From: Pat

I used the free cost-estimating software and I didn't see any references to driveway or septic system. Do I need to add these two areas on top of whatever the estimate calculates or is it factored somewhere in the finally figure and I'm just not seeing it?

Hi Pat,


Excellent question. Although Craftsman Book Co., who makes this calculator available online (see #5 on my "Getting Started" page) is an excellent source of building costs, this calculator is designed to give you home building cost averages per city & state. It is impossible to know exactly what they included in some of their categories.

One might assume that permits & utilities includes water & sewer tap-in fees if you checked off that the house is to be located in a metro area and in a tract, but who knows. Well & septic could be in plumbing, driveway in excavating or flatwork, etc.

Until you select a building site and house plans and then start the estimating process yourself (see “Cost Estimating” page), you won't have an accurate estimate.

Be sure to read my Cost Estimating chapter too. Here is a PDF of that chapter.

I think that overall, the calculator gives you an estimate from which you can make a decision to pursue your dream or not.

Thanks,
Carl