One of the most common questions we’re asked as a custom home builder in the Brainerd Lakes, MN area is: “What does it cost to build a Dotty Brothers home?”
The honest answer? It depends.
Every home we build is fully custom, and every family we build for has unique needs, wants, and dreams. But understanding the biggest factors that influence cost can help you prepare, prioritize, and make informed decisions as you move toward creating your dream home.
While every project is different, several major categories consistently impact the overall investment in a custom home. These include size, finishes, craftsmanship, design decisions, and site conditions—especially here in the Brainerd Lakes region, where lake lots and unique terrain often come with additional considerations.
1. How Size Affects Your Custom Home Budget
This is pretty straightforward: bigger homes cost more to build.
Size can also influence cost in ways that aren’t as obvious. For example, a larger home may require multiple HVAC systems, larger mechanical spaces, or additional structural engineering.
And of course, bigger homes simply take longer to build—which increases labor across every trade.
2. How Finishes Influence the Cost of a Custom Home
Finishes are one of the biggest variables in any custom home, and not just the obviously extravagant ones.
While we don’t see many clients choosing 24k gold plates on their light switches, there are countless decisions that subtly add up:
Most finish categories have a wide price range, and the math is simple: higher cost per square foot = higher overall cost.
3. Craftsmanship & Labor: Building with Intention
Many clients choose to build a custom lake home because they want features that require higher levels of craftsmanship—which can add time and cost.
For example:
This is part of what sets a Dotty Brothers home apart. We build with a level of detail designed to last for generations. But craftsmanship requires time, skilled labor, and thoughtful planning.
4. Design Decisions and Allowances: The Hidden Cost Drivers
From cabinets to door hardware to plumbing fixtures, your selections multiply quickly. Windows, doors, pulls, faucets, lighting, molding—every category includes dozens of choices, each impacting the budget. This is why we often say that design is the hardest part of building a home.
We work with you throughout the design phase to:
A clear plan is one of the best tools for controlling cost.
5. Site Conditions in the Brainerd Lakes Area
In the Brainerd Lakes region—where many homes sit on wooded lots, lakefront properties, or sloped terrain—site-specific conditions can influence cost.
Common local factors include:
No two lots are the same, which is part of the charm of building here—but also a major reason costs vary.
6. Change Orders: The Silent Budget Killer
A change order happens when you decide to alter something after it has been built, installed, or purchased.
These are normal (and sometimes necessary), but they can add cost quickly because:
Our goal during design is to minimize change orders by helping you visualize the home as clearly as possible before construction begins.
While this article focuses heavily on cost, the real conversation is about value. When you build with Dotty Brothers, you’re investing in:
Your custom home is built to match your vision, your lifestyle, and your long-term plans—and that kind of value goes far beyond dollars and cents.
Ready to Start Planning Your Custom Home in the Brainerd Lakes Area?
If you're exploring what it would take to build your own custom lake home or luxury residence in the Brainerd Lakes region, we’d love to talk.
We can walk through your vision, your lot, and your priorities to help you understand what’s possible—and what the path to your dream home looks like.
