Custom New Home Construction From The Point Of View Of A General Contractor / New Home Builder

Paul Lunick*

Custom Home Design, New Home Construction, And Tips For Selection Of A General Contractor Or Construction Manager

1. Highview Homes' General Contractor Philosophy
Custom home design and new home construction is currently an interesting and exciting business to be in. As an experienced general contractor, I have seen many changes in new home construction practices and trends over the past few years - even in the relatively conservative Buffalo Metro area where I work.  However, I have adopted only the proven successful ones for my new home clients. New technology has provided a wide array of new materials and exciting new products that have filtered down for use by the general contractor in new home construction.

I consider myself a progressive yet conservative general contractor, in that I will never be the first to implement a new idea, material; or construction practice into my clients new homes. This may not sound very adventurous, but I believe that my new home clients invest too much in their new homes to take any risks. My philosophy is to watch and learn as other general contractors use their new home clients as guinea pigs. Only those proven new home construction products, with a good track record, get my consideration. As a result, I can assure all of my new home clients that they are investing in a proven new home product  that will perform as needed - whatever the climate brings - in the Buffalo Niagara Region.

Even the most proven new home products are not always generally applicable in custom home design and new home construction. My philosophy is to carefully weigh the benefits that a new product or construction technique offers against cost. For example there is proven benefit in using triple paned windows, but in my experience as a general contractor, most new home buyers, who operate on a limited budget, are better off purchasing double paned window products. They can then use the capital savings to upgrade some other part of their new home.

2. What Is A Custom Home?
Aside from architectural styles and house types I like to consider 4 simple categories of new home construction, varying by degree of customization:

