Aug 22, 2022 - 11m read
How Much Does it Cost to Build a House in Georgia?
If you are considering moving to Georgia and searching for the right home, two options are available: purchasing a home that’s listed on the market or building a new home from scratch. Building a home requires you to buy the land on which the home is set to be built on. Once you’ve made this purchase, you can get started on gathering the necessary materials and hiring the right contractors.
Anthony Reinoehl
Co-Founder
If you are considering moving to Georgia and searching for the right home, two options are available: purchasing a home that’s listed on the market or building a new home from scratch. Building a home requires you to buy the land on which the home is set to be built on. Once you’ve made this purchase, you can get started on gathering the necessary materials and hiring the right contractors.
Before making this decision, however, you should take some time to calculate the costs to make sure that you can afford to build your own home in Georgia. Along with the piece of land that you’ll be tasked with buying, some of the other costs associated with this project involve design costs, material costs, labor costs, equipment rental expenses, installation costs, and permit fees.
Once you’ve identified all of the potential costs that could apply to your new construction project, consider creating a comprehensive budget that allows you to determine what you can afford. With this budget in hand, it becomes easier to identify what you can and can’t afford while selecting materials and hiring contractors for the project. This guide tells you all you need to know about the costs associated with building a new home in Georgia.
Average Cost to Build a House in Georgia
If you want to build a home in Georgia, the average cost for doing so largely depends on the type and size of the home you’d like to build. These costs can separated into categories of:
- Small home – $300,000 for a 1,500 square-foot home
- Mid-sized home – $450,000 for a 2,500 square foot home
- Large home – $800,000 for a 4,000 square-foot home
Cost per Square Foot to Build a House in Georgia
Georgia homes are available in every size. It’s common for homes throughout Georgia to have a floor-plan that amounts to around 2,000 square feet. On the other hand, it’s possible to find homes that are considerably smaller or larger. The main building guidelines that you must adhere to in Georgia include having one habitable room that’s at least 70 square feet and one wall that’s at least seven feet wide. No other size restrictions exist.
You should expect the costs of a Georgia home to range from $100-$500 per square foot with a traditional home being more expensive than a modular home. If you’d like a smaller home that’s around 1,500 square feet, you should expect to pay anywhere from $225,000-$375,000. Keep in mind that building your own home is considerably more expensive than purchasing a home that’s already been built. For instance, a pre-built home with a 1,500 square-foot floor-plan will cost you around $150,000-$210,000 in Georgia.
Cost to Build a House in Georgia by Type
When you want to build a home in Georgia, you can use the stick-building or modular method. The stick-building method involves constructing a home on a foundation that’s been poured at the site where the home is being built. Once the foundation has been poured, the frame will be built. Keep in mind that the stick-building option is the most common type of construction when building homes in Georgia.
As for modular home construction, there are two techniques you can use with this approach, which include ready-made and custom-built. Ready-made modular homes are ones where portions of the home are sent to the construction site in large pieces. These pieces are then set directly on the foundation before construction is finished.
If you want to have your home custom-built, you can construct this home from building plans or with the modular method, which involves building the home in a factory with the assistance of advanced technology, which means that there aren’t notable delays because of weather or material sourcing. Once all parts have been completed, they will be delivered to the main site for construction.
Custom Homes
If you’d like to build a custom home, this form of construction involves purchasing the land before construction begins. You’ll then need to hire a design firm or architect to create a personalized home that meets your exact specifications. Keep in mind that building a custom home means that you’ll likely be required to apply for a construction loan as well as a permanent loan, which can be done with the same lender.
The price you pay for a custom home in Georgia can vary considerably based on the material and labor costs for the project. Building a 2,500 square-foot home from scratch can cost anywhere from $250,000-$500,000.
Production Homes
Production homes are built in a community or area that’s currently under construction. When purchasing a production home, the land costs will be included in the total price. If you want to buy a larger lot, you’ll need to pay more money.
