When you decide that you’d prefer a new home instead of a resale, your next decision might be between a custom home or a production (also called a tract) unit. Regardless of budget, there are significant differences between the two with regard to the process you’ll go through and the final result.
Lot Selection
Some cite location as their most important motivation for building a custom home. Reasons are many: a larger lot, a compelling view, proximity to work or family, or they’ve inherited a piece of land. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying lot selection is a huge benefit of custom home building.
Sometimes a custom home builder has a lot inventory from which you can choose or you can provide your own, as long as it meets the zoning requirements for the home you want to build. Setbacks, footprint, easements, lot coverage, height restrictions and square footage will have to fall within the zoning requirements of the properties you’re considering.
A production builder either buys zoned lots and puts homes that meet the zoning stipulations on them or takes a piece of land through the zoning process to build specific homes. Custom builders or real estate agents find vacant properties suitable a home, zoned or not.
Private citizens can also take vacant land to the development authorities in Victoria to zone it for residential purposes. Generally, this is a time-consuming and expensive process, which is why many who want a custom-built home buy a pre-approved, finished lot instead.
Design Opportunities
Custom homes can embody virtually any design concept you want, which might range from a slight deviation from the norm to a completely new execution of an architectural idea inside and out. Tract homes, on the other hand, give you a few choices as to changes to the front elevation and the floorplan design.
It is possible with production builders to alter the floorplan design, but it will cost more to choose this option. Some tract builders build more into the price of options than just their cost and see changes and option as opportunities to make profits.
Interior Layout
Building a custom home gives you the chance to create a floorplan exactly as you want it. A tract home generally allows for few changes and builders who do offer altered floorplan layouts charge more for the changes.
You will work with the builder’s design team or an architect of your choice to create the home that you want. As long as it meets Victoria’s building codes, you’re free to include whatever you like wherever you want it. Most people who design their own homes do so by blending what they want with design aspects that will promote its resale value.
Features
One of the most attractive benefits of a custom home is the ability to choose your own features without having to pay much more over retail. Custom builders who have enough volume like Alair Homes form partnerships with suppliers who give them favorable pricing. Alair passes these savings onto their clients who benefit from discounted pricing for home essentials.
You can choose virtually everything about your home that the zoning authorities and any homeowner’s association (HOA) allow. You’ll have to meet the building codes for building safety and local aesthetic standards. The subdivision where you want to build may require certain types of finishes like roofing material or garage door types.
Time
The only downside of building a custom home is the time it takes to do so if you’re starting with a piece of un-zoned vacant land. It takes time to go through the process for lot and plan approval. Once those are accomplished, an efficient builder like Alair will move forward as quickly as possible. Sometimes they’re faster than a production builder. They’re not building as many homes at once and they’re much more adaptable when it comes to home individualization.
Bottom Line
If you’d like more information about building a custom home, why not ask the experts at Alair Homes in Victoria. They’ll be happy and able to answer all your questions about every step of the process.