you give me an idea what it would cost to have maybe a 2300 sq foot home built in Taos, NM.

Thank you,
Sue


Hi Sue,
Thanks to construction estimating software, your question can easily be answered and, you can answer it!

I’ll show you how.

As little as 10 years ago this would have been a question that only a very experience Taos, NM builder (General Contractor) could have answered…maybe.

Since you don’t yet have a particular home plan, I picked one at random from Associated Designs with approximately 2300 sq. ft.

Bryant 11-024 from Associated Designs

Living Area: 2375 sq. ft.
Garage: 627 sq. ft.
Floors: 1
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2 1/2
2 X 4 stud wall construction
Slab foundation

Using the construction estimating software found on my “Getting Started” page, I ran a cost to build this home first with no bells and whistles (Quality Class 6), then with some bells and whistles (Quality Class 4), then with all the bells and whistles (Quality Class 1)

The results are as follows: (Note: Quality Class 6 was used for the foundation (slab) category in all the examples below)

Click to enlarge

Quality Class 6 = $237,757 (Including a General Contractor markup), or $100.10 per sq.ft.

Click to enlarge

Quality Class 4 = $307,841 (Including a General Contractor markup), or $129.61 per sq.ft.

Click to enlarge

Quality Class 1 = $792,761 (Including a General Contractor markup), or $333.79 per sq.ft.

As you can see, bells and whistles can get expensive, but obviously there is a lot of room for adjustment and by adjusting design and quality (bells & whistles) priorities, you can adjust the total cost to build to suit your budget

You can review the different characteristics of each quality class by running the calculator yourself.

The Quality Classes all have a pop up window which tell you what design and materials are influencing the final cost to build. Here's a screen shot of the window for selecting the different Quality Classes. Click on the image to enlarge.

All these estimates are just rough estimates. They should however, help you when you start to get construction bids from General Contractors.

Remember, the devil is indeed in the details. Be sure you get every bell and whistle spelled out IN WRITING (Specifications and Allowances) from each General Contractor. Make sure each General Contractor has the same Specifications and Allowances in their contracts.

Good luck on your move to the South West,

Carl