I am looking to build in DeWitt county in the next 1-2 years and have been calling around to get budget estimates for the home plan I have sketched out below. I have chatted with 6 different metal frame barndominium builders in the area and I have estimates ranging from $415-510k…this seems insane to me. I'm not looking for high end finishes or extravagant custom work. Basically a big rectangle with a single gable roofline, 9-ft ceilings throughout, LVP flooring, etc.

Am I crazy in thinking this should be able to be built for $275-325k??

Labor and materials are high. All professional services (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) can name their price...more jobs than people to complete them.

We did custom stick build a year ago. Quote range doesn't look crazy.

Metal building engineering is overkill for this plan and such short spans we have found.
Larger spans and something North of 5000Total SF might be the genesis for shopping mtl.bldg.engineering.

Past project stick-built costs gleaned, designed to avoid maintenance and even those clad in metal (roof & walls) say your top dollar would be $390k. Further savings to explore could be

• Architect designed foundation (if footprints fits inside a 95ft circle)
• Rockwool insulation, vented attic
• Top of flat hill, docile soils
• Fewer windows
• Low end Appliances, Fixtures, Trim & Finishes that can be upgraded in future
• Limestone gravel vs. reif.conc flatwork (that can come later on top)

2240 heated square feet ?

Probably 448k and up

44 can lights add up

Also are the prices you got including septic and water well ? Roads ? Clearing ? Electricity ran from the transformer ?

JP76 said:

---

2240 heated square feet ?

Probably 448k and up

44 can lights add up

Also are the prices you got including septic and water well ? Roads ? Clearing ? Electricity ran from the transformer ?

---

Covered porches on front and rear. ~1930sf heated.

Only includes septic, have water well and 2-200A electric boxes on the property already. Land is cleared and doesn't include any road work.

This is why it seems crazy high to me. I could understand 400k if I needed 100k in well, electric, road, land clearing, etc. The land is ready to go though.

Had a conversation with a stick builder today and he made it seem like he could stick build this in the 290-300k range