QUICK GUIDE QUALITY & COSTS

The core elements of a building project are relatively straightforward to estimate. The cost of constructing a house shell in brick and block cavity walling with a simple trussed roof, for instance, can be ballparked based on structural plans and known, measured rates.

Things change quickly, however, when you start to add in complicated bespoke architecture or move away from standard materials. For example, you might spend £15,000-£20,000 on standard electrics, while a fully-integrated, lifestyle-enhancing smart home setup is likely to cost at least twice that – but could offer value for money and the convenience you want.

In order to get an accurate picture of how different specification choices will affect your build costs, you will need to source individual, like-for-like quotes. But here’s a rough guide to the potential uplift you might expect over and above the figures in our cost chart:

Build Complexity Straightforward x1.00 Slightly unusual x1.10 Highly complex x1.15

Fit-out Quality Standard x1.00 Mid-range x1.05 High spec x1.10 Luxury x1.15