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Old 12-21-2017, 11:57 AM
 
Location: Newburyport, MA
12,159 posts, read 9,241,180 times
Reputation: 15649

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Can anyone recommend a builder who is up to date in construction techniques, pays attention to detail, takes pride in their work, but doesn't ask for your firstborn child to build a house? If so, please pass along a reference, PM-me is fine too.

I just got back a first draft on pricing from a builder in mid-coast Maine that I won't name, who wants to charge me $475K to build a 1280sq ft ranch with a small 2-car garage, and modest front and back porches. End cost of the house on the lot would be $600K. I think he's absolutely insane. I have seen a larger version of the same plan delivered in a great town in seacoast NH, using energy-star certified construction and fine materials, for $395K, so this guy wants 50% more for a smaller place than my reference builder here. I can't pay this much, and no one else would ever buy the house back from me for anywhere near what I paid for it.

There have to be decent builders up there who don't rip you off. If you know of one, please pass along their name to me!
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Old 12-21-2017, 04:20 PM
 
Location: Pullman, WA
226 posts, read 301,446 times
Reputation: 222
Good Luck. Some of the new-build prices that were quoted to me around the Freeport-Brunswick area made me think that they didn't actually want to build any homes.
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Old 12-21-2017, 04:37 PM
 
Location: Newburyport, MA
12,159 posts, read 9,241,180 times
Reputation: 15649
Quote:
Originally Posted by Upthewazzu View Post
Good Luck. Some of the new-build prices that were quoted to me around the Freeport-Brunswick area made me think that they didn't actually want to build any homes.
I still can't get over their pricing. Working with this builder would be financially devastating. And I could just see my new neighbors either falling on the ground in shock or busting out laughing when they found what I paid these jokers for a small, simple house. I am in contact with one other firm, and I hope it gets better, or I will be looking for a Plan B real soon.
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Old 12-21-2017, 05:17 PM
 
Location: Northern Maine
10,428 posts, read 18,618,709 times
Reputation: 11562
Bob Gauthier
Lincoln, Maine
207-290-2032

He will go down there for a house.
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Old 12-21-2017, 05:31 PM
 
Location: Newburyport, MA
12,159 posts, read 9,241,180 times
Reputation: 15649
Quote:
Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man View Post
Bob Gauthier
Lincoln, Maine
207-290-2032

He will go down there for a house.
Thanks NMLM - Lincoln is way up there, but it can't hurt to ask him, and I do appreciate your assistance.
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Old 12-21-2017, 05:48 PM
 
3,925 posts, read 4,111,263 times
Reputation: 4999
So you want someone with super skill that you can pay average wages. I’m sorry to tell you, but you tend to get what you pay for.
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Old 12-21-2017, 05:51 PM
 
3,925 posts, read 4,111,263 times
Reputation: 4999
I suggest a pre-manufactured home. I have a friend here in Bar harbor, who drove over the border into NewBrunswick. The had a home designed and build at the factory, delivered in four trucks, and put together.

It was way cheaper than having it built the other way.
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Old 12-21-2017, 06:00 PM
 
2,670 posts, read 2,608,307 times
Reputation: 5244
That's $371 per square foot, excluding land. Sounds pretty steep to me. Did he say what was driving the price?
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Old 12-21-2017, 06:21 PM
 
Location: Newburyport, MA
12,159 posts, read 9,241,180 times
Reputation: 15649
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdhpa View Post
That's $371 per square foot, excluding land. Sounds pretty steep to me. Did he say what was driving the price?
No, but I didn't ask a lot of questions after that starting point. If he was somewhere in the neighborhood of reasonable I'd have dug in and seen if we could negotiate adjustments to bring it into line with something I could pay. It wasn't site development or anything like that. The building lot is level, cleared and has both town water and sewer, so as easy as it gets.
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Old 12-22-2017, 02:38 AM
 
Location: Maine's garden spot
3,467 posts, read 7,215,617 times
Reputation: 4018
There are ads in the local papers for contractors. i would suggest contacting a few or estimates.
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