When beginning a home construction project, the first question most people have is typically, “How much does it cost to build a house?” This is a difficult topic to answer precisely because it is always dependent on a wide range of variables. People are more interested in the cost of construction per square meter. However, similar to the overall construction cost, the cost per square meter can vary greatly. There are numerous factors that can affect a new home’s per-square-meter price.

In this post, we’ll look at how size, design, location, site work, and contractor choice can all have a significant impact on the overall price per square meter. It’s important to define the included costs and the square meterage in the cost per square meter model before moving on. When we talk about price, we’re referring to the builder’s price or the “hard construction cost” per square meter. All the builder’s overhead and profit, as well as the price of the raw materials and labour, are factored into this total. Not included are hard costs like land acquisition, A&E fees, government/impact fees, permits, and
the like. Read this article to learn more about the distinction between hard and soft
costs.

The price per square meter of a building might vary widely depending on the person doing the calculation. Is it only the air-conditioned room? Do you mean the unfinished basement as well as the finished living area? Do you have to pay extra for the garage, deck, or porch?

The price per square meter will naturally decrease as the total building area increases. To make their bid more competitive, some contractors may count all these areas, while others may only count the conditioned ones, and still others may not count the unconditioned sections at all. In all three scenarios, the true cost is identical, despite the fact that you are seeing different figures due to rounding.

In the planning phase or when evaluating construction bids, comparisons should be made regardless of the approach taken. After elaborating on these two issues, we may move on to the most important aspects that influence construction costs and, hence, your calculations.

DESIGN

Homes with a straightforward design and geometry, like a box with a gable or shed roof, will cost less to build and maintain. Construction costs will be lower overall and much lower per square meter.

COMPLEXITY

The more convoluted the meter print is, the more rooflines there are, and the more angles and details there are, the longer it will take to build. Money is time.

Just imagine how much longer it would take to construct a home with an intricate layout. Laying out all walls, measuring, cutting, and erecting them in the appropriate spot and at the right angles would take more time. Now, let’s contrast this with the standard format of a floor layout. Even if the square meterage is identical, the more complex house will be more expensive to build.

In what ways are you allocating your space on the floor? Two-story homes of the same size (300 square meters) typically cost less to construct than single-story homes of the same size. The smaller meter print, lesser number of foundations, and smaller amount of roofing and site work can all be attributed to the 2-story house’s compact design.

Keep in mind that if you decide to add high vaulted ceilings or 2-story sections with expensive rails and stairs, you could easily wipe out the savings you would have had from creating a 2-story home instead of a 1-story one.

SIZE

The overall price increases as the square meterage of a home increases. However, the price per square meter lowers considerably as the size of the home increases, as the expense of more expensive features and rooms is distributed across a larger area.

Some rooms are better than others. The cost per square meter of a kitchen or bathroom is comparable. They have all the high-priced essentials, including appliances, cabinets, worktops, tiling, fixtures, water and power lines, and plumbing.

Rooms with a lot of windows, built-in casework, and shelves will cost more than those without them. In contrast, less expensive rooms are plainly completed and lack intricate integrations. Examples include the bedroom, the dining room, and the living room.

The price per square meter of a home will vary depending on factors such as the size and number of luxurious rooms and the number of more modest ones.

The inverse is also true. Because you still need to buy the same costly things, the per-square-meter cost of a smaller home will be higher than that of a larger one. A kitchen, bathroom, heating system, hot water heater and so on will still be accessible. Because of these additions, the cost per square meter is higher, but the total cost of the house is lower.

ADAPTABLE OPTIONS

Your choice of materials, fixtures, and finishes for your home will also have an impact on the final price. Granite countertops can cost several thousand dollars more than laminate countertops, and they’ll also increase your per-square-meter expenses by a small amount. Bespoke features like glass shower enclosures, woodwork and extensive tiling may also affect the price per square meter.

