Customized or Custom...

"A year from now you may wish you had started today." ~ Karen Lamb

I am inspired to share the story of the year that has passed. And in time, it will unfold over the pages. For now, I wish to shed light on distinctions. Semantics. Nuances that make all the difference.

You get only one chance to "get it right the first time." And all the planning in the world can only help. We spent many hours over the better part of three years defining our dream home, shaping the floor plan, designing each room. Then we traveled in search of the perfect place to plant our life, our family. A community in which to thrive.

We found the location. We had our plan. We found a builder. And now I am wiser.
Brilliant as a structure is in conception, it is doubtful whether it could be executed without the contractor's familiartiy with the methods of contractors and sub-contractors...

If you decide to build a home, you have many options. Many contractors position themselves as "custom" builders. When actually, it now seems to me, they are predominantly "customizers."

You might wonder why the knit-pick on the word. Let me explain.

Customized homes are pre-designed by an architect for the builder. One may choose a plan (perhaps from a handfull of options) and then select from a variety of finishes, and some upgrades. The builder might be willing/able to move a wall or change a door. Or perhaps add a deck. Still, the plan is available to any potential client. Often the designs have cute names to help distinguish them: Le Soleil, Grand Prix, Chambreau, etc. And, the quality can be at any level. A key benefit with this type of approach is that the contractor will be very familiar with the structure and with the scope of the project.

Custom homes are one of a kind. The owner works with an architect and perhaps an engineer to create the blueprint that will guide construction. Often, the design is created to fit a specific property. To the Nth degree, a custom home plan is one that a builder builds for the first time. Thus, a true custom builder usually focuses on only one or two projects in a year in order to give adequate attention to the many details and to allow for the "learning curve."

It is important to know that the person you hire to manage your dream will give the right attention to it. If the plan is intricate or includes elements that are a departure from the usual tone and manner in town, take the time to align with your contractor so the vision is shared from the start.

More to come as the novel is written ...