Hard to say without some context. But it's more likely an experienced architect would be the better choice to "value engineer" your house. It's not that contractors aren't trustworthy here just that they have "skin in the game" where an architect typically does not. Construction costs can be a squirly thing. It depends on how the contractor is structuring his profit and the availability of materials, local labor costs, etc. It is not typically as easy as removing a door or window (though those things can help on a small scale, if you're looking for major cost savings, sometimes the design intent of the house has to be called into question -- brick vs stucco facade, for example makes a huge difference. Same with aluminum windows vs wood windows). But it is not uncommon for kitchens/bathrooms to run upwards of $300+ a square foot depending on how crazy you want to go.

Also Houston is one of the lesser expensive places to build in the US so you may not be able to come down significantly. You're probably gonna average in the $100-$200/square foot range, maybe a little less, maybe a little more. But my first recommendation is to deal with an experienced architect who can pour over the plans and tell you exactly where your cost centers are.

$150 to $200sf in Portland. For 2500sf that would rate a 7/10. I hear Texas is like $200 to $250sf.

How about Chicago burbs?

ARG thank you for sharing that!... Well said.

We bid on designs all the time that are created by plan designers (I guess they are the same as what we used to call draftsmen) and/or architects. I have never seen a set of plans that was drawn to be within the budget of the client. I have never yet met a plan designer or architect that knew enough about what local building costs were so that they could advise a client. Every redraw we see just gets more expensive and the frustration level of the client rises with each one.

From the wording of your question, it would appear that you have talked to more than one contractor. You would want to find someone that you feel comfortable selecting as your builder and work with that person to reduce costs. You need to tell them up front on the first meeting what you can spend. They can then tell you that it is either possible or that it is never going to happen. Then you don't waste any more money and you can make a decision to go to a totally different plan or buy an existing home.

Deborah, I would tend to agree with you and that is why I never recommend a competitive bid approach for custom projects and always line up the builder during the DESIGN stage as part of the team.

Well, with that approach the obvious question the average owner is going to ask is "Then how do I know I'm not getting screwed?".

Great question.

And the answer there lies in the fact we're not building a 7-11 here, we're building a custom project, be it an addition or a whole house, and by nature these projects are an emotional endeavor frought with varying degrees of modifications, changes, additions, subtractions, etc. each of which is going to have to be negotiated noncompetitively with the builder.

The "negotiated" bridge is going to have to be crossed sooner or later in most custom projects and when that happens an owner better feel very comfortable with the builder and have a lot of trust in him/her that they're being treated fairly in a noncompetitive situation. So why not cross that bridge from the start, dispense with "competitive" bids, sign on with a builder and use the builders knowledge to best advantage from the very start?

Another reason to forgo competitive bidding is it's very rare for all bids to be based on equal criteria, and I don't care how detailed the drawings are. And of course, the more detailed the drawings, the higher the design costs and more detail means more stuff that might change later which of course means more noncompetitive negotiations).

And another big factor here is building a custom project is more then about money. We're not buying a car where the interaction with the salesman lasts an hour or two. We're in an endeavor that will last several months, maybe a lot longer. The owner and the contractor will be joined at the hip for the duration so the relationship with these two parties better have a foundation that rests on more than just the dollar. A successful project has ample amounts of trust and respect among all parties so why not start out that way?

And BTW, working this way, I've had all my projects in the last 15 years, with the exception of one, come within budget (and in the one, against my advice, competitive and as it turned out, labor was not "a whole lot cheaper in West Virginia".).

I don't disagree Doug. You have a good process. I wish everyone would pull their "team" together to start with and let each player bring their strength to the table as you suggest. It would in the long run cost less and increase client satisfaction.

We just talked to a really nice couple. We reviewed their plans in March 2014 and provided an initial estimate at that time of approx. $210k for a remodel and addition - which was over their budget. Plans were done by a plan designer and were fraught with significant problems. They paid to have the plans completely reworked and we met with them again last week. The plans were much improved, but the remodel and addition space grew by 75% from the first plan. They thought they had done good! Revised estimate is now $350k+ and they were in shock. Their budget had only moved up to $200k. This is a gap that just can't be closed. This is what should not be happening. These folks are frustrated, and rightfully so.

Deborah, I just realized this is an 8 month old post! Oh well, written for the lurkers then which is not all that bad! Maybe the OP will update us on their project!

Yep, and I agree that most designers (architects or otherwise) tend to come up with great ideas but at the end of the day are unaffordable and only generate frustration.

And I would say that most owners don't understand costs. Not that it's their job but all one needs to do is read a few posts here where they indicate "we're on a budget", "money's tight", "not much to spend" but then they post photos or have in an "ideabook" full of photos of stuff that has dollar bills hanging all over it!

Too bad I'm not in Raleigh. Would love to work with you and your husband on a project.

Edit: Thought I'd post a photo taken just two weeks ago of a design session where the builder IS on board from the start. Whole new house. That's me, pen in hand with the builder (grey shirt) keeping costs firmly in line. And the owners listening. We're balancing creativity against costs from the start. Construction docs now and we're in budget.

Good for you. You need to push your national organization to have classes to teach architects how to collaborate!! You can teach the class.