December 14, 2018
In case you are not aware of this small fact, choosing a rural piece of land to build your perfect home is going to have additional costs. You need to make sure that you factor in the costs of a few extras, like a well and septic system, so you do not exceed your construction budget. Many people forget to factor those items into their costs, as they forget that these areas are not hooked up to any municipal wastewater or regular water systems.
Now, it depends on where your land is located, as to how much these two items will cost, but on average you should prepare for between $5,000 and $10,000. Of course, if the composition of your soil is bad and you have little ground water available, that cost can skyrocket to at least $40,000.
Septic Systems
Your septic system will be comprised of a tank, that will hold and treat all the wastewater from your home, as well as the plumbing connections that run to and from the tank and the leach field where all effluent goes after the solids are broken down inside the tank.
Soil Percolation Tests
While you may think that paying for a septic system is enough, you are also going to need to pay for permits for the system and a soil percolation test. You might be capable of completing this test on your own, however, most areas have stringent guidelines in place that will require you to hire a professional. The cost for this test will range from $1,000 to $1,500 and you will need to hope that the results come back stating that the soil is good for installing a septic system.
Septic Tank
The cost of the septic tank itself will be between $500 and $1,200, as it is dependent on the size of the tank that you install and who you purchase it from. It is possible to purchase different components from different companies and have them all installed by someone else, but it is often faster to pay one person for the materials and the installation. You should expect to pay between $4,000 and $14,000 for everything, but it can get as high as $25,000 due to many factors. A few of those factors include the number of bathrooms inside your home, the size of your home, and the composition of your soil.
Septic System Construction
The cost that you pay will also include the grading that needs to be done during installation, as well as the gravel beds that support not only the tank, but also line the trenches where the pipes going to the leach field are.
Well Drilling
There is no way that you can consider drilling a well on your own, due to the permit that is needed, as well as the specialized equipment. The cost to drill the well and place the four to six-inch casing inside can be between $15 to $30 per foot, however, it can be more depending on who you choose to hire for the job.
If this seems a little confusing, here is an example for a 100-foot well. The cost would be between $1,500 and $3,000, but that would not include the necessary permit fees. The cost of those varies for each area, so it is impossible to share them with you here.
Of course, you will still need to pay for whatever a person drills, even if they do not find water. Therefore, you will want to be careful of where you have them drill, because if they do not find water at 100 feet and need to drill 100 feet on the other side of the yard, you will then owe between $3,000 and $6,000. Plus, if they need to go 400 feet before they hit water, you will be looking at paying between $6,000 and $12,000.
Once your well is dug, and you have water, you will also need to pay for the well pump, the piping needed for water delivery, the pressure switch, the plumbing needed from the well to the house, and the pressure tank. Plus, if your water will need to be treated, you will need to have a water conditioning system installed. Those systems can cost you an additional $1,500 to $3,000.
Bids for the Work
You should never choose a licensed contractor until you have received bids from between three and five of them. Once you have compared the bids, you will want to review the contractor’s license and see if there are any complaints or issues. You can also ask for testimonials from previous customers and visit review websites online to make sure that you are hiring the best contractor for the job.