Cohousing-L Mailing List: Building Cost Index

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

In addition to the article Ann just mentioned is the Turner Turner Building 
Cost Index. It was started and is kept by a huge international construction 
company that needs it for its own projects and shares it with the world. It 
predicts the next quarter and also includes decades historical figures. Maybe 
useful for discussing prices.

> Turner has prepared the construction cost forecast for more than 80 years. 
> Used widely by the construction industry and Federal and State governments, 
> the building costs and price trends tracked by The Turner Building Cost Index 
> may or may not reflect regional conditions in any given quarter. The Cost 
> Index is determined by several factors considered on a nationwide basis, 
> including labor rates and productivity, material prices and the competitive 
> condition of the marketplace. This index does not necessarily conform to 
> other published indices because others do not generally take all of these 
> factors into account. 

https://www.turnerconstruction.com/cost-index

One reason I think it would be more trustworthy than an index by a 
(self-serving trade association or not quite with it government agency) is that 
it is used by the company itself in their own bidding process. If it were 
wrong, they would be shooting themselves in the foot.

For reserve studies, the construction cost index is more relevant for some 
parts than the inflation rate. Construction is a unique category of goods and 
labor that is affected by technology, skilled worker availability, and 
resources depletion.

Sharon
——
Sharon Villines
Strong Neighborhoods
https://www.strongneighborhoods.info/