You rarely hear these days “money is no object.”
“No matter what your net worth, chances are you’re interested in making smart investments and getting the most for your money,” said Josh Beasley, president of Honest Abe Log Homes. “Building a log home is no exception. There are dozens of ways offered by designers and builders to cut costs. Each person must decide for themselves where they want to do to save money and what is important to them in a home.”
Here are a just a few ways to save:
Use Proven Design– Opting for a stock plan from our log home catalog, instead of a custom design can save both time and money.
Think Rectangular – More than four corners equals more coin.
Open Flexible Floor Plan –- Keep square footage down with an open floor plan that eliminates unnecessary hallways. Look for creative ways to use traditionally wasted space such as adding a closet or shelves under a staircase.
Trim Your Width – Keep your home’s width under 30 feet. Anything over that means more beam support, therefore, elevating costs.
Think Long Term – Plan your construction over several years, which will give you some financial wiggle room. Ex. Year 1-Log Home, Year 2-Garage w/ Breezeway, Year 3-Add Out Buildings (guest house, barn, etc…)
Clearing Land – As much as 35% of your budget will go to clearing your home site, excavating a foundation, creating a driveway and installing utilities. Save money by doing some of it yourself or hiring workers and supervising their efforts.
Full Basement – Gives one of the most affordable ways to add extra living space to your log home.
Stacked Baths – A person can save substantially by putting two bathrooms back to back or above and below in a two-story design.
Mix & Match Exterior Finishes – Opting to incorporate a variety of exterior materials such as stone, board and batten, cedar shake and even stucco.
Driveway Strategy – Keeping your driveway short can save thousands in grading and compacting.
Simple Roof Line – Keep your roof simple with a single ridge line instead of “hips and valleys” or multiple roof planes.
Ceiling Height – If you love cathedral ceilings, go ahead and enjoy one in your great room, but keep ceiling height in other rooms lower (in the 8-ft. realm). This not only saves in construction costs, but in heating and cooling.
Opt for Conventional Roof System – You can reduce your costs by a third without sacrificing appeal by using conventional truss or rafter roof system in attic, with smaller, decorative timbers and non-structural tongue-and-groove decking vs. large, structural timbers with tongue-and-groove decking overhead in the great room.
Consider Solar Tubes – Solar tubes bring in natural light and cut down on installation and material costs in comparison to skylights.
Hunt for Bargains on Appliances – Check out “scratch and dent” sales centers run by manufacturers and retailers. Many times you can save up to half price on new units
What Hasn’t Worked in the Past? Now’s the Time to Fix It! – Often it’s the little things such as extra lighting in the master closet, a quiet exhaust fan in the bathroom or a computer workstation in the kitchen that make life easier and more convenient. Think about what hasn’t worked in your past home-along with how and where you want to spend time in your new one. Invest a little more in the spaces that mean the most to you!
