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Building your own home is one of the most rewarding tasks one can undertake. It requires excellent research, proper planning, budgeting, and execution of the laid out plan for the project to be successful.



One needs to engage professionals to come up with a precise figure as to how much it would cost to build your dream home. To determine this, several factors should be considered such as house design, site location, fittings, specification of materials, floor to ceiling heights, and economic factors.



House Design

The shape and design of the house influence the total cost of construction. It affects the amount of material needed, the level of finishes, and the expertise required.



This is where an architect comes in. They design and draw up the building plan, putting into consideration several things such as the topography of the land, which hugely affects the type of house you can build on the land.  They then get the project approved once they have met all the building requirements.



In case you find an architect’s fee expensive, you can save by engaging draftsman. The draftsman translates designs into technical drawings and blueprint for builders to follow.



The style of the house also matters. Some people go for a modern style that is cheaper. It uses minimal decorative elements and an open floor plan that reduces cost. Traditional style home has a lot of detailing in the design. These are colonial or Victorian style homes. The time and materials that go into these homes make their cost more expensive.



A modern style home could end up being expensive, however, depending on the finishes you choose such as hardwood floors and gypsum roof.



Site Location

The soil at the site will determine the foundation to be used. Black cotton, for instance, must all be removed down to the rock level. The soil also determines the depth of the trenches to be dug and the re-enforcement needed. Red soil is easy to use. The foundation takes up about 20% of the cost of construction.



Poor road infrastructure can cause an increase in the cost of acquiring the materials.  Local availability of building materials affects the cost of transportation.



Fittings

These include mirrors, fitted cupboards, lighting fittings. These items depend on your style and cost differently depending on their type and quality. High-end fittings are more costly at the onset but give value for money during the lifespan of the building.



If you have a flexible budget, consider engaging an interior designer to merge your dream home with style and appeal. They will advise on design themes, colors, and concepts that they implement to create a beautiful space for you.



An interior designer may not be very cheap, and if you are working on a small budget, consider getting inspiration from the internet, on websites like houzz.com, architecturendesign.net, Pinterest, and many others.



Specification of Materials

The workmanship and materials in the construction process add up to the cost of construction. Every building material has a substitute which could be cheaper or more expensive but play the same function. They also require different levels of expertise.



The building materials can be locally sourced  or imported. If you are buying in bulk, it may be cheaper to import rather than buy locally.



It is important for you or your representative to take part in purchasing your building materials, to avoid inflation by your contractors, to avoid unnecessary wastage.



Floor to Ceiling Heights

The higher the ceiling height the more it will cost in terms of materials that will be used and hence the higher the overall cost. Long ceiling heights creates an appearance of grandness.



Some people prefer the living room to be double height (double volume) creating the appearance of spaciousness and exclusivity.