Most home builders recommend a custom designed home for buyers who are looking to construct a new residence. Investing in the purchase of a home that has been uniquely constructed to one’s owns plans will involve a large investment of time and money. For this reason, it is important that buyers possess a good understanding of the good and bad aspects of the process the leads to the building of a custom home.

Overview

When buyers decide to purchase a custom home, this means that they will control most aspects of the construction operation. The process starts with choosing an architect to design and produce blueprints. This architectural plan is very important for two reasons: it provides a cost estimate and a specific plan to be followed. Specifically, purchasers will have an estimate of the overall cost of the project and the blueprint will be the instructional set of drawings to be followed by the contractor during construction of the residence. Some contractors do not offer architectural services while others have limited blueprints that have been pre-created from which buyers can select.

The Good:

The following is a list of some major benefits for buyers interested in having a custom-built home.

• Get What is Wanted - Buyers can get exactly what they want in a new custom residence since they will work with the contractor from the beginning to the end of the construction project. When compared to purchasing an older building that may need major remodeling, constructing a customized house can be very costly both in money and time as renovating an older one may cost a great deal of money in addition to the cost to purchase the home.

• Get Modern Innovations - Buyers can select many modern components for their home. Older buildings do indeed have character; however, they lack the modern functions of a new residence. New residences utilize energy-efficient materials on roofing, windows and doors to name just a few. Some of the most common features of new designs include open floor plans, recessed lighting, kitchen islands, at least a two-car garage, extra storage space, and other features that are just not found in older buildings.

• Up-To-Date Safety - Newly constructed residences are equipped with the latest safety measures. This is especially beneficial in areas with unpredictable weather. Home builders sometimes go above and beyond what is required in the building codes to make sure that the structure is stable.

• Less Difficult Financing – Getting a loan for a custom built home is easier than it was thanks to the real estate market. Lending institutions have become very creative with their financing strategies so that more people are able to afford the construction of a new house.

The Bad:

There are only two major aspects that can be considered "bad" when choosing to have a structure built that caters to individual needs: money and time.

• Money - When purchasing a custom home, buyers usually spend more money than buying an old house. The extra costs begin with blueprints by an architect or contractor. A lot may need to be purchased and if there is already another building on that lot, it would have to be demolished before new construction could begin. In addition, it is more common for purchasers to select better quality and more durable materials than when remodeling an older building.

• Time - Another problem with building a new residence is the time involved. The longer it takes to complete, the more anxious a buyer will become about a move-in date for their dream house. Time can often translate into increased costs brought on by having to move out of a prior home already sold. Any building delay will be difficult on the buyer and may not have been allowed for when planning the new construction.

Buying a custom-built house is an ideal choice for many purchasers because of the many benefits offered by purchasing a new residence. Now that buyers have learned the good and the bad aspects about custom built homes, hopefully it will be a more pleasant and enjoyable experience. So go find a reputable home builder to begin the construction of that dream house!