Are you looking for a contractor?

Submit our quick form and get quotes now!

Table of Contents

What are the costs to consider when building a new house?

What are the costs to consider when building a new house?

Exterior renovationsWhat are the costs to consider when building a new house?

Building a new home is an exciting prospect, as many wait their whole lives to be able to put their plans for a dream home into action. Of course, constructing a house from the ground up can be a complicated process.

If you don't consider yourself a renovation professional, there are plenty of aspects of home renovation that may be overlooked. There are lots of hidden costs involved when having a home built, and thus, it is important to do ample research to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

Doing your homework as well as working with a professional can ensure that you are prepared for the burdens that a new construction project entails. We’ve done most of the research legwork for you, so read on for the crucial info regarding the costs of building a new home!

Steps and costs to consider when building a new home

1) Getting started

home exterior_renoquotes.com

Beginning your new home construction project is one of the most exciting parts! However, the costs of the project can vary widely and will greatly depend on what part of the country you’re in as well as how complex you plan on making your new home. There are plenty of ways that unexpected costs can pop up, especially if your home renovation project is fairly elaborate.

We’re going to give you a rundown of the basics steps to take when approaching home construction:

2) Floor Plan for the Home

For the realization of your house plans, you could decide to hire a technologist or an architect. If you choose the first option, you will pay an approximative price of $2500.

In case you decide instead to hire an architect, you should plan to pay around $5,000. Independantly of the chosen option, keep in mind that these prices could vary depending on the size of your new home.

3) Finding a Contractor

Once you have a floor plan in place, you can begin to look for a contractor or a company that will turn plans into reality. You can shop around your floor plan to find someone who understands your vision and is able to carry it out.

4) Specifications for a New Home Construction Project

Now that you have found a contractor to work with, you will need to discuss the specifics and come up with a detailed list of the specifications of the project. 

Obviously, the quality of the material used as well as the dimensions of your home will both have a great impact on the cost of the construction. 

plan_What are the costs to consider when building a new house?_RenoQuotes

5) Construction Loans and Programs

In many cases, it may be difficult to cover the costs of building a new home. For this reason, you may consider taking out a construction loan. You’ll need all the aforementioned details (floor plan, building company and a list of specifications) before applying for a loan or line-of-credit.

You'll likely need to pay for your own appraisal, credit checks or any other stipulations that the lender may require. Worth mentioning is that title insurance on the land is generally purchased when the construction loan is closed.

You may also have access to programs offered by the various levels of government: municipal, provincial and federal. Be sure to find out about the programs currently in place and to be familiar with the requirements that come with them. Information can often be found on government and municipal websites, but you can also go in person to their offices to ask more specific questions.

6) The Building Process for a New Home

The building process will obviously cost the most. Typically, you will pay the contractor you’re working within increments, at different stages of completion. The building process is generally where you will find yourself going over budget, so be aware.

7) Closing the Mortgage and Calculating the Value of the Home

Months later, once your home is complete, you may need to take out an additional loan to pay off any construction fees. Generally, this is in the form of a mortgage that will be used to pay off the house.  At this stage, the house will also need to be appraised. However, if the house doesn't appraise for what it cost to build, you’ll need to pay off the difference. 

Would you like some advice to asset your home's market value? Check out the article How to assess a home's value market?

Other new home building costs to consider

plots of land_renoquotes.com

8) Fees associated with the Building Permits and the location certificate

In many cities and municipalities, it's necessary to apply for several permits to take on full home construction. This will include plumbing permits, electricity permits, construction permits, zoning permits and so on. Again, depending on the city as well as the size of the project, you could be looking to easily spend anywhere between $800-$5,000. Only for the building permit, you will have to pay approximately $400. However, note that this price is variable from one city to another. 

Also, it's essential to obtain a certificate of location for this new home. To get it, you will need to get in touch with a land surveyor, which is the only professional able to prepare this type of document. A certificate of location will cost between $600 and $1,500.

9) Preparation Fees

Before any building actually happens, the land will need to be prepared to be built upon. This will include clearing away any trees that are in the way of the project, accounting for drainage as well. Further, you'll need to think about the driveway placement, which is a costly project. The land your home will sit on may also need to be graded or levelled out. Levelling out the land alone can cost between $3,50-$12 per square foot.

Second of all, let's remember that you will have to do the landscaping of your land and very often, confide this project to a professional. For basic landscaping, you should expect to pay a minimal amount of $5,000.

Would you like some information about the cost of various landscaping projects? Check out our article Landscaping: the Cost of Various Projects for 2022.

10) Utilities

Now, this may not affect you but it is important to mention that additional costs will be involved if your plot of land doesn't already have access to electricity or gas. This will involve having the electricity company to connect and hook up these necessary utilities. For a connection to Hydro-Québec, you should plan to pay an approximative rate of $360. 

Additionally, it will be necessary for you to have access to a local wastewater treatment system. Otherwise, you will have to get a septic tank, which will cost between $7,500 and $30,000. Finally, you could need to get access to the public well. The costs will greatly fluctuate depending on what you need for your property and could be between $4,000 and $14,000.

To learn more about the cost of a septic system, check out our article A short guide to septic tanks: price, maintenance and operation.

11) Other fees to consider

As part of your new construction project, you're certainly aware that you will have to do business with a notary. For the latter's services, expect to have to pay between $1,200 and $1,600.

Although this is not always necessary, it's possible that you will need to have tests done to check the quality of the soil as well as that of the water (if this information is not already available). For the latter, it should cost you between $900 and $2,500.

Third, remember that you'll have to deal with an electrician to install your lights. The amount requested will of course vary depending on the rate charged by the latter, but also on the complexity of the installation to be carried out and the magnitude of the task.

