It is possible to build an inexpensive house for under $200,000 with some clever design & project management.

Most of the cost saving exercises, take place during the design and planning phase.

A comprehensively well considered design that weighs up all the expenses can save you a fortune.

Behind every great project is a great architect and the right design can end up saving you more money overall.

• Keep the geometry simple

Curves and complexities will add labour costs so ask your architect to keep it simple

• Choose construction materials and method carefully

Consider the durability and lifespan of the materials, a cheaper construction now may not result in the cheapest overall cost during its lifespan. It may be well worth spending a little more getting really efficient insulation to keep heating bills down etc.

• Labour

Do as much of the labour yourself if you can as Labour can account for a high proportion of overall costs.

• Be efficient with space

Square footage is a significant contributor to cost and with the help of an architect, you can find clever ways to reduce the footprint but still get what you want. Additionally, economies of scale will come into play, so each additional square foot should cost less than the previous.

• Open Plan living

Open plan living is so popular now as it brings in more natural light. However large unobstructed spaces can end being more expensive as more steel in the ceiling is required. There are ways around this, like adding columns to reduce steel spans. This is another reason why a good architect will pay for themselves.

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