New home builders routes to save money

We are doing it together, she wants to save money probably more than me. Not save on quality, but save on cost.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Cabinets are super easy to build and you can buy the doors from rawdoor.net at a reasonable cost if you don't feel comfortable building doors.

Really just have to search. According to wickowick, you can save a fortune. Most furniture is made there so it’s cheaper cost wise.

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Cabinets are super easy to build



You sir, are insane.

A birdhouse is "super easy to build".

But fricking cabinets? Done right?


No.

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It is FAR cheaper to buy factor cabinets than build them UNLESS the situation requires custom built cabinets for some reason.

I own what amounts to a small production cabinet shop and have built MANY custom cabinets and there is no way I would attempt to fabricate a new home cabinet build in an effort to save money. Unless you are talking about something extremely basic...plywood frames, rails and styles, or maybe even curtains for doors there is simply no way you can buy the wood and hardware for the cost of a factory cabinet....let alone the labor and consumables required if you already own the tools....

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I was once told by someone on this board that going to a local furniture store to see what you want, then ordering from North Carolina can save you about 40% because of furniture being made in that area. Any other little ideas like that can help me, cost wise? I recently went to a sink, faucet, shower and toilet store, got prices of things we wanted and looked online and saw it was much more cheaper. Anything else I may be overlooking? Cost of lumber will kill me, I know already. Any online stores or websites used by others would be greatly appreciated. Want to do it right. Save on cost but not on quality.

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High end custom and semi-production furniture is less expensive in the area but it ain't 40% cheaper....the stuff they make for retail sells is the same price in North Carolina as it is in San Diego because they can't sell it for less contracturally...it used to be that they did occasionally have seconds and rejects but with automation the QC is such that this is rare and usually shipped to retailers who sell such items.

If you are serious about saving money and can buy stuff and store it and aren't worried about debt service on a building loan there are numerous surplus building material places around the country where you can find almost anything imaginable...for instance doors and windows are manufactured all of the place and they get orders which are cancelled and sell them for cost or less to get them out of the warehouse...the problem is you gotta have them in hand to rough frame them and you may wind up with different styles etc.

The same is true with siding and flooring...concrete fiber board siding is manufacturing in a bunch of places and marketed under a couple of brands. It is not uncommon for surpluse building supply places to have a bunch of it and vinyl on hand...but again, they may not have enough of the same style, color to do the build so you have to get it all before hand and be prepared to use the differences in style in a way that is either unoticeable or complimentary.

Bricks are also readily available as seconds or rejects but they may cost substantially more for a mason to lay due to their lack of quality. And again, quantities of any one style will be limited so you gotta use them accordingly.


Roofing shingles are also prone to factory QC issues and they are readily available....but probably not with a warranty required to get a mortgage. If you ain't getting a mortgage though they can be a big savings and in my experience are just as good as any shingle.

Keep in mind that ALL building materials have a shelf life...if it is being sold at a surplus material place odds are good it was stored outdoors for possibly years at the manufacturer and maybe at a auction house and no doubt at the surplus place....all of it is subject to abnormally wear when stored improperly.

Labor is a BIG cost....but if you have some experience and know what right looks like it is entirely possible to get experienced tradesmen to work for cash on your project....if you are willing to accept the risk or have insurance. Ride through a subdivision and ask questions...all of those guys sideline and most will have connections at a wholesale house....it is nearly impossible to buy HVAC equipment wholesale but just about all HVAC technicians know someplace that will sell to them. If you ain't comfortable with this though it will cost you dearly...but if you know what you are doing it works well....I did re-roofs for years doing this....I had the cash to buy the materials and pay for the labor and already had workers comp and liability insurance...2 dudes can take one off and put one on and haul the old one to a landfill over a weekend and put $1000 cash in their pocket for their efforts. Almost all plumbers can pull a plumbing permit unless they are a helper....and most electricians can do the same. If you ain't concerned with servicing the debt on a building loan and know what you are doing this works very well....if either of these is not so it will cost you more than you save.

Finally do as much of the work as you can and know how to do. Anyone can install a sprinkler system, hand light fixtures, trim out properly roughed in plumbing, set cabinets and appliances, paint....it would be a rare builder or contractor who will allow it because most of the time they are servicing a building loan and time is money...and it is damned difficult for a home owner with no track record and no long term relationship with a builder to get a building loan....but if you can find that builder or build out of pocket there are numerous ways to save piles on the cost of home construction if you know what you are doing. However, considering the costs involved and the myriad of variables AND most likely needing a mortgage when finished if you miss dotting an i or crossing a t somewhere along the way you could cost yourself a fortune trying to save a few bucks...

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We are doing it together, she wants to save money probably more than me. Not save on quality, but save on cost.

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Quality is way over used when it comes to house construction...the basic quality will be inherent with a reputable builder and bank...but finishes is where they turn into con men.....FHA approved flooring is sufficient quality to last through the warranty period and will facilitate a mortgage.....but compared to mid grade flooring is DIRT cheap....and there ain't any comparison between the mid grade costs and high end costs...all of it is sufficient in terms of quality....a one piece acrylic shower stall will do anything a custom built tile shower will do....it will last through the warranty period and it will facilitate a mortgage....and, it will most likely retain more resell value than that beautiful architecturally designed tile surround y'all thought was GORGEOUS and the epitome of luxury only to find that buyers have a different opinion....very few houses are built in this country which do not eventually get resold....high end finishes are expensive and their value after the initial sell is questionable at best....