Custom home builder quote
7 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (45)
- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Related Discussions
Hiring a full time builder to build a custom home
Comments (22)Munzer1, I can explain to you very simply why what you are asking for is not widely accepted on this website or in the construction industry. If you go to a grocery store, do you tell them how much you will pay for a tube of toothpaste? Of course not. They set the cost. It's all about market value. If you go to a lawyer for legal services, do you tell them how much they are going to charge you? Of course not. Thy set the cost. It's all about market value. If you go to a hospital for treatment, do you tell them how much they are going to charge you for treatment? Of course not. They set the cost. It's all about market value. If you go to a professional assassin to have someone killed, do you tell them how much you'll pay them to off someone for you? Of course not. They set the cost. It's all about market value. Last one, a perfect explain, initially asked by you, if you go through a toll booth, do you tell them how much you will pay them to let you through? Of course not. THEY TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU WILL PAY FOR THEIR SERVICES. Need I say more? Now, you are free to solicit anyone for any cost and that will be your biggest mistake in building homes. Not paying a qualified individual what they're worth to make sure you get what you want. You can hire a cheap dentist, doctor, or lawyer, buy cheap toothpaste, or take the long way around the river to avoid the toll fee, but in the end you will only waste time and money because YOU were too CHEAP, and you were the rip off....See MoreCan't find a custom home builder in Kansas City
Comments (7)We're dealing with the same issue here in Central Ohio. We own our land, have financing lined up, already have our plans and know exactly what we want. It's a straightforward design - classic American farmhouse, simple, clean lines. Everything is in place, have the necessary permits for our septic and well. Our price range is $300,000 - $350,000 for the house alone, without factoring in site improvements. I know what I want and I'm choosy, but I'm not excessively fussy or anal and I don't sweat the small stuff. We're on our secord round of interviewing builders. We've already talked to many and thought we had found our guy twice now. The first one started out wonderful and I was thrilled with him, thinking he understood keeping within a budget and what I was after. We worked with him for over 3 months tweaking stuff. When we got to the final review of the numbers and the specs, we came to find out that he had changed the design and changed the materials without our input to maximize his profit. When I questioned him about it, he proceeded to tell me what I should "settle for" instead of carrying out my wishes. we had his numbers run by someone else and found out he had seriously low-balled the original estimate and couldn't possibly deliver the house with my requests at that price, so he made the subs to lower quality materials and hoped I wouldn't notice! Needless to say, we walked away immediately. It was sad because if he had been honest with us in the begnning and had quoted an accurate estimate, we would have gone with him because it would have been in our comfort zone. The second one we walked away from also was great in the beginning - did excellent work and was highly recommended. His problem soon became evident when he took us to see some of his prior builds - all way over our price range with none to show anywhere close to what we can comfortably afford. He took us to see a multi-million dollar house he'd built and constantly talked about how the owners "Just turned him loose" without regard to costs. It became pretty clear that he wasn't used to sticking to a budget. So now we're seriously talking to one that we passed over in the beginning. Why? Because as we've talked to more and more of his clients, most of them in less costly houses than we're building, the same point has been made by all of them - he does things right the 1st time and he stays on whatever budget he's given. He's been in business a long time and has built every kind of house imaginable, from million dollar mansions to starter tract homes. He listens to and respects his clients and does fabulous work. He doesn't have to solicit work because he's always in demand by referal. And they all say he's worth waiting for. So keep on plugging and don't settle for what you don't really want. Make sure whoever you pick listens to you and is easy to discuss things with. It's your house and you deserve to get it done the way you want it. ......See MoreBuying a custom built home from investor rather than builder?
