Oh, how often I have heard this, from posts on Facebook groups to meetings with a client after a few builders sent back their proposals. There always seems to be a momentary loss of air in the project when the client sees these proposals and they are way over budget. The first thought, “Oh, I need to make my house smaller!”

I say “Wait!” there may be other areas that you can change to reduce the cost on your build. Areas that you possibly didn’t know about. The idea here is that you reduce the cost to build your home, not the quality.

I will say, however, these changes are not always going to get you where you need to be. Sometimes, we want something we just cannot have, or afford, so, before doing any of this, consider the idea that you may be trying to build outside of your ability to pay.

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Interior Changes

1. Look at the flooring.
   • Often, instead of going with the higher end of flooring, we can find a great alternative in the mid-range arena. Consider all of your choices.
     • Can you choose a different style, same coloring?
     • How about a different material?
     • If you are choosing tile in a room, maybe look into a less expensive tile, something that looks close, but isn’t as expensive.
   • The same with all of your other flooring, check out different grades and price ranges. You may be able to save several thousand dollars just in changing to a different grade or material.
2. Paint.
   • A few things can happen here. Maybe you have different colors picked out for each room, maybe you chose the highest quality, with the highest price. All of this can be dealt with to lower your cost. Generally, a painting company will charge a lot more for multiple colors. It takes time, the material costs more, etc. Maybe decide that, to get the house built at budget, a neutral, or off white color throughout the house. This could greatly reduce your paint costs.
   • Also, by changing colors throughout, that means the quantities of each color are going to be in gallon containers, which will end up running your material costs up. So, one color for the ceilings, one color for the walls, one color for the trim, makes for a faster job for the paint company and can bring your costs down.
3. Kitchen cabinets and vanities.
   • Oh yes, this is an area where you can increase your costs exponentially, if you are not careful. You can save thousands of dollars on your cabinets just by limiting the trim options, or changing or doing away with glazing options.
   • Often, you get an allotment, based on contractor grade cabinets. They know that you will probably go over this amount when they give it to you, because the kitchen design center will try to get you to buy the highest quality, most expensive set they can get you to purchase. You can say no to some of those features. You know, it would look nice, maybe seems useful, but, really, why do I need chocolate glazing and gold highlights on my doors?
   • Consider that just doorstyle and glazing choices can save you thousands.
4. Cabinet hardware.
   • The look and color are important, however, cabinet hardware is expensive. Look around, check ALL of your options. Settle for a lower priced set that may have the color you want, but the style is slightly different.
5. Countertops.
   • This goes right along with the cabinets. Choose your materials carefully. Yes, granite and quartz are probably going to be the best in regards to everyday use and beauty. But do you need the higher end when there is a really nice one you like 3 tiers below? The quality is the same, it is just how rare it is that drives up the price. Another area you can save a few thousand in.
   • Also, look at rooms and countertop types. Maybe granite throughout the kitchen is an absolute, but, do you need granite in your laundry room? Here is an area where a less expensive countertop material would make great sense.
6. Interior doors.
   • Choose the standard, or in stock door styles over custom door styles.
   • Choose hollow core in rooms that do not matter. Like closets, pantry, laundry room, etc.
   • Only do solid core in the rooms that require it, like bedrooms, bathrooms.
   • Choosing in stock standard doors can save you money and time.
   • While looking at the doors, look into door hardware, both interior and exterior. See what is being offered and how much the cost is. Search around and see if you can get it cheaper, maybe talk to your contractor and see if you can do this, to offset some cost.

Exterior Changes

1. Roofing.
   • Metal roofing lasts longer, but is much more expensive than asphalt shingles. Take into consideration that a good quality architectural shingle can be as high as a 50 year warranted shingle and still come in cheaper than a standing seam metal roof. Basically, look at your arera, the cost of what you want to do and see if there is an alternative that gives you comparable quality and looks, but comes in less expensive.
2. Exterior finishes on your home.
   • There are so many types of exterior finishes, all of them are designed to last a long time and generally have good quality and good warranties. See if there are other finish materials that would work well, give you a similar look, but may come in less expensive.
   • Also look at any extra add-ons you have and see if you really need it. Will it downgrade the look if I remove it, is it worth the cost to have that look?
3. Exterior decks/porches.
   • How big are they?
     • Can you make them a little smaller without jeopardizing the look or feel that you desire?
   • Can you go with a less expensive material?
   • Just changing the railing type can decrease the cost of the deck by several thousand dollars.
4. Exterior structures.
   • Do you need to add that in-ground pool this year? Or, can it wait a couple of years?
   • Do you need that pool house, or pole barn right now?
   • Is it necessary to put up a fence right away?
   • These are areas you can easily cut tens of thousands off the initial build costs. You may still want to build, but it could be at a time when you are already in your house and can focus on making the funds available for the new structure.
5. Landscaping.
   • Sod vs. seed.
   • Types of trees, bushes, or plants and how many.
   • These are areas that you may want to consider cutting back on until after your first full year at this new house.
   • Maybe you put in the landscaping a little bit at a time, after you get in. Again, this can reduce your cost by a few thousand dollars and spread that out over the next few years, rather than putting it on your new mortgage.

I know there are other areas that could be a cost savings, but these are some of the really big ones. Areas that you can choose different grades or types to end up saving thousands.

Of course, as with anything, this is just an opinion from my years of experience and may not always work the same for you, but, going through these areas and making sure you are not overspending where you shouldn’t be will never have a bad effect on the total price of your new custom home!

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