When I sit down with a prospective customer for an initial consultation, we always discuss whether or not I am the right builder for their personal needs and situation.  Consider it a "mutal interview" to discuss expectations, visions, and objectives.  This conversation frequently leads to two questions.  "As a custom home builder, how do you compare to tract home builders"?  And, "what makes custom home builders different from larger corporate tract home builders?".   I would not be honest if I told you that I am the builder that can meet the needs for everyone.  One shoe does not fit all when it comes to building a person's home.  However, if you can relate to the three following considerations, then a custom home builder may be the best type of builder to partner with to build your home.   

1.  Personalization - The essence of building with a custom home builder is uniqueness.  When you custom build you get what you truly want.  The very nature of a custom home builder is that we are flexible and creative so you get the home you envision.  Custom home builders build with your personal needs in mind.  Larger corporate tract home builders build for the masses by using cookie-cutter facades, limited floorplans, and reducing your choices to predetermined options.  Also, one last note regarding personalization.  Personalization adds marketability to your home for resale value.  Which do you think would be the easiest to resale - a custom home that is unique to all others in the neighborhood or a tract home that very closely resembles every other home on your street? 

2.  Pricing - A common misconception is that custom home builders are higher priced than corporate-owned tract home builders.  However, when you compare tract to custom, you get more for your money with custom home builders.  Many times tract home builders advertise a low price for a bare-bones, basic home and then charge a premium price for options and ammenities.  These options and ammenities are status quo for custom home builders and are already included in our price, giving you more value for your dollar.  We include the options upfront so you know exactly what you get for the price you pay.  Additionally, when comparing custom to tract, take the time to truly compare the details of homes.  Are you getting an "apples to apples" comparision?  For instance, the standard height of the bathroom vanity/cabinet  in many tract homes is 31" and it's 36" in custom homes.  How does the quality and types of building materials compare?  Are the homes built with prefabricated trusses or onsite?  What is the thickness of lumber used in the framing? 

3.  Personal Service - What are your expectations when it comes to discussing your vision, expectations, and concerns for your new home?  With a custom builder you will always know who to contact about any situation - ME.  My job is to focus on you, your home, and keep you well informed throughout the entire construction process.  I'm dedicated to serving you to the best of my ability because I own the company.  Who do you contact with a corporate tract home builder when you have questions or concerns?  Will an employee of a corporate tract home builder be as motivated to address your questions and keep you well informed on the status of your new home?  Just consider this - where do you receive the best customer service - a large national retailer or a local family-owned store? 

Lastly, it would not be fair to completely generalize every tract home builder and custom home builder.  Even custom home builders can vary.  However, the one thing I can promise is that I will commit to meeting and exceeding your expectations in each of these categories.   It'll be one of the first things we discuss when we sit down and discuss partnering together to build your new home. 

 Craig Williams is owner and custom home builder in residential construction for J. Craig Homes. J. Craig homes builds custom homes in Mobile, AL, Daphne, AL, Spanish Fort, AL, Fairhope, AL, Semmes, AL and West Mobile, AL and other areas located inside Mobile and Baldwin Counties of Alabama.

Granite countertops are one of the main features that are found in quality custom built homes.  This countertop material has been popular for several years and looks to continue being popular for the forseeable future.  It has an elegant appearance and is a very reliable and functional material to use in your kitchen or bath.  However, in order to be an educated consumer, there are several things to know and several myths to dispell about this building material.   Several basic things to know about granite are:

Granite comes in two basic thicknesses, 2 cm and 3 cm.  It is my opinion that 3cm is worth the extra money.  It's less than a 10% upgrade in cost but it has a much more substantial appearance.  When thinking resale value, most consumers are impressed by the thicker granite, even if they don't quite realize what is contributing to the kitchen having a more upscale appearance.  The thicker granite also holds a better edge, meaning that a bullnose, bevel, minature bevel, etc finish on the edge will have a better feel and appearance than with a 2cm countertop. 

The price of granite has become more affordable during the past few years.  The average kitchen has 70 sq ft of countertop.  This would put the average 3cm granite in the $3000-$3500 price range.  Comparably, the same kitchen in laminate would cost 50% less, but the price difference now puts granite as an upgrade for only an additional $1500-$1750. 

Granite remnants are perfect for smaller bathrooms and are usually sold at an affordable price from the local granite distributor. 

