How to Estimate the Cost to Build a New Home1. Determine Your Floor PlansStart by selecting a floor plan for your new home that's been completed by or adjusted by a local general contractor or architect, or search online or through books to find the plan of your dreams. Many builders will have a breadth of floor plans to choose from. These floor plans will determine the size, style, quality and features you desire in your new home and will be the baseline for your project from here on out.Get an idea of your new home's layout by viewing our featured floor plans.Next, you should find the right local builder. The builder you choose should be one who routinely constructs new homes that are comparable in size, style, quality and features to the new home you're hoping to build. Finding a suitable builder for your project is important in maintaining a proper execution, timeline, and budget for your build. They should be able to tell you their cost per square foot to build a house that is similar to yours, and at the same time, they should be able to give you an approximate idea of what your home might cost to build. It is always a good idea on your end to ask what exactly the new home construction cost includes.2. Get an Idea of What Your New Home Construction Costs Per Square FootArriving at an exact figure for new home costs per square foot might not be realistic, but getting a ballpark idea should be possible. To do this, take the total cost of your project, as outlined by your builder, and divide this number by the total number of square feet in your project. For example, if your new home is to be 2,000 square feet and your builder estimated that it would cost $350,000 to build, then your cost per square foot is 300,000 divided by 2,000, or $175.You can also compare your desired build to other newly constructed homes (again, those similar in size, style, quality, and features) in your area, then take the price of the home - minus the land it is on - and divide this by the amount of square footage in the home you wish to build. By doing this exercise with a few homes, you can also determine whether the estimate for your new home that your builder has provided is competitive and reasonable.3. Know What Style, Quality and Features Refer to in Relation to Estimating Your New Construction CostsThe final price of your new home won't just be determined by the size. Style, quality and features must not be overlooked when determining new home construction costs. StyleStyle refers to the architecture of the new home. Homes that are more square or rectangular cost less to build. The same is true for a two-story versus a one-story home with the same