Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cost estimates

[Marganne Meyer (marganne]

At 10:00 AM -0500 2/14/10, Sharon Villines wrote:
> We have had tons of complaints about our construction but aside for 
> some poor design issues, other developers have consistently said, Oh, 
> that always happens.
>
> I once thought that having new construction would avoid all the 
> problems of old houses. And need no renovations. Wrong. Completely
> wrong.

Yep. Big advantage to an existing building where a lot of the 
surprises already are known and built.

Guess it's just me personally having a problem with developers 
consistently saying, "Oh, that always happens." Why would someone 
buying a home have to eat the expense if the contractor installed the 
wrong flooring? I wouldn't want to sign a contract with any developer 
who said I had to pay for mistakes they make. I'd want that spelled 
out in the contract up front. Maybe that's not what some people a 
used to doing. But that doesn't make it acceptable.

That's why I was asking about projects that come in under budget and 
within the time frame.I might depend on what values and goals are set 
by members. If a big increase in cost for a variety of things was 
acceptable to some but not to others, I wouldn't think it would make 
a good fit for cohousing.

It's another good reason I couldn't afford to buy into a $200,000 
home. On top of that would be the common house and common utility 
upgrades, then at least a 25% overrun. It means more of a $300,000 
price for building in cohousing. If the project was set up for Elder 
Housing, that would also add a big chunk more up front.

I think that's why a project that allows for sweat equity makes more 
sense for lower income people. If you had a small prefab house that 
cost $50,000, maybe the final expenses would be well under $100,000?

I also was thinking that for people who don't need a large living 
space, building a small house combined with a common house makes even 
more sense. There are all sorts of things that can be taken out of 
your small house (take a washer and dryer please) and be used 
communally in the common house.

mm