Building a home of your dreams from the ground up provides you an opportunity to meet your aesthetic preferences and specific functionality.
It, however, is a complex and expensive endeavor, and therefore, it is important to look at different factors that come into play to avoid some tricky situations that usually go along with the project.
Cost is the first and foremost factor that should be taken into consideration before you break the ground.
Here, we will discuss the projected costs of different aspects involved in your custom home building project.
Estimated Cost of Building a Custom Home in Los Angeles
The average cost of building a custom home in Los Angeles ranges between $350,000 and $1.5 million.
However, there are several factors that come into play in this project, including its location, size, materials being used, and labor costs; therefore, estimating the exact cost can be hard.
Cost to Buy a Vacant Lot in Los Angeles
To bring your custom home idea into life, you will first need a vacant lot. The prices of lots in the greater Los Angeles area widely vary based on their size and location. Therefore, to purchase a perfect lot for your custom home, you are likely to spend anywhere from $100 to $400 per square foot.
Material Costs to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles
The type of materials that you will use for your home construction will play a key role in determining the overall cost of your custom home building project. The size, style and type of your home will determine the cost of the materials you need. The exact location you are building the house may also affect the cost of materials.
It is advisable to consult with an architect or custom home building contractor for an estimated of the cost of materials for your project.
Average Labor Costs to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles
When it comes to labor costs, there are a plethora of factors that affect the final cost of building a house. The professionals you hire will have an effect on the quality, durability, timeline, and cost of your custom home project.
The average cost breakdown of hiring different construction professionals is as follows:
Land Surveyor: $200 – $800
A land surveyor will conduct a survey of your lot to ensure that the construction of your new home takes place within your allotted boundary lines so that you can prevent the likelihood of encroachment on your building or any land disputes in the future.
The cost to hire a residential land surveyor in Los Angeles falls between $200 to $800.
Architect/Drafter: $1,800 – $5,000
If you have a clear vision of your custom home in your mind or if it has a simple structure, it makes sense to hire a drafter to help you create a blueprint for your project. A draftsman costs around $1,800 on average in Los Angeles.
However, if you have an idea of elements but are not sure about putting it all together, or if the design of your custom home is complex, you have to hire an architect who is more expensive at around $5,000 on average.
Structural Engineer: $200 – $5000
A structural engineer will work with your draftsman/architect to design framing, foundation, and roof plans while keeping in mind the structural integrity for your new home.
The cost to hire a structural engineer in Los Angeles ranges from $200 to $1,300 for normal residential projects. However, if you have a large and complex project, you may have to spend up to $5,000 or more.
Cost of Constructing a Custom Home in Los Angeles
Here are the estimated costs of the different phases of construction.
Foundation — $4000 – $12,000
The first step of actual construction is laying its foundation. There are three types of foundations, including concrete slab, crawl space, and basement foundations, and the prices vary depending on what type you decide to go with.
The slab is the least expensive among all types and can cost you around $5,000. A fully-finished basement is most expensive foundation to build and could be closer to $100,000.
Framing – $1500 – $6500
In this phase, pieces of steel and wood are arranged so that the building contractor knows that where the walls and rooms will be exactly built.
Systems Installation– $30,000 – $50,000
At this point, various utilities like plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems (HVAC) systems
and electrical system are installed into the house.
A plumber will install pipes and drain systems for around $7,000 – $15,000.
Costs for electrician can range between $8,000 – $10,000.
The cost of installing an HVAC system can range between $4,000 – $12,000 depending on the type of system you choose.
Exterior Finishing – $40,000 – $60,000
At this stage, exterior walls, roof, and exterior windows and doors are added to the structure.
Interior Finishing — $8500 and up
This is the most expensive phase of the process during which the treatment of existing structures like floors, walls, and ceilings is carried out with tiles, marbles, woods, plastic laminates, and paint, and the house begins to feel like a home.
Additional Cost Factors
There are several to other factors that will have an effect on the total cost of building a custom house, including;
Number of Stories: The more stories you want to build, the more additional design and build work will be involved, and the more construction cost will increase.
Finishes & Fixtures: The quality of fixtures you select to install in your new house will also have an effect on the total cost of your project. Choose materials that suit your budget and specific taste.
Home Design Features: Additional home design features like an outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, sunroom, or a larger deck will add high costs to your overall budget.
Home appliances: Household appliances like refrigerator and stove and their quality will also add to the total cost of your house.
The Bottom Line
Building your house from scratch is a great way to craft a living space that suits your personality and usability requirements; however, it requires a lot of planning, and research can be extremely expensive.
No matter the size and style of the house you are constructing, it is important to stick to the budget to make sure that its cost does not spiral out of control.
Let Us Build Your Custom Dream Home
If you are considering building a home of your dreams in Los Angeles, Build 4 You Inc is the company you can rely on to get the job done the right way.
From starting designing floor plans to laying the foundation and building the roof, we will work hand-in-hand with you at each step of the way to transform your vision into an aesthetically compelling and fully functional house based on your unique lifestyle needs.
Call at (877) 393-2003 to discuss your dream home idea with us.