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Perhaps one of the most common questions asked of us is, "How much will it cost to completely build a particular model?"  What most people want to know is the total cost of the completed home, commonly known as the "turn-key" cost.  The turn-key cost for your new home is exactly what you should focus on, as you do not wish to go over your budget. The worst thing that can happen to you in the home building process is to run out of money before your home is completed. You and/or your banker will not be too happy when that occurs. Because of this, Tennessee Log Homes is providing general guidelines below to consider as you seek the answer to your question, "how much will this home cost to build?"  The following factors will greatly influence the overall cost to build your new home. Location:  A home that costs $250,000 to build in rural eastern Tennessee may easily cost $500,000 or more in the resort area of Aspen, Colorado.  The same home may cost $225,000 in west Texas. Construction Methods and Materials:  A home that costs $250,000 in the south eastern US may cost $350,000 in the north eastern US.  The construction methods required to meet local codes for snow load, wind load, seismic, etc. may require different materials and construction methods that cause the overall costs to be higher.  The snow load requirement in eastern Tennessee is 40 pounds.  In McCall, Idaho, the snow load requirement is 150 pounds.  The materials used in the roof system and other building systems must be larger and stronger in McCall, and the overall cost of building the home there will be considerably more expensive. Owner Tastes:  A home that costs $250,000 on Lot 12, Anywhere, USA may cost $350,000 right next door on Lot 13.  This variation in cost can be attributed to the quality level of the finish materials and workmanship.  For example, exotic hardwood flooring from South America costs more than carpeting.  Granite counter tops cost more than Formica.  Twig railing costs more than 2x2 pickets.  Copper clad windows cost more than vinyl clad windows.  A Viking Range costs more than a Hotpoint.  All these choices are made by the home owner. Owner Participation in Building:  Approximately one-third of the overall costs of building a home are labor costs.  Any of that labor that you do yourself and do not charge for will lessen the cost of the home.  Some people act as their own General Contractor and make all arrangements for sub-contractors.  This can reduce the overall cost by 15% or so.  Some people can do their own finish carpentry and may save $10,000 by doing so.  Some people have a brother-in-law that is a roofer, and he does the roofing job for free. In summary, the cost to completely build your home is influenced greatly by the above factors, and others.  The very best way to determine the turn-key costs is to contact your sales representative in the area where you plan to build for a consultation.  The sales rep. will have builder relationships and will be familiar with local typical costs of construction.  They can give you general ideas for the area in which you are building, and they can ask the right questions of you to refine the turn-key cost. Click Here to Locate your Sales Rep and get a turn-key estimate.

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