Should Your New Seattle-area Home be Custom or Production?
If you’re looking to buy a new home in the Seattle area you’ve got choices. Obviously you have a choice of locations such as: Federal Way, West Seattle, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Burien, Kent, etc.
Of course you also have a multitude of styles from which you can choose, including: Ranch, Tudor, Victorian, Art Deco, Colonial, Contemporary, Italianate (and the list goes on!).
As you weigh your options, one of the choices you’ll face is whether you should buy/build a custom home or what some people refer to as a “production” home. These two kinds of homes are built by different kinds of builders—and for the most part, for different kinds of buyers. Let’s take a look at some of the basic differences between the two.
Production homes are built on land that’s owned by the builder. While the lots can vary somewhat in size, they tend to be somewhat standard (and often smaller) than the lots associated with custom homes. Production homebuilders generally use standard or stock plans. It’s not unusual to find numerous houses in a neighborhood that are essentially identical, although some options may be different. The builders that build these homes often build a wide variety of styles—from single-family units, to condos, townhomes, and apartments. These builders traditionally build a lot of homes (more than 25 homes in a year). Builders of production homes may build anything from an entry-level home to a luxury home—but the homes will follow standard plans. Standardization and volume allow these builders to price their homes lower.
Custom homes are generally built on property that the homeowner has purchased. Custom homebuilders build homes that are custom, or one-of-a-kind constructions. The home is built specifically for the site and according to specific, unique plans that an individual has requested. These homes tend to reflect the specific personality and lifestyle of the owners. Custom homebuilders tend to build only custom homes, and they often build in smaller numbers (25 homes or less per year). These homes also tend to be higher-end homes and are priced appropriately higher.
Which type of home (and homebuilder) is right for your Seattle-area home? It really depends on your needs, your desires, and your budget. For a closer look at what custom homes have to offer, we invite you to
check out our portfolio of Seattle-area homes to see if there’s something that fits your lifestyle and budget.