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.
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)
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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.
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
