Deciding to build a home is an exciting time of your life, with many decisions and planning. Are you ready to build your own dream home, but are unsure what direction is right for you? We share key differences between custom builders and volume builders so you understand which suits you best.
Quality versus Cost
Simply put, its’ impossible to have the best quality home for the cheapest price tag. While both these factors are important to both Custom Builders and Volume Builders, they each place emphasis on their priorities.
Volume builders typically compete over price. This does not mean quality is not important to them. Moreover, they focus on how to deliver a home for competitive prices. This often means buying bulk supplies, minimum building code requirements, limited selections, pre-defined layouts, and other factors keeping costs lower.
Custom home builders generally compete over quality. While cost is still an important factor, custom builders don’t sacrifice quality for the sake of saving a few dollars. Often custom builders build homes exceeding local building requirements and include quality products to stand the test of time. They also have the knowledge and experience of providing custom quality structural and cosmetic features to your home. Click on the link to find out what it costs to build a custom home.
Custom Building versus Customizing
Many people use these phrases interchangeably when referring to home building, but it’s important to note the difference.
Customizing a home refers to making slight alterations to an existing floorplan or model. Possibly changing a bonus room to become a fourth bedroom or removing a bedroom to add an ensuite. Typically, volume builders offer options to “customize” existing floorplans to better suit your family’s needs. However, this is not truly custom building.
On the contrary, custom building means planning, designing, and building specifically for you. It involves creating new plans from scratch with the help of skilled professionals. By understanding what you want and need, a custom home builder can cater to your personal requirements and save on items that aren’t essential to you.
Unique Experience versus Just Another Number
Have you ever felt as though you were “just another number”? That you didn’t receive the personal experience you were looking for? Planning and building a home is a process that can take months or even years depending on the complexity. For a more exclusive and personal experience opt for a custom builder. They are usually smaller companies with fewer staff who invest their time into you as an individual. We aren’t suggesting that volume builders do not provide that personal approach. Moreover, their focus lies on the sales quantity rather than the individual. Having more clients, makes it is easy to become just another number. Custom builders focus on making sure you are involved every step of the way, and ensure you receive that unique personal experience you’re looking for.
Flexibility versus Restrictions
Building with a volume builder often limits your choices to their pre-defined packages or selections. Although they may be customizable, the costs incurred for changing from builder standards are quite exorbitant. Most often you are restricted to certain subdivisions, specific floorplans and pre-set finishing choices. This doesn’t mean you don’t have choices and decisions, but they are limited to what that builder has set out in their agreement.
Custom builders have the flexibility and adaptability to provide you with limitless possibilities. They are better equipped for complex projects and are prepared to build on acreage lots with differing terrains, provide you with a one-of-a-kind floorplan geared around your lifestyle, and offer infinite options for finishing. Volume builders simply don’t have the time and resources available to accommodate this approach.
Overall, building with a custom home builder will provide you with a unique personal experience, a high-quality built home, the flexibility to design around your lifestyle, and a completely custom built home.