What does it cost to build a home?

One of the first and most common questions we receive as a new home builder is, “How much does it cost to build a custom home?”

With all the variables that can impact the cost of a custom home, providing an initial price per square foot ahead of detailed discovery questions is a disservice to our prospective clients and ignores the nuances of each client’s unique needs.

We also understand that building a custom home is likely the largest investment you will make, and knowing how our costs fit into your desired budget is critical in getting started.

At Kimberley Homes, we believe in our pricing, our value, and price transparency.

Here are a few considerations to better understand what makes up the pricing of a custom home:

Specification

Builder pricing—whether custom or not—is always based on a personalized building specification. The specification is commonly referred to as what’s “standard”. The specification is the DNA of how your home will be constructed and finished. Homebuilders create their own building specifications to capture what most of their clients desire as a starting point, and this is intrinsically linked to the price.

Square Footage

The size and layout of your home significantly impact price.

• Main Floor Size: The larger the main floor, the higher the cost. This is why bungalows can seem more expensive than two-story homes; the foundation is one of the most expensive components of your home build, and a larger main floor footprint increases this cost.
• Basement Development: Basements typically cost less per square foot to develop compared to second floors.
• Garage: Garages are not included in the finished square footage of homes. However, as the size of your garage increases, so does the overall cost.

Design Features

Certain design choices and requirements can significantly affect the cost per square foot:

• Exterior Elevations and Materials: Extravagant exteriors and premium materials such as stucco or James Hardie—often required in estate communities—can result in higher costs compared to building in communities with minimal architectural requirements where materials like vinyl are permitted.
• Walkout Lots: A walkout lot requires additional concrete and exterior materials, which also increase costs.
• Community and Homesite: The community and lot you choose play a significant role in determining what is permitted to be built, what is required to be built, and ultimately the cost per square foot.

At Kimberley Homes, we collaborate with you throughout the process of designing your floorplan and exterior elevation. We ensure that you understand the cost implications of various design features, whether required by the community or desired by you.

Pricing Details

The floorplans available to browse on our website typically start at $250–$275 per square foot for 2-storey homes, based on our standard specifications. However, the factors mentioned above can affect this range. We are here to guide you through the initial planning and pricing stages to ensure clarity and confidence.

Kimberley’s homebuilding experience includes Kimberley’s Interior Decorating Concierge, who guides you through every stage of the selections process, as well as a dedicated Site Superintendent, Construction Manager, and Client Care Team through your custom build journey.

Fixed Price Builder

Kimberley Homes operates as a fixed-price builder. This means the price in your Purchase Agreement reflects your chosen floorplan and specifications. Unless these elements change, your price will remain the same.

Cost-Plus Option

For clients who own their land already, Kimberley Homes is also pleased to offer a cost-plus pricing option.

 

Reach out to our New Home Concierge today to start you custom homebuilding Journey!