Custom Home Cost Guide | Elevation Building Company

Introduction

It’s time for slow cups of morning coffee on the front porch, fun-filled days on the water, and building a lifetime of memories. A special kind of family fun happens at home, which is why we love what we do so much. However, we know the process and price of building a custom home can feel daunting. We’re here to demystify the cost and process of building your custom home so that you can dream with the details in mind and feel more confident about what’s ahead with your build.

The cost of your custom home depends on various factors, many of which are up to you. The final price tag will be mainly influenced by site preparation costs, the size of your home, and the features and finishes you select. Many builders avoid discussing infrastructure costs (sewer/septic/utilities, etc.), site preparation, and foundations during the estimating phase because they don’t want to shock prospective clients. You can’t build a home on a raw piece of land, it must be prepared and shaped properly.

In our opinion, eliminating those costs from our estimate is irresponsible and can damage budgets and undermine client trust. Running out of money before completing the project does not benefit either party. We want our clients to be able to afford their build and feel delighted in the end, not like they overspent. In this Cost Guide, we will discuss the many factors that influence the cost of building a home, so that you can make informed choices every step when planning your home and budget.

Getting Started

We start by sending each prospective client a pre-build questionnaire to determine their wants and needs and their expected budget. When reviewing the questionnaire, we sometimes discover that the wants and needs of the client will exceed their desired budget. We let clients know immediately and have further discussions about their ideal home and the money they want to spend. We then conduct a feasibility study to provide a rough estimate on preliminary drawings, considering the questionnaire answers and initial discussions.

If the feasibility study is still higher than expected, we discuss the details further and make suggestions to lower the cost. Some clients will adjust their wants and needs to stay within their budget, and others will decide to adjust their budget to include all their wants and needs. Once we complete the feasibility study, and you want to move forward, we enter into a Pre-Construction Services Agreement where we begin the thorough estimation process, including design, architecture, and site design.

BUYING LAND + LOT DEVELOPMENT

One important factor in building your home will be financing. Property in the North Atlanta area spans from $150K to $1+ million, depending on the size of the property, desirability, and amenities. Land or lots may be tough to get financed and must be purchased outright. Land that has structures in place may require demolition, which can cost $30,000 or more to demo. Depending on the circumstances, buying and demolishing an old home could be your preferred way to get the home of your dreams if the location is what you desire.

Rock Removal

Some areas located within the North Atlanta area can have significant rock veins that will need to be removed for the foundation. On some sites, even if there was a home there before, we need to remove rock to make room for the new home, which can increase the cost of building quite a bit. Rock removal can cost anywhere from $20K-$50K, which is why we recommend meeting with a builder before you start on drawings and determine your budget. Sometimes changing the footprint slightly or only doing a partial basement instead of a full basement can drastically reduce the amount of rock removal necessary because the home can be built according to the land.

Estimated Cost: 20K - $50K

Site Preparation

Even when rock removal is not necessary, preparing the lot for building can add more cost than some homeowners expect. Site preparation can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $200,000+, which is why we further recommend meeting with a builder in the beginning stage of your planning. It is important to know how much time and money it will take to get the land ready for your new home, especially if budget is your biggest priority.

When meeting with your builder, discuss your desired square footage of your new home, any additional structures you want on the property (garage, pool, barn, etc.), trees you want cleared to improve your view, whether you want the driveway extended and anything else that may change the way the lot is currently set up or used.

If you are starting with vacant land, this discussion will be paramount because getting the necessary infrastructure in place for your ideal layout can add up quickly. If you are demolishing an old home and rebuilding, the discussion with your builder will ensure you aren’t underestimating the cost of getting the site ready for building. Some municipalities require a tree study on the existing large trees and tree recompense to be paid to the City. These costs must be considered during the site planning phase.

Estimated Cost: 10K - $20K

Square Footage

The estimated cost of building your custom home is generally calculated by the amount of square feet you have and the quality of the finishes you choose. The square foot calculation is added to the cost of the site-specific costs. Square footage is one of the most significant factors influencing the cost. Though project costs don’t scale up in perfect correlation with increased size, it is often the closest approximation to calculate the rough cost of a project. Custom homes built in the North Atlanta area start around $350 per square foot and can easily reach $700 per square foot if you choose high-end finishes. Most of our builds tend to be $350-$550 per finished square foot (excluding the land or lot).

Please keep in mind that these are estimates, and having a consultation with your custom home builder will be the most accurate way to obtain a more personalized quote for your project. Below are a few estimates by square footage, so that you can find the closest fit for your proposed project and assess the ballpark budget. The numbers below include site-specific costs, site preparation, home build costs, and permit fees and exclude the land/lot cost

Appliances

Your choice of appliances will have an impact on the final price tag for your custom home. If you choose a basic, simple appliance package for your kitchen and laundry, expect to spend around $15,000. If you opt for extra appliances, such as a wine fridge, or a luxury appliance package for multiple areas of your home, expect to spend $50,000 or more.

Fixtures

It is important to create an allowance for plumbing and electrical fixtures when designing your home. Like with appliances, there is a wide range of prices for fixtures. A freestanding bathtub can cost you $1000 or $12,000 with many great options in between. The same goes for lighting. When deciding on a budget for fixtures, think about how many plumbing fixtures you need (toilets, faucets, sinks, bathtubs, etc.) and how many custom fans and lights you will want to be installed (sconces, pendants, lighted mirrors, chandeliers, etc.) and then decide how much you can spend on each item. You can always switch them out in the future if desired.

