After 20+ years in Real Estate, I can tell you that not all Builders are equal. Though most Builders aspire to be competent, I’ve found varying degrees of workmanship, responsibility w/respect to sub-trades, manor in which the Client is treated…& a substantial difference in their ability to listen to the needs/concerns of the Client. This is paramount.
There are different categories of builders; Custom, Spec & Production.
Custom: Generally small volume builders, that build one-of-a-kind homes on your land. They may offer designs & floor plans you can edit as you like, or help you design a completely unique home based on your criteria/lifestyle. Custom features may include; concept/theme homes, higher ceilings, larger rooms/doors, custom use rooms/baths, unique roof design, custom garages, changes to accommodate a disability, etc. I’ve also seen custom homes specifically designed to mesh with & incorporate the natural environment of the property.
There is a cost associated with custom work, as more design & planning are involved, as opposed to a pre-planned spec home.
Spec: A spec home is built on land pre-purchased by the Builder. Generally, the floor plans are pre-designed & the home is built to sell. Construction begins & continues, regardless if there’s a Buyer interested at the time or not.
A Buyer may become interested during the course of construction. Few Builders however, will accommodate even small changes of design, as the ‘floor plans’ (& associated costs) were determined before breaking ground. *Prior to completion, in most cases the Buyers are invited to choose from a selection of certain finishes.
Production: Production Builders are developers or builders who own a large plot of land, which is divided into numerous smaller lots for ‘stock plan homes’ to be built. Production builders are large volume builders, building many types of housing, such as; single family, condos, town houses, etc. Generally, there is not much opportunity for a Buyer to make changes. Production builders often attempt to keep supply in conjunction to meet current housing demand.
These are mass builds & are generally priced lower than single family spec homes. Occasionally, quality may be sacrificed for quantity, such as; paint grade, framing quality, cabinetry, shingles, carpeting, etc. But, it’s important to note that this depends greatly on the cost saving approach of the individual builder. Regardless, one major factor to note…is resale value. Most homes on this street will look extremely similar. Though the lower price may be appealing, especially for first time Buyers…it’s crucial to understand that your future resale value will be affected as much (by these same factors) when it’s time to sell. Not to mention that there are usually a substantial number of these homes on the market at any given moment, meaning that price is about the only thing making one more appealing than the other.
*By far, my experience with Builders has been quite positive. I pride myself on matching Buyers to Builders…& most Builders are happy to work with professional Realtors. Fact is, all Builders offer a different approach. All have different building methods, different quality standards, different tradesmen, finishing, sales approach/staff, etc.
Last thing you want (when building a home), is to find your needs aren’t being looked after or concerns not heeded. So, put my experience to work for you. I have negotiated countless new home purchases…I know exactly how to approach negotiation, contract, additions (landscaping/decks/etc.) & time-sensitive subjects.
Based on what you’re looking for…I will find the most suitable builder – best prices & best quality.
Email me at: info@SellWell.ca
Call me at: (780) 445-8575
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