True custom builders will usually work from plans provided by a client or clients' architect. You should be aware, however, that you will likely warrant plans you furnish as free from errors and omissions. That means you could be on the hook for the cost to remedy any errors found during construction.

With regard to stock plans purchased on the internet, it's likely that they will need some modifications to comply with local code requirements and any applicable architectural or zoning restrictions. That might involve redrawing only one sheet such as a foundation plan or revisions to the floor plans and elevations, too. Most custom home builders will have local architects and designers they work with who can help.

It’s not really a custom build if you are using stock plans or builder plans. A custom build is design specifically for your lot and needs. It is essentially one of a kind for the homeowner.

Webster defines "custom-made" as "made to individual specifications." There is nothing in the definition that requires it to be truly unique or that the design needs to begin with a clean sheet of paper. That said, a home built from a stock plan with the specific materials, components, systems, appliances, and finishes specified by the owner is likely to be unique.

Doesn’t “made to individual specifications” imply unique as in one of a kind?

Nope. You and I could give a builder the exact same specifications from which to build our homes. Both would be custom, but neither would be unique.

I can see that for material selection but for layout, on the lot, and house design in general I don’t. Seems highly improbable that given a specific lot two architects would design the exact same home for it. Sure there could be similarities but wouldn’t each have nuances that were indeed unique and specific to the design that was created by the individual?

Examples of definitions I found in a quick search:

Custom homes are simply a site-specific home built from a unique set of plans for a specific client. Spec Home Builders are built by builders who buy a lot or land, build a house, and then sell the home. ... A Tract or Production builder generally has model homes that will be the home designs built on these lots.

A custom home is a house designed specifically for you by a hired architect. It's built to your specifications rather than to a predesigned plan with no homeowner involvement.

Custom home - Wikipedia
A custom home is a one-of-a-kind house that is designed for a specific client and for a particular location. The custom home builder may use plans created by an architect or by a professional home designer. ... In most cases, custom home builders construct on land the home buyer already owns.

You're only doing internet searches now. If the builders you are looking at only use their plans, you're probably looking at tract home builders, and they definitely will not do a custom plan that you pick out. If you look at the parade of homes tour in your area and look at the higher end homes, that will point you to builders who will do custom. There are also builders that do both, but they should have a "custom" category on their website. The builder doing our custom has predrawn plans for people who don't really want a custom layout but want to select custom finishes, but they also will build architect designed plans or develop from scratch layouts. Depending on how the builder is set up, you could just bring the plan to the builder and they'll use it as a template to draft up plans for you with whatever customization you want.

Just be aware that if you don't have a lot, plan searches will be pretty futile. The lot dictates so much about what you can and can't build, and how you should lay out your rooms and windows to maximize light. Our lot isn't small for the city (0.3 acres) but we're still having trouble fitting our home on the lot with setbacks and garage. And our home size-wise is on the small side for custom (around 3000 SF, 2 levels).

AS you'll have to debate your definition with dozens of my past clients for whom we built custom homes-- the design of which may have started with a stock plan that was modified to suit their lifestyle needs, applicable architectural covenants, the requirements dictated by the site, local codes and their budgets. Each was able to specify the components, materials, systems, appliances, fixtures and finishes for their home. That's what custom-made is all about.

We feel that the most important design objective is that a custom home be the perfect "fit" for the client. Achieving that end result can begin with a variety of starting materials from stock plans to a clean sheet of paper.

We can disagree on this. For me a custom home is designed architecturally for the homeowner. Choosing interior finishes doesn’t make it custom in my opinion. But it doesn’t really matter that I think this either. 😂

The OP should keep in mind that Internet plans, and all the plans from the Internet plan factories, are generic and, most likely, need modifications.

These plans are designed for a perfectly flat site which requires no site work or site improvements. They do not take into account orientation, sun control, views or passive solar design.

In the vast majority of cases, there is no foundation or structural design, which is an obvious necessity and extra cost. Many jurisdictions require these in order to issue a building permit.

In addition, it is unlikely that there is any HVAC, electrical or signal, plumbing information or design. Exterior and/or interior finish materials may also be lacking information or specifications. There may not be a window or door schedule. All of these drawings, schedules and information are needed for bidding and construction.

In other words, what one gets often is limited to floor plans and exterior elevations, with, perhaps, a roof plan.

So consumers can expect a range of extra charges in order to develop the necessary needed information for planning/zoning and building permit approvals, as well as for construction. Do your due diligence before going very far.

Internet plans are not ready to build or bid, which is most of the issue. We've built a few.

Internet plans are good for conceptuals, but most of the cost of a set of permit ready plans usually lie ahead.

No one has the same definition of "custom" so don't fall into this trap.

@live_wire_oak

At least the boxes in the song have different colors. Now all we see are white boxes.

I have never seen a custom home builder's website that lists plans. Haven't looked at a bunch but still. If a builder's site list plans, in my mind, that is likely a tract builder.

As far as finding builders, do you currently live in the area you want to live?

I asked colleagues about their experience, I also looked at land that I was interested in and much of it was owned by builders so that became a starting point. In the end, I bought the land off of a builder and used someone else.

In many areas, suburban lots are developed by a single builder that buys a large area of land and subdivides it. In these scenarios, your own plans are not going to be an option.

