Building Affordably in High-End Markets

We designed and developed a home in Martha’s Vineyard for 60% of the prevailing $/SF on the island. There are several tactics we deployed to make it happen.

• We don’t overbuild. Across all of our projects - residential and otherwise - we build what our clients need and what’s appropriate for the use case. Usually, that’s a more efficient footprint than you might think. Too many developers plop the biggest house possible on a plot to maximize their profits. Especially in high-cost areas, that brings down all-in costs significantly.
• We use panelization when we need to. We assemble panels off-site when it saves time and money. In a place like Martha’s Vineyard, where labor costs can get insane, the building season is short, and the cost of ferrying materials is exorbitant, some off-island pre-assembly can go a long way.
• We start our design with our Standards. We use design Standards that help us predict and control pricing and scheduling. We’ve adapted these for all kinds of use cases and locations, and for non-conforming lots with minimal space, like this home in Martha’s Vineyard. Knowing the build costs upfront ensures we’re designing to the budget, rather than being surprised by local contractor pricing later.
• We get creative with labor. We could bring in the biggest builder on the island as a part of the labor team, but that often comes with inflated costs (you’re paying for that fleet of new vehicles and an expensive office). Going with a smaller builder from off island or a local upstart who’s looking to break into the market benefits both that company and our clients. In areas where everyone has just agreed that construction costs what it costs, this is often one of the biggest scale tippers.

This doesn’t just work in Martha’s Vineyard. We’ve used these same strategies to build for a fraction of the typical cost in Sun Valley, Aspen, Islesboro, and other luxury markets across the country.

You can check out our portfolio to see some of our other similar projects in luxury markets where we’ve managed to burst the bubble on inflated build costs. And if you’re looking for a realistically priced home in an area where costs are anything but, reach out.