LOCATION

Are you constructing in the city of Harare, or in Binga? Do you source your materials locally or from far away?

A new home, or an addition or renovation, can be expensive in different places for three basic reasons:

1) GETTING INTO YOUR SITE

Locations that are hard to get to or are otherwise inaccessible will result in higher construction costs. Consider all the construction vehicles/machinery and materials that will be required to complete your task. The builder factors in the time and energy required to unload and manoeuvre these. The cost per square meter of your build will increase proportionally with the amount of time it takes to transport materials and products.

2) SOURCING OF MATERIALS

Buying construction supplies and materials close to where they’ll be used saves money compared to ordering them online and having them sent in. Think about how far everything you need must travel to get there.

3) WAGE RATES

The price of labour varies greatly from one location to the next. Your builder will likely pay his or her staff and any subcontractors a living salary in accordance with the cost of living in their area. As a result, wages in Harare will be much higher than in a small town like Chipinge.

CONSTRUCTION WORK

When determining the price per square meter, it is also important to consider the site’s existing conditions. Most site work is unseen, so it is easy to forget about it when budgeting for a construction project. However, this can lead to unexpectedly high costs.

Additional foundation costs may be incurred on sloped sites due to factors such as poor soil quality, a steep slope, drainage issues, or accessibility.

Home services and utility connections cost money as well. Longer lines are needed to establish the connection if your home is set back from the road. The cost per square meter also takes into consideration factors like whether there will be a borehole or public water, a septic system or public sewer, how long the driveway will be, how big the yard will be, and whether trees will need to be cleared.

CHOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Construction costs might range widely depending on the constructor chosen (or on whether you operate as your own contractor). Each builder has their own process for estimating the time and money needed to complete a project, as well as their own list of go-to resources for materials and labour. In addition, each firm sets its own markup for jobs according to its own timetable, business procedures, overhead costs, and profit.

As for construction companies, they can run the range from cheap to expensive. Some will accomplish only the absolute minimum, while others will provide a full service experience from start to finish, including pre-construction services, a design team, and a project manager. But each contractor will have their own preferences in terms of materials, which will affect the initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs. What this means is that there is a wide range in construction expenses among different builders. It’s crucial to speak with potential builders to learn about the kind of services they offer, what’s included in the building cost, and what their quality of work is like because all this gets wrapped up in the pricing they give you.

CONCLUSION

There are countless more ways that square meterage costs might change in custom house building, but hopefully this article serves to alert you as to how imprecise and unpredictable, even misleading, a square meterage cost can truly be.

I, personally, don’t like to use square meterage prices because there are too many factors at play. You should proceed with caution if you decide to use a cost per square meter figure for planning purposes without considering the aforementioned variables.

Such a basic cost estimate cannot accurately reflect the true complexity of a home construction project. More time-consuming but more effective is to compile a list of the features you absolutely must have in your dream home, as well as a collection of pictures and/or floor plans of houses that are similar to the one you envision. The next step is to take those to a construction company or companies to acquire some kind of estimate and to learn more about the services they offer. You should be able to obtain a more accurate sense of how much it would cost to construct your ideal home in your area, complete with all the amenities and features you’ve been dreaming about. After that, you can take on the task of designing and building your home alone, with the help of an architect, builder, or designer. The cost of constructing your ideal home can vary greatly depending on the location, size, and complexity of the project. It’s important to do your research and get multiple quotes from different contractors to ensure you’re getting a fair price. Once you have a budget in mind, you can start thinking about the features and amenities you want in your dream home. Do you want a spacious kitchen with high-end appliances? A luxurious master suite with a spa-like bathroom? A backyard oasis with a pool and outdoor kitchen? The possibilities are endless. Working with an architect or designer can help bring your vision to life while also ensuring that the design is functional and meets all building codes. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a home that is not only beautiful but also meets all your needs and desires. Building your dream home may be a daunting task, but the end result will be worth it—a space that truly feels like home.