Peppy Square

Archive for the ‘square feet’ Category

When building a new house, whether you are contracting it yourself or having it built, most people want to know the “square foot building costs.”? The question?always makes me cringe. In reality, it’s almost impossible to provide a standard cost per square foot to build a house.? The problem stems from the definition of standard.? Homes, even of identical size,?have many, many variables that factor into the costs.??Thus, the overall cost per square foot?will vary, sometimes dramatically.??For example, when someone says it costs an average of $100 per square foot to build a home these days, does that mean a home with a basement and an attached?garage? Or does it mean the finished square feet only???

There are?many other variables besides?the obvious noted above. Consider the following:?

The foundation.? You may wonder?how much it costs to build your home with a?basement foundation rather than a concrete slab. Many factors come into play here.? Is the basement going to be poured concrete walls or concrete block? How much of the basement walls will need to be concrete and how much frame?? Is extra grading required for the basement???Since land is inherently unique, the?amount of grading for a basement will vary, so there’s no standard cost?you can assume here.?

The framing materials and techniques.? What type framing is planned? Is the structure pre-fabricated or stick-built??Does the plan call for floor trusses or floor joists?? Does the house have an elaborate roof system with many dormers and gables? Differences in construction methods, material costs, and contractor fees all add up to differences in price per square foot to build the home.?

Kitchens and bathrooms. ?These areas can vary wildly in costs depending on the finishes and fixtures used and?the number of baths in the home.? A 2,500 square foot home, for example, might have only two baths or up to four.? This difference alone can drastically effect the cost per square foot.? Further, does each bath have only a shower or a tub/shower combination? Is there an elaborate spa bath included?? The list goes on and on.

Generally, a “track” builder (a building company who buys the land, develops the streets and lots, and then builds the same?model homes over and over) can often precisely pin point building costs per square foot since they have control?of all the variables.??This doesn’t mean, however,?that you or another builder will be able to build the same home for the same cost per square foot.? Why??Since?these companies build?more homes than a standard custom builder, they often employ or have exclusive subcontractors working only for them. Many times, these subcontractors will?work for less than what other contractors charge because they are being provided steady work from the large builder. Further, these companies can negotiate lower prices for materials because of the volume they purchase.

So when you are attempting to determine your own costs per square foot to build a home, don’t try to depend on the square foot prices that a track builder provides. While they may be completely accurate for the homes they are building and selling, you don’t have the same buying and hiring power?they do.

What’s most important to realize is that applying a cost per square foot formula to your own building project is not an accurate way to determine costs. To get an accurate estimate of building costs, you will need to complete a cost estimate for each category of the building project. This is not as daunting a task as it may seem.? And there are ways to get help along the path.? Our book, The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Own Home: Save 30% to 40% on the Cost of Your New Home tells how.???

What is attic remodeling?

When you think about it, there’s a whole extended space above many houses that goes unused. Some planning and consideration can go a long way in transforming possibly hundreds of unused square feet into a fresh section of your home. Of course, what we’re talking about here is the attic.

The roof and the basic structural framework are already constructed. This could serve as an excellent substitute to building a whole new wing to the house from the ground up.

When considering your attic remodeling job with your attic remodeling contractor, you’ll want to discuss some key elements in the primary stages of development, like building codes and how your existing structure will be able to hold the additions of walls, flooring, and furniture.

Building codes generally require that the attic ceiling be 7 feet 6 inches, and cover over 50% of the floor space. If your space does not fit that description, you and your attic remodeling contractor can talk about adding dormer windows to add more ceiling space. It will bring your remodeled attic space up to code and allow you to continue with your remodeling job. Your attic remodeling contractor will consult the local code if it differs from this specification.

The structural integrity of your attic may need some adjustments to handle the work you want to do. The beams that form the attic floor and the ceiling below–ceiling joists–may need strengthening. Roof joists may need upgrading to hold insulation. All the upgrades to the structure are made to handle the addition of insulation and drywall.

In order to remodel your attic to code, you’ll need a staircase—not a ladder—to lead to the renovated floor. Most codes call for straight staircases of 3 feet x 6 feet, and spirals with a five-foot diameter.

The attic remodeling contractor will determine whether your current heating and cooling systems can handle the added space of the attic, or if secondary units will be needed.

The contractor can also counsel you in terms of any architectural elements you will have to move or remove in and around your attic. The contractor will be able to determine whether the pre-existing structure is sound enough to bear additional weight and construction, or if it requires extensive reinforcement.

Think beforehand of the uses you intend for your remodeled attic. Maybe you want it to be a new bedroom or home office. These are some of the most popular plans for remodeling attic space.

The size of the windows and closets will determine the success of your new bedroom space. Code requires a bedroom to have at least one window large enough for escape in case of a fire. You may have to renovate the roof to accommodate this.

For a home office, consider the wiring that will be necessary for a fully functional working space. Tech concerns, desk space, and built-in book cases will factor in, too. The attic remodeling contractor should be able to determine how to reinforce or utilize the ceiling joists’ structure for the addition of weight from books, a large desk, or servers and copiers, for example.

Who should remodel their attic?

There are many reasons to remodel an attic space.

A growing family may need an additional bedroom.

A job shift to self-employment can necessitate a quiet, private working environment away from the bustling activity of the rest of the house.

A new den or living room could significantly liven up the social atmosphere in the home.

Many homeowners wish to renovate space to rent out, like a small attic apartment. Others will remodel the attic as a guest bedroom.

What are the benefits and drawbacks to remodeling an attic space?

Let’s start with the drawbacks. The existing floor structure of the attic (the ceiling joists of the rooms below) might not be adequately constructed to allow for additional weight and flooring. There might not be enough headroom or electrical service to the attic. And the added structuring that will hold insulation could cut back on the space’s square footage. But if you remodel your existing attic space, you won’t have to add a whole new wing to achieve the same end result of an addition to the house. Adding livable square footage to your home increases the property’s value. Home office space (like your new remodeled attic office) can be tax-deductible, allowing you to save money.

One of the great benefits of having your own home based business is the tax advantages that come from it. Although it’s one of the most accessible tax havens available to the public, few people use it to its potential to save thousands every April. Don’t misunderstand me; you need to pay the government what it is due, but no more than that.

Before you take your deductions, you must have a legitimate place in your home whose use is specifically for business, no mixed use. This will allow you to deduct the square footage that is used for business. For example, if your office is 100 square feet of your 1000 square foot home, ten percent of your rent or mortgage can come off the top. This is not a bad thing.

To make your home based business quack more like a home based business, get yourself a checking account in the name of your business, and list your home address on your checks. Suddenly, you have instant credibility that something more than just living is going on at your residence. Also, get a tax id number for your enterprise. This is free and can be done through the IRS website. It takes only a few minutes and, again, gives your home based business, a network marketing business for example, more authenticity.

Consider everything else that you use to conduct your operations. You have a cell phone, fax, telephone line, advertising, business license, business cards, high speed internet access, electricity and heating (deductible also), and trips that you might take for seminars that happen to be located near a beach or other resort area. Your car’s mileage and upkeep suddenly come into the picture when you look at those associated costs in the light of how you need a vehicle to conduct your day-to-day activities. Magnetic signs on your car too? Big plus. They don’t have to be four feet by four feet, just easily visible by someone who is looking at your car.

On your next trip to the bookstore, go to the personal finance section and get a book about the benefits of home based businesses, such as networking marketing. When you get home, review your taxes considering all that you could deduct, but do not. The difference might surprise you. If you save $1500 per year on your taxes for 20 years, that would be $30,000 in your pocket. Now, is that enough incentive to own your own home based business?