Those of you who have built houses or commercial buildings will agree that there were those little costs which you had not budgeted for and never expected. These tend to accumulate to a significant cost as they may be several of them. You will not have to incur these unexpectedly because we are going to discuss them so you include them in your budget.
Site Set Up
When coming up with a budget, first on the list of unexpected costs must be site set up costs. These include the cabin i.e. if the builders are staying on site. They will also need access to a toilet, clean water for drinking and somewhere to cook. It is also wise to get security for the site especially where the workers are staying off site. This will mean your materials staying on site are secured and you do not have to buy twice or spend time trying to find who stole them.
Transport And Fuel
Materials will need to be transported from the supplier to the site. Some suppliers provide free transport given that you buy a certain number of their supplies. If you have excess or fail to purchase the set number of materials, you will need to get your own transport for the material. If you are building close by, the transport costs will be less but if you live farther then they will be higher. It is therefore advisable to buy material from suppliers close by and to buy in bulk rather than one or three bags of cement at a time. Factor in fuel costs as well, this is because as you drive to and from suppliers or going to the site to check on the progress, there will be money involved. These are often forgotten when estimating a budget initially but now that you know, that will not be the case.
Inspections and Surveys
Before you start building, a surveyor comes and inspects the land and puts “reference marks” or “beacons”. There is a fee for this service and it is offered by a council land survey technician registered in accordance to Land Surveyors Act [Chapter 27:06]. There will be more inspections going forward for instance on your concrete and if it has the right strength, the brick wall and to check your connections. People also tend to overlook these charges and some do not even know about them.
Light Fixtures
Bulbs are rarely considered when one is coming up with a budget. Chandeliers and downlights are rarely forgotten but the ordinary light bulbs are. In fact a number of accessories and hardware are also not included in the initial budgets. It is only later or upon the insight of the electrician or carpenter that these are remembered. This adds on to the cost making it higher than expected. These little things include door handles and knobs, drawer runners, nails and screws.
And Some
You should also add a little on your estimate figure because the ground may also need filling or there may be boulders which need to be removed first. Do not forget the costs of clearing the land and levelling the ground. If you are going to be passing toll gates include toll fees in the budget as well. Landscaping and the driveway may not be a factor as you start building but you need to include them in your budgeting as well. A contingency amount is needed in case you decide to change one or two things . It is therefore advisable to add a “just in case” amount on the project budget in case you overlook some costs. We all know how hard it is to be spot on about the costs you will incur when you do an initial budget estimation.
Here at Homefill we know how much it means to have your dream fulfilled so we aim to please. We will guide you through the building process and take care of all the little and big stuff related to your building project. Contact us today and we will help you realise your dream.
Picture Credit: Wise Bread