Living in a house built to our specifications and desires is truly a wonderful experience, one we would cherish every single day of our lives. Making this dream a reality starts with purchasing land in a prime & thriving locality and then designing and constructing the house of our dreams in that piece of land. 

Let us look at the different aspects of this project and how one can arrive at an estimate of the cost of construction of their dream villa – 

Subcontract or labour contract

The entire process of house construction can be subcontracted to an able and reliable subcontractor, in that case, the construction of the house would be a turnkey project where the contractor would take care of the entire process including the civil work, procurement of materials & labour, labour management, along with the final touches including the fittings and fixtures. 

In this scenario a clear document specifying the scope of activities of the contractor, the quality parameter for the raw materials, the date of completion of different phases of construction, the payment terms for the milestones, the penalty & liability clauses, should be made at the beginning. In this mode of construction the owner is not burdened with the cumbersome task of material procurement, monitoring & managing the labour, etc.

In the case of a labour contract the owner procures the materials which includes all the raw materials, and the fittings & fixtures; the contractor supplies only the labour. The scope of labour work and the payment terms are agreed upon before the process. This method of construction is appropriate for those who are highly specific about the quality of materials and need total control over the process, but it is highly demanding in terms of time and effort.

Now let us explore the different costs involved in the construction process – 

Architectural and design costs

It is definitely preferred to hire a professional architect or designer to sketch out the design of the house. This ensures the optimal utilisation of available space, contemporary design, proper ventilation provisions and adherence to the government laid rules & regulations for building construction. The fee of the architect should be included in the total cost of construction. 

Civil costs

The civil work includes excavation, foundation, concrete work, brickwork, plastering, flooring, etc. It consists of two elements one is material cost and another labour cost. Material cost would include the cost of cement, steel, bricks, sand, stone, water and labour charges would include the expense  towards excavation,  brickwork, framework and shuttering, flooring, painting, plumbing, electrical work, fixing of Windows, doors, etc. The material cost fluctuates and one needs to find the exact prevailing prices to arrive at the right figure.

In case of subcontract mode of construction, the contractor would include all these and provide a quote for the process, and in case of labour contract the owner procures the required raw materials and the labour cost is calculated individually for each work based on the labour rate and the time taken to complete.

Both the material charges and labour charges fluctuate and on an average the construction rate per square foot of built-up area in Chennai ranges from Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 2,400. This also varies depending on the location of the plot, the design of the villa and the quality standards desired. 

Finishing cost

The total budget estimate for the villa should include the finishing cost, this would include the expense towards the final finishing touches of the house like fixing of door, windows, electrical & plumbing work, tiling, and the woodwork designing. 

How to optimise the construction cost

Though there are multiple costs involved in the total budget for the house construction, there are some basic rules which will help optimise it – 

• Minimise changes:  Have a detailed plan in hand after discussions with engineers, architects, and vendors and then proceed with the construction process. Changes during the construction process can cause huge overheads
• Material selection:  Analyse the market and check the prices from different vendors and choose the materials based on the quality ,durability and finally cost-effectiveness. Choosing quality materials may seem costly initially but it saves a lot of time and effort in replacement of faulty and substandard ones later. 
• Land selection: When your plot is situated in a locality which is well-connected and accessible making transportation of materials easy and quick, one saves on the transportation charges.
• Plot layout & design – Plot’s shape and terrain can affect the complexity of the foundation and excavation work, thereby influencing construction costs. Consult with an architect to choose a plot with a layout ideal for building the house.

Remember to incorporate rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and efficient waste management systems, these sustainable practices save money in the long run and contribute towards the environment. Ensure that the design of the villa adheres to the government rules related to Floor area ratio, building height, fire safety, etc., 

With detailed planning, expert advice and the above tips you can arrive at an optimal budget for your dream villa on your plot. Check out the gated community villa plots in the city’s emerging localities, with good infrastructure and great connectivity they make for the ideal place to build your dream home for a life of comfort and happiness.