Finishes really matter! Many finishes go into a home, and spending an extra bit on each item can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars by the end of the build. Our preferred designers help our clients pick materials and finishes that match their budget and are within the allowances we provided in our estimate. If there are unexpected cost increases, we can help adjust the rest of the budget to mitigate the increase. If budget is less of a concern, but quality and aesthetics are paramount, our team will source options to match your taste. In the following sections, we will provide multiple examples of how your selections can drastically change the final cost.

Roofing

An asphalt shingle roof with architectural shingles is almost a quarter of the cost of a standing seam metal roof or a shake roof. However, shingles will have to be replaced more often than steel.

Windows

The quality of windows can vary drastically. Unlike most of the builders in our area, we do not use wood, shop-built windows. We mostly use aluminum-clad windows while occasionally using a premium vinyl window when budget is a concern.

Flooring

Flooring is often a decision that takes a bit longer to make because you are going to see it in every room, so let’s look at flooring in a bit more detail. We recommend thinking about the look and feel you want in your home and then looking at the options in the price range that fits your budget. When it comes to flooring, a few dollars extra per square foot can make a big difference. Engineered hardwood will cost around $7 per square foot when doing a glue-down installation with site-finished flooring starting at around $10 per square foot.

Tile

Tile is where things can really get pricey if you’re not careful. We have amazing suppliers work with that can help you pick the best option for your vision and your budget. Tile prices range from $3 to $20+ per square foot and installation can cost an extra $10 to $20 depending on where the tile is going (floor or wall), as well as the size, pattern, and material of the tile. If your design includes tiling a small backsplash, the cost of the tile doesn’t matter much. However, if your design goal is to tile large areas of the floor and walls of your bathrooms, your selection of tile and how you want it installed will matter a lot. One last thing to keep in mind when making your tile selections is the texture of the tile, which can affect how easy a surface is to clean, especially in high-traffic areas of the home.

Millwork & CAbinety

While a store-bought vanity or set of cubbies can look very nice, there is something special about custom millwork and cabinetry. We use Bell Cabinetry and Design exclusively for our cabinets. These are custom-made in Alpharetta, Georgia. Bell has an entry-level custom line that meets our budget needs and a full custom line if that’s what you envision. In regards to Millwork, Installing custom shelving and custom millwork in your kitchen, bathrooms, pantry, laundry room, mudroom, closets, and bar, which some of our clients have done, adds to the cost quickly. Remember that every choice you make – selections for faucets, door handles, cabinet pulls, light fixtures, and more – has an impact on the cost of your custom home. If you need guidance on how to achieve your vision within an allotted amount, we can help you make choices that respect your budget.

Design + Installation

The labor required to install your features impacts your budget as well, more so when designs are particularly complex. For example, glass tiles are inexpensive, but installing them in an elaborate bathroom mosaic is not. Skilled or time-intensive installation may cost more than the materials and can add a significant amount to your overall cost.

UNIQUE PERSONAL FEATURES

Creating your dream home should feel like crafting your very own vacation retreat, right in the comfort of your everyday living space. Imagine a home brimming with fun and unique features that cater to every member of your family's needs and whims. Consider the practical yet innovative additions like an outdoor shower to keep the outdoors from coming indoors with the kids, or a pet-washing station to keep your furry friends fresh without the hassle. For those moments of relaxation, why not incorporate a sauna or steam shower, transforming your evenings into a spa-like experience?

When it comes to the interior, the possibilities are truly limitless. Envision adding a home theater for movie nights, a cozy bar for entertaining, a personal gym for staying fit, or even an art studio to unleash your creativity—all designed to enrich your home life and minimize the urge to step out. And it doesn’t stop at the big investments; small, cost-effective details like trim accent walls and tasteful wallpaper can elevate the luxury of your space without breaking the bank.

For more inspiration on making your home a personal haven of relaxation and enjoyment, don’t forget to explore our blog posts. There, you’ll find a treasure trove of ideas on unique additions that can transform your house into the ultimate personalized space.

Landscaping

To truly elevate your property's appeal and functionality, consider incorporating landscaping into your budget. Start by envisioning the practical uses of your outdoor space before diving into its design aspects. Whether it's hosting BBQs on a sprawling deck, unwinding on a spacious patio, or gathering around a custom fire pit for family campfires, outdoor spaces are key to enhancing home life. Achieving a polished and appealing outdoor area with functional features can vary in cost, ranging from $50,000 to $300,000. However, there are options for simpler, more natural designs that still meet your essential needs without exceeding your budget. You can plan your dream outdoor space and gradually bring it to life over time, adjusting as your budget and preferences evolve.

Upfront Pricing, the Way It Should Be

When you build with Elevation Building Company, you know exactly what your home is going to cost prior to starting the project. We use the fixed-fee method of pricing, which means we include all our fees and costs in your contract upfront. This is why we spend so much energy on the pre-construction process. This allows us to lock in our pricing with vendors so there are no surprises. Our invoices are sent twice a month and are based on the progress of the home.

North Atlanta Custom Home Cost Guide

Elevation Building Company