All things considered, being within 143% to 200% of original cost isn't bad at all! Celebrate that it wasn't worse!
Kind of reminds me of my bathroom remodels, cost wasn't the issue, but the amount of my own labor and trials and tribulations and a lot of messy, plain terrible work. Half way through, you just want to torch the place.
But a few luxurious showers later, it's all forgotten(*), and you just enjoy the new bathroom. Time heals, (or at least softens the pain of) most wounds.
(*) Not forgotten enough to ever, ever talk myself into another bathroom remodel though!
-ERD50
We built a lake house on a cost plus 10% basis. We were paying cash, and handled all material orders, bill paying, etc.
We had 3 carpenters on the job, and we were paying them top pay. The only outside workers were drywall, plumbers and a roofer.
Our days were spent picking up building supplies, organizing the job site and cleaning up after they left for the day. By doing all the running around, we saved substantially over a carpenter having to do it.
You wouldn't believe how little we spent on the house. I recently bought my sister's half share in the property--for 5 times what the house cost to build. Of course, lake front property is deadly expensive now.
If you're considering building a very substantial house, my best suggestion is to
buy an existing property. You can find a perfectly acceptable house that suits your needs--without all the hard feelings, hassles and potential lawsuits.
And if you have to build it, start by having a contract with the builder written by a good real estate attorney. Contractors should be paid in stages with time frame rewards built into the contract.
When we downsized, we bought a new low maintenance single story house with a daylight basement. We have everything we need on one floor, and an apartment downstairs in case we ever need live in help.