I am with AS on the true meaning of custom but of course you could get there by a stock plan but that would seem like a backwards way of doing it.

What is your price point?

Atlanta or suburb or exurb?

"It’s not really a custom build if you are using stock plans or builder plans. A custom build is design specifically for your lot and needs. It is essentially one of a kind for the homeowner."

The OP did not say it was a "custom build".

They said they were looking for a "custom home builder" who will use plans the OP provides.

Booty bums you are absolutely correct based on what the OP posted. Discussing what custom is, is an interesting thing too. Clearly there are lots of differences on what people think custom means.

In our experience, our custom home builder, likely would not have used canned plans, as they would not have been ready for our unique lot. More work would be needed to make it useable.

If you want to discuss what custom is, then feel free to start your own thread.

Or read the dozens of other threads where you and the other old-timers lecture everyone else about what a "custom build" should be.

There is no need to derail the OP's very clear and straightforward question.

Like you are now? They got a lot of answers to their question in this thread 😊

I'm trying to get you back on topic, to keep you from further derailing the thread.

You acknowledged this by stating..."you are absolutely correct based on what the OP posted."

I've only seen a few relevant responses to the OP's question, which are hard to spot in between your extended debate on what a "custom build" should mean and Live Wire Oaks 50-line poem and "McBox" rant.

My point really was that I don’t think this person exists. Why would a custom builder want to be associated with online plans? The whole point of custom is it is for the client alone.

Our company is a custom home design/build firm. All our homes are architect designed (yes, bona fide architects.) While most designs begin with a clean sheet of paper (or the electronic equivalent) some begin with a stock plan the client has purchased and wants to modify, and on rare occasions, the starting material is one of our proprietary plans featured on our website. We don't limit their choices. The reason we show plans on our website is to give prospective clients an idea of our design capabilities.

"My point really was that I don’t think this person exists."

You know this is not true.

On the very first page of this forum is a thread asking if anyone has built a stock plan, with multiple people posting pictures of their builds.

There are many many more threads just like it on this forum.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5235223/frank-betz-tuxedo-park-floor-plan-has-anyone-seen-or-built#n=89

I really don’t think a custom builder who will take an internet plan exists. I think a ton of semi custom and tract and spec builders would.

I can confirm that at least one custom builder exists who will take an internet plan. We are working with him in NC, using a plan from Max Fulbright with changes that we made. He has given our home the exact same level of workmanship and attention to detail that he does his $1.5M build that is in progress.

"I really don’t think a custom builder who will take an internet plan exists. I think a ton of semi custom builders would."

Now you are just playing a ridiculously silly game of semantics (custom vs. semi-custom).

You know you're wrong on this one, as proved by the link I provided, as well as the responses from Charles Ross Homes and SBDRH.

I really don’t think a custom builder who will take an internet plan exists.

Wouldn't have mattered to me! (However, US plan factory designs were never suited to our area with large homes on small frontages.)

Perhaps this is regional. I don’t live in the US and internet plans are not the norm in my locale after all. No custom builder in my area would ever take on internet plans. They are simply not suited for the unique lots and terrain. They would be absolutely impossible to work with. Perhaps out in the suburbs where lots are flat, uniform and predictable a builder would be willing to. In addition to that all the builders we interviewed were choosy with their projects big time. Their name and brand was attached to the build and they had no intentions of muddying it with less than projects. They had architects and designers they worked with and all of it was based on relationships built over time. Not random plans online.

And for what it’s worth I actually think semantics do matter. Just like people are constantly calling out posters for saying architect when they use a draftsman I see the same for custom vs semi custom. I standby my belief that a custom home is built for the one homeowner and design for them based on their needs and their specific lot.

"I don’t live in the US and internet plans are not the norm in my locale. They are simply not suited for the unique lots and terrain. They would be absolutely impossible to work with. Perhaps out in the suburbs where lots are flat, uniform and predictable a builder would be willing to."

Why are you even commenting on this thread then??? The OP explicitly stated they are in the Atlanta area, where lots are generally flat/uniform/predicable and suburbs are plentiful!

I don't understand why you would even chime in, given that internet plans are "impossible" due to your "unique terrain" in your country.

"I standby my belief that a custom home is built for the one homeowner and design for them based on their needs and their specific lot."

Once again, "custom home" builds are not being discussed in this thread!

The OP is asking for BUILDERS to construct a home with plans they supply.

Booty Bums I’m going to bow out now. You indicated you didn’t want the thread off topic and then keep coming back and adding to it. I don’t agree with you and you don’t agree with me. That’s totally fine. Comments often go off topic, people provide professional advice when they have the credentials, regular folks comment too. This thread is literally like all the rest. Nothing rude or mean has been said. Lots of comments have been made and the OP is welcome to take the ones deemed valuable and leave the rest. Enjoy your day.

"This thread is literally like all the rest. Nothing rude or mean has been said."

You are right, this thread is literally like all the rest. But I suggest you re-read it if you think "nothing rude or mean has been said."

Take a look at live_wire_oak's post and tell me it's not rude or mean.

Virtually every thread has the same 4-8 cast of characters who post snarky, arrogant, dismissive, irrelevant, mean-spirited comments.

Also, here is yet another internet plan being built by custom builders, on the first page of the forum...

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5409873/has-anyone-built-the-mitchell-ginn-ellenton-place-house-plan#n=127