Which of the following is considered a Direct Cost?

Materials are considered a direct cost because they are expenses that can be directly attributed to the construction or production of a specific project or product. In the context of mass appraising or real estate, direct costs are those that are incurred specifically for the creation or enhancement of a property. This includes the raw materials required for building or renovating a structure, such as lumber, concrete, and fixtures. Because these costs vary directly with the level of production or construction, they play a significant role in determining the overall cost of a property, and therefore its value during evaluation.

The other choices represent indirect costs or expenses that cannot be directly tied to a particular project. For instance, insurance and marketing are overhead costs that support the business but do not directly contribute to the physical attributes of a property. Architectural fees, while necessary for design, are also considered indirect costs since they are not physically part of the property itself.