knowledge

Custom Home Building Isn’t What You Think It Is

Remember the thrill of buying your last home? After all of those years,  you’d probably say it has served you well. Yet, perhaps you have outgrown it and are looking to move into a larger “forever” home.

While many production builders offer estate homes, the only way to get precisely what you want is to go the custom route.  The thing is, many home buyers believe building a custom home isn’t for them.  Let’s look at some of the common misconceptions around custom homes – and why custom home building isn’t necessarily what you think it is.

A Blank Page Doesn’t Have To Be Intimidating

One of the things that scares people most about custom home building is the idea that there are no plans to refer to. Not to mention, there is no such thing as a show home for a one-of-a-kind product.

Not everyone can be Frank Lloyd Wright, and a custom builder embraces that reality! In fact, you don’t even need to have a complete idea of what you want when you get started. The builder will often begin by getting a sense of home styles and layouts you love. They will ask about your tastes and desires as a starting point. Some will offer the services of an in-house architect, while others prefer to collaborate with a stable of outside architects.

Rather than putting a cap on your creativity, a custom home builder takes the time to understand what you want and delivers that result!

You’re Not On Your Own

Some worry that with a custom home, all of the decisions will fall on their shoulders. The truth is, it’s no more stressful or involved than building an estate home through a production builder. Custom builders and architects work closely to guide you through key decisions. You have an entire team dedicated to bringing your vision to life. Your custom builder will take care of all of the details on your behalf: from permitting and approvals to material procurement to hiring and scheduling dependable tradespeople.

From start to finish, a team of custom builders will learn about you as a person. They’ll listen to your ideas and keep you informed as the project moves forward. The best builders are renowned for customer experiences that are as spectacular as the homes they build.

Building a Custom Home Doesn’t Mean Relocating

With custom homes, you have the flexibility to build almost anywhere, whereas estate homes from a production builder are often limited to lots the builder has purchased in select communities.

Custom homes aren’t restricted to large lots in the suburbs or rural acreages. If you love where your current home is, that’s no problem! Your new home can often be built on any standard lot. Your team will ensure that the proper licenses and approvals are in place to rebuild. The only thing you need to do is find a place to stay in the meantime!

Custom Homes Do Not Take Significantly Longer to Build

Designing and building a custom home from scratch does not take significantly longer than building an estate home through a production builder. On average, a custom home of 3,500 square feet can be finished in 2 years from initial concept.

Custom builders and architects are extremely talented and highly efficient professionals who are committed to creating a unique design. Collaboration between the two is important. Often the home builder will be able to identify any elements within the architectural plan that may prove to be logistically challenging and offer helpful suggestions. This helps keep the project (and budget) on track.

Custom Home Doesn’t Mean Unlimited Budget

Many people assume that custom homes are for those with bottomless budgets. The truth is, the top custom home builders go to great lengths to provide detailed budgeting processes that track costs every step of the way.

You will be asked to communicate your budget expectations with your custom builder and architect up front. Once they understand your parameters, they can customize your designs and materials to work within your price range. Any overages will require your sign-off.

While an estate home from a production builder will allow for some degree of customization, significant changes can add up quickly – and put the production home on par with a custom offering.

Have Fun and Enjoy the Journey

If you’re ready to give custom home building a shot, you are in for an exciting journey. It is your chance to create the home you deserve, not one that you merely settle for. And at the end of the day, how often do you get the opportunity to create something that is built for you and you alone?