There is a certain stigma about custom homes that make them seem unattainable to a vast majority of homebuyers. Where it all began, no one really knows, but truth be told, building a custom home is nowhere near as daunting as it may seem.
There are many advantages of building a custom home, and if you work with a reliable, professional builder you will enjoy every step of the way. Now, let’s bust some of the most common myths about custom home builds.
1. "It’s an enormous hassle"
The word “hassle” isn't a good fit, as building a home that is designed specifically for you should be exhilarating. What word does fit? Commitment. A custom home does require some time and energy to plan, but the process is most certainly worth the effort. You just need to be committed to it.
By working with the right builder, most of the heavy lifting will be done by them, leaving you to determine the fun parts—designing spaces that are unique to your needs, selecting colours and finishes, and watching the concept come to life. It should seem as though what you envisioned is magically appearing before your eyes.
2. "It costs too much"
The best part about building a custom home is having a lot more flexibility to fit your existing budget. You aren’t stuck with certain “trim packages” in an all-or-nothing kind of setting. Rather, your builder will work with you to design a home that will be everything you wanted it to be, and still not break the bank.
Even if you're still feeling like the initial costs of a custom home build fall outside your ideal budget, it's important to think long-term. Part of the reason why having higher home standards are worth the money [ http://blog.augustafinehomescalgary.com/blog/higher-home-standards-worth-money-p1 ] is the quality and personalization means less chance of future repairs or remodelling.
There are plenty of options to consider that keep your budget in mind. You don’t always need top-of-the-line finishes to make your home look and feel luxurious; there are plenty of styles and colours to choose from to make your overall design both economically and aesthetically pleasing.
3. "Unknown costs can blow the budget too fast"
Hidden costs are a possibility when making any major purchases if you don’t do thorough research or plan ahead. When it comes to a custom home, the right builder should use their knowledge and expertise to check off every possible box before beginning the construction of your new home. The most common reason hidden costs appear is actually mid-construction changes. The more you can commit to your original design, the less likely the price of the home will change.
The best advice we can offer in this situation is to be very open and communicative with your builder from the start. A good builder will be clear about pricing, provide documentation, and will keep the lines of communication open throughout the process. That way, if you do wish to make changes along the way, you can discuss cost updates together.
Your builder is there to construct your dream; the more open you are, the more likely they’ll understand and exceed your expectations.
4. "It takes too long"
Granted, a custom home will likely take a considerable amount of time to construct. The very nature of a custom home is that everything is started from scratch, from blueprints to finishing touches. A good builder will have a very practiced and refined process, minimizing the time it takes to build your home.
The timeline to build your home is significantly shorter than it used to be due to newer technology, better construction equipment, and best practices in the industry. Ask your builder about the average timeline of a custom home build —they may surprise you.
5. "Communication with builders is a nightmare"
Not all builders are the same, and a quality builder will certainly place communication as a priority. Since custom homes are all about personalization, communication is truly a necessity so that builders can use your personality to define your custom home.
The primary objective for a custom home builder should be to provide you with the home you expect, and the only way to accomplish this is to listen intently. A good builder will keep you informed along the way in case of any hiccups, and ensure any rare hiccups that occur are resolved before they become mountains.
These are some of the common myths that pop up in the custom home building industry. We hope that this article has addressed some of the concerns you may have, but if not please feel free to visit a show home or give us a call. We’d love to answer your questions and put your mind at ease.
