Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make, and one that takes a great deal of thought and consideration. To build or not to build is a common question that home buyers mull over. Many new homes fall into one of two categories: custom or production. Understanding the difference can help home buyers make the right choice for their needs.
True to their name, custom homes are uniquely designed and built from scratch per the specifications or wishes of the home buyer. The home building process typically involves the home buyers, custom home builder, architect, interior designer, and other trade professionals. Often times, home site is a major determining factor in both the construction and design of a custom home. Custom home builders typically have a local or regional consumer base, and may even operate within a niche, such as log cabin homes.
On the other hand, production homes are all built and based off the same home design. These homes are usually found in suburban neighborhoods designed and built by large volume production home builders. Typically, all of the homes built within these communities were constructed by the same home builder and have identical or similar floor plans. There are many national production home builders across the United States as well as local and regional builders that fall within the production home category.
In the past, production homes were often sarcastically referred to as “cookie cutter” based on the fact they are all built off the same or similar design. Today however, production homes are highly valued for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of the benefits of buying a production home:
Affordability
Although production homes all have similar home designs and floor plans, they’re often built within a range of several different price points. This offers home buyers a great deal of value and cost savings. In addition, there are also a variety of floor plans to choose from, offering some degree of customization without going through the hassle or expense of buying a new custom home.
Safety and security
Production home builders create suburban neighborhoods that offer safety, security, and peace of mind. This is especially true for luxury production homes that are sold at higher price points. Safety is a top priority for most home buyers, whether they are interested in custom homes or existing ones. Living in a safe neighborhood provides an invaluable and priceless sense of security.
Community
Production home neighborhoods offer a unique sense of community that may not always be present in existing neighborhoods. This sense of community is especially important for growing families and those with young children. Being apart of an active, vibrant community is an important factor for most home buyers searching for just the right home.
Production home builders have a lot to offer, and these are only a few of the advantages to buying a production home. If you’re curious about production homes, reach out to a local builder in your area with questions or to schedule a tour.