When you start exploring questions like: 'How much does it cost to build a custom home?' You might encounter something known as 'hidden costs.' If you know next to nothing about the hidden costs of building a custom home, many of these expenses could take you by surprise or put a wrench in your construction plans.
That's why it's best to educate yourself on the hidden costs of new home construction before you break ground (or your budget!). To help you be as prepared as possible, our team at Dusty Rhodes Homes has provided this custom home pricing guide on what you need to know when accounting for hidden costs when building a home in Kansas City in this Custom Home Pricing Guide.
We care about transparency at Dusty Rhodes Homes and want you to know how our team determines the average cost to build a house. So, we hope the below discussion on hidden costs helps inform your future custom home budget planning goals:
Unless work has been done on the homesite beforehand, the condition of your future homestead must be factored into your construction budget. We often tell our clients that before construction can begin, the land needs to be prepared and accounted for.
Unfortunately, expenses like soil testing, tree clearing, and grading will cost money. If you don't account for these hidden costs, you might confront a budget issue before you even get started selecting tile and carpet! However, these tasks are essential, and the costs are unavoidable. Depending on the amount of sitework required, you should expect to pay between $8,000 and $25,000 in the Kansas City area for site prep.
There is no workaround when it comes to the required permits and fees that come along with new home construction. That's why it's best to learn about permits and regulatory fees before building your custom home.
In most instances, if you choose to work with a well seasoned design-build firm like Dusty Rhodes Homes, they will be forthcoming with how to budget for these required expenses while making sure your requests and budget end meet.
However, as an estimation, we can say that the regulatory fees and permits run anywhere from $3,000 to $8,500 on average, but this can and will vary depending on factors like the given municipality and the uniqueness of your new home. You also might have to pay more if you have special requirements like fire sprinklers or stormwater plans, among others.
Hidden custom home costs you might not budget for often include utility connections. Connecting your home to city water, sewer, gas, and electricity isn't always a quick plug-and-play. If the land is raw or rural, trenching and meter installation, and septic or well systems may be needed. With this in mind, you should expect to spend $10,000 to $30,000 in Kansas City for full utility access, depending on the location and service availability.
Landscaping and exterior features can be part of the hidden costs of building a house. It's easy to forget how much goes into the exterior until the front yard is still bare dirt at move-in. Driveways, sod, irrigation systems, fencing, and outdoor lighting all fall outside walls of your newly constructed home, but these cost categories must be accounted.
In Kansas City, landscaping and exterior features can add $15,000 to $50,000 or more, particularly if you plan hardscaping, retaining walls, or an outdoor kitchen. But don't worry – when you work with us, you can work exterior features and landscaping into your build from the start!
If you're building a custom home in Kansas City, you must realize that you might need to make temporary living arrangements. If your current home sells before your new one is complete – or if you're building on a teardown lot – you may encounter these temporary expenses.
Rental and storage costs add up quickly, especially with families or pets. We recommend you budget $1,500 to $3,000 monthly for short-term housing in the Kansas City area, plus moving and storage if needed.
The best way to prevent surprise costs during a custom home build is to start with a solid plan and a clear budget. Take the time to map out every part of the project with your builder, and make sure your budget includes a little wiggle room for the unexpected.
You'll also want to stay in touch with your builder throughout the process. We can't explain enough how regular check-ins and honest conversations go a long way in avoiding delays or extra costs.
It also helps to be thoughtful about your wish list. You should focus first on the features that matter most for your lifestyle and save the splurges for where they'll have the most significant impact.
Additionally, you need to make sure you know exactly what's included in your builder's contract and don't be shy about asking questions if something isn't clear. And lastly, stay involved. Visit the site, check in on progress, and keep an eye on spending so you always feel in control and confident about your decisions.
We hope that this blog has helped you learn more about hidden custom home construction costs. If you're ready to work with custom home builders in Kansas City, you can contact Dusty Rhodes Homes here today. Our team is happy to help you learn more about the costs of a custom build.