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Getting started on the journey of building a home is an exciting and often overwhelming time. By hiring a builder to create something that’s custom for you and your family, you have more control over what your home will be like than you would with a pre-built spec home, but you have more decisions to make and aspects to consider.
Exactly how much control you have over your new home is dependent on your decision between a custom home and a semi-custom home. Our team of expert home builders has put together this guide comparing custom homes and semi-custom homes, their pros and cons, and what those differences mean for you and your family.
What is a semi-custom home?
Semi-custom homes strike a balance between fully customized residences and standardized homes. Generally, these homes are crafted from pre-existing floor plans, often situated on development land owned by the builder. Clients have the opportunity to peruse various feature options and can usually request layout modifications before construction commences.
However, this is where an important caveat comes in: when you’re choosing a semi-custom home builder, make sure you know what you’re paying for! Some builders take the semi-custom “a la carte” philosophy to an unfortunate extreme, charging their clients for every little detail that should be a given in a new home. New Era Homes is proud of our “Uncommon Standards”, over 175 details and upgrades that come standard with any of our semi-custom homes.
Pros and Cons of a Semi-Custom Home
Pros: The pros (and cons) of a semi-custom home are, in many ways, the inverse of those of a custom home. A semi-custom home can be built much more quickly than a totally unique home since the builders are already familiar with the floor plan and other details. The semi-custom price point is often lower, making it a more attractive option if you’re working on a tighter budget.
Cons: The lack of total control over the design of your home is the biggest con to a semi-custom home in contrast to a custom home. If you’re someone who loves to make dozens of tiny decisions so that your project is perfect, a semi-custom home won’t cut it. And, as we mentioned above, some semi-custom home builders have a bare-bones approach to what is included and what costs extra, so make sure you know what you’re getting for your money.Typically, semi-custom homes are designed from a set of floor plans for you to choose from, price ranges that scale to how much customization you want, and a list of special features that you can pick and choose from.
What is a custom home?
A custom-built home is a newly constructed house that you have full control over. Every last detail (and we mean every detail) is up to you and your family, from the floor plan to the kitchen counters to the electrical outlet placement — even the sound that the doorbell makes! This probably sounds overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time working on new home construction, but that’s where your home builder comes in. If you’re working with a team like New Era Homes, you’ll have someone to guide you through every step of the process.
Pros and Cons of a Custom Home
Pros: Obviously, the biggest pro to a custom-built home is the amount of control and customization you have. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing your house will have the exact perfect floor plan and all the little details you’ve dreamed of. Plus, you’ll end up with a unique, one-of-a-kind home unlike any other!
Cons: Having control over all the details is not without its downsides. The price of a fully custom home is higher on average than a semi-custom home. This higher price reflects the extra time, work, and materials that go into getting all your details right.
And speaking of time, a custom home can take longer to build than semi-custom homes. If you’re in a hurry to move into your new home, the custom home project might not be for you.
Make your (semi) custom home yours
Hopefully, we’ve helped you get a better idea of what makes custom homes and semi-custom homes different. The best part about whatever decision you make is that either way, you’re getting to build the (semi) custom home of your dreams.
If you’re in the market for new home construction in central Oregon, you’ve come to the right blog! New Era Homes has been designing and building semi-custom and custom homes in Bend, Redmond, La Pine, and more for 15 years. Contact us today, and we’ll help guide you through the exciting and important process of designing your custom dream home.
