The cost of building a private house will not be what it initially seemed.

Often people open classifieds portals, look at apartment prices, and are outraged – they could build a house for that kind of money.
Yes, you can. And you can’t.

It is one of the biggest illusions in the world of real estate , because building a house almost never costs as much as it seems at first. Building it for the intended amount is like a legend that does not exist in real life. When someone says: “A house costs 1500 euros per square meter,” they usually do not tell the whole truth. This number can include only the building structures. Or a house with full finishing. Or something in between.

As a result, two people are talking about the same 150 square meter house, but one thinks of a ready-to-live-in property, while the other thinks of a building without floors, kitchens, and bathrooms. Therefore, the first rule is simple: never believe a single number . Land is not free either, and it is often not included in the total figure by future homeowners.

A plot of land is just the beginning. It often requires electricity, water, sewage, a driveway, drainage and a host of other works that are often overlooked – even unintentionally. There are cases when laying communications costs as much as a good used car. Sometimes even more. The terrain of the land must also be taken into account. If the plot of land looks romantically hilly, the builder will probably describe it in less romantic terms.

Most people believe that the house is ready when the roof is put on . In fact, only one part of this multi-layered marathon is completed at that moment. Then comes the electrical installation, heating, ventilation, plumbing, decoration, floors, tiles, painting, doors, stairs, lighting and hundreds of other smaller decisions, each of which takes up a larger or smaller part of the total budget. And it is these little things that increase the initially utopian estimate. Because no one plans to overpay for handles, switches or a shower stall. But when the moment of choice comes, it suddenly turns out that there are several thousand euros between the cheapest and the most pleasant option.

If there’s one thing that regularly surprises homeowners, it’s the kitchen.
Everything looks simple on the internet, a cabinet here, a cabinet there, appliances, a sink. In reality, a quality kitchen can cost much more, even if you don’t plan on going luxury.

The yard also wants its own court. When the house is ready, many people think that the hardest part is behind them. But then you realize that you are waiting for a terrace, paving stones, a fence, a gate, a lawn, lighting, greenery and hundreds of other details, without which the property will look like a construction site. And very often, people don’t include yard costs in their initial budget at all.

So how much does it cost to build a private house? That’s the question everyone wants a simple answer to. Something will become more expensive, something will be delayed. Something will have to be redone. And all this is not pessimism, it’s simply a constructionist.

Be smarter!
When drawing up an estimate, include at least 10% for unforeseen expenses.
And if everything is done right, it’s one of the few investments you can call home every night.