What Does It Cost to Build a Custom Home in the Nashville Area?
If you’re considering building a custom home in Nashville, Franklin, Williamson County, or elsewhere in Middle Tennessee, one of the first questions you probably have is also one of the hardest to answer: What does it actually cost to build a custom home?
The short answer is that there isn’t a single price-per-square-foot number that accurately represents every custom home.
Two homes with the same square footage can have very different budgets depending on the property you’re building on, the style and architecture of the home, material choices used to build and furnish it, the level of finish, site conditions, and how your family wants to live. A home with a relatively simple footprint on a level lot is a very different project from an estate-style home with extensive stonework, a pool, outdoor living spaces, specialty rooms, and a challenging building site. The expertise of your team also plays a role.
That’s why understanding the cost of custom-built homes starts with understanding what goes into it the full process.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Home in Nashville?
When you start to look into custom home construction in the Nashville metropolitan area, you’ll often see costs discussed in terms of price per square foot. That can be useful as a very early reference point, but it shouldn’t be treated as a quote or even necessarily as an accurate predictor of what you’ll actually spend in terms of total project cost.
With a truly custom luxury home, the cost is shaped by hundreds of decisions made throughout the design and construction process.
The size of the home matters, of course, but so does what is included within that square footage. How tall your ceilings are, what kinds of windows you choose, if you’re using custom cabinetry, the kinds of appliances you pick out, your flooring, plumbing fixtures, millwork, stonework and masonry, specialty spaces, structural requirements, and mechanical systems can all have a big impact on your final investment total.
There are also expenses separate from the home itself. Think about things like site preparation, utility connections, landscaping, driveways, pools, detached structures, and other property improvements you may want to make. You’re going to need to factor these kinds of things into your overall budget to get you to your final cost.
Instead of asking “What’s the cost per square foot,” you’re better off looking at your numbers and working backward, asking questions like, “What can we build for this investment?” That way, your builder, design team, and other vendors have a better idea of what they’re realistically working with.
What Affects the Cost of Building a Custom Home?
When you’re doing your research about all that will go into building a custom home, it can help you see the full picture if you understand what kinds of factors can affect the cost and what will impact your budget the most.
1. The Property
The site itself can be a huge part of your total costs. It can also impact other aspects of your construction costs.
Property in Middle Tennessee can vary quite a bit. You might find yourself building on a lot in a neighborhood, or you might be drawn to more land and more space, like several rolling acres a bit further out. Understanding your property is a critical first step before taking the leap into a full design.
Ask questions or do your research to make sure you understand:
How much grading will be required
If the property is served by sewer or needs a septic system
How utilities will work
What considerations have been made for drainage
What kinds of building restrictions and setbacks you’ll be facing
If you need a retaining wall or can add a basement
How long your driveway will be
If you need to address any trees or structures already on the property
Ensuring you have a solid due diligence period when you’re purchasing your property is critical whenever possible. That way, you and your building team will be able to take a closer look at water, electricity, septic, and other important site considerations before you break ground and move forward with building your home.
Not every parcel of land is going to be a good fit for the home you’re envisioning, so understanding what works best for the property before you make big design and budget decisions can save you both time and money.
2. The Architecture
What your home will look like can also influence the cost. Some architectural styles and home shapes will cost more than others. A simple, straightforward footprint can be easier and more cost-effective than a home with multiple wings, varied rooflines, lots of glass, and extensive stonework.
You don't necessarily need to simplify your architecture because of the cost, however. One of the best parts of building a custom home is that you can create a space that has the character and details you love, even if you may have to do some compromising on your overall vision.
Getting the builder involved early on in the process can help make this process more seamless, allowing you to combine conversations about architecture and budget and helping you make thoughtful decisions about where your budget can make the most impact.
3. The Level of Interior Finish
Interior finishes can really cause two similarly sized homes to diverge in terms of pricing. When you’re talking about custom cabinetry, natural stone, wide-plank hardwood, specialty tile, premium appliances, designer fixtures, intricate details, high-end finishes, and the like, the overall cost can climb. That being said, those kinds of custom touches can all add tons of character and personality to your home.
Whether you’re looking at kitchens, primary bathrooms, closets, offices, bars, laundry rooms, fireplaces, or outdoor space, you might have the same size and shape of your space, but depending on the finishing touches, the level of investment can be far different.
4. Specialty Spaces
One of the best parts about designing a custom home from scratch is that you can really make your home fit how you spend your time.
