Showing posts with label cost to build. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cost to build. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2013

All square feet are not created equal




HER Home Thouhgt of the Day

 All square feet are not created equal (part 1 of 2) 

It may come as a surprise to you that there is no universal method for calculating a home's square footage. Discrepancies occur when including (or omitting) porches and screened-in decks, lower levels, attic spaces and garages. Should the square footage occupied by a staircase be counted once or twice, since it occupies space on both levels?

 

Then there's the question of where the measurement is taken from. Some homes may only include the space inside the walls. More often, the calculation is based on taking measurements from outside of the exterior wall framing (which adds the square footage represented in the wall thickness.) Further increasing square footage calculations, some homes are measured from outside of exterior finish materials. If the home has brick siding, for example, measuring to the outside of the brick may add 50 or even 100 square feet to the home's overall size.

This is one reason homes should not be compared solely on the basis of cost-per-square-foot.


 

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Her Home's Thought of the Day is derived from audience feedback as well as real-life experiences of the Her Home staff. In furthering our vision to help buyers make wise, informed decisions regarding their homes and the products that go into those homes, if you have a suggestion, topic, or story to share e-mail us!
 


Saturday, April 14, 2012

New Homes are Less Expensive to Maintain

April is new homes month. And one of the virtues of a newly constructed home is the savings that come from reduced energy and maintenance expenses.
Data from the 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) offer proof. The AHS classifies new construction as homes no more than four years old.
For example, for routine maintenance expenses, 26% of all homeowners spent $100 or more a month on various upkeep costs. However, only 11% of owners of newly constructed homes spent this amount. In fact, 73% of new homeowners spent less than $25 a month on routine maintenance costs.

Similar findings are available for energy expenses. On a median per square foot basis, homeowners spent 78 cents per square foot per year on electricity. Owners of new homes spent 65 cents per square foot per year.
For homes with piped gas, homeowners spent on average 53 cents per square foot per year. Owners of new homes spent 38 cents per square foot per year.
These data highlight that a new home offers savings over the life of ownership due to reduced operating costs. This is one of the many reasons that the current system of appraisals needs updating to reflect the flow of benefits that come from features in a new home.
  1. [...] National Association of Home Builders recently reported that the majority of new homeowners (about 73% according to the 2009 American Housing Survey) spend [...]
  2. excellent information, we’ve been preaching this for years; great to have third party confirmation.
  3. [...] New Homes are Less Expensive to Maintain « Eye on Housing Posted by Chad Johannesen on April 9, 2012 in Uncategorized with No Comments YetNew Homes are Less Expensive to Maintain « Eye on Housing. [...]
  4. Ron Struthers says:
    A better deal than a Chevy. Volt
    Lasts longer and it’s yours
  5. [...] of your new home. But, did you know that new homes can also help you save money? According to a NAHB Eye of Housing article, new homes are less expensive to [...]
  6. [...] of the best benefits is that a brand new home can help you save money. According to a article by NAHB Eye on Housing, new homes are much less expensive to [...]