Don’t you hate it when you visit a display home, love every single aspect of it and just want one simple answer—how much will it cost to build a 3-bedroom house for your family?
It may seem as if the consultant is being evasive or reluctant to answer the question. The problem, of course, is the question entails so many variables, it can be likened to the old ‘how long is a piece of string’ conundrum…
Many builders of project homes in Australia have 3-bedroom home designs starting around $247,900. Some builders may include additional considerations and options, such as landscaping and external structures can be combined into a Turn-Key Package, making them a one-stop-shop for affordable, luxury homes.
But for the average person looking to go it alone, how much can one expect to outlay for a standard three-bedroom house? Let’s begin with the basics.
3-Bedroom Home Site costs
Site preparation involves levelling and stabilising the block. If your block is already flat, then obviously costs will be minimised. This also applies to easy access to the site, which can influence the final figures.
An AS2870-compliant concrete slab will then be laid and costs will fluctuate depending on the size and complexity of the floorplan chosen. Expect to pay around $70 – $120 per square metre, which would include labour and materials.
3-Bedroom Home Floor Plans
The primary factor in any build cost will be based on the floor plan. To simplify this equation, an average build cost may fall between $1,500 to $3,000 per square metre. The final figure is dependant on the complexity of the design, and a range of other factors.
Flooring Costs
The type of flooring you decide upon can make a substantial difference to the final cost. Some buyers choose cheaper options which last for a few years until they can afford to upgrade to wool carpet, stone tiles or hardwood flooring.
Expect to pay approximately:
- Ceramic tiles: $30+ per square metre
- Stone tiles: $50 – $150 per square metre
- Carpet: $30 – $150 per square metre
- Hardwood: prices start around $50 per square metre for low grade, soft wood with knots and imperfections. Quality woods may be upwards of $130-$330 per metre, including installation.
- Linoleum: $30 – $70 per square metre
- Vinyl floating flooring: $30 – $70 per square metre
- Polished Concrete: $50 – $100 per square metre
- Laminate floating flooring: $20 – $100 per square metre
Other costs
Whilst the above estimates can be quantified to some extent, many cannot. Other factors which will need to be accounted for are:
- Fees, applications and permits (varying between councils)
- Compliance to guidelines surrounding issues such as insulation to roof and walls, roof sarking, water-saving taps and toilets
- Connections to water, electricity, gas and sewage
- Internal fixtures and fittings
- Appliances
- Heating and air conditioning
As can be seen by the list above, which is by no means exhaustive or comprehensive, building a home is a time-consuming and complex process to navigate.
Building with a good home builders makes home building easy. They take away the minutiae, red-tape and stress, with streamlined processes and transparent pricing. It is important to try and find a builder who will be transparent with you.
