01. Best Advice for Beginner Developers: How to Start & How Much It Will Cost
Sep 1, 2021
Episode Highlights:
The first 3 things you NEED to consider when starting to plan your project.
The top challenges you will encounter when creating your budget, and how to overcome them.
What about building with shipping containers? Can it really save on costs?
How Three Squared helps you put your budget together the right way.
What it REALLY took to achieve our 100% permit approval rate.
3 simple ways you can control your costs.
Breck's Project Highlight of The Week: Lone Tree Point Acres
“What we are sharing here is super relevant across the board [for all project types] on how to get started.”
- Leslie Horn (CEO of Three Squared, Inc.)
Show Notes:
0:30 - Introduction to the first episode.
1:03 - Got questions? Submit them directly to us here!
1:20 - Leslie and Breck’s introduction to Episode 1.
1:52 - Container home interest had a major boom this year & Three Squared takes on more projects than every before.
2:23 - Breck’s Project Highlight of the Week: Lone Tree Point Acres
3:25 - How to get started developing a project.
4:23 - Leslie discusses why this question is so relevant for everyone looking to get started as a developer.
5:00 - Breck introduces the 3 questions you should ask FIRST: Where are you building? What are you building? And how much money do you have to build it with?
5:49 - #1 Where are you building? And figuring out the logistics of your building site.
7:32 - #2 What are you building? We don’t decide what you are building, you do.
8:49 - #3 How much money do you have to build it with? Three Squared will design something that fits within your budget.
8:58 - How much do things really cost?
11:13 - Cost fluctuation based on what your needs and wants are.
11:53 - What is your budget?
13:10 - Leslie’s advice on costs and what to keep in mind when looking to build.
13:27 - Construction costs and saving money through time.
14:50 - Energy efficiency.
15:32 - “How much is my cost per square foot for general construction in my neighborhood?”
16:37 - Other factors you need to consider when building.
18:08 - The difference between hard vs. soft costs.
19:30 - Three Squared has 100% approval in every municipality we have entered across the U.S.
21:50 - The 3 ways you can control your cost expectations.
22:25 - Concluding thoughts.
Exercise: Answer these 3 questions...
1. Where are you building?
City/State
What site do you want to build on?
2. What are you building?
What is your project type? (Multifamily, Mixed-Use, Single Family Home, etc.)
How many square feet do you want to build?
3. How much are you building it for?
Are you financing your project through a construction loan?
What are average construction costs in your area? (Check this on Google and/or contact a local General Contractor if you are unsure)
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