Hi - I'm considering purchasing land in south-eastern Kansas (near
Humboldt). I'm curious what new home construction costs might roughly
be per square foot (not including the land). We are considering doing
the finishing (paint, tile) work ourselves, so I'd also like to know
the rough breakdown of the various costs. For example, the structure
(foundation/framing/walls/roof)  vs. finishing (paint/tile/carpet,
etc). Also the cost of running electricity and water to a property.
Last, we're wanting to put in a large basement - I'm curious about the
sq foot cost for that as well. Note that we have an architect and
civil engineer (friend of the family) already, so we don't need design
costs calculated in. Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by holyzoo-ga on 03 Jun 2005 15:06 PDT

Note: Not sure if it matters, but we're thinking of purchasing 20+
acres, building a 3000sq foot house plus 1500sq foot basement.

Rural Kansas construction costs can't be much different elsewhere in
the rural heartland. Here in NE Iowa you can buy a brand-new, basic
off-the-rack 2000 sq foot split entry, garage on the lower level (sq
footage includes garage), 4br 2bath house for under $150,000,
including lot (this is a city lot). Out here you have to drill more
than 400 feet thru solid limestone to get any decent water. For a
country acreage, the well, septic system, basic grading and
excavation, and bringing in electric and phone can cost anywhere from
$25 to $50K or more.

Good luck. Building your own home always costs more than you plan,
always takes longer than you plan, and as often as not, gets knotted
up in disputes with vendors and contractors.

I suggest the Means Residential Cost Data book.  The
BuildersBooksource.com has it for $99. They are
at:http://www.buildersbooksource.com/cgi-bin/booksite/2414.html.  You
might want to use the "assemblies" estimating method used in sections
of the book.  Estimating books give you information about discreet
parts of a building, but the edges and seams of a category that is
difficult when one wants to divide a house up into pieces of separate
work.  You can have a contractor build a partially complete structure,
then take it over and finish it yourself. The best way to do this is
to give up a meaningful chunk of work to a contractor, like the
basement, framing, and exterior envelope, including the roofing. Then
you can shop an apples to apples comparison for the work to be bid
out.  I think some very important costs are mentioned by waukon-ga:
the electical, phone and water.  He listed costs that are substantial
for these items.  Good luck, remember, regarding arguments: good
dispute resolution is good business.