Should You Custom Build Your Home?

“Once we get to know someone and get a sense of their taste and style, we can bring samples in of plumbing fixtures, lighting, cabinetry, etc., but there are a lot of decisions to be made,” says Meyer. “Builders try to help them with the whole umbrella of things that need to be done and help them to make these selections.” This semi-custom home was built by selecting plans and a builder. This one was built by Creekview Homes in Hopewell Junction, N.Y. But be warned that custom building has even strained relationships. “It breaks my heart when the couple goes at each other’s throats and there’s a real risk to the marriage,” says Jernigan. “You need a real team collaboration to do this.” The Perfect Brainstorm If custom building sounds right for you, then Susan Lang, author of Designing Your Dream Home, recommends brainstorming a list of must-haves and don’t wants before even starting the process. Her book provides useful checklists to help kick-start ideas. “The process will be smoother depending on how well the homeowner does homework and plans for what they wanted—one sink or two, heated towel bar or not, a room for your autographed guitars, wheelchair access—otherwise, you can run up additional expenses because you haven’t worked through all of the options,” she says. If you are using a builder, research the builder through the National Association of Home Builders and your local chapter, which you can find through the NAHB Web site. If you plan on incorporating green building techniques into your home design, you want a builder that has been trained in that area. You can find one through the NAHB or through the U.S. Green Building Council. You may also want to check your state’s Better Business Bureau to make certain that no complaints have been filed against that business. Once you have found builders you are interested in, ask them for referrals from previous customers. Often, they will refer you to the testimonials on the Web site, but ask to be put in direct contact with the customer so you can ask specific questions. Be very careful if you decide to do the work yourself, says Hector Seda, vice president of operations for Wilson Seda Builders in Pompton Lakes, N.J. “Have some sort of background or have someone guide you in the process,” he says. “Don’t go into it blind or it might end up costing you more in the long run.” Interior designer S.A. “Sam” Jernigan and her husband, Thomas Kehrlein, designed and built their own home in Glass Valley, Calif. If you want to build a home but custom building isn’t an option, consider a semi-custom option. “You can choose an already made spec plan and modify it to fit your needs,” says Stenger. “You might like a home that was done before and can start from there.” For example, say you liked the plans for a Victorian home, but it only has three bedrooms and one bathroom, which is too small for your growing family. You can modify the plans with an architect who can add in another bedroom and half-bath. The same can be done for almost any modification you want to make, including adding windows or a porch or moving the kitchen to the other side of the room. Too many changes, however, and it might be better to create a custom home plan with your builder instead. Above all, says Vendervort, once you make the decision to custom build a home, “you really will know you are putting together the house that meets your family’s needs and lifestyle every way you want it to.”

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