Reducing Square Footage: One way to dramatically reduce costs is to just reduce the square footage of the entire home. Think small and cozy to slash costs. Another smart strategy is to build upward with a two-story design rather than outward, such as with a ranch design.
Choosing a Stock Design: Custom designs cost more in design time, materials and labor. Most log and timber home manufacturers have dozens of stock plans that they have built time and time again. Many errors have been eliminated in these designs, which makes them go up smoothly, saving you time and money.
Reducing Lineal Feet of Logs: Adding decorative stone, cedar shake or stucco can actually accent logs and reduce costs.
Opt for a Simple Roof System: The roof is one of the most expensive material and labor line items in your budget. This is why the simpler the roof system, the less expensive it will be. The most inexpensive roof is a simple, single ridgeline with a shallow pitch. More complicated roof systems, called hips and valleys with a steeper pitch, are more visually interesting. But they are also a lot more expensive.
Use Drywall on Interior: Pine paneling on the interior of your ceiling looks great. However, it’s roughly twice the cost of drywall—and cedar paneling is even more expensive than pine.
More Modest Kitchen: If your marriage can take the heat, down grade your kitchen appliances and amenities. Almost everything in a kitchen can be upgraded later, including flooring, appliances and cabinetry.
Don’t Take a Bath on Your Bath: Much like kitchens, bathrooms have a variety of materials that can be upgraded later. If you want that jetted tub in the master bath but can’t afford it now, specify a soaking tub of the same size from the same manufacturer. Swapping it out in the future will be a snap.
Avoid Change Orders: Last minute changes in design or materials are called “change orders” and they can quickly take a toll on your budget. Save these for correcting any serious errors.