When building a home, many homeowners instinctively ask, “What’s the price per square foot?” While it might seem like a straightforward way to estimate costs, this approach oversimplifies the complexities of custom home building and can often lead to misunderstandings. At Andries Builders, we believe in transparency and guiding our clients toward the best decision for their needs. Here’s why pricing your home by square footage isn’t always in your best interest:
- Square Footage Doesn’t Reflect the Full Picture
Square footage only tells you the size of a home, it doesn’t account for the quality, materials, or finishes inside. Two homes with the same square footage can have drastically different prices depending on the materials chosen, the complexity of the design, and other custom features.
For example, a home with premium granite countertops, custom cabinetry, and luxury hardwood flooring will cost more than one with laminate counters and standard finishes, even if both homes are the same size. Focusing on price per square foot would ignore the significant role these upgrades play in shaping your home’s overall cost.
- Different Rooms, Different Costs
All square footage is not equal. Rooms with more complex requirements, such as kitchens and bathrooms, cost significantly more per square foot than simple rooms like bedrooms or living areas due to cabinetry, appliances, plumbing, and fixtures. High-traffic, functional spaces like kitchens and bathrooms are naturally more expensive due to the amount of labor and materials involved. Calculating costs based only on square footage could give you an inaccurate picture of your investment, especially if you’re planning for high-end finishes.
Imagine this; You have two homes, both 2000sqft. One home has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen. The other home has 2 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and one kitchen inside and one kitchen outside. The second home will be significantly more expensive when looking at price per square foot because it is more expensive to build a bathroom than a bedroom and it is expensive to add an additional kitchen. The choices you make are too complex to price out in the common price per square foot model. Comparing price per square foot only works if you’re looking at mass produced “cookie cutter” housing. With a custom home, YOU DECIDE the price per square foot based on your unique taste!
- Home Design and Complexity Matter
Every home is different, and that’s particularly true with custom homes. Complex designs, unique architectural elements, and custom layouts increase the time and effort required to build a home. If you’re opting for intricate rooflines, vaulted ceilings, or specialized rooms, those costs aren’t captured in a simple square footage number.
At Andries Builders, we often work with clients to incorporate design elements that make their homes truly unique. While these add value and personal character to the home, they can’t be accurately captured by a generic price-per-square-foot formula. We believe in pricing every aspect of the home individually to allow you to have more control over your final price!
- Location and Site Conditions Influence Costs
Where your home is being built plays a significant role in its cost. Factors like soil conditions, access to utilities, and local regulations can all influence the total price of construction. For instance, building on a sloped lot might require additional foundation work or drainage systems, which would drive up costs that aren’t accounted for in a square footage estimate.
Andries Builders works in various locations, and we tailor our approach to each build site to ensure we meet the unique challenges and needs. Site-specific details are critical in shaping the overall budget and timeline of your project, and a simple price-per-square-foot number can’t provide that level of precision.
If you place your home 100 feet from the road instead of 20 feet, that is 80 feet of additional electrical wire, plumbing lines, sewer lines, driveway, and landscaping that would change the price per square foot of the home.
- Customization and Personalization Play a Big Role
Customization is at the heart of what we do. Every client has different tastes and needs, whether it’s designing a gourmet kitchen, adding a three-car garage, or including a state-of-the-art home theater. Each of these choices affects the price, but again, these variables aren’t reflected in a square footage-based pricing model.
Our process involves working closely with you to understand your vision and lifestyle, ensuring that every detail, from your floorplan to your finishes, fits within your budget. We walk you through our design studio, where you can explore options across pricing tiers, from standard selections to premium upgrades, and we provide you with an accurate cost breakdown that reflects your choices—not just the size of your home.
- Accurate Pricing Comes from Detailed Planning
The only way to get an accurate price for your custom home is to engage in detailed planning and analysis. We take the time to carefully estimate every aspect of your build, from materials and labor to site preparation and permits. By working through these details together, we provide you with a comprehensive price that reflects the quality and craftsmanship we deliver, ensuring there are no surprises down the road.
In contrast, relying on price per square foot can often lead to disappointment, as it doesn’t account for these specifics. While it may seem like an easy number to compare, it rarely provides the full story or helps you make informed decisions about your investment.
Conclusion
At Andries Builders, we believe that building your dream home is about more than just size—it’s about creating a space that meets your needs, matches your lifestyle, and stands the test of time. While price per square foot might be a common starting point for conversations, it’s not the best tool for determining the true cost of your custom home.
Instead, we encourage our clients to focus on the full picture—quality, customization, and the personal touches that make a house a home. By partnering with us, you’ll get a transparent and accurate breakdown of your home’s cost, ensuring that you understand where every dollar is going and that your home reflects your unique vision.
Ready to start your custom home journey? Contact Andries Builders today to learn more about our personalized approach to pricing and design.