Labor cost for building a house?

[SteelHorseHD]

Ok carpenters, I need your help!

My mother and I are looking at buying 15 Acres and building two seperate home on it.

I already know about what the materials for a 1900 sq ft house would be. Menards has a kit for a 1900 sq ft house for 68k. I added about 20k for upgrades like doors and cabinets. My wifes uncle owns a concrete business and does foundations so we would have him do the concrete. What I am curious about is is there a standard price per sq ft that most contractors use to figure labor costs? I'm just trying to come up with an estimate to see if this is even a possibility or not.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Here is a link to the home I am referring to if it helps.

http://www.menards.com/main/project-center/homes/g10785-the-farmhouse/p-1493962-c-9919.htm

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I've always heard when it comes to building/remodeling/etc.. 1-1.5x the cost of materials usually get you in the ballpark for pretty much any project...so for your example that would be 88k-132k in Labor. Of course there are variables like location, how the market is in the area, if your handy and can help and they account/like that.

I had my garage quoted out by a builder...completely rough idea while he was there to bend my aluminum fascia, for the purposes of knowing how much I should insure it for, and my figure was pretty accurate.

 

[Zeke]

There are 2 ways to figure cost, the cost the build and the cost to build and decorate it. No one wants to move into a house with no drapes, etc. A lot of the time things like decorative light fixtures, wood floors, free standing appliances and more are not considered. Hardscaping and landscaping are mostly left to the new owner.

So be sure to add in everything so you know how much it is really gonna cost.

 

[moserjj]

1-1.5x the cost of materials

Seems pretty close, probably more to the higher side of that. The "kits" don't really cover much in the way of electrical, plumbing, hvac which add up very quickly. Well and septic will add a bunch too. If you could do that house for 200K I think you did good

 

[SteelHorseHD]

Thanks guys. I was thinking somewhere around 200-220k for the house. I have a friend who builds houses and I'm waiting to hear back from him on what he would do it for. Fingers crossed!

 

[mngundog]

My first question would be are there any contractors that would touch a Menards kit? In my area a lot of contractors refuse to work with Menards lumber because the stuff that gets sent to the job site seems to be the crooked stuff that's gotten picked over at the store, at least that's what I been told by a few friends who are contractors.

 

[SteelHorseHD]

My first question would be are there any contractors that would touch a Menards kit? In my area a lot of contractors refuse to work with Menards lumber because the stuff that gets sent to the job site seems to be the crooked stuff that's gotten picked over at the store, at least that's what I been told by a few friends who are contractors.

I'm not sure if they would or not. My garage was a Menards kit and I was very happy with it. All of the material was in great condition when it arrived to my house and it turned out great.

My thinking is this: It doesn't really have to be a kit, but if you went and purchased all of the materials seperatly at menards and sorted through and picked out the good lumber that is what it would cost. At least that's how I see it.

 

[Al Bundy]

You might want to consider working with a real lumberyard. Big box stores are great for a lot of things. Lumber ain't one of them.

 

[camarotoolman]

With the deflated price of houses, you would be better off buying an existing property with a house and garage on it and building something for your mom. This had been discussed before, maybe some realitors will cime in.

 

[bczygan]

With the deflated price of houses, you would be better off buying an existing property with a house and garage on it and building something for your mom. This had been discussed before, maybe some realitors will cime in.

x100!

 

[sands35]

After moving too many times in the last ~5 years for work, you'll need to bring ~8-10k in cash into a new house. Drapes, carpet, landscaping, etc. all adds up fast! You don't think about it, but the furniture that you have won't fit the new house. You'll have stuff that doesn't fit and spaces that you don't have furniture for.

I've been starting the process of pricing out a garage. SIPs look like they are a great idea for house given the energy savings and the labor savings of erecting them. Energy isn't so important on a garage that will be at 55* in the winter though, but "framing" a garage in 2 days rather than 2 weeks is a bonus.

I'd figure a round number of $40-50 per person per hour to get the house weather tight.

 

[2mJps]

I worked as a framer for 4 years and when someone says kit it makes the cost go up. If you want to save money and have a good house like others said go to a lumber yard.