Answer to questions about Turnkey costs
by
Jack@LogHomesByJack.com
For residential log homes in central Virginia, we estimate turnkey cost these days at $110 to $175/sf. As a rule, smaller cabins cost more per square foot than do larger log homes. That is due to some of the fixed costs that are needed in large and small homes. That includes items like the foundation, mechanicals, plumbing and HVAC.
Recreational cabins with materials that will not pass residential code requirements can cost considerably less. DIYers can probably knock as much as 30% off the turnkey costs with sweat equity. When there are no building codes to follow, estimated turnkey prices can go down.
* * Note that there can be huge turnkey cost differences when working on a beer versus a champagne budget. * *
Geography also factors into the estimated turnkey cost of homes. Construction in some zip codes are way more costly than others.
Here in VA, construction costs go up as we get closer to Northern Virginia and the DC area. In TN, it is the Gatlinburg area, costs can nearly double in comparison to what it costs here. In many CA, NY and CO areas, it is the cost of living and code requirements that add to the turnkey costs. In contrast, turnkey costs in Eastern NC have been a bit lower but they are much higher than our average in the Western NC Mountain areas around the Asheville area.
However, there are no geographic differences in the cost of our material packages in all of these areas apart from sales taxes and delivery fees. In that regard, it would make economic sense to buy as much of the materials as possible from us rather than pay higher prices for the same materials in the high income areas.
