Cheapest Way to Frame a House

Instructions

• 1

  Assume the role of general contractor. As the general contractor, you will be responsible for obtaining competitive bids, hiring and managing the subcontractors, overseeing the quality of work and ensuring that any warranty issues that arise on completion of the job is addressed without any cost to you.

• 2

  Design your own house. Hiring an architect to draw up your house plan from scratch can cost you up to $2,500. If you have an idea of the house you desire, you can provide the architect with a rough sketch. However, you should be prepared to cover the expense of finalizing the blueprint. If you are unable to hire an architect, there are a number of online resources, such as thehousedesigners.com, where you can purchase and download ready-to-use house plans at reasonable rates.

• 3

  Obtain building permits to execute your house building project. The house you intend to build must be in compliance with local building codes. Therefore, you should check with your local authorities to ensure that your desired house meets their requirements. Your house plan will play a pivotal role in the permit decision-making process. Processing times for building permits vary from two to six weeks. Depending on your project's estimated construction cost, you can expect to pay 3 to 4 percent for smaller projects and less than 1 percent for projects in the $1 million range.

• 4

  Purchase building materials separately. Buying your frame, floor system, trusses, windows, doors and roofing materials separately can cut down your expenses. You should compare prices and contact the companies selling these materials to see what packages they offer.