210. The Hidden Costs No One Talks About

In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius examines one of the most overlooked parts of any construction project: soft costs. He highlights what the total project budget should include and explores why soft costs are not “extras” — they are the services and approvals that make a project buildable, coordinated, and legally permitted. For owners, understanding these costs early can help prevent financial stress, delays, and costly surprises later.In this episode:Why construction cost is only one part of your total project budgetWhat soft costs are and why they matterWhy architecture is more than “drawing plans”When engineering becomes necessaryWhy permits and plan check fees vary so widelyHow Title 24 energy compliance affects California projectsWhen surveys, soils reports, and specialty consultants may be requiredWhy contingency should be included and tracked separatelyHow better planning reduces risk before construction beginsIf your budget only includes construction, it is not your real project budget. A realistic project budget should account for construction, soft costs, and contingency.Before You Build Guidebook DownloadLYNESIf you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at Gābl Media.Spaces Podcast Spaces Podcast websiteLYNES // Gābl MediaAll rights reserved