All construction projects include 2 types of costs: hard costs and soft costs.

Hard costs of building a house are costs associated with the physical construction of the building and any fixed equipment. These include:

1. Land development
2. Foundation
3. Framing
4. Exterior finish
5. Interior rough-ins
6. Interior finish

Soft costs of building a house are costs associated with indirect construction fees and charges. These include:

1. Legal fees
2. Agent fees
3. Building permits and development charges
4. Architectural design
5. Engineering
6. Site survey
7. Taxes
8. Management fees
9. Insurance

Complete these steps to plan the build of your dream home:

1. Figure out your budget and secure the finances
2. Purchase land or property
3. Choose a qualified, reputable and recommended builder. Visit their projects and speak with previous clients.
4. Develop plans and designs, and source direct costs from vendors to understand cost comparison between what is offered by trades recommended by your builder vs trades that you source directly. Meet with all trades yourself, visit their shops and look at examples of previous projects. Shortlist your vendors. 
5. Obtain building permits
6. Purchase insurance
7. Sign contracts with vendors and place material deposits to secure the cost. Ensure that timelines are clearly stated to avoid costly delays as much as possible
8. Begin construction