New Home Construction Planner — Build the house on paper first.
The land, the plans, the permit and every phase of the build — foundation, framing, roof, rough-ins and finishes — priced per square foot, with the decisions and the draw schedule in one plan.
- Free to start
- No sign-up to try
- Plan together
Everything in one plan
The lot, the bids, the selections and the draws usually live in five places. Here they’re one.
Includes a house checklist.
Idea board
Keep the big decisions where you can see them.
Modern farmhouse or single storey, heat pump or gas, slab or crawl space, the builder who did the house on Mill Lane. Save each with a photo, a price and a note, and pass on the ones the budget won’t carry.
“Heat pump rather than gas”An idea on the board of the “Builder grade, 2,400 sq ft” example
- Styles, systems, builders and foundations on one board
- Track each one: researching, contacted, shortlisted
- Pass on the ones that won’t work, without losing them
Idea board 1/2
Budget
Every phase of the build, priced.
Land and site work, foundation, framing, roof and windows, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, then the finishes — each priced for your square footage and finish level, and each bid in, scheduled, done or paid.
$626,625 · Land & site work $163,300 · Interior finishes $99,500 · Framing & structure $84,000 · Plumbing, electrical & HVAC $77,600The “Builder grade, 2,400 sq ft” example’s budget
- Priced per square foot by finish level
- Bid in, scheduled, done and paid for every phase
Budget 1/3
Timeline & checklist
From the lot to the keys.
Check the lot can be built on, finalize the plans, vet the builder, sign the contract and allowances, get the permit, call before you dig — each with the month to do it by.
Verify lot buildability & constraints · ~ around DecThe first thing on the “Builder grade, 2,400 sq ft” example’s checklist
- Contracts, allowances and change orders
- Permits, inspections and selections
Timeline 1/2
Recommendations
The people a build needs, near the lot.
Land agents, construction lenders, builders, architects, surveyors and engineers near where you’re building, and guides on what a new build really involves. Open one and it lists real places near you, with ratings and addresses.
Recommend home builders and general contractors near KnoxvilleIn the “Builder grade, 2,400 sq ft” example’s recommendations
- Builders, lenders, architects and surveyors
- Guides from the lot to move-in
Local picks, opened 2/2
About the New Home Construction Planner
A ground-up build is priced by the square foot and paid by the phase. This planner organizes the job the way builders do — site, design, foundation, framing, exterior, systems, interior, fixtures, landscaping — with the build phases scaled by your home size and the fixed costs (land, design, permits) scaled by finish level and region, all anchored to your move-in date.
Subcontracted trades carry deposit-plus-balance schedules, and an optional turnkey general-contractor line carries the construction-loan draw schedule. It is distinct from remodeling an existing house (the Home Renovation Planner) and from the purchase transaction (the Home Purchase & Sale Planner). Edit every line, then save, share, or export to CSV or PDF.
What you can do
- Build phases from site prep to landscaping, scaled per square foot
- Finish level and region adjust every priced line consistently
- Construction-loan draw schedule on the turnkey GC option
- Deposit and balance schedules on subcontracted trades
- Save, share, CSV, and PDF export
Frequently asked questions
How does square footage drive the budget?
The structural phases — foundation, framing, exterior, systems, interior — are priced per square foot, so home size is the biggest lever. Land, design, permits, and fixtures are fixed costs adjusted by finish level and region rather than size.
Should I use this or the Home Renovation Planner?
Use this for a new build from the ground up. The Home Renovation Planner remodels an existing house by area (kitchen, bath, rooms), and the Home Purchase & Sale Planner covers the transaction of buying or selling one.
Related calculators
Other planning tools that pair well with the New Home Construction Planner.
