Building new home - Typical allowances and overruns (home builders, cost of)

[SeaRay35]

Originally Posted by mr&mrssunshine

before I answer that Ill show what a smart a$$ I am. the correct term is Impact resistant windows, they are designed to withstand the impact of a missile weighing (IIRC) 9 pounds at 160mph. The thing you don't want in high winds is as broken window as then the air/pressure has to escape and its usually through the roof so no ceiling !!


but to answer specifically, for a house around 2000 sq ft the additional cost of impact over non impact and shutters should be around $5000ish. we use all impact except in the lanai are, there we install an accordion hurricane shutter, can be closed in seconds and means you can leave all your outdoor furniture under cover but still outdoors.


In my opinion the cost is very very well worth it. I have put shutters up on a house once and its a killer....never again

[JimChi2PG]

There's a saying in construction, the most expensive thing a new homeowner has is that pointing finger. "Can you change that?"

Not everyone can look at a blueprint and imagine it in 3D so there will be things you just can't live without changing but remember, every change costs you more than if it was figured into the original design. So you need to ask yourself just how badly you want those changes done.

One developer I worked with said he put a clause in all his contracts that before any discussion of changes begins the owner has to cough up $1,000, just to talk. Changes were so costly in the long run that he would rather scare away prospective buyers with that clause than deal with change orders.

[MartyGras]

I just remodeled my kitchen (DIY) and without knowing the size of your kitchen and based on what I spent, I think the allowances are low by a factor of 50% unless you are getting standard appliances and stock cabinets
Granite is a real wildcard....
Gary

[nrancour]

Originally Posted by MartyGras

I just remodeled my kitchen (DIY) and without knowing the size of your kitchen and based on what I spent, I think the allowances are low by a factor of 50% unless you are getting standard appliances and stock cabinets
Granite is a real wildcard....
Gary

I agree. The allowances seem to be for the basic cheap appliances and MDF(cardboard) cabinets, flooring, etc.
Thanks for your numbers.

[HarborRat]

This is the reason I'd be my own GC (general contractor) if possible. There are some good builders on this forum that I'd trust, but there are also many bad ones out there...and they don't give a damn if you go over-budget.

[mr&mrssunshine]

Do remember builders get 'trade' prices , so what you as Joe Public may pay (and thus base your figures on) more and thus perceive as 'the right price' a builder may get for a lot less...then it depends on his 'mark up'


I had a lady client call me in tears as she had gone to choose her cabinets without letting me know and the salesman told her she was looking at $35k (way over budget) , of course he was basing it on retail.


in the end she got a kitchen 'worth' $42k and with discounts etc paid $18k (just over budget)

[nrancour]

Originally Posted by mr&mrssunshine

Do remember builders get 'trade' prices , so what you as Joe Public may pay (and thus base your figures on) more and thus perceive as 'the right price' a builder may get for a lot less...then it depends on his 'mark up'

I had a lady client call me in tears as she had gone to choose her cabinets without letting me know and the salesman told her she was looking at $35k (way over budget) , of course he was basing it on retail.

in the end she got a kitchen 'worth' $42k and with discounts etc paid $18k (just over budget)

I agree. And that is what is infuriating me. I went to their "recommended vendors" and the quotes seems to be retail. I can get the same quality from Home Depot for less money.

I know if it was one of their spec houses; I can bet they get it a whole lot cheaper. I would even imagine 50% discount like the cabinets above.

[mr&mrssunshine]

let me guess, you were told level one granite is $50 a sq ft ??

[nrancour]

Originally Posted by mr&mrssunshine

let me guess, you were told level one granite is $50 a sq ft ??

How did you know?

Here is a line from their quote....
1 - 76.08 Sq. ft. Yellow Tag - Incl: Mat, Temp/Install, Basic edges Crema Pearl $43.95/Sq. ft.


I have seen it as high as $61/sqft. Vendor says Crema Pearl is level 1; but others say it is a level 2
Who do you believe?

[SeaRay35]

Originally Posted by mr&mrssunshine

let me guess, you were told level one granite is $50 a sq ft ??