Here are some of the factors:

1. It's "raw land", so site preparation would be needed.
2. The building site is in the water-shed for New York City, so the septic system would need to adhere to the Department of Environmental Protection standards.
3. The building site area is very rocky, so I'm not sure whether a basement or even crawl space can be constructed without blasting.

I'd like to have a quality home built, but at an efficient cost. I'm assuming that if I need to hire an architect, an engineer, and a general contractor, that would increase the cost. But, I don't want to skimp on the cost if any of these are needed to build a good quality home.

A: With all the complicated details of your project, I do not recommend buying that complete set of plans because they will undoubtedly require a lot of significant changes, for which you will have to pay. Rather, just take the magazine illustrations of the house and floor plan you want to a professional architect, building designer or design/build general contractor and have plans drawn to fit your special lot.

You may choose to hire an architect or building designer to draw your plans, then give the completed set of plans and specifications to several general contractors to bid. Or you could start with a design and a general contractor who will oversee the entire project from design through construction. Whoever draws your plans will consult an engineer as needed to obtain your building permits, as well as any other specialists you might need.

I suggest visiting http://www.HomeAdvisor.com/, entering a service request, and be matched with the ideal service professional in your area.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com