New Build, questions and rough costs

I added up the soft costs of my build. Came in north of 25k. Granted I had an engineer and an architect but it’s still a chunk before a block is laid.

For landscaping the sky is the limit. Just for hardwood hedging and wire fence on 50 metres of road I’m paying close to 2k. Piers and kerbing came in at 4k. Boundary fence is 2k. Tarmac is probably 10k. That’s not looking at lawn and planting.

It’s essentially a hole for money and I’m not sure if I’d do it again.

I needed an engineer for the insulated ring beam and as it is ICF he did drawings and signed off on that as well as he was quite well acquainted with that method. The architect was for project management. He did come in useful on a few occasions and needed his signature for mortgage tbh.

I did it more as an insurance policy tbh.

just choose your architect wisely is my advice.

Choose one with a good rep basically. Get recommendations. Do your due diligence.

And use a Poroton block, can build so fast with them, and they're much better that a 1960 cavity block wall wit a sheet of styro foam shoved in the middle, wtf

Is it that simple though? In reality you would want someone independent on hand to keep the builder honest and ensure that no corners are cut.

An Engineer to bring it from design phase to sign off might be the best way to go. But that won't be cheap either.

I came across below post recently and having built a house ~6 years ago myself, the post below IMO is one of the most detailed and accurate costings for a house build. It may be of some use.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/115100739/#Comment_115100739

Yeah, from 2 years ago as well. Imagine those figures plus another 40%.

Honestly, I’d just go for a modestly sized home, <200 sq metres, of simple design (no dormers or ‘extensions’). This will ensure it performs very well.

Sink the money into the fabric and finish. No point building bedrooms that will only rarely be used. People spend a lot of money for guest rooms, maybe 50k.

I’d much rather have a 150 square metre house with high spec finish and furniture, nicely landscaped, automatic gate, tarmac etc, than a 250 mansion with average finish, ikea furnishings, 804 and a mound of topsoil out the front for 5 years.