If you’re considering building a custom home in Utah County, you might be overwhelmed trying to understand how much this will cost. As any good builder will tell you, it’s impossible to give you an exact estimate without discussing the specifics of your project. However, we can help you understand the different factors that will affect the overall cost of your custom home and a ballpark range for how much you can expect to spend so you can decide whether this route is worth pursuing.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Building a Custom Home?
Land & Size Of Your Home
Choosing the right piece of property is an essential step in the home building process. It’s important to remember that not only are you paying for the land itself, but also the cost of preparing the land to be built on.
The extent and scope of preparation will depend on where you’re building. For example, if you’re building on a sloped hill it will have to be graded. This will drive up the overall cost of your project.
It’s important to find and work with a builder as you’re finding the right piece of land to build on. They’ll be able to identify potential roadblocks or hidden lot preparation costs that you might not consider.
The square footage of your home is a big factor in determining the overall cost of the project. Generally speaking, the bigger your home, the higher the cost.
Design
You’ll need to hire an architect to design your custom home. This can be some of your best money spent or money down the drain depending on your approach. To maximize your dollars spent, make sure your architect and builder are working together on the design. So many homeowners fall into the trap of dreaming too big and designing a custom home that isn't practical within your budget. When your builder and architect are working together, the builder can provide feedback throughout the design process and ensure a successful project. They'll be able to advise the architect on the updated cost of materials and other costs that architects might not be aware of.
Foundation
Foundations can range anywhere from a simple slab-on-grade foundation or a full basement. Basements are a great way to maximize your square footage and create additional living space for your family, but for some this extra cost might be unnecessary. The foundation cost will depend on which of these options you go with and how much preparation is necessary (excavation, clearing debris, etc).
Materials
Materials play a big role in the overall cost of your custom home. Material choices include countertops, flooring, lighting, cabinets, and much more. It’s easy to get sucked into choosing all of the highest quality materials, but unless your budget is unlimited you’ll have to make some tough trade-offs. It’s important to consider which rooms you plan on spending the most time in and which fixtures or finishes catch your eye the most. This will give you a better sense of which materials to splurge on and where you can save money elsewhere.
Systems
HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, home security, and surround sound home theaters are just a few of the different systems that can drive up the price of your home. Some are unavoidable (HVAC, plumbing, electric,) but there are many others to consider. New smart home technology allows you to control just about every feature of your home from your devices! Make sure you talk with your builder to learn more about which non-essential systems are right for you.
Outside The Home
With mountains and beautiful landscape surrounding just about everywhere in Utah County, you’ll want to make sure you have the right outdoor living spaces to soak it all up. You’ll want to consider a deck or patio, pool, and possibly an outdoor kitchen or bar.
The Importance Of Finding The Right Builder To Control Costs
The earlier you hire and work with a builder, the smoother your home building process will be. A quality custom home builder will be able to advise you on the best approaches to all of the factors listed above.
The most common mistake and biggest frustration for first-time home builders is working on the design of their custom home with an architect, sending the plans to multiple builders, and getting back bids that are 25-50% higher than expected. To prevent this from happening, make sure you hire your builder as soon as possible. By taking this approach, they can work alongside your architect and provide feedback to ensure the design stays within your budget.
They’ll also be able to help you find the right piece of land to build on, which materials are worth splurging on, which new systems you can benefit from, and much more.
Want To Talk About Building A Custom Home In Utah County?
We’d be honored to talk with you about your project. Give us a call at 801-803-8931 or fill out a contact form on our website.
