When it comes to church building or remodeling, we often post about the importance of getting things started the right way. We’ve even told some cautionary tales about the necessity of involving church building professionals in your remodeling or new construction conversations right from the start.
One of the best ways to do it is with a feasibility study.
What Is a Feasibility Study?
It’s basically a professional analysis of a proposed project—a close look at a church remodeling or new construction plan. Feasibility studies address whether the project is technically possible, whether it can be successfully completed within the projected budget, and whether it will meet the specific needs of a church’s vision for ministry within its community.
Naturally, feasibility studies come at a cost— but to borrow from a familiar adage, often you need to spend money to save money. It’s much better spending some dollars up-front to make certain that a plan will work than discovering halfway through that it can’t be completed the way you’d originally intended.
How Much Might a Church Building Feasibility Study Cost?
The cost of a feasibility study varies, depending on how complex your building plans are and how much detail they require.
For example, if you don’t already own the building you’re looking to renovate, we might do feasibility studies for Building A and Building B so that you can compare the costs of the two resulting church structures. This approach would be more expensive than if you were simply looking to remodel an existing church building and needed a feasibility study for that existing church property alone.
Generally, we estimate feasibility studies to cost anywhere from $2,500 to $7,500.
Some churches prefer to go all in and create a full schematic design of a church building or remodeling project. This includes scale floor plans, site plans, and 3D renderings of what the finished church building might look like. Depending on the size and scope of your project, a full schematic design can range from $7,000 to $20,000.
Begin with a Low Cost Consultation
Now, spending even $2,500 can seem like a lot when you’re not sure what direction to take. This is why we are always willing to do an initial site visit and consultation at little to no cost.
Depending on where you (and your proposed church building) are located, we might ask that you cover our travel expenses and time for the visit, but we are willing to give of our expertise for an initial conversation because we believe very strongly in the importance of making good decisions right from the very start.
So, if you are in the beginning stages of a possible church remodeling or construction project, or are perhaps considering the purchase of an existing building, please contact us today. Let’s talk about doing a site visit together so we can help you understand whether the proposed building or project is in line with your church’s vision.
This is, of course, why we also offer our free i3 webinars. We believe it’s important to give church leaders all the resources necessary to help them make the best decisions possible. Simply visit our website and sign up.