We hear a lot about the “cost per square foot” when it comes to home building and even remodeling. If you’re looking for the cost per square foot of your project, you’re likely really wanting to know how to figure the entire cost. So, how do you figure this? First, you must know what parts of the home or construction project are counted in the square footage. In most cases, what is being referred to is the actual enclosed living area or heated area of the home. Attached recreational spaces (like porches), extra storage areas, workshops, etc. are typically not counted in the square footage of a home. Now, on to the “cost per square foot.” How does knowing this help you? When you’re quoted $100 per square foot to build your home, and you know the exact square footage, it becomes a simple matter of math. A two thousand square foot home, at $100 per square foot = $200,000 to build. And, even though the foundation, garage, and attic are not normally included in the square footage calculation, they often are included in the $100 per square foot quote. So, knowing the cost per square foot is going to give you an excellent look at the entire cost to build your home. And this can be just as important to your lender as it is to you.