Soft Costs in Construction

Hi Russ, we are preparing to build our new home and wondered if you could help educate us on what costs to expect outside of the estimate from you. – ML

Considering a new home or renovation project? Be sure to factor in some soft costs you might encounter that don’t come through your builder. We’ve listed the most common ones to help you with your planning.

• More electricity is used during construction which can increase your hydro bill
• Watch for power line connection and disconnection charges on your account

• Your house insurance is meant to be changed during a renovation due to increased activity, dangerous tools, heaters and other equipment being used in construction

• Loan generated interest
• Bank transaction charges
• Mortgage broker fees
• Accounting fees
• Taxes

• Hotels or temporary lodging
• Restaurant expenses
• Increased fuel usage if traveling from a further distance
• Occasional time away from work to engage with the project

Interactive Construction includes more than just putting nails into a house when pricing a job, so you may find these items in your planning estimate from us. You might not see these costs in a typical construction estimate, but most are usually required to complete the process.

• Plan creation & design
• Building permits
• Other municipal fees (new water main, sewer main, etc.)
• Engineering (Structural, Geotechnical)
• Variances that may be required
• Land surveys
• Hazardous materials testing that may be required

And let’s not forget the budget you’ll need for that big house warming party!