When you are getting ready to buy a “custom” home, you will be surprised to know that sellers/realtors will often lump several different types of homes into this one category. They are spec homes, tract homes, and custom homes. Rest assured, these are three completely different types of homes. We are going to take a bit of a deeper dive into these various types of “custom” homes so you don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are getting a completely customizable home when, in fact, everything is laid out already or you only have some minor options and upgrades to your “custom” home.
Tract Homes
If you are looking for a home that you can move into quickly and not really concerned about customizations, this is the ideal fit. Have you ever seen large plots of empty land, then, suddenly, in just a few months, dozens of homes are up and ready to go? They are likely tract homes.
Builders buy these large plots of land, work with a few different basic floor plans throughout the development, then build the homes as quickly as possible. These are generally very nice homes, and just because they are tract homes does not mean they will be cheap. They are, however, what I like to call cookie-cutter homes and offer very little variety from one home to the next. This is generally because the builder is buying everything in bulk to keep his costs as low as possible.
You may get a few options or upgrades, but the inside of most homes will be identical.
Spec Home
This is one step up from a tract home and while they are very similar in nature in terms of the builder choosing floor plans, you will generally have more options and upgrades available to you. You are usually able to choose some upgrades that can differentiate one house from the next, such as countertops, cabinets, finishes, etc. They are definitely quicker than custom homes, but they still do offer you to add any design input to the house.
Custom Home
As we have noted in other posts, when you are buying a truly custom home, you are in charge of every decision being made. From the plot of land to the floor plan, to amenities, finishes, and everything else that is involved in building a home from the ground up. This can be very intimidating for someone that has no construction experience, which is why we recommend hiring a residential construction project manager or construction consultant to help.
If you are interested in a custom home but need help, consider bringing on Better Build Now as a project manager or consultant. For more information, give us a call at 888-402-4180. You can also review all of our construction management services, click here.