A custom home project is a project where you work directly with the home builder (and possibly your architect) to design, plan, and select every detail of the home’s construction, layout, and finishing. The individual home builder will coordinate with the design team and subcontractors during critical stages of the construction process. This process involves collaboration between the homeowner, custom builder, architect, and various other parties involved in design and logistics.
Custom vs Production Homes
Hiring an architect to design a custom home usually costs between 2 and 15 percent of total construction costs; however, the architect or a representative from their company will usually oversee the project to ensure everything is done right. On the other hand, a custom home usually requires several appointments, a trip to the designer or architect, and several weeks to complete the plans (plus another three weeks to calculate the final sale price).
At this point, the builder will complete the project according to the original plan, or the new owner will step in and make some design decisions. Based on the range of home prices, builders usually go to great lengths to build what they think will sell best. A home can be sold during construction, in which case the home buyer can choose from many finishes; however, the builder, not the home buyer, determines the “floor plan” before beginning construction.
This simplifies the construction of a custom home as the site is ready to build, and builders can focus solely on the home’s design. Row houses and production houses are often used interchangeably; if the house is production, It won’t be unique. In general, production homes are very similar and customization is something you may have to introduce on your own after construction is done.
Custom homes are usually based on standard plans but often include several options and some customization. Somewhere in the middle is a semi-custom home – often where a custom home is built from an existing set of floor plans that have been modified to meet the needs of buyers. Semi-custom is also a term used by some home builders for production options that allow for more flexibility and a wider variety of options.
These homes are traditionally built on land owned by the developer, but the client can view feature options and usually request layout changes before construction begins. Specific homes can be projects that the builder has previously used or a one-time project designed for a particular site and buyer demographic.
Is a Custom Home Worth it?
These homes have all the elements of a custom home: unique design, and high-quality finishes. The concrete house is very popular because it has a unique design that reflects your style while offering an affordable option. These homes are ideal for homebuyers who want a quicker process of building a custom home.
A one-of-a-kind custom design is expensive because everything is unique and the plans need to be done from the ground up. While you can start with a basic builder or stock plan, semi-custom home is likely to be more expensive than an equivalent production-built home because it is unique. Custom-built houses are also very expensive and take longer to build.
Custom homes are built to order by luxury home builders who specialize in innovative designs and have the experience and expertise to meet specific needs. The ideal situation when buying is to make a contract at the beginning of construction to make sure you get the house of your dreams after everything is done.
