You know what frustrates people the most? Not knowing where their money goes. It just... disappears. Lakhs and lakhs are spent, but what exactly? At JSW One Homes, we're obsessive about transparency. Not because we're saints, but because we've seen too many families get burned by vague estimates and hidden costs. So, here's where every rupee goes.
The Foundation and Structure (40-50% of Your Budget)
These are the bones of your home - literally what keeps it standing. You're looking at ₹800–₹1,500 per sq ft for:
- Digging the foundation (deeper than you think, based on soil testing - not guesswork)
- All the brickwork and blocks
- That RCC roofing everyone talks about (₹180–₹200 per sq ft)
- Columns, beams, slabs - the structural stuff
- Plastering to make walls look like walls
- Waterproofing (because nobody wants to deal with leaks later)
Here's something important: We always do soil testing first. Costs ₹10,000-25,000, and some people balk at it. But here's the thing - without it, your architect is just guessing. Over-engineer the foundation, you waste ₹2 lakhs. Under-engineer? You risk your family's safety. That ₹15,000 soil test is the smartest money you'll spend. Oh, and we use JSW TMT steel and JSW Cement. Not because we must push JSW products, but because we know exactly what you're getting - certified, consistent, no substitutions when the contractor thinks you're not looking.
Making It Feel Like Home: Finishes (30-40% of Budget)
This is where your house transforms into a home. Where personality comes in. And honestly, where costs can vary wildly based on your choices.
If You're Budget-Conscious (₹500–₹1,000 per sq ft):
- Standard ceramic tiles that look good and last
- Quality paint (we work with Asian Paints and JSW Paints)
- Decent fixtures that won't embarrass you
- A functional kitchen and bathrooms
If You Want Something Nicer (₹1,000–₹1,500 per sq ft):
- Those smooth vitrified tiles from Kajaria, Somany, or Johnson
- Better paint finishes that really pop
- Good bathroom fittings from Jaquar or Cera
- A modular kitchen that makes cooking pleasant
If You're Going Premium (₹1,500–₹3,000+ per sq ft):
- Designer tiles, maybe some imported ones
- High-end sanitary ware (TOTO, Kohler - the stuff you see in nice hotels)
- Fenesta windows that keep out noise and heat
- Homelane interiors that look magazine-ready
Now here's something cool: Because we work with all these brands - Kajaria, Somany, Johnson, Jaquar, Kohler, TOTO, Cera, Fenesta, Astral, Polycab, Homelane - you get them at discounted prices. Not huge discounts, but every ₹50,000 saved is ₹50,000 that stays in your pocket.
The Invisible Stuff: Systems and Wiring (10-15% of Budget)
Nobody gets excited about electrical wiring and plumbing. Until something goes wrong. Then you care a LOT. Here's what you're paying for:
- Electrical work with Polycab cables: ₹150–₹250 per sq ft
- Plumbing with Astral pipes: ₹100-₹200 per sq ft
- All the sanitary fittings and taps
- Maybe smart home features if you're into that: add ₹100-₹300 per sq ft
We don't cut corners here. Every material comes with test certificates. Every installation is inspected. Because fixing electrical or plumbing issues after the walls are up? That's a nightmare you don't want.
The Stuff Others "Forget" to Mention
This is where a lot of contractors get you. They give you a price; you say yes, then suddenly there are all these "extras." We put it all upfront:
Professional Fees:
- Architect (3-5% of construction cost-yes, good design costs money)
- Structural engineer (your safety is worth this)
- Soil testing (we've covered why this matters)
- Connections to liaising agents for government approvals (someone needs to navigate that bureaucracy)
- Our project management fee (and trust us, you'll understand why this is worth it)
The Government Stuff:
- Approvals and permits (we connect you with pros who know the system)
- All the documentation
- Making sure you're legally compliant
The Safety Net:
- 10-12% contingency buffer for surprises
That last one? People think we're being pessimistic. But here's the reality: In all our years building homes, we've found unexpected rock during excavation, dealt with monsoon delays, discovered old wells nobody knew about, handled material shortages during festivals... stuff happens. The families who budgeted that 10-12% extra? They finished their homes stress-free, on budget. The ones who didn't? They had to make painful choices mid-construction or go back to the bank for more money.
What Actually Drives Your Costs (And What You Can Control)
Materials: Quality You Can Count On
Materials eat up to 45-50% of your budget. This is where the JSW One Homes approach really makes a difference. When you build with us, you get:
- JSW TMT Steel - You know exactly what grade you're getting, every single bar
- JSW Cement - No wondering if it got watered down or substituted
- JSW RMC - Ready-mix concrete mixed to exact specifications
- JSW Paints - Finishes that last
Why does this matter? Because we're part of the JSW Group-₹22,000 crore company that's been in steel and cement for decades. We're not buying from middlemen. We're going straight to the source. You get the quality; we cut out the markup and uncertainty. And here's a pro tip: locally sourced materials like sand, aggregates, and bricks can cut costs by 15-20%. We optimize this in each city-Bangalore suppliers for Bangalore projects, Chennai suppliers for Chennai homes. Shorter distances, fresher materials, less cost.
Labor: The Human Element
Labor now costs 30-50% of your total budget. And here's the thing about labor-it's unpredictable when you're managing it yourself. What Workers Actually Cost:
- Metro cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad: ₹900-₹1,500 per day for skilled folks
- Smaller cities like Coimbatore, Hubli: ₹600-₹1,000 per day
- Specialists (electricians, plumbers, tile layers): ₹1,500-₹3,000 per day
The Reality of Self-Managing: You're trying to find reliable contractors, make sure workers show up, check if they're doing quality work, settle disputes between them, coordinate electricians, plumbers, painters, etc., prevent materials from "walking away," navigate approval processes on your own. Most people we meet are exhausted just from this list.
Your Plot and Location
Site Challenges We've Seen:
Some plots are plug-and-play. Others... not so much:
- Rocky soil that needs blasting: add ₹200-500 per sq ft
- Soft soil needing better foundation: significant additional cost
- High water table: 10-15% more for waterproofing
- Remote location: 10-15% more for transporting materials
That Soil Test We Keep Mentioning?
₹10,000-25,000 investment that either:
Saves you ₹2 lakhs by right sizing the foundation
Prevents ₹5-10 lakhs in structural repairs down the road
We literally won't proceed without it. Not because we're difficult, but because we've seen what happens when people skip it.
Design Choices That Save Money (Without Looking Cheap)
- Rectangular layouts cost 15-20% less than fancy L-shapes or curves
- Not because they look worse - they just use materials more efficiently
- Our architects are good at making simple layouts feel spacious and interesting
- Ceiling Heights: Standard 9-10 feet vs. super high 11-12 feet. Every extra foot of height adds 8-10% to costs
- Roof Decisions: Flat roofs are 20-30% cheaper than complex sloped ones (but you need proper waterproofing)
- Futureproofing: Extra conduit for future wiring costs ₹15,000 now, saves ₹2 lakhs later. Provision for solar panels: add it now even if you don't install yet. Costs about 5% more upfront, saves 40% when you eventually need to upgrade.
Ready for your detailed cost sheet? Share your plot details with JSW One Homes for a line-by-line breakdown tailored to your vision.