Custom Homes DC

If you are planning on building a home, a custom home provides you the most options and choices.  However, with all of the different building options out there, it can be confusing as to what exactly constitutes a custom home. 

The defining characteristic of a custom home is choice.  The homebuyer makes all the decisions.  Although you work with a custom homebuilder or general contractor who can give advice, all decisions, such as floor plan and interior features, are ultimately up to the homebuyer.

If you are considering a custom home, keep the following advice in mind. 

• It is usually wise to use a local builder or general contractor. 
  If you use someone local, s/he is more aware of any local restrictions, regulations, and even the climate, all of which can affect building. 

• Use an architect to draw up the floor plans. 
  While you may know exactly what you want, the architect can create floor plans that the builder can use.  Also, the architect knows which walls need to be load-bearing and other technical factors.

• Custom home building should be a team approach. 
  Everyone involved needs a good working relationship – the builder/general contractor, the construction crew, the suppliers, and yourself.  Choose people that you can work with and who will listen to you.

• Despite popular belief, building a custom home does not have to be expensive. 
  You make the decisions and you control how much you wan to spend.  You can build a relatively inexpensive custom home, or a very expensive home if that is your plan.

There are two other common options in building a new home other than custom homes.  These are spec homes and tract homes, which differ from custom homes in the level of choice available to the homebuyer.

Spec home
A common way to build a home other than the custom home route is to build a spec home.  Many larger home building companies and general contractors build homes and offer the homebuyer limited choices.  Although the complete freedom of a custom home is not available with a spec home, the homebuyer can usually choose from a set of floor plans and choose options such as lighting, cabinetry, flooring, paint, etc.

Tract home
A third choice in homebuilding is to build a tract home.  A tract home is at the other end in the spectrum of choice than custom homes.  Where with custom homes the homebuyer has complete choice, with a tract home there is no choice.  The tract home is pre-built and finished.  The general contractor already made all of the choices when building the home.  There is no wait to move into a tract home other than waiting for closing.

Choose the home that best suits your situation.  If you want complete choice, or if your lot and local restrictions require it, then a custom home may be right for you.