Custom, Spec or Tract?

When you think about what’s on your must-have versus your nice-to-have list for your new home, does one outweigh the other? The kind of builder you choose will depend on your needs, preferences and budget.

Tract homes

If you’ve ever driven through a new neighbourhood and noticed many similarities between the houses within it, chances are you’re looking at the work of a tract builder.  

Also known as a production home builder, this type of company buys and subdivides large plots of land to build on. Only minor design changes can be requested by the homeowner, as the builder sticks to a limited selection of pre-designed homes.

These builders keep many projects on the go at once. They often build to the minimum codes and use standard materials, which keeps costs down and moves production along quickly but may compromise quality.

Spec homes

A spec home is also built on a lot the builder has already purchased, based on the builder’s “speculation” it will sell. The style and floor plan are determined by the builder, although you might be able to select some of the finishings if you purchase the home before that stage of the process. These homes are likely to have more unique characteristics and higher-end finishings than your basic tract home.

Custom homes

Just as the name suggests, a custom home is fully customizable to your needs. Three-car garage? No problem. Coffered ceiling? Sounds great. Extra-large mudroom with a washing station for your dog’s muddy paws? Of course. Whatever your style or preference, your home will be designed for you.

A custom home doesn’t have to be large and elaborate—a small retirement bungalow or functional family home is possible, too.

While you might pay a premium for a custom-built home, you’re also paying for a home that is uniquely you and quality that lasts. For some custom builders, that includes higher building standards than the National Building Code.

If you choose to go custom, be sure to ask your builder about their quote policy. As custom details add up, you should receive a detailed quote that outlines everything you and your builder have discussed. No work would proceed without your signature, and no change would be made without a change order.

After all, if you’re trusting your builder to build a top-notch product, you should receive no less than top-notch service.


from Custom Home Building Blog by Sawlor Built Homes https://sawlorbuilthomes.com/nova-scotia-home-builder-blog/custom-spec-or-tract/
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An L.A. Bath Remodel Reveals a Wet Room-style Vibe

Image
Teaming up with a woman general contractor in L.A., a remodel partnership delivers a dream bathroom “After” photos by Madeline Tolle for Sweeten. Stylist: Emily Bowser Before: Turn a must-do gut reno into a custom master bath remodel When they bought the Spanish Revival Mediterranean in South L.A.’s Park Mesa Heights, they’d pulled off a victory: a first-time home purchase in SoCal. But Liz and Kevin’s 1923 house had a secret: water damage beneath the master bathroom floor, thanks to a shower pan installed incorrectly a decade before. “To deal with it,” said Liz, the executive director of an education nonprofit, “we needed to take the bathroom down to the studs.” With this, Liz and Kevin started planning for a bath remodel in their L.A. home. Liz and Kevin, a technical production senior manager at Disney Studios, viewed the dank discovery as an opportunity “to add storage and maximize space,” Liz said. But also to showcase their style. The two Mid-Century enthusiasts, who live w
Read more

A ‘His’ Bathroom Remodel with Tri-color Marble in Philadelphia

Image
In a couple’s 1929 Colonial, a marble and glass bath refresh comes in at budget for $19,200 Homeowners: Natalie and John , having lived in their 1929 Colonial home for years, posted their bathroom remodel on Sweeten Where: The Mt. Airy community of northwest Philadelphia Primary renovation:  The 100-square-foot vintage second bathroom was finally going to get its re-do after a challenging demolition phase With: Sweeten general contractor Homeowner’s quote: “The vetting process was great—just the ability to know that the contractor was pre-approved and interested in our project from the moment they walked into the door. We are both busy and we didn’t have time to deal with contractors who were incapable or uninterested.” Written in partnership with homeowner John. “After” photos by Kristina Kroot. A ‘his’ bathroom gets a makeover “This was ‘my’ bathroom and I was generally
Read more

My Sweeten Story: A Renovating Couple Gains Their Urban Chops

Image
A DIY tiling job leads to a bigger renovation the Hudson Yards homeowners had planned “After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten Homeowners: Jeremy and Chris posted their Hudson Yards renovation  on Sweeten Where: Hudson Yards neighborhood in Manhattan, New York Primary renovation: A remodel of their 778-square-foot co-op’s kitchen, bathroom, and a multi-functioning entryway.   Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection— for free. Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Jeremy Learning to navigate a New York renovation A first—and obvious—lesson in renovating: it really is harder in New York. When my husband Chris and I embarked on this adventure, we had thought we knew what we were doing. After all, we’d undertaken a remodel of our 1914 Seattle condo before. But that was all before we decamped to New York
Read more