It’s good to know that when purchasing a steel kit home there can be less costs to consider. This is when compared with what’s typically involved when buying an existing home or building a house in the conventional manner. However, there are still costs that apply across the board.
It is also important to note that what is classified as standard inclusions and what are additional expenses may vary from company to company when it comes to kit homes. These elements can include anything from flooring to the painting on the walls. This article aims to give you insight into some potential costs that you should be made aware of when purchasing a steel kit home.
Regardless of whether a kit home or traditional dwelling is being built, there are some common characteristics of building on any plot of land that involve expenditure. For instance, the cost of the actual site, the local council’s building permit fees, soil tests, structural engineer inspections, service connections, etc. You should keep in mind that the below list is by no means conclusive and that every individual situation will vary.
A steel kit home is very well and good but it’s nothing without a plot of land. So, naturally, this is one of the biggest additional costs you will need to consider. Keep in mind that kit homes with steel frames are made with flexibility in mind, so this can help with adaptability – even when it comes to more challenging blocks of lands, such as sloping sites. Of course, when you buy land there will be legal costs incurred as well.
Building consent fees are due in order to get a building permit. They are filed with your local council to allow the plans for your house and property to be approved. This needs to happen before construction can begin.
Consent fees differ from council to council, and they’re often based on a base charge plus accreditation levies. The rate you pay is also dependent on the type of development and the amount to be spent on it.
Soil testing and reports are critical for your engineers to understand the type of land you will be building on. These reports may already have been filed with your local council by the previous landowner or developer if you are purchasing land that has already been developed.
Building on inappropriate terrain will only increase the likelihood of disaster down the road, thus taking this important precaution is for everyone’s safety. It’s not worth skipping the cost of soil testing and reports because they are quite simply critical as the basis for the durability and strength of any structure. Not only that, but they work to safeguard your investment for well into the future.
It goes without saying that you need to make sure you adhere to building code standards in constructing your new home – right down to the very foundations. Based on predetermined criteria, a qualified building inspector will visit your site to examine particular aspects.
You should receive a detailed inspection report after this is completed. Unless otherwise stated, most building inspections consist of a thorough assessment with details of the state of the entire property. This can include anything from drainage through to structural issues. As you would expect, this comes at a cost.
Unless you plan to live off the grid, connecting to utilities is another cost you will need to factor in with a new build. Connections include water, electricity, stormwater, sewerage, and communications lines. If your home is located rurally, this can mean that the distance from the property to the connection is a factor in the cost, making the overall equation more expensive.
All steel kit homes are not built exactly the same. In a similar fashion, what are deemed standard inclusions and what are termed additional components will vary from company to company.
Some aspects are more about comfort or aesthetics and others are actually cost saving and protection elements that may also uphold building regulations. Therefore, it can be crucial to understand what you are able to spend less on (if you wish) and what you simply can’t afford to ignore in terms of expenditure.
Standard inclusions in steel kit homes should include a lightweight steel framing system, roof sheeting and components and external wall cladding. As a general guide, you should also expect insulation materials, internal wall and ceiling linings, skirting and architraves, external windows and doors, internal doors and wardrobes and internal and external floors.
However, this is by no means an exhaustive list and quality steel kit house companies are known to provide everything down to the screws. You should check with your supplier to see what is included in the price for your kit home and what is not. You might also like to check out another article on this site ‘The Process’, which shows you what typically goes into the supply of your new steel kit home.
There are some options that you may be looking for or require for your steel kit home that sit outside the standard inclusions. Typical expenses that are additional may include the site labour and construction, transport and delivery fees and fit out items such as kitchen, bathroom, and laundry, electrical and plumbing and tiling, tiles and painting.
It may be worthwhile asking the company you are purchasing the kit home from about the possibility of swapping out some of the standard inclusions where other options are preferred. It may also be useful to enquire about what is necessary given your situation (including individual site features and building regulation requirements) and what is more auxiliary. From here you can work out exactly what you require to build the most liveable home of your dreams.
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