Construction Prices

MountaineerWV

Sophomore
Sep 18, 2007
26,324
191
0
Guys, can you help me out? I've got a friend that may be moving to Kentucky. He asked me what the average cost for a contractor to build a house was. I told him I had no clue with recent numbers. Over 20 years ago I was able to find some for $40-60 per square foot. I looked on the Internet and saw some saying $100-120 per square foot. Surely it's not increased that much, has it? He's also talking about having an unfinished basement with a garage door. I believe his floor plan is 54'-40' (that includes a wraparound porch). The actual living space is only 1600 square feet.

Thanks.
 

dave

Senior
May 29, 2001
60,595
812
113
Guys, can you help me out? I've got a friend that may be moving to Kentucky. He asked me what the average cost for a contractor to build a house was. I told him I had no clue with recent numbers. Over 20 years ago I was able to find some for $40-60 per square foot. I looked on the Internet and saw some saying $100-120 per square foot. Surely it's not increased that much, has it? He's also talking about having an unfinished basement with a garage door. I believe his floor plan is 54'-40' (that includes a wraparound porch). The actual living space is only 1600 square feet.

Thanks.

100 to 200 for custom. You can probably get a little cheaper per sft if you use one of the local regional mass builders. I paid about 85 a sft last year.
 

DvlDog4WVU

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2008
47,141
3,181
113
Guys, can you help me out? I've got a friend that may be moving to Kentucky. He asked me what the average cost for a contractor to build a house was. I told him I had no clue with recent numbers. Over 20 years ago I was able to find some for $40-60 per square foot. I looked on the Internet and saw some saying $100-120 per square foot. Surely it's not increased that much, has it? He's also talking about having an unfinished basement with a garage door. I believe his floor plan is 54'-40' (that includes a wraparound porch). The actual living space is only 1600 square feet.

Thanks.
Easily $120 per sqft
 

Mntneer

Sophomore
Oct 7, 2001
10,192
196
0
It all depends on the size and scope of the project. Bare bones basic, $80-$100 in my area. We're talking Vinyl siding, lower end kitchen/appliances, basic trim, basic flooring. You start going the custom route, more elaborate layouts, nicer finishes, stone/brick/hardie siding, and you'll easily sit somewhere between $150-$200 a square foot.

If your friend is looking at 1600 square feet, have him look into something like Foremost home.
 

eerfan58

Redshirt
Dec 20, 2002
8,398
1
0
It all depends on the size and scope of the project. Bare bones basic, $80-$100 in my area. We're talking Vinyl siding, lower end kitchen/appliances, basic trim, basic flooring. You start going the custom route, more elaborate layouts, nicer finishes, stone/brick/hardie siding, and you'll easily sit somewhere between $150-$200 a square foot.

If your friend is looking at 1600 square feet, have him look into something like Foremost home.

Are those rates about the same that you'd expect to pay for an addition?
 

Mntneer

Sophomore
Oct 7, 2001
10,192
196
0
It depends on the addition. Extending a room, which wouldn't require any modifications to your HVAC system, or require any plumbing, wouldn't cost as much as an addition that adds a bathroom and requires its own HVAC system.

Sometimes renovation work, if extensive, can be as expensive, or even cost more than brand new construction.
 

eerfan58

Redshirt
Dec 20, 2002
8,398
1
0
It depends on the addition. Extending a room, which wouldn't require any modifications to your HVAC system, or require any plumbing, wouldn't cost as much as an addition that adds a bathroom and requires its own HVAC system.

Sometimes renovation work, if extensive, can be as expensive, or even cost more than brand new construction.

Thanks. We're going to be adding 1 1/2 baths, 2 bedrooms and a living room. All will require new HVAC except possibly the living room. Sounds like I can expect to pay pretty close to the new construction cost.
 

mneilmont

Sophomore
Jan 23, 2008
20,883
166
0
Guys, can you help me out? I've got a friend that may be moving to Kentucky. He asked me what the average cost for a contractor to build a house was. I told him I had no clue with recent numbers. Over 20 years ago I was able to find some for $40-60 per square foot. I looked on the Internet and saw some saying $100-120 per square foot. Surely it's not increased that much, has it? He's also talking about having an unfinished basement with a garage door. I believe his floor plan is 54'-40' (that includes a wraparound porch). The actual living space is only 1600 square feet.

Thanks.
SouthCarolina was @ 100 about 5 years ago. Resale is in that neighborhood.