It’s important to be realistic about working within your construction budget.

• Allow for atleast $200 & up per square foot of finished living space – depending on the style of house and finishes you choose
• Large homes 3000 sq’ and up require luxury septic systems and larger heating, cooling and air circulation systems so your cost per square foot is going up.
• Having to blast out bedrock for your foundation will add to your foundation costs
• If you only have water access to the site it will add to the cost
• If you decide to live off the grid the initial set up cost will be higher than a conventional system but it will pay off in the long run.

If you want to save money, think about the style of house you want:

• The more bumps and jogs you have in the foundation, the more the cost will go up
• Multiple dormers and changes in roofline add to the cost
• Use a walkout basement as living space to get those extra bedrooms and living space
• Work with mother nature and design the house to suit the site conditions as well as you can

If you want to save even more money:

• Just get the shell up and then do the finishing yourself
• Watch the DIY shows and see what jobs you think you could tackle
• Be your own general contractor, hire the individual trades yourself
• Enlist the help of handy family and friends
• Shop around for sales, try the Habitat for Humanity store and the like for great deals.
• Think practically and recycle and re-use a fabulous old dresser as a kitchen island or vanity. Or, if you find the perfect light fixture at a great price but the wrong colour – get a can of spray paint and change it instead of paying double for one the right colour.