Estimating Costs

How Much Will It Cost To Build?

One of the most important questions you will have when browsing house plans is how much will this plan cost to build. America’s Best House Plans has taken the guesswork out of this important question by offering a Cost to Build report in partnership with StartBuild.

StartBuild uses a state-of-the-art estimator and an up-to-date list of current costs for materials and labor to create a Cost to Build Report. This document determines the overall and detailed costs of building your specific house plan in your exact location giving you the answer of how much it will cost to build your house.

In addition to the home’s specific floor plan and location, StartBuild allows you to factor in many of the material choices you’ll make in the process into the estimate. Options like granite countertops, tile roofs, high-end windows, or more exotic hardwood flooring can dramatically change the cost per square foot to construct a home - sometimes by more than 100% over the initial estimate.

Knowing these costs of building a house upfront will help you make more informed decisions well before even breaking ground!

Once purchased for $29.95, StartBuild will send you an email with login credentials, giving you access to your personal Cost to Build estimate. You have 30 days to access, adjust and download this report.

Overview Video

For more information, view the Sample Report

How-to Video

The following features make America's Best House Plans and StartBuild's Cost-to-Build Estimator the best estimating solution on the market:

ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE MATERIAL AND LABOR COSTS

StartBuild's continuously updated database comes from bids from actual contractors and suppliers.

TIME TO THINK IT OVER AND CHANGE YOUR MIND

Each estimate is available and modifiable for up to 30 days so you can reevaluate your options.

FAST AND CONVENIENT

Your personalized, online cost-to-build estimate will arrive two business days after your order.

SPECIFIC TO THE LOCATION OF THE POTENTIAL HOME

Each estimate is adjusted explicitly for regional differences in costs for materials and labor.

INDIVIDUALLY CUSTOMIZABLE TO HOME OPTION

Calculate costs based on the options that you want in the home, not a predetermined configuration.

COSTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED

Never get stuck with an outdated estimate. We identify and update potential cost increases before they occur, providing the most up-to-date estimate possible.