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Costs, FAQs And Mortgage Calculator
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How Much Will This House Cost?
We can't pull a standard plan off the shelf and give you a base price and then a price with options. The other guys work that way; we don't. Because Ashley Homes is a custom builder, we typically do not have cookie-cutter plans available with stock prices; every home that we have built, so far, is different.
Instead, we have a list of quality specifications that we like to use as a starting point, but each home is priced based on the individual selections of the homeowner. In the early stages, we will discuss your budget so that we can help you invest in the areas that are important to you. For example, for some people, hardwood floors and granite countertops are important. For other people, it may be more square footage and larger bedrooms for the kids.
One of our early goals, when we meet, is to establish an overall budget for building a new home. If you've built before, you may already know what to expect; but if you're building in a new area or have never built before, this information can be very helpful. There are four areas of expenses to consider.
- The cost of the land. Here in Pickaway County, land is typically $35-50,000
- Site preparation (driveway, water or well, sewer or septic, electric, gas, grading, tree removal, burying downspouts etc.). Typically, we see this phase costing $20,000-25,000 on an average country lot.
- The cost of the house you choose
- Misc: Permit fees, tap fees, construction lending, & closing costs. Some builders don't mention these items, but they can often total as much as $2000-$8000.
Early in our meetings, I like to help you establish the parameters of your financial comfort zone. We also determine the maximum you can realistically afford to spend on a home. This helps us prioritize your home-building goals. To initiate this exercise, I suggest separating your list of the home's attributes into the following categories. For example:
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Consider the aspects of your home that you can easily change later. It's easy to replace vinyl with ceramic tile or laminate countertops with granite. It's not easy to turn a crawlspace into a basement or to vault a ceiling. Again, I'll help you prioritize your initial investments.
How Much Does It Cost Per Square Foot?
I'll quote a well-respected mentor of mine: "Pricing a house by the square foot is like buying a car by the pound." Imagine if a Geo Metro and a Mercedes weighed the same and you were able to purchase them by the pound; which one would you choose?
The cost of a home depends on the structure, design and components. Consider, for example, the following 2 homes:
| House A | House B |
| 2400 Sq. Ft. 2-story | 2400 Sq. Ft. 2-story |
| Gable Roof | Hip Roof |
| 5/12 Pitch Roof | 8- or 10/12 Pitch Roof |
| Partial Basement | Full Basement |
| 8' Block Walls | 9' Poured Walls |
| 2x10/plywood subflooring | I-Joist & Advantech flooring |
| 2-Car 20 x 21 Garage | 3-Car 24 x 32 Garage |
| Front-Entrance Garage | Side Garage w/ Front Windows |
| 8' Walls/Flat Ceilings | 9' Walls with Cathedral Ceilings |
As you can see, both houses are the same size but would cost different amounts. Because of this, we don't price a house by the square foot. We take the time to price each phase of your custom home, and we offer a fixed-price contract before we start construction.
One advantage that we offer over most scattered-site builders is that we have the same markup on all items. Production builders have a base price and a list of options. Generally speaking, the options are where the money is made because builders add a higher markup to options. At ASHLEY HOMES, it doesn't matter if you choose stain trim over painted trim, hardwood floors rather than carpet, or a whirpool tub rather than a soak tub; we don't mark up your individual selections at a higher rate. Very few builders can make this claim.
Helpful Hints
If you want to get the most square footage for the dollar, a two-story home is more economical to build. It is cheaper to build up than build out.
Visitor Number
17920 since May 9 2005