Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:34
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While you can go wild on tile or appliances—it’s the labor to install said tile. Cheap or expensive, it costs to put the home together.
And also the decisions on the guts of the house that can cost- given high and rising energy costs, we spent more money (like 12k over the plan) on the most efficient HVAC system we could get . Also spent more on insulation and a heat pump water heater . That extra 18 k pencils out since we plan to stay here forever. But yes, it raised our upfront costs.
Its often foolish to upgrade hvac systems to the "highest level", those with multiple features, variable stage motors, etc. Best to stay with "minimum/basic" HE stuff. The high end products break down frequently and when they do, the homeowner will cry - its much more expensive to repair and not everyone is skilled/authorized to do it. There are no savings and these complex unity also don't last as long. Money scam. Signed...HVAC contractor.
I have a high end Carrier system called the Infinity system with a variable stage motor. I love it. But I also hate when it breaks down because it is expensive to fix.
+1 same with the flashy high end kit appliances such as Subzero built in fridge. Looks sleek and nice but at end of the day, it cools the same as the Kitchenaid one. The old Subzero fridges were actually worth the upgrade, we have one from 2001 still going strong. Much like everything else, todays Subzero will set you back $20K and you will be lucky to get 15 years of service.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:18
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While you can go wild on tile or appliances—it’s the labor to install said tile. Cheap or expensive, it costs to put the home together.
And also the decisions on the guts of the house that can cost- given high and rising energy costs, we spent more money (like 12k over the plan) on the most efficient HVAC system we could get . Also spent more on insulation and a heat pump water heater . That extra 18 k pencils out since we plan to stay here forever. But yes, it raised our upfront costs.
Its often foolish to upgrade hvac systems to the "highest level", those with multiple features, variable stage motors, etc. Best to stay with "minimum/basic" HE stuff. The high end products break down frequently and when they do, the homeowner will cry - its much more expensive to repair and not everyone is skilled/authorized to do it. There are no savings and these complex unity also don't last as long. Money scam. Signed...HVAC contractor.
I have a high end Carrier system called the Infinity system with a variable stage motor. I love it. But I also hate when it breaks down because it is expensive to fix.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:15
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:While you can go wild on tile or appliances—it’s the labor to install said tile. Cheap or expensive, it costs to put the home together.
And also the decisions on the guts of the house that can cost- given high and rising energy costs, we spent more money (like 12k over the plan) on the most efficient HVAC system we could get . Also spent more on insulation and a heat pump water heater . That extra 18 k pencils out since we plan to stay here forever. But yes, it raised our upfront costs.
Its often foolish to upgrade hvac systems to the "highest level", those with multiple features, variable stage motors, etc. Best to stay with "minimum/basic" HE stuff. The high end products break down frequently and when they do, the homeowner will cry - its much more expensive to repair and not everyone is skilled/authorized to do it. There are no savings and these complex unity also don't last as long. Money scam. Signed...HVAC contractor.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:11
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:BTW builders dont want to build cheap homes. Also they mark up material. You want a $500 dishwasher, $1,000 fridge adn $500 base oven at lets say a 10 percent mark up that is only $200 bucks.
You want a $10,000 Subzero Fridge, $10,000 viking oven with matching Viking range and $2,000 Boesh dishwasher well at 10 percent that is a $2,200 mark up just on applicances alone.
And for stuff like custom non returnable tile they might mark it up 50 percent. Compare to cheap home depot tile they can return.
Hence no one wants to build a cheap home in Potomac.
Standard Markup: Most builders apply a markup of 10% to 20% on materials to cover sourcing time, credit risk, and other associated costs. This range is common for many tradespeople and helps ensure profitability while remaining competitive.
Higher Markup for Specific Projects: For certain projects, especially custom builds or renovations, the markup can be higher, often reaching 30% to 50%.
Subzero for only $10K....sold!
Anonymous
03/11/2026 09:46
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
BTW builders dont want to build cheap homes. Also they mark up material. You want a $500 dishwasher, $1,000 fridge adn $500 base oven at lets say a 10 percent mark up that is only $200 bucks.
You want a $10,000 Subzero Fridge, $10,000 viking oven with matching Viking range and $2,000 Boesh dishwasher well at 10 percent that is a $2,200 mark up just on applicances alone.
And for stuff like custom non returnable tile they might mark it up 50 percent. Compare to cheap home depot tile they can return.
Hence no one wants to build a cheap home in Potomac.
Standard Markup: Most builders apply a markup of 10% to 20% on materials to cover sourcing time, credit risk, and other associated costs. This range is common for many tradespeople and helps ensure profitability while remaining competitive.
Higher Markup for Specific Projects: For certain projects, especially custom builds or renovations, the markup can be higher, often reaching 30% to 50%.
You want a $10,000 Subzero Fridge, $10,000 viking oven with matching Viking range and $2,000 Boesh dishwasher well at 10 percent that is a $2,200 mark up just on applicances alone.
