simon beer wrote:

Go for £75 a sq ft for a bare shell with basic fitings, and £100-£150 a
square foot for all fitted out to your state with garden and drive and
everything done the way YOU want it.



I've had £75 a sq ft mentioned to me as a finished build.

Yes, that's correct, a bare shell with basic fittings, like a new wimpey
hutch.

Then there's a decent drive, and that garage, and the shed, and the
curtains need changing, and no more plastic tracks, she wants wooden
poles, and oh lord, how about brass fittings on the sockets, and those
fancy wall lights that cots about 500 quid a room... and that
kitchen...Darling I want a PROPER kitchen that costs 20,000 quid, not
this naff plastic ****e with a cheapo built in ceramic hob...and
darling, can't we have some nice slate floors, and a pond, and some
flower gardens, and a patio and.....it turns out to be nearer
£100k-£150k mate. I know.


Is this the going
rate at the moment, how did you come by this figure. I was thinking that
£100K would build something but am now leaning towards the thought that it
may take another £20K. I suppose there is the advantage of the VAT return at
the end to of set against some of this, although I appreciate that this is
not a fortune!

It all adds up.

The trouble is, there is a world of difference between a builder
knocking something out at rock bottom price (= 'a house') and what She
wants to live in (='a Home').

If you think you can move into a new build house and get away with less
than £20k to 'personalise' it to Her Tastes (or lack of it) think again...

As there is a world of difference between a boring square box with a
single pitch gable ended roof, manhole covres where the builder found it
easiets to put them, ione electric socket per room, and no oter wiring,
and a crap basic bog and bathroom...and a nice interesting design with
hips and dormers and valleys and chimneys and so on. All filled to te
gills with ensuite this and built in that.

Hence trying to set a sort of scale between '£75 a square= Barrat
superhutch" and £150 a square = "very comfortable interesting and nicely
finshed luxury modern house"

The bloke down the road took an old listed house bought for £475k and
spent £2.5m on refurbishment, and building a ghastly modern packing
crate on the side, and constructing a floodlit car park, like Tescos,
and sticking vile modern art sculptures everywhere. My guess is its all
about 4000 sq ft, so his total spend was getting on for £750 a square ft
estimated.

Thats why I think its safer to budget on £100-£125 for something
interesting, especially if its all done by someone else, who will take a
cut and still make nearly as much of a cockup as you would yourself.


I.e. £75 will buy you what someone else finds quick and simple to build.
Thart pases the ffiniton of'fit for occupation'
£100 will buy you something that is pleasant to look at outside, with
some basic landscaping.
£125 will make the inside the way She wants it.

Because if you just wanted a basic house, why are you building your own?