The cost is not everything, there is a percentage around 20% of the total budget corresponding to related costs such as purchase tax sale of the land, costs mortgage, building permits or the cost of the architectural project and other technicians.
For this reason it is important to adjust the cost of construction of the house to ensure that we do not exceed the maximum budget, having a mattress for the extra costs necessary.
So, what strategies should we follow to adjust and reduce the cost of building our house?
- Contact the architect first
Many clients start by contacting the builder, this is a mistake as the builder does not can do the architectural project and we will refer to his architect in turn with whom he probably has a commission agreed and who will absolutely be subordinated to the constructor since his work depends on him.
We need our architect to be independent and have no qualms about negotiating construction costs.
It is best to start by comparing architects, visiting two or three offices and comparing prices and equipment.
- Define deadlines
Time is money, each month a work is delayed is an additional cost to the client either because he is paying a rent from another apartment or because he cannot sell his old house to move to the new one.
To negotiate from the outset the maximum deadlines for design and construction and to define economic penalties under a signed contract, in case of delay, is key to not having surprises, and is one of the most important points to reduce the cost of building an ecological house.
- Requires a closed budget before you start
As they say “paper holds it all” but once we start the work changes are paid dearly.
Thus, we must demand from our architect a work item document (measurements) detailed to the maximum so that the construction can be done by closed price without surprises in items that had not been taken into account.
- Energy efficiency is a lifelong investment
You have to be careful when assessing the costs, sometimes a major investment will now be amortized in a few years and is energy saving forever.
The clear example is the insulation, saving us a little money now reducing centimeters of insulation is an energy expenditure of heating for ever more. You must always consider the cost of construction and the cost of maintenance to make the right decisions.
- Builds in phases
If the budget is adjusted an ideal strategy is to leave elements such as fencing the plot or building a pool for a second phase that can be contemplated in the initial project but can be built after a few years.
- Use local materials
In addition to being a way to save costs, building with local materials is more consistent and sustainable.
If we are going to use wood, there are options in local sawmills building with smaller sections and solid wood lightweight framing structures. If you use brick, there are good ecological alternatives of local origin such as Cannabis pressed hemp brick.
- Participates actively in the project process
Participating actively in all meetings understanding the proposals and making coherent decisions is the best way to take control of the project and its costs.
Letting yourself be advised by good professionals, ask questions and raise doubts continuously is going to be a key factor to be satisfied with the final result.
The options of building an ecological home are many and it is important to understand and participate in the decisions that are being taken. The best way to reduce the cost of building an ecological house is to keep informed of the evolution of the project throughout its development, to avoid possible confusion or unforeseen that delay the work.
- Always ask for comparatives
It is logical but not always, from the selection of the architect, to the award of the work to the builder through the materials or the same geotechnical study of the land, it is important always to request comparatives of the budgets that allow us to evaluate several options and adjust when necessary.
- Reduce meters
Large houses are more expensive to build.
- Think of flexibility of spaces
In relation to the previous point it is important to think of a house as a flexible space that throughout a life can be inhabited by a bachelor, a couple, a family with several children that when they leave they leave again a couple of singles, etc. .
We must think of flexible spaces such as a study or reading room that is also a guest room and can be connected to a living room, an outside covered porch that in summer adds meters to our living room, etc.
Building a home for our family is a very important decision , where there will be many factors to take into account, of which in many cases we will not have much information. The best way to make these decisions and reduce construction costs is to be well informed of all the steps that we must follow from the beginning, and under the professional advice of an architect that is in our best interest. Maintaining a constant dialogue with the team of architects and being well informed during the development of our project, is key to reduce costs and finish the work in the established deadlines.