What are the differences between builders of personalized, custom and spec homes?

Which builder is right for you?

When you're considering building a home, you need to look at all your options. You'll want to choose a builder who fits your needs. Home builders are not the same. Most builders specialize in a specific style. When starting your search you'll want to become familiar with the differences between builders.  There're custom home builders, spec home builders, trac home builders and personalized builders. With each type of builder you'll find a difference in cost, styles, choices, and materials. 

Differences between builders

A custom home builder builds a house for an individual client based on their location, ideas, and plans. Time is spent with an architect or professional home designer to create the layout. Clients have the most control over the building process, design, size, number of rooms and materials used in custom home building.  This is also the most expensive. Different builders have more overhead and can cost more. Using more expensive materials or building the ideal floor plan can be what a client thinks they want but can be stressful. 

A spec home builder, builds a house with no particular client in mind. The builders find locations they like, use their choice in floor plan and material they think will appeal to potential homeowners. They are well built. A builder has a large investment in the home until it sells. Before building a spec home, builders consider the types of home selling in the local area and what amenities the homes provide. The biggest issue some buyers have with spec homes is they’re similar to other homes on the market. Spec homes often have items you don’t necessarily want or need, like small sitting areas but lack other features, like a walk-in pantry. 

Trac homes are homes that have a very similar layout to every other home in a specific development. Builders are building for volume and mass-market appeal when they build trac homes. The selling price is usually reasonable to most home buyers. However, you lose out on quality materials. To save money in the building process, builders usually use stock cabinetry, hardware and appliances. While this doesn’t bother most buyers, those who are looking for higher quality will not find it here. Trac homes, like spec home, use similar or the same layouts, architectural style and landscaping throughout the development. If you are looking for a unique look or a specific style and layout, trac homes won’t be the best choice for you. 
As a personalized home builder, Stoneshire Builders utilizes mix of spec and custom home building options. Our clients have a choice of location, floor plans and elements from other homes we’ve built or along with new and original ideas. Color choices, materials used and overall design is all within the clients control and budget. We rarely build the same home style and layout twice. 

The Stoneshire Builders process

We work with our clients in person and through a convenient online portal specific to each client. Through this portal clients can choose building materials, stay up to date on the budget and communicate with Stoneshire through internal email. This allows all communication to be in writing and eliminates email being lost and not received by one of the parties.

Keeping everyone on the same page thorough out the project and elevating stress which poor communication can bring. This portal allows clients to access their building project any time of day, from any location as long as they have an internet connection. Client’s always have the ability to stay informed. 
Stoneshire Builders has been building personalized homes to fit individual lifestyles since 2011. Client styles have varied from contemporary, costal, modern, linden and everything in between. Contact us to see how we can help you with your personalized home. Visit our contact page or give us a call at 701-471-6935.

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