And for stuff like custom non returnable tile they might mark it up 50 percent. Compare to cheap home depot tile they can return.
Hence no one wants to build a cheap home in Potomac.
Standard Markup: Most builders apply a markup of 10% to 20% on materials to cover sourcing time, credit risk, and other associated costs. This range is common for many tradespeople and helps ensure profitability while remaining competitive.
Higher Markup for Specific Projects: For certain projects, especially custom builds or renovations, the markup can be higher, often reaching 30% to 50%.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 09:13
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
While you can go wild on tile or appliances—it’s the labor to install said tile. Cheap or expensive, it costs to put the home together.
And also the decisions on the guts of the house that can cost- given high and rising energy costs, we spent more money (like 12k over the plan) on the most efficient HVAC system we could get . Also spent more on insulation and a heat pump water heater . That extra 18 k pencils out since we plan to stay here forever. But yes, it raised our upfront costs.
And also the decisions on the guts of the house that can cost- given high and rising energy costs, we spent more money (like 12k over the plan) on the most efficient HVAC system we could get . Also spent more on insulation and a heat pump water heater . That extra 18 k pencils out since we plan to stay here forever. But yes, it raised our upfront costs.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 07:52
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:Sometimes costs get driven up because people think they just want a basic new house, when the reality is that they have expensive tastes and can't say no to the many options that will be presented to them. And suddenly when you're spending $1 million (excluding the cost of the land), adding a few thousand here and there doesn't seem like a big deal, but it all adds up. Think expensive shower heads, high end faucets, wet bar in the basement, built in shelving everywhere, very high end appliances, etc.
Pp 19:52. Don't want any of those or pricey tile.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 00:05
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Sometimes costs get driven up because people think they just want a basic new house, when the reality is that they have expensive tastes and can't say no to the many options that will be presented to them. And suddenly when you're spending $1 million (excluding the cost of the land), adding a few thousand here and there doesn't seem like a big deal, but it all adds up. Think expensive shower heads, high end faucets, wet bar in the basement, built in shelving everywhere, very high end appliances, etc.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 20:25
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is NoVA, and Potomac should not be higher:
https://focalpointhomes.com/semi-custom/
Add in $200K for site prep.
What are the components of the $200K site prep above? I thought site work typically ranged around 100-125K?
I’m the poster that meticulously detailed our site prep and construction costs back in 2023/2024.
Our site prep (no tear down, just had to clear the lot of debris and a couple of sheds), was about 170k. That included grading, storm water management, permitting and hooking up existing utilities.
Here’s the thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1150870.page
Anonymous
03/10/2026 19:54
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:DP. I do not want a metal roof or slate roof. I want good quality shingles, but need not be "specialty".
Stick cabinet sizes fit perfectly in my house. No need for custom or semi-custom anything.
I do want brick on all 4 sides.
Brick on all sides is probably the most expensive “addition” you could ask for. It’s outrageously expensive nowadays.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 19:52
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
DP. I do not want a metal roof or slate roof. I want good quality shingles, but need not be "specialty".
Stick cabinet sizes fit perfectly in my house. No need for custom or semi-custom anything.
I do want brick on all 4 sides.
Stick cabinet sizes fit perfectly in my house. No need for custom or semi-custom anything.
I do want brick on all 4 sides.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 17:08
Subject: New Build Cost in Potomac, MD 20854?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is NoVA, and Potomac should not be higher:
https://focalpointhomes.com/semi-custom/
Add in $200K for site prep.
What are the components of the $200K site prep above? I thought site work typically ranged around 100-125K?
^ Adding we’ve been told these exact ranges / #s across multiple builders so it seems standard
Depends on location. We are being told to budget $200K for a N Arlington teardown lot for site work alone. Said it should actually be $125-150K but things can come up that push it closer to $200K.
This is for vinyl siding, asphalt roof, plastic / MDF windows, tyvek wrapped, kohler plumbing fixtures, and off the shelf everything. Think your typical “McCraftsman”. Something like this:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4517-Fairfield-Dr-Bethesda-MD-20814/37171674_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4517-Fairfield-Dr-Bethesda-MD-20814/37171674_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
To get masonry, a slate / metal roof, wood / metal windows, zip systems sheathing, and semi custom to custom cabinetry and built ins, you’re looking at $300+. Think of something like this: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7019-Natelli-Woods-Ln-Bethesda-MD-20817/37256388_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7019-Natelli-Woods-Ln-Bethesda-MD-20817/37256388_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
There is nothing wrong with the former, but there is a big difference in quality, feel, and aesthetics between the two levels of construction. It’s Toyota versus Lexus. Both will function fine, but the Lexus clearly has more attention to detail, and a higher level of finish.
They’re tearing down houses built in 2005 in McLean to get the land. Who cares about building a house that will be standing in 100 years. Chances are a developer will tear it down if you live in it long enough to become dated.