In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of buying a tract home versus a custom home. Should you decide to go for a home builder simply for the convenience and price or should you trust a small to mid sized custom home builder? We’ll look at different factors to help you decide.
Custom Home Builder: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Get your dream home, not somebody else’s. Select the architecture, materials, layout, home style, windows, lighting and add anything you can dream of. Customize as much or as little as you desire.
- Get one-on-care care. Because your custom home builder is handling the construction of your home and not fifty others, he/she can give you greater care. He/she can take the necessary time to do great work and focus in on you.
- Get better quality workmanship & materials. Better quality workmanship and materials means less for you to fix. It’s your investment, right? Save money.
- Build a home that uniquely fits your future. You have the ability to plan ahead for your family’s growth and changes and create a home design that accommodates your future.
- Although we caution, you can make changes most any time you like.
- Walk through your home during construction. Watch it develop. Observe the workmanship in progress. Let your builder know if you’re concerned or think of a modification.
Cons
- The selection and planning phase does require many decisions and interactions between both homeowner & homebuilder. It requires time & energy. However, an experienced builder will guide you through the process with care, plus, dreaming can be fun.
- Cost to build is substantially more.
- Some home builders have limited warranty options. Make sure they’ll be around in five or ten years. Companies with the cheapest price will not be there when you need them.
- Make sure your homebuilder listens & has foresight. You’re paying your homebuilder to tell you what you don’t know. Do your research. Hire an expert. Get lasting results.
- Some changes will cost you more after construction begins. Our advice: Have some contingency money set aside. It is highly likely you’ll make changes during development.
- Some builders might not allow walkthroughs during construction. Green Branch does.
Tract Home Builder: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Decision making process can be easier. Fewer decisions to make.
- One stop shop: Established firm has financing on board. Homeowner can get financing, land and home build all in one place.
- Readily available selection of homes.
- Budget friendly – Less expensive homes for more square footage.
Cons
- Homeowner has limited choices as to style, floor plan, materials, etc. In some cases, perhaps none.
- Caveat: be sure, the financing terms are in your favor – not theirs.
- Generally, tract homes are built faster and cheaper – which means more mistakes and less quality. More for you to fix when it breaks. Speak to their warranty department and see if they are responsive. If they’re not communicating, let this be a warning about the future.
- Tract homes are built with cheaper materials designed to appear costly.