Comments (19)This is one of those deals where the seller (investor) is obviously so far out of his depth that he is tragically exposed and you are probably somewhat insulated from problems. The appraisal clause alone will somewhat insulate you from problems while exposing him to massive losses or price reductions. A real estate attorney will enjoy making this deal work in your favor. However, I would walk away from the deal, the whole things seems a house of cards to me, and until he has actually completed projects and closed on houses, this whole thing could come crashing down around him. It is entirely possible that these houses are not going to appraise, and he simply may not be able to absorb those losses. Then you have mechanic's liens and all that jazz to deal with if you go through with the purchase....See Morecustom vs semi custom build
Comments (15)For a spec home, the builder/developer typically writes their own generic list of specs and allowances for the project to build a plan that they have selected. This helps ensure they are able to control the building costs and process through their chosen team with as little input from the client as possible. A spec house builder proposes what they think you will want in the home and will usually make simple change order adjustments up or down based on your selections during the project. As a custom builder, I can tell you that simple process doesn’t cut it for most custom home building projects. Custom homes begin with the vision of the client and architect as a collaborative effort. The architect usually provides an extremely detailed set of building plans and an accompanying set of building specifications for each project. It’s best for the Owner to have selected their Builder early in the design process so that we may review the evolution of the project and suggest ways to control the budget. We have had a number of clients over the years who called in a panic after the plans were complete and they began receiving their first bids on the project from other builders that far exceeded the budget. They were painted into a corner without knowing how much the project would cost. Good architects help eliminate that problem early. Anyway, our job as a custom builder is to review all the plans and specs and develop a list of any problems we see that need to be addressed as well as evaluate the allowance values that are sometimes established by the architect during the bid process. Our job is to evaluate someone’s vision and assemble all of the details to make it happen. After a series of lengthy planning meetings between Owner and Builder before the contract is signed, we hash out as many potential selections, upgrades, value savings deducts as possible and then use the architects specs as a guideline to create our own contract set of specs for the owner. This process of getting to know the client is what defines most custom builders. The more we know about the client, what inspires them, their trigger points which may affect the project, the better. And when it comes time to build the home, every detail has to be perfect and the client owns your schedule until the home is done. We charge more because custom homes take up way more time than spec homes. As for allowances, we provide allowances for things like tile, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, water wells, etc. The appliance allowance includes a quote from our preferred vendor with all model numbers. When the time comes for the client to pick out certain products, they know the budget, and they are welcome to shop as many vendors as they wish. My time is included to help with coordination if they chose my preferred vendor. I charge extra for additional coordination time to evaluate multiple vendors because that process requires much more time. I hope this helps. Every builder has their own method that works for them. This is just how we approach the process. Best of luck!...See MoreRelated Professionals
Daly City Architects & Building Designers · Oakley Architects & Building Designers · Saint Louis Park Architects & Building Designers · Yeadon Architects & Building Designers · Ashburn General Contractors · Banning General Contractors · Coshocton General Contractors · Holly Hill General Contractors · Milton General Contractors · North Highlands General Contractors · Parkersburg General Contractors · Rocky Point General Contractors · Towson General Contractors · Universal City General Contractors · West Lafayette General Contractors- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Related Stories

TRANSITIONAL HOMESHouzz Tour: Builder Customizes Old House for Modern Family Life
Special touches like indoor-outdoor bar stools, an outdoor kitchen and a rope loft mark this San Francisco home
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: A Basic Builder Home Gets the Glam Treatment
From blank canvas to decorated beauty, this home in Massachusetts changed a family's life in more ways than one
Full Story
ARCHITECTURE7 Builder Upgrades to Skip in a New Home
Consider taking a pass on these options. You’ll increase your choices by doing them later
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESWhere to Embrace Custom Furnishings in Your Home
Upholstery, draperies, rugs and mirrors are a few of the items for which it makes sense to consider a custom option
Full Story
CONTEMPORARY HOMESHouzz Tour: Tuscan-Style Builder Home Gets a Streamlined Makeover
Designers remove turrets and ornamentation to give the Texas home a sleek, modern look
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: A Durable New Custom Home Opens to Serene Lake Views
Long-lasting materials are designed to weather brutal Minnesota winters, and large windows bring in sunlight and cheer
Full Story
MODERN HOMESHouzz Tour: Builder Moves From Party House to Kid-Friendly Home
A Texas pro designs and builds a one-story home with a safe room and an unconventional layout just right for her family
Full Story
EVENTSSneak a Peek at 7 Homes From Denver’s Modern Home Tour
A wine cube with a glass ceiling, a remodeled Eichler and other structures exemplify modern design in Colorado
Full Story
HOUZZ TVRetired Houston Couple Replaces Starter Home With Forever Home
See how the Elders built their dream home while preserving the memory of the home they lived in for nearly 4 decades
Full Story
FEEL-GOOD HOME9 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Appeal for Less Than $75
Whether you’re selling your home or just looking to freshen it up, check out these inexpensive ways to transform it
Full Story
User