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When budgeting for a home, don't count on cost per square foot to be enough.

Q. I've sent my plan to several builders for construction bids. When the bids come back, should I make a choice based on their cost-per-square-foot figures? What do they really mean?

A. Custom builder and consultant Tom Stephani explains it this way: "Asking the question simply misses the point. It's a lot like basing the purchase of your next car on how much it costs per pound. It reduces a unique creation like a custom home to a commodity item like a pound of bacon or a loaf of bread."

Because so many variables determine a home's cost, Stephani says a builder can't possibly give an off-the-cuff quote on a particular house without working out the details with the homeowner. Some of those variables include site conditions, design complexity, unfinished spaces, special amenities, and finish materials.

Grading, soil testing, infrastructure development and impact fees may be involved, depending on your chosen site. You'll pay more for site improvements on a 5-acre parcel of land 300 feet off the road then someone building in a developed subdivision five minutes away.

The style of your home will also have an impact on costs. A hip roof is more expensive to frame than a straight-up two story gable and a ranch home is more expensive to build than a two-story home. Extras such as a three-car garage or a walk-out basement require additional labor and materials and add to the cost without increasing square footage. Unfinished bonus space takes time to frame, but cannot be included as usable square footage.

You'll pay more for the sweeping impact of amenities such as a curved staircase than you would for a typical straight box or 90-degree turned stair. Finish materials - doors, handle sets, flooring, cabinets, countertops, faucets, or other details you've decided you can't live without - will increase the cost per square foot as well.

Stephani says many homeowners mistakenly use the cost-per-square-foot numbers as a gauge against which to measure builders. They take their plan and get two or three bids from as many builders. When the figures come back, they simply choose the low bidder instead of asking specific questions such as: Is this 2x4 or 2x6 framing? How much insulation am I getting? What type of materials and finishes will you use?

Regional variances in construction methods and materials used also affect cost-per-square-foot figures. Costs of labor, land, materials, and impact fees vary across the country. Instead, Stephani suggests that you choose a doctor, lawyer, or any other professional. Base your choice on professionalism, reputation, and warranty, and get the best you can afford. Given the many factors that go into figuring a home's cost, Stephani advises homeowners to consider the quality level they want in their finished home. "Homeowners, ultimately, drive the cost of their home," he says. "If they give us a budget, we can work with them and show them how much house and at what level of quality we can build for that amount."