Construction: Realistic price per square foot (US dollars) ... opinions please

[bull123]

For good quality ... not Lions Gate quality =) ... any realistic estimates ... thanks

[YUL514]

Do a search,lots of info on building in the DR

[bull123]

OK, let me re-phrase ... What is the difference between quoted price vs. actual price when the dust clears? Has anyone up here gone through the process (as of late) ... we are going to do a 5,000 square foot house on one level ... thanks guys

[SantiagoDR]

OK, let me re-phrase ... What is the difference between quoted price vs. actual price when the dust clears? Has anyone up here gone through the process (as of late) ... we are going to do a 5,000 square foot house on one level ... thanks guys

PM Chip, he has his own business building houses.

[waytogo]

PM Chip, he has his own business building houses.

Uh oh, I feel a chubby comin on..........

B in Santiago

[william webster]

We built in 2008, finished in Dec 2008. Cost was just over $100 /foot... say $110 to be safe

You could be higher or lower based on components. and how much you buy on sale and where you buy it.
We had a lot of local stone - coralina, pizarro(sp?) and so on.

That price had a pool included..

Our quote was firm and came in on budget but we are in Cabrera - a bit more out of the way than Sosua/Cabarete.

Our builder's reputation is a good one - that's hard to find in RD.
Be sure and get references

[Bob K]

We built 4 years ago at about $100 a square foot

Bob K

[kampinge]

Never pay in advance, I done it and lost 4.000.000 Peso. Since 6 years ago in the court and No decision. Don't believe in contract, they are not worth the price of the paper. As a gringo you loose always.

[william webster]

Trying to find a builder who can front the construction costs and bill you later is tough to find here sometimes.

I've never heard of one.... but maybe they exist..... dunno

Every transaction I do, they ask for the deposit to buy piedra, cemento, whatever it calls for.
They can front the labor, not the materials

[Chip]

For those who want to pay as you go during the construction use the "construction administration" type of contract where no money is deposited but rather invoices are presented to the owner for costs, materials and labor and are paid in a timley manner.

For example, I am doing a project for a fellow DR1'er here in Santiago and I believe the costs for the construction of his 250 sm home will be around US43 per square foot for Class A construction, 10' ceilings with all windows and ironwork. This does not include the price of the land. I can't promise I can do another one this cheap because I made so little money but it wouldn't be too far off the mark.