DoorFly.com: 10 Money Saving Tips When Building a New Home

Building a new home can be an exciting adventure for a family but it can also be a financial nightmare as they attempt to accomplish their dream and still remain within their budget. There are several different areas within a new home where you can cut back on costs. Some of these cost savings can be accomplished through design choices and others in the product selection process. Look through this list to find the items that could help you save money on your new home building project

Rambler, two-story or split-level. All home designs are not created equal. The same square footage in home can be achieved for less by simply choosing the proper style and floor plan. A rambler style home will generally be more expensive than a two-story or split-level home. The reason for that is the larger footprint of the home. This means that you have a much more square footage invested in your foundation and in your roof area. These are two of the most expensive areas of your home construction. If you don’t need a one level home for physical reasons, consider adding some stairs to your plan to cut down costs.
Roofing and roof style. As mentioned in number one, your roof is an expensive portion of your home. There are several ways to cut back the costs and still keep a good strong roof over your head. Having simple roof lines can help. Large, high pitched roofs mean expensive trusses and complicated roof lines require additional framing labor. Keep it simple. Choosing a standard shingle with a 20 year warrantee rather than one with more texture and a longer life, can also save on your roofing costs.
Windows. Most people like lots of big windows in their home but windows are very expensive. Decreasing the number of windows is one way to save money in this area. Another way is to consider an all vinyl window rather than wood trimmed windows. Different styles of windows affect the costs as well. Compare the costs of crankouts, sliders and double-hung windows to see what your cost savings would be.
Cabinets. Most people don’t realize just how expensive cabinetry can be. This is an area though that you have plenty of control over when designing your home. Building a pantry closet into your kitchen can save you thousands of dollars in cabinet costs. Choosing plastic laminate instead of granite or a solid surface countertop can also be a big money saver. Standard size cabinets, finishes and different door designs all influence the price of your cabinets. This is an item that is well worth shopping around for.
Flooring. You have plenty of choices to choose from when it comes to flooring. It is important to understand the difference in costs within those choices as well. Carpet can be one of the least expensive flooring options and also one of the easiest to upgrade in the future. Tile and wood flooring can be some of the most expensive. It is important to understand that the high prices of these two finishes comes more from the increased amount of labor needed for their installation rather than just the materials themselves.
Electrical. Many people don’t realize the costs involved with different lighting choices they make when designing a home. Recessed lighting can be much more expensive to install than standard light fixtures. Choosing to provide your lighting through switched lamps rather than ceiling fixtures can also save on your electrical costs.
Plumbing. The plumbing of your home is a necessity that doesn’t have much room for adjustment but you have plenty of choice when it comes your plumbing fixtures. Naturally the more bathrooms you design into your home the higher the plumbing costs will be. Choosing wisely on your fixtures can help keep your costs down.
Exterior Finish. This is another area that provides you with a variety of options to choose from. You have several choices in maintenance free finishes from vinyl siding on the low end to brick or stucco on the higher end. You also could choose from siding types that require a paint or stain finish. These latter choices require ongoing maintenance costs that should be taken into consideration.
Doors and trim. The choices you make for these interior finishes can make a big impact on the overall price of your home. The width of the trim, the species of wood, the door styles, all these things affect the price of the finish of your home.
Sweat equity. There may be some items that do not need to be completed prior to moving into the house and that you have the skills to complete yourself.

Be willing to examine all your options as you make your plans and selections for your new home. Determining which items are true priorities and which are luxuries can assist you in saving money on this very important investment.