Embarking on the journey of building a new home is extremely exciting, and if you are like most people, you want to be lounging in your finished living room as soon as possible. You will get there soon enough, but there are a few initial decisions you are going to have to make in order to get the ball rolling, such as whether you want to build a custom or semi-custom home. The differences between custom homes and semi-custom homes are relatively straightforward, but there certainly are pros and cons to be considered for each.

If you have a very precise idea of what you want for your new home and are unwilling to compromise on any detail, a custom home is a way to go. You will be deciding every detail from the conception of the design to the very last touches. Custom homes are more expensive and take more time to complete, but if those factors are worth it for you to make your dream a reality, it is the right choice. 

If you want some customizable options but do not feel the need to be in charge of each and every detail of the build, you may want to go with a semi-custom home. This relieves you of having to make a potentially overwhelming amount of decisions and will not break the bank as much. It will also get you to move-in day much sooner.

What is a custom home?

A custom home is all you through and through. Building a custom home entails you working with homebuilders every single step of the way—from the initial design to the final build, you will be in charge of every last detail. Of course, you don’t have to draw up the blueprints or hammer in every nail, but you will be the one in charge of green-lighting everything from what the windows look like to how many closets there are.  You are the head-honcho, and every decision made in the design and construction of your home needs to go through you. 

For some people, this may seem like the perfect arrangement; they have a very strong vision of what they want for their dream home and they prefer to have complete control over each element of the design. If you are somebody who likes the idea of tending to every detail of your new home and not having to make any compromises, this may be the best option for you. For others, all this responsibility may seem a bit too daunting. If you find you have a vision for what you want but are put off by the idea of having to call all the shots, going with a semi-custom home may be a better option.

What is a semi-custom home?

A semi-custom home is basically what it sounds like: a home that is custom tailored to your desires, but not completely. Rather than being in charge of every detail from design onward, you will select a pre-existing floor plan that best fits your vision. Because you wouldn’t be designing it from the get-go, you will have to make sure you take into consideration what elements of a floor plan are most important to you. 

From then on, you will work alongside experts to customize other elements of your home. Instead of selecting every part of your home from every option in existence (quite a lot of options) you will be provided with a limited number of options pre-selected by the homebuilders to whom you have expressed your preferences and desires for the project. This removes the need for you to be in charge of every last detail while still allowing you to tweak elements of the home to best suit your needs.

Another major difference between custom homes and semi-custom homes is the amount of time the build will take to complete. By eliminating the need to design a floor plan, you will likely complete your home in a much shorter amount of time. So if you are looking to get your new home finished as quickly as possible and are not too fixated on needing to micromanage every single detail, building a semi-custom home may be the best option for you.

How does pricing differ?

Of course, your budget will play a very important role in your decision-making. As is the case with most custom products, you will be spending more for a home that is completely customized from design to construction. Without having to start completely from scratch and work out every detail, semi-custom homes are certainly more cost-effective. 

What you can expect when building custom homes and semi-custom homes

Naturally, creating a completely custom home is a much more involved process than working with something that already exists. It is also more likely that you will run into some unexpected obstacles. Because of this, you can expect the process of building a custom home to take more time to complete than a semi-custom home. If you feel that building a home which is completely tailored to fit your unique vision is worth waiting a little extra time for and you are working with a flexible budget, a custom home is the way to go.

Building a semi-custom home is quicker and more affordable. The construction is much more predictable, so you are not as likely to run into unexpected issues that cause delays. It will limit your level of customization, but this may actually be what you prefer. You may feel that having to choose every feature of the design is overwhelming and unnecessary. That is perfectly fine, and the team of experts we assemble will be more than happy to present you with the available options that are in line with your dream.

What are the differences between custom homes and semi-custom homes? Building a custom home puts you completely in charge of every aspect of design and construction while a semi-custom home will have you  working with pre-existing options. Whichever route you choose to go, you will still be playing a major role in the creation of your dream home, and that is a beautiful thing! Tell us your vision for your dream home and we will provide you with a quote that suits your budget.