Production Builders vs. Custom Builders: Which is Right for You?

As you plan to invest in your first home, one of the many questions you must consider is whether you should work with custom builders in Sonoma County or a production builder. While both types of builders are great choices and each of them can deliver your dream home, much of your decision will lie in how much of your say on design, choices, and fixtures you’d like considered during your home’s construction process.

So, what is the difference between the two?

At its very core, the difference between the two is rather simple. A production builder builds a huge number of homes based on a preset library of floor plans. These builders have a limited array of personalization options. On the other hand, custom builders will work with you in creating a one-of-its-kind home that you have envisioned and therefore, offer a greater range of design choices. Custom builders in Sonoma County generally work on building houses on single lots as opposed to building a whole bunch of community homes simultaneously.

So, which one of them should you pick? Before you can make that decision, we have put together a small guide for you.

Costs: Since production builders work on building the same kind of houses over and over, they can offer a near exact cost. This means if you are a first-time homebuyer, you can choose your home and plan effectively within your budget. It is important to note that your home will not be one of its kind, since these builders reuse a catalog of plans to keep the costs low. This means, there may be other homes in your development that look just like yours.

Custom builders, on the other hand, will give you a truly unique product. They build every home from scratch and will come up with a plan that is unique and designed to your expectations and taste. They use a cost-plus model. This means for every upgrade you choose, the cost of services and material needed will add to your base cost. Your final cost will depend on the options you make, the contractor’s pricing, and the industry prices of material.

Customization Options: Production builders seldom offer customization options and even if they do, it is quite limited. For instance, you could ask for a larger master bedroom or ask for a breakfast nook to be added, but you will not be able to make changes to window sizes or even moving walls. You will be asked to choose a plan that is closest to what you envision which can be a damper if you are hoping to add personal touches to your home.

Fancy gold fixtures? Granted. Want an exquisite mural at the front door? Done. Want to swap out your teeny-weeny pantry for a walk-in pantry? Granted. No matter how you want your house to look and no matter how many upgrades or customizations you wish to make, a custom builder will accommodate your requests. You aren’t limited in any way and can even bring in your own architect to help you customize your living abode! If budget is not a constraint and you would like to build a fancy home, a custom builder is definitely for you!

If you are looking to build a custom home,    Holly Construction, Inc. can help you plan and build the house of your dreams. No matter what your budget may be, we will work with you in customizing a house you will fall in love with. Call us today at 707-541-0700.