Some Figures for the build.

Over a year ago when we started thinking about getting a house built - we were encouraged by a price from a builder of 100,000 euro for a similar house to ours. This excluded finished floors, kitchen, tiling, fireplace(s).
We had a few more quotes for contractors to build the whole house - these ranged from 127000 euro to 201,000 euro !!. A big price range for the same house plan and basic materials.

We then got a price for labour only from a builder who would build it to roof level and then leave us to organise tradespeople to do the elecs, plumbing, plastering, carpentry, floors, kitchen.
We checked out the other potential costs on a few websites and with a local man who had just built a similar sized house. As late as August 2004 - we decided that this was the route to take. It looked like it would work out cheaper than all but the lowest priced builder - and this way we would be more involved with the quality of materials and the finer details of the house.

What actually happened?

We are still a fair bit from completion - but we have a much better idea of the expected final cost.
The house is a dormer bungalow with a hip roof. Constructed in concrete block cavity walls on a raft foundation. The roof is covered with concrete "slates" . The windows are UPVC double glazed Pilkington K glass. There are 4 bedrooms, (3 en suite), a bathroom, a kitchen and adjoining dining room, utility room, wc, a living room and a study /office room. There is a separate garage with a storeroom . The heating will be by oil fired boiler backed up with a solid fuel range cooker. (No mains gas where we are)
The bathroom suites will not be anything fancy.
The waste water will be treated by a waste treatment plant in the back garden (the house is miles from the nearest sewage system)

We are on target to get the actual house built (excl garage, gardens, driveway,kitchen, tiling, flooring) for 123000 euro. This is the "base" cost which we can compare like for like with the original builders quotes. This cost is fairly unlikely to rise - since we have had quotes for most of the outstanding jobs.
This is not the final price yet though - so don't get too excited!
We have to add on tility connections, legal and planning fees, Garage, Fitted Kitchen, Range Cooker, fencing, driveway, landscaping, tiling, flooring - to arrive at something liveable. Then we have to furnish it. The total estimate at the moment is close to 180000 euro - and that is with nothing fancy in the line of furniture .

More detailed breakdowns of costs in the next few days when I get time.