Custom Home
Also known as: Custom Build, Bespoke Home
A home designed and built specifically for one buyer, with the buyer choosing everything from the floor plan to the finishes. Custom homes offer maximum personalization but take longer and cost more.
Detailed Explanation
A custom home is built to your exact specifications. You work with a builder (and often an architect) to design the home from scratch, choosing the layout, materials, finishes, and features.
The custom home building process is significantly different from buying a production home. There is more room to negotiate the contract, but the process is more complex and takes longer — typically 12 to 18 months or more.
Custom home contracts tend to be more detailed regarding construction specifications, change orders, and payment schedules (construction draws). They are also more negotiable than production builder contracts.
In Your Contract
Custom home contracts differ significantly from production builder contracts. Expect more detailed specifications, change order provisions, draw schedules, and potentially more room for negotiation.
Key Points
- 1Maximum personalization — you control everything.
- 2Longer timeline: 12 to 18+ months.
- 3Higher cost than tract homes of similar size.
- 4More negotiable contracts than production builders.
- 5More complex process requiring careful project management.
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