How much does a house cost?
“I’m just going to swing by the house store and pick one up on my way to work. How much mortgage should I bring?”
Obviously, there is no single answer to the question of how much does it cost to build a house in Colorado, or anywhere. Still, home construction can be ballparked if you have the time to really think about it.
In the article below, we’ll provide some guidelines to help establish at least some approximate upper and lower limits to the numbers an average Colorado family can plan for, including some rough time estimates. Get comfortable, strap in, and prepare to take an objective lens to your dreams, which is the first step in making them come true.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a House in Colorado?
In general, you can expect to pay between $280,500 and $545,800 to build a house in Colorado.
This estimate is according to Home Advisor, which assumes the home will be 2,000 square feet. Broken down, the average cost comes out to roughly $140 to $273 per square foot.
There they are, your approximate upper and lower limits. To sharpen the edges and get a more accurate idea of whether your final figure will fall closer to $280,500, or nearly twice that, there are a few broad factors you can consider.
Materials
Of course, different builders charge different amounts for labor and materials. It matters where and how the materials are sourced, how much the builders’ costs are, and how high-end the materials are. If you need to save money in the short term, don’t be afraid to settle for middle-of-the-road materials during construction; you can always upgrade later. For example, you can go with more affordable asphalt shingles for your roofing at the start, and then contact an experienced Denver roofing company to upgrade to high-quality metal a few years down the line.
Alternatively, if you do have the budget now, it always saves money in the long run to pay upfront. If you know you want them and can afford them, go ahead and get those granite countertops and mahogany floorboards at the beginning.
Ask your prospective builders about material costs and options. What they tell you can even help you choose the best builder for yourself.
Land
Obviously, higher land values raise the total price of this kind of project. But also, how close is your lot to a sewer line? Will septic be necessary? What challenges do the topography or surrounding vegetation present? What municipal taxes and permitting fees can you expect?
Time
Another major factor in determining how much does it cost to build a house in Colorado is how long it will take to build, given our unique terrain.
How Long Does It Take to Build a House?
Home construction can be completed in about three months, that is if everything goes according to plan and the house is relatively easy to build. However, to be on the safe side, you should allow for six or seven months, at least until you and your chosen builder have colored in some of the specifics.
The fact is that, “How long does it take to build a house on top of a mountain in December?” has a different answer than, “How long does it take to build a house on a flat lot in May?” Of course, your builder’s skill mitigates every factor involved– but big or small, external variables always have their effects.
In her helpful article on the subject, Margaret Heidenry advises that, “…building a house with a slab on a level site with stable draining soil conditions would likely take half the time of constructing the same house on a hilly lot.”
The more planning that gets done before construction, too, the better. Heidenry goes on, “For instance, the thickness of the tile you select for a bathroom will determine the exact location of pipes that need to be in place before your foundation can be built.”
Ask your prospective builders how long it will take to build a house, especially if you’ve already picked out your plot of land. The answer will probably be at least a few sentences long; it just depends on so many variables. But you can learn volumes by just picking the brains of some home construction experts.
Home Construction Companies in Colorado
Our team at Rocky Mountain Roofing & Exteriors, is highly qualified in the areas of siding, roofing, painting and windows, though we do not take on full home builds.
Below are a few general tips to help you find a reliable contractor or construction company to help with the actual home build:
- Have a clear plan and vision before your start the hiring process
- Ask family, friends or neighbors for recommendations
- Read reviews online and ask to see examples of past work, preferably in person
- Interview at least three companies or contractors
- Ask what work the company or contractor will do themselves and what work will be subcontracted out
- Check licenses, insurance, complaints and litigation history
- Sign a detailed contract and review it carefully – be careful not to sign a contract for the entire build from the get go
- Ask about what permits are required
Ready to get started? You build your dreams, we’ll do the maintenance and upgrades.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about choosing a builder from an experienced exterior company, give us a call and give us the rundown. We’ll do what we can to help.
Bring Your Colorado Custom Home to Life!
Whoever you pick to build your house, turn to Rocky Mountain Roofing & Exteriors for our expertise on siding, painting, roofing, windows, and more. And do your research! We’re talking about many thousands of dollars here; if you spend too much on the initial purchase, it will be harder to replace the roof or siding later!
Good luck and have fun!