Mrs Tolstoy and her husband Serge are planning their dream h

Mrs. Tolstoy and her husband, Serge, are planning their dream house. The lot for the house sits high on a hill with a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains. The plans show the size of the house to be 2900 square feet. The average price for a lot and house similar to this one has been $120 per squiare foot. Fortunately, Serge is a retired plumber and feels he can save money by installing the plumbing himself. Mrs. Tolstoy feels she can take care of the interior decorating.

The following average cost information is available from a local bank that makes loans to local contractors and dispenses progress payments to contractors when specific tasks are verified as complete.

24% Excavation and framing complete

8% Roof and fireplace complete

3% wiring roughed in

6% Plumbing roughed in

5% Siding on

17% Windows, insulation, walks, plaster, and garage complete

9% Furnace installed

4% Plumbing fixtures installed

10% Exterior paint, light fixtures installed, finish hardware installed

6% Carpet and trim installed

4% Interior decorating

4% Floors laid and finished

a. What is the estimated cost for the Tolstoys house if they use contractors to complete all of the house?

b. Estimate what the cost of the house would be if the Tolstoys use thier talents to do some of the work themselves.

Solution

a. Estimated cost for the Tolstoys house:

Estimated Total Cost = 2900 * $120 = $348,000

Estimated total cost for the house is $348,000 (2900 square feet * $120 per square foot)

b. Estimate savings of Serge\'s plumbing work and Mr. Tolstoys interior decorating:

Plumbing roughed in (6% * $348,000) = $20,880

Plumbimg fixtures installed (4% * $348,000) = $13,920

Interior decorating (4% * $348,000) = $13,920

Total savings = $20,880 + $13,920 + $13,920 = $48,720

Estimate cost of house = $348,000 - $48,720 = $299,280