Simplifying Design and Choosing the Right Materials
While having a custom home built is certainly exciting, unless you have access to unlimited funds, you must at least be somewhat budget-conscious. By doing some research and making smart design and material selections, you can greatly reduce the cost of a custom home build without sacrificing quality. However, most people have busy lives and don’t have the time to properly research every material and design feature’s pros and cons. Additionally, many people aren’t familiar with the finer points of home construction. That’s why we at Davis & Reed Homes have done all the research for you. The following are seven possible ways to reduce the overall cost of a custom home project.
Choose a Professional Builder
First, you want to choose a company that not only provides quality work, but also offers multiple services related to home construction. For example, Davis & Reed Homes can help you with land acquisition as well as the actual construction. This means you’ll have to hire fewer people, which in turn means less money spent. More importantly, choosing a reputable company now will mean fewer expensive repairs down the line.
Reduce Square Footage
A remarkably straightforward way to reduce the overall cost of your home is by thinking smaller. Just because your new home is smaller than you originally envisioned doesn’t mean it can’t have everything you want in it. Obviously, a smaller home means less construction materials and labor, i.e., less money spent on your part. Keep in mind that it’s typically less expensive to put an additional story on a custom home rather than expand the footprint. And once you settle into the home, you’ll find that a smaller home is less expensive to heat and cool, to say nothing of time and money spent cleaning!
Try a Minimalist Interior Design
Simple floor plans are less expensive, are easier to navigate and access, and don’t cost as much to heat and cool. Try to make as many rooms as possible with simple rectangle or square shapes, as every corner, angle, and other intricate detail will cost you more money. Additionally, design in a way that capitalizes on natural light. The more natural sunlight that comes into your home, the less you’ll spend on heating and lighting.
Pick Low-Maintenance Materials
When choosing building materials for your custom home, keep in mind that certain materials will require more maintenance than others. This, of course, means more money you’ll be spending down the road. As one example, vinyl and tile are lower maintenance, whereas granite is higher maintenance.
Opt for Semi-Custom
Choosing to go the semi-custom route rather than the full custom route will help to make your home build more affordable. Semi-custom homes are generally available in several floor plans that can be tweaked and modified to your liking. The other benefit here is time, as semi-custom homes are often ready for move-in much sooner than fully custom homes are.
Minimize Change Orders
When building a custom home, it’s crucial to stick to an original plan. Change orders—those modifications requested after the project begins—can lead to significant delays and additional costs. To avoid these, meticulous planning and collaboration with your builder during the design phase are essential. Discussing all the possible scenarios and selecting your materials and finishes up front can help avoid costly changes later in the process. Not only does this keep the project within budget, but it also ensures that your home is completed on schedule, reducing stress and ensuring that you can move into your dream home as planned.
Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans can reduce costs by minimizing the need for interior walls, which means less framing, drywall, and finishing. This style also enhances energy efficiency by encouraging better airflow and lighting throughout the house, which can further lower utility costs. With fewer walls, there’s a seamless flow between spaces, enlarging the feel of the area and potentially enhancing property value. Check out our floor plans for a traditional home or a barndominium!
Partner with a Full-Service Home Builder
Davis & Reed Homes is a full-service home builder that can assist with every aspect of your custom home build. From finding the perfect plot of land on which to build to the final nail being hammered down, we are here to make sure your new home is all that you expect it to be. We serve customers all across the Midwest: Iowa, Nebraska, Sioux Falls, and we extend to Texas. If you’d like to have a beautiful custom home built for the lowest price possible without compromising on quality, contact us today to get started.