Then, remember that the construction of a new house and your move into it will require you to pay the costs related to the welcome tax and transfer fees. For these, you will have to pay an amount equivalent to about $3,000 for a project worth $240,000.

Let's conclude by recalling that you will have to pay GST and QST on the materials and services implemented as part of your project. This is a cost that may tend to be overlooked, although it still has a major impact on the total cost of the invoice. 

The average cost to build a house in Canada

As you can see in the previous paragraphs, there are many factors that can affect the cost of building a new home. Of course, this type of project will not have the same price or the same implications in Vancouver or in Antigonish.

Here are the average costs for building a single-family home (without a basement) in Canada's biggest cities (not including the expenses listed above) 

  • Montreal:  $125 to $210 per square foot;

  • Vancouver: $175 to $320 per square foot;

  • Toronto: $170 to $290 per square foot;

  • Calgary: $150 to $225 per square foot;

  • Halifax: $110 to $180 per square foot.

With that in mind, it can be inferred that in smaller cities and rural areas, these amounts will be slightly lower, although the base costs are similar.

Would you like to add a basement to your home? Expect to pay approximately $60,000 to $100,000 for this type of addition. For more information on this subject, see the article 10 factors that affect the price of an excavation project.

Final thoughts on your new home building project

front door_renoquotes.com

source: unsplash

While drawing up an initial construction contract with your contractor or the company you’ve chosen, it's relatively impossible to specify every single material that you'll end up using. Changes may occur during the building process, and these will need to be accounted for in relation to your budget.

Further, the construction or building company you are working with will likely specify a building allowance. These allowances will likely be included in the contract you draw up, dividing your budget to specific jobs and materials.

Going beyond these figures will require you to pay the difference. Be sure to double-check the numbers and identify any unrealistic allowances, either those which are too low or too high.

Surprises are likely to arise in any construction project, especially one as building a home from the ground up. For this reason, make sure you are ready to undergo the cost as well as the labour involved in building your new home. 

Recap of the prices associated with building a new home

(not included: building materials and labour)

Type of service
Average cost
Building plan (technologist)
Approximately $2,500
Building plan (architect)
Approximately $5,000
Certificate of localization
Between $600 and $1,500
Getting the permits
Between $800 and $5,000 ($400 for a building permit)
Leveling the ground
Between $3,50 and $12 per square foot
 
 
Cost to build the home
  • Montreal:  $125 to $210 per square foot;
  • Vancouver: $175 to $320 per square foot;
  • Toronto: $170 to $290 per square foot;
  • Calgary: $150 to $225 per square foot;
  • Halifax: $110 to $180 per square foot.
Excavating the basement
Between $60,000 and $100,000
Notary fees
Between $1,200 et $1,600$
Welcome or transfer taxes
Approximately $3,000 for a $240,000 project
Soil and water investigation (if you're not supplied by an aqueduct)
Between $900 and $2,500
Landscaping
$5,000 minimum
Well construction (if you're not supplied by an aqueduct)
Between $4,000 ans $14,000
Septic system
Between $7,500 and $30,000
Connection to Hydro-Québec
Approximately $360
Installation of fixtures by a certified electrician
Variable
Taxes (GST and QST) on materials and services

Variable (depends on the materials and services used)

Wishing to have more information concerning the costs affiliated with the construction of a new house? Read our article 2022 Home renovation price guide.

Here's a video prepared by our videographer Julia where we follow Alexandre Guénette, a contractor working on a duplex renovation project:

Get quotes for your home construction project

RenoQuotes.com can help you get quotes for your home construction project. If you submit your project to us, we’ll put you in contact with top-rated contractors. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes), and you will receive quotes from companies that are specialized in home renovations.

Dial 1-844 828-1588 to speak with one of our customer service representatives.

Get 3 free quotes for your project!

Submit a project and get 3 free quotes!


Last modified 2023-11-07

List of sources


Get 3 free quotes for your project!

Submit a project and get 3 free quotes!

Looking for something else?


Table of contents


Get 3 free quotes for your project!

Submit a project and get 3 free quotes!

Are you a contractor?

Join our network and receive real leads!

Download the price guide for renovations

We’ll be emailing you the latest market price guide for renovations.



Related articles

The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.

4 min read

Cynthia Pigeon • 07 Nov 2023

Prices and models of polycarbonate roofs

Are you the proud owner of a house with a patio, greenhouse, pergola, or veranda? Or are you thinking about becoming one?

6 min read

N/A • 07 Nov 2023

5 Things to Consider When Choosing an Electric Garage Door | Renovation Quotes

Arriving home at the end of a long day of work will have any homeowner looking for ways to make their life easier. An electric garage door is one of the ways that can simplify life, allowing your car to glide into the garage with the touch of a button. However, as with any form of technology, there is plenty to consider before going forward with this purchase.

6 min read

Cynthia Pigeon • 07 Nov 2023

Cost of Purchasing and Installing a Bathtub | RenoQuotes

Made for cleansing or for relaxing, the bathtub is a staple in any bathroom. Having a bathtub is especially useful when you have children to bathe every night, but also just as practical when you are in dire need of some R&R after a hard day of work. 

7 min read

N/A • 21 Mar 2024

How to Install a Bay Window Step-by-Step

Windows rank amongst the fundamental architectural features of a house, allowing daylight to filter in. With that in mind, bay or bow windows are a sure asset in all homes. 

6 min read

N/A • 07 Nov 2023

5 ways to use home automation | Renovation Quotes

We’ve all heard so much about smartphones; at this point, they are practically embedded into our everyday lives. So, if your phone can be smart, why not your entire home? Well, with the rapid rate of growing technology, now it can be.


Looking for a contractor?

Submit a project and get 3 free quotes now!