Submitted by: RN
The primary factors that drive up the cost of any project are:
Uniqueness
Anything that's different from the way the builders have always done it - new technologies, custom details, quirky whimsical details your architect put in the design, special materials that are harder to source and work with (looking at you, rainforest hardwoods), and so on.
Corners also fall into this category - the more corners in your design, the more cuts need to be made, the more material will be needed, the more labor it'll take to install all that material, the more trim is put up to hide the cuts, and so on. Every exterior corner adds 30% more surface area than a straight wall of the same size.
Glass
Windows and doors get 5% more expensive every year and take a big jump every 3-5 years when the energy code makes them more efficient. Passive house windows are on the high end since they perform so much better than their low-cost Andersen 100 series vinyl counterparts.
Finishes
The quality and complexity of interior and exterior finishes has a huge impact on the overall cost.
On the low end your options are drywall, drywall and drywall. A minimal amount of trim is necessary (where the walls meet the floor and door/window openings).
As you start to replace drywall with wainscoting, wallpaper, wood shiplap, and tile, your finish costs will go up significantly. The more trim you add (crown moldings, chair rails, picture frame panels, etc.), the more your finishes will cost. Cabinetry and custom built-ins are also very expensive relative to an equivalent sized piece of furniture such as a china cabinet or hutch.
Many finishes are more expensive up front and last longer with less maintenance. So before you cut out that standing seam metal roof and replace it with asphalt shingles, consider if you're prepared to replace the shingles in 15-20 years, or would prefer to replace the metal in 40-50 years.
Changes
As it starts to get built (or if you find yourself waiting too long for it to get built), more ideas will come to you and changes will be very tempting. My advice is to make choices, not changes. Once you make a choice, commit to it and stick with it. Changes have a trickle-down effect that creates hidden costs in other places.
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