As a Pacific Homes Estimator for 8 and a half years, running take offs on hundreds of home plans, I’ve noticed a thing or two about what kinds of design aspects and features in the home drive the cost up or keep the cost down. So, I thought I would share some of them with you.
- A simple tweak that most everyone knows but is still worth mentioning is to open up the main living spaces. Removing walls and doors between the kitchen, living room, great room, and/or dining room creates a great space for everyone to enjoy together and costs you less.
- Vaulted ceilings add a little something extra to your home design but can end up adding largely to your budget too. Consider using scissor trusses, if you can, to achieve your vault instead of parachord trusses. Scissor trusses are a minimal increase to common flat bottom trusses and a hefty bit less expensive than using parachord trusses.
- Design your upper floor decks over living space below if possible. You’re having this deck anyway; get more out of it by designing it over your living space below which eliminates your need for a roof in that area.
- Window functions! Believe it or not depending on how many windows your home has can make a big difference in the price of your home. Reduce the number of operable windows, having sliding operations opposed to casement/awning. These little adjustments will bring down the budget and won’t affect the overall esthetics of your home.
- Save time and money on your project by building using prefab construction. Yes, really! You still get the home you want with all its custom features but at a fixed budget price that, in the end, costs you less.
