Architectural Designs

Cost of building a house - question for professional builders?

I'm moving soon to Northern Wisconsin possibly, and I'm trying to figure out if I want to buy, or build. I haven't considered building until recently (I have found nice houses, but none that I'm "In love" with), and I'm trying to decide if it would be cost effective for me. I'm looking into a 134'x140' double lot... at $14,500 At minimum I'm looking for a single level home with: 2 master sized bedrooms 1 guest bedroom 1 small office that can also be used as a spare bedroom Finished basement. 2.5 to 3.5 bathrooms. one master bath attached to the master bedroom (with spa bath and corner shower), one full bath for the other larger bedroom, possibly a full bath in the basement and a half bath somewhere in there. Medium sized kitchen that is open to the dining room and living room. Hardwood floors through out the house with decorative tiling for bathrooms/kitchen access from the house to the back yard where a dog run can be attached. high ceilings spacious entry way Possibly a sun room. I understand that you can not give a price based on what I explained since there is so much that goes into building and designing the floor plans.., but if you can think of a house you possibly worked on that is comparable to what I kind of described... I would appreciate it if you were able to tell me roughly what that house was cost wise to build. (I can live without the office/bedroom space, the sunroom and the half bath... so maybe what you think it would cost with and without those extras.) Modular homes I've seen when researching them are not that nice. They look nice from the outside, some from the inside even... but they're not well constructed. They tend to have a lot of problems... I have a friend that lives in a prefabbed house who is unhappy too... no no prefabbed or mod houses. It's either going to be a regular build, or I'm going to add onto a house I found that I kind of liked, the change it into the house I can love... Of course I have to find someone who does additions that can come with me to the final showing and let me know if that's even possible. I just wondered if it would be economical to build the house I'd love, than to buy a house I like and add on.

Public Comments

1. Go to a full service lumber yard in the town your moving to and ask them. They can give you a rough estimate of the cost. I'd go with a standard house plan, if you have to higher a designer the costs skyrocket fast. You may want to consider a modular home to save on costs also.