We are planning to build a 2400square foot house in North Kerry in the coming year. It is a storey and a half with no stone. I would love to get any feedback from people who have built similar size/type house and the cost involved? Like everyone these days we would like to save money on the build and do feel that we should be able to get a good price in this recession.
What do people feel would be a good builders finish price on this house? We would prioritise insulation, double glazed windows, red deel skirting, stairs etc.
Also, could we save money realistically by going direct labour?
with the advent of the new building legislation
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/News/MainBody,32735,en.htm and the new h&s legislation, I have stopped discussing 'self-builds' on 'new builds' with my clients.
I would strongly suggest you get a full and detail tender package from arch & eng before seeking prices from builders. and if you haven't already get a BER provisional assessment done before this tender package is complete - it IS difficult to meet the current building regulations and it gets more expensive if the regs are only considered during actual build.
If saving money is your goal, give the builder (ie main contractor) the sole responsibility for the basic 'shell' of the house, up to and including commissioning of M&E services, MVHR/ air-tightness. then if you wish manage the finishes: flooring,fitted furniture, kitchen, tiling, painting, landscaping etc on yourself. make sure you employ a good architect to oversee and provide the correct certification in line with the new regs.
i fail to see under the new regs how anyone will get a mortgage payment realised, unless (at a minimum) the above is carried out. And even then, you would want to carefully plan and have agreements in writing with both bank and architect as to how the finishes etc are signed off and paid for.