Many times when I share my profession with someone, they immediately say "Oh, you build all those big homes". Although it is nice to be acknowledged for our work, it is frustrating that this common misconception keeps many families from enjoying the satisfaction of working with a small custom builder.
This misconception persists due to some realities that govern our industry. Here are some of factors that are at work;
Lot Prices
The least expensive lots are often found in large master planned communities. The economies of scale in these developments combined with selling the lots off very quickly allows for these lots to be sold for a low price. Very few small builders have the ability to purchase hundreds of lots at a time. Hence the large corporate (production) builders will often be the buyers and builders of the homes in these communities.
Lot Ratios
If a custom builder is not able to buy the least expensive sites, he must often buy in smaller communities with more expensive lot prices. These more expensive lot prices have a multiplier effect on the type and size of home that can be built.
A home value/price is often dictated by the cost of the land it is built upon. There are formulas on how the price of a lot should relate to the price of a home. In North Texas, the ratio is about one to five. This would mean that if you have a $100,000 lot your total home & lot should be priced at about $500,000 (20% lot cost is 20% of the total).
In addition to more expensive lot prices, these smaller communities often have more rigorous architectural standards. These standards add to the cost of construction and require a builder to build a larger more expensive home to be compliant with the developer's standards.
Creativity
Smaller builders are often able to be much more creative on their homes as they are directly involved in the day to day construction of the home. This is appealing for families who wish to design and build a custom home and they will often seek out small custom builders for large luxury homes.
Homeowners Pick Where
Often a small home builder is building on a site that a family has specifically selected. These sites are seldom in large communities and often have unique features that require additional supervision.
When a family seeks out a builder to build their home, they are usually looking to build their dream home. These homes are often larger and more elaborate than a typical corporate built home.
Often when families go on home tours, they gravitate towards these types of communities and notice the small custom builders are the ones who build these homes.
However
A good builder can help your family build almost any size home. Before settling for the local tract/production/corporate/mega-builder Goliath, reach out to your local custom building community. You may be pleasantly surprised that you can get a custom home for about the same as it would cost to purchase cookie cutter home.
Your extra effort could result in you working directly with a true building professional who can offer you more choices, enhanced quality and a whole different perspective on building your home.
Thank You
I hope this helps remind you that small custom builders can accommodate the construction of almost any size home. When considering who to build your next home, don't discriminate against the small guy just because some of his projects are big.
If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices. Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.
Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at 817-748-2669 817-748-2669 817-748-2669 817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients. Or become a Facebook Fan.
If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance. If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals. Ģ
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