Build on a Budget

Building a new house is very expensive and very stressful. Today more and more people are looking for ways to save money building a new home. Below are some of the ways to save money while building a new home.

i. Be Your Own General Contractor:
Being your own general contractor(GC) can save you the greatest amount of money. You can save as much as 30 percent. However, being a GC requires a great deal of work, time, and manager skills. You must be able to plan daily task, schedule sub-contractors, make daily on-site inspections, research and order materials, etc. Being your own general contractor should not be attempted unless you have a good understanding of the construction process and the time to invest.

ii. Sweat Equity:
There’s no better way to save money building a new house than to role up your sleeves and put some sweat equity into the project. Most builders will agree to let you do certain phases of the project if you discuss them before construction begins and identify those items in the contract. If you have certain skills that you feel comfortable with then discuss them with your builder so you can save some money. 

iii. Job Site Clean Up:
Having a clean and orderly job site makes everyone work a little more efficient and careful. Having the sense of an organized job site will ensure your project gets finished sooner with few problems and that means less money from you. Even slight delays in the project can mean substantial interest payments and temporary housing costs.

iv. Salvage Materials:
Using salvage materials will help you save money and it’s the Green Thing To do. Today there are salvage yards that specialize in recycling building materials. Things such as doors, windows, cabinets, plumbing and electrical fixtures are all available at very discounted prices. You’ll be saving money while helping out the environment so it’s certainly an idea worth considering.

v. Landscaping:
Doing landscaping yourself can save thousands of dollars when you build your new house. Once the builder has spread the loam with the dozer you should take over. Spread your own seed and mulch to save money. Chances are you’ll save money and use a better seed in the process. You can easily plant your own trees, shrubs flowers to save money.