The cost of building a new home in Seattle will depend on many factors. Generally, you can expect the cost to be anywhere from $400,000 to $650,000 and beyond. It will all depend on the size of the house, the location, and all the elements included in your new home. Seattle is home to roughly 750,000 people, which also impacts the cost of building a home here. While the beautiful landscape in the Emerald City offers spectacular views, the terrain may also impact the cost of your new home. When building a home here, you can expect the costs to be around $200,000 more than purchasing a home that is already built. Read on to discover more about the cost of building your new home in Seattle.
An Estimate of the Costs for Building a New Seattle Home
New homes are a blank slate that will allow you to create your dream home for your family. You will need to think about hiring an architect, construction manager, and building team to bring this dream to fruition. You’ll also need to think about the cost of materials, labor, permits, and other expenses.
Material Prices
The materials for building your home will comprise around 50% of the total project cost. These materials can come in a variety of price points, and while it may seem like a good idea to always choose the cheapest option, that may not be wise in some cases.
For example, your roof protects your entire home structure. Cutting costs there in the building process will only mean you’re in for more frequent repairs. Instead, choose the best for your roof and go with a less expensive style of flooring.
Materials for your home will include concrete, lumber for the frame, drywall, flooring, insulation, siding, roofing, electrical wiring, and plumbing pipes.
Labor Costs
Having your home built involves many experts to get all the working parts to come together. You will need electricity installed, which requires an electrician. You will need plumbing installed, which requires a plumber. The list goes on and on, but with a good general contractor, you’ll have someone who curates this team and oversees all the aspects.
The labor costs for building a new home will include costs for an electrician, house framer, construction management, plumber, roofers, driveway paving, landscaping, and HVAC installation.
Permits
Before your home can be built on the land you purchase, it requires a permit. If you plan to add a patio, pool, or guest house, you may be looking at over $8,000 in fees for permits alone. Working with the right team, you’ll be able to estimate these costs before you sign your contract to ensure what you want to build is in your budget.
Additional Costs
If you’ve lived in Seattle for a while, you’re probably well aware of the hilly terrain. Consider this as you create your budget since you may need to plan on spending more to deal with excavating the area and using more concrete to stabilize the foundation for your home. You may also want to consider having a finished basement added to your home, which can add some extra square footage without taking up more land.
Ultimately, your new home design is also another layer in determining how expensive it will be to build. A completely custom home allows you to have things built specifically for you, though you will need to consider the size of your rooms.
Adding another bedroom or living space could wind up tacking on another $50,000 or more to the design. The kitchen alone will be roughly that much if you choose a smaller size or cheaper materials and appliances.
If you want to add a patio and pool to enjoy in your backyard, that will cost around $46,000 on the low end. But if a backyard oasis is what your heart is set upon, plan on that being more like $90,000.
Don’t forget that building a new home requires the installation of window treatments and appliances. As you budget for building a new home, it is important to consider all the costs to figure out the best size and features in your design.
Should I Build a New House in Seattle?
The option to build a new home in Seattle is a thrilling opportunity, though it can be expensive depending on how big the home is, the materials, and the features you want included. Add labor to that and you will have a good estimate of the budget required.
To find new home builders Seattle residents can turn to Home Care Contractors for all the services needed to make the process go more smoothly. We’re here to take the stress out of this monumental project.
