Guide to Ensuring a Successful Church Construction Project (Part 1)
Roughly 51% of Americans say they go to church or another worship service somewhere between once a month and multiple times per week. That’s just one reason why many churches around the country are expanding and investing in new construction. What many people don’t realize, however, is that buildings comprise the second largest area of expense for churches.
A permanent building comes with an array of ongoing and hidden costs. There’s maintenance, repairs, cleaning, electricity, Internet, phone, and security services. Together, these costs can make up between 30% and 40% of a church’s budget. Because of these expenses, more churches are opting for finished portable buildings. But whichever type of construction you feel is right for your church building project, it’s important to take the right preparation steps. Here’s part one of our guide that will explore some steps to successfully preparing for a church construction project.
Successful Church Construction Project:
Think About the Who, What, and How
Before you can even think about making any decisions regarding the scope of your construction project, think about your church’s mission and identity, or the who. Each and every church has a different and unique set of values, and these values should be expressed in everything you do, including all construction projects. Think about the true path you want your church to take as well as the goals of the construction project. Churches with 10,000 or more members are going multisite — should yours be next? Or perhaps your growing congregation needs new buildings for education and Bible study. Taking some time to think deeply about these questions can bring clarity and awareness toward the church’s common mission.
Consider Funding
Once you have an idea of your church’s mission, take some time to determine a budget using all the resources you have at your disposal. Typically, a church’s funding includes three sources: money that’s already been acquired, money that still needs to be raised, and money that needs to be borrowed. It’s important to stick to your budget and keep the scope of the project within your church’s means.
Of course, considering finished portable buildings is a great way to find the right balance between cost and functionality. Produced in one-fifth the time and at half the cost of site-built homes, manufactured housing assembled in a controlled, factory environments uses fewer materials and generates 35% to 40% less waste than comparable site-built units.
Knowing how to prepare for a church construction project can help you navigate through it as efficiently as possible. Keep an eye out for the next post, where we’ll discuss the next preparation steps for your church construction project. For more information about finished portable buildings, including church buildings for sale in Florida, contact Alternative Building Solutions (ABS).