Depending on who is living in the home, you may prioritize a home gym, a golf simulator, a wine room, media room, large bar for entertaining, craft space, bunk room, scullery, oversized pantry, outdoor kitchen, or library. These kinds of spaces can make your home really feel like your home and so are worth considering, but they need to be budgeted for from early on in the process.
Discussing your priorities with your building and design teams can help ensure that you’re making the most of your budget and creating a home that you’ll love.
5. Outdoor Living
When you’re building a home in Middle Tennessee or the greater Nashville area, outdoor living can’t be treated as an afterthought. Because of the climate, you can use outdoor spaces as a true extension of your home for much of the year.
Covered porches, screened rooms, pools, cabanas, balconies, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and food prep spaces, landscaping, and more can all make such a big difference when it comes to how you’re able to use your home. But all of those features can also represent a meaningful chunk of your total investment.
If intricate outdoor spaces or something large like a pool or full kitchen is important to you, it’s a good idea to bring up those priorities in early conversations. When you plan the full property altogether, interiors and exteriors alike, you often end up with a cohesive design. Not only that, but you’ll also have a better grasp on what the total investment might look like for the plans you’d prefer.
6. The Details You Don’t Always See
It’s really easy to get caught up on your home’s footprint, interior finishes, and decor, but some of the most important investments you’ll need to make in your custom home are actually things you won’t see (or won’t notice).
Investing in quality windows, doors, insulation, HVAC systems, waterproofing, foundation work, electrical capacity, and other structural and mechanical components can help your home live better over time. You’ll want to make sure the home that’s built feels solid and functions well so that it’ll work well for your family for many years to come.
Make sure you’re looking closely at the numbers on detailed estimates because a lower number might not actually represent the same scope, specifications, or standards.
Building a Custom Home in Nashville, Franklin, and Middle Tennessee
So, what does it cost to build a custom home in the Nashville area?
There isn’t one number that applies to every project, and for a truly custom home, there shouldn’t be.
The right budget depends on what you’re building, where you’re building it, and what you want the finished home to include. A productive conversation with a custom builder should give you more than a generic price range. It should also help you understand what is possible and what decisions will have the greatest effect on your investment.
At Zurich Homes, we build custom homes throughout Franklin, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee, from homes within established neighborhoods to residences designed specifically for a client’s own property. Our process is collaborative from the beginning, with the goal of creating a home that feels considered, personal, and built to last.
If you’re beginning to think about building a custom home, even if you’re still in the early stages, we’d be happy to talk through your plans, property, and what the process could look like.
FAQs
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A larger home doesn’t always mean a higher spend per square foot. It can mean that, but it doesn’t necessarily. When you’re talking about different sized homes, price per square foot isn’t always the best comparison.
Custom builds can have major upgrades and more expensive components that don’t necessarily scale proportionally with square footage. Features like large primary bathrooms, fancy kitchens, premium appliances, top-of-the-line mechanical systems, and the like can all make a house more expensive without adding to the square footage.
Because of that, it might cost you less per square foot to add extra space to a living area or bedroom than to upgrade other spaces with luxurious features.
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When you’re thinking about what your total spend will be when you’re building a custom home, it’s important to think about the entire property, not just the construction of the home itself.
Depending on your property and the plans you’re making, here’s some of what you might need to factor in:
Land costs
Site preparation and grading
Utility work
Septic installation
Driveways and motor courts
Retaining walls
Landscaping and irrigation
Pool and spa
Outdoor structures
Fencing and gates
Architectural and engineering services
Interior design and furnishings
Your project may not include all of these important factors, but if you know what you might need to include early on, you’ll be able to factor them into your budget, instead of ending up in a situation where all of your available budget is committed before these things were considered.
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You might be tempted to jump right into the overall square footage and footprint you’re thinking about, but one of the best things you can do before you start meeting with custom home builders is to make a list of your priorities.
How do you actually want to spend your time in your home? What features will make that lifestyle easier or more convenient? What’s absolutely essential versus just nice to have? Understanding your key priorities and what matters most to you can be more productive than just knowing what your target square footage looks like.
A thoughtful custom-building process should help you understand the relationship between your wish list and your budget, then determine where it makes sense to invest, adjust, or simplify.
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You’ll actually want to start talking to a builder earlier than you might think.
Start having conversations with builders before you have finalized architectural plans or design plans. We like to work with our clients so that they can make informed decisions about the property, scope, architecture, and more before they’re too far along.
If you’re still looking at properties, a quick conversation with a builder can also help you understand if there are specific practical considerations you’d need to make for a particular property.
Ideally, you’re bringing the different pieces together early on in the process so that things go as easily and efficiently as possible.
Thinking about building in Middle Tennessee? Learn more about our process.