Step-by-Step Process to Build a House in Georgia
This next section provides you with a step-by-step guide on how to build and budget a new Georgia home.
1. Land Cost in Georgia
The total cost of buying land in Georgia depends on several factors, the primary of which include the location of the land as well as the requirement that you live in the city. Make sure that you take the surrounding neighborhood or area into account, which means that you should look at schools, living standards, and transportation options.
Once you’ve found land that fits your requirements, you can identify if government services are available in the area. The total cost of a piece of land will also depend on how dense the population is and the presence of utilities. If the land has already been developed, it will cost more than undeveloped land.
2. Planning and Design Cost in Georgia
You’ll be tasked with paying a certain amount of money to hire an engineer, land surveyor, and architect. The architect you hire will design your home in accordance with your specifications. The majority of architects charge anywhere from $50-$150 per hour in Georgia. An engineer must be hired when planning the infrastructure for your home. This professional can charge anywhere from $100-$250 per hour. Land surveyors cost upwards of $200-$1,000.
3. Materials Cost in Georgia
The materials you select for your home will make up a sizable portion of your total project costs. In fact, it’s common for material costs to be around 50% of the project costs. Here’s a list of some of the more common construction materials and what they typically cost.
- Flooring – $1-$14 per square foot
- Insulation – $0.25 to $5 per square foot
- Lumber – $30,000-$70,000
- Drywall – $10-$25 for every sheet
- Roofing – $1,000-$7,000
- Siding – $2-$28 for every square foot
- Concrete – $1,000-$12,000
4. Labor Cost in Georgia
Now that you know how to estimate material costs, it’s important to calculate how much labor costs will be. When building a home in Georgia, the costs associated with labor depend on many different aspects. For one, the contractor’s reputation and purchasing power will determine how much they cost to hire.
The size of the home and the design complexity will also play a part in dictating what labor costs will be. Labor costs for new construction homes range from $50,000-$80,000 in 2022. These costs can be separated into:
- Framer costs – $7-$15 for every square foot
- Roofing rate – $5,000-$10,000
- Construction manager – $5,000-$50,000
- Plumber – $45-$200 per hour
- Electrician – $50-$100 per hour
5. Machine Rent Cost in Georgia
The most common types of heavy machinery that must be rented for construction include excavators and bulldozers. These machines can be rented on a daily, monthly, or yearly interval. The costs of rental heavy machinery can be around $200-$350 a day, $800-$1,100 a week, and $2,500-$5,000 a month.
6. Installation of Major Systems Cost in Georgia
Another important aspect of new construction costs involves the installation costs for major systems and appliances. System installation involves plumbing, wiring, and insulation. You can expect materials and labor for these systems to cost anywhere from $30,000-$90,000. Individual systems can be priced at:
- Wiring and electrical – $20,000-$30,000
- HVAC unit – $1,500-$12,000
- Plumbing system – $7,000-$15,000
7. Permits and Fees Cost in Georgia
Before you can build a home in Georgia, you’ll need to apply for and obtain a building permit, which ensures that the building plans for your home match local building codes and regulations. Permits for septic systems, utilities, and occupancy are typically included with the building permit. This permit will cost you around $500-$2,000.
Overall Timeline
If you want to construct a home from scratch in Georgia, you can expect this process to take anywhere from 2-12 months depending on the size of the building and complexity of the project. The weather will also determine how long the home takes to build. The average time for construction is seven months.
Any issue with your permit application could result in the construction process being delayed even further. The builder you hire should be able to provide you with a relatively accurate estimate of how long it will take to build your home.
Now that you know about the costs associated with building a home in Georgia, you should have what you need to determine if you can afford constructing your own home. Match the estimated costs with your allotted budget. If the costs seem too high, you may be able to reduce your expenses by changing materials.
Let's Talk
CC Capital is Constantly Climbing to ensure we are at the forefront of simplicity and service when it comes time to sell your home. We are always available to answer any questions you may have. Please reach out to us today!