The most popular misconception about granite is that granite is high maintance and needs to be sealed periodically.  This is completely not true.  Although granite can be sealed (the process is similar to waxing a car and the sealant can be purchased at any Home Depot or Lowe's) most quality granites are now resin-coated.  This means that structurally, the granite is no longer a "porous" material and does not need to be periodically sealed in order to keep the stone's integrity or appearance.  And, yes, resin-coated granite will prevent water marks from forming......just in case you were wondering!

The best website I have found to do research about granite (as well as debunking misconceptions about granite) is the Marble Institute of America (MIA) website at www.marble-institute.com. 

Craig Williams is owner and custom home builder in residential construction for J. Craig Homes. J. Craig homes builds custom homes in Mobile, AL, Daphne, AL, Spanish Fort, AL, Fairhope, AL, Semmes, AL and West Mobile, AL and other areas located inside Mobile and Baldwin Counties of Alabama.

Recently MSN.com posted an article quoting new homes were up unexpectedly by 4% for the month of April nationally. Since April, I have seen a real rise in new home sales in Mobile, AL and Spanish Fort, AL. This has been a very encouraging sign along with the offers we have received on new homes being for asking price or just below asking price, all very reasonable offers. Why is Mobile county and Baldwin county Alabama seeing an upswing in new homes sales?

First, I think Mobile, AL and surrounding areas of Baldwin county, AL are positioned for a period of growth. With job growth from the new steel mill, Thyssen Krupp, and the potential of the new air tanker plant, Northrop Grumman, economic growth will be moving into the area. Actually, many national media outlets have ranked Mobile, AL as the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country.  The new jobs created by these businesses are starting to show themselves and we are seeing the beginnings of people moving and transferring into the area.

Secondly, the new home market is finally adjusting itself. After Hurricane Katrina there was a shortage of housing available on the market. Home builders went on a building frenzy trying to produce enough homes for what the market demanded. Home builders did not anticipate the flattening out and ultimate decline in new home sales after hurricane victims needs were met.  Unfortunately, this left a surplus of new homes in the Mobile and Baldwin county market. We are starting to see this surplus inventory beginning to sell through.  Builders are now adjusting their speculation building to correspond with the current demand level.

Market equilibrium has started to take effect and the decrease in home prices is one of the first to be noticed.  At J. Craig Homes we have always believed in pricing our homes correctly from the start, unlike some in the market that price high and then reduce after the home sits and sits. Though some home builders have been slow to come to this conclusion I believe new homes prices are starting to find their leveling out point. It began with home builders cutting prices and is now trickling down to developers needing to lower lot prices to turn empty developments. All of these adjustments have Mobile, Alabama;Spanish Fort, AL; Daphne, AL and Fairhope, AL in a good place for stabilizing the new home real estate market and returning new home prices to where they belong.

The million dollar question, can homebuilders and agents work together?

There are many faux pas regarding home builders and agents not being able to work together, I have found the opposite to be true. In fact, I have found that listing a new custom spec house with a real estate agent allows the door to swing wide open for potential buyers to walk through your doors.

What are the misconceptions:

Misconception #1: Many home builders believe that listing a house with an agent cuts directly into profit margins and home buyers get a better deal by not dealing with an agent. 

Reality: Real estate agents provide valueable information to homebuyers regarding area comps and provide reasonable offers to builders keeping property values in the neighborhood up. Many times when buyers do not work with a real estate agent they make unreasonable offers and demands upon the home builder because they think they are saving money by not using a real estate agent. A real estate agent protects both the home builder and the home buyer.

Misconception #2: Home builders can hold their own open houses and getting valuable leads.

Reality: Home builders can host their own open houses and get leads, but most of the time tire kickers come through open houses and not "home buyers". There is nothing wrong with tire kickers, everyone has to start some where in the homebuying process. But, real estate agents are able to bring qualified home buyers that are currently in the market and looking for a new home which is critical when you need to sell the house.

Misconception #3: There is no relationship, just a sale.

Reality: Home builders can gain valuable insight, leads and sales by working with a real estate agent. When a home builder teams up and forms a business relationship with a real estate agent they are able to work together flawlessly. Builders can ask their agent what are you seeing a need for in the marketplace, what options and plans are buyers seeking, what is the new hot spot, etc... I have a great working relationship with my real estate agent. When I'm preparing to build a new spec home I give her the plans to review before proceeding. I have received great feedback that many times takes the plans back to the architect for a few changes. I've been told, "Don't paint dining rooms red-they're out!" Also, we always discuss the needs in price points in the market. This gives me a target to hit and helps her sell the home. When home builders and real estate agents work together, everybody wins-especially the customer! The customer gets a great home that has built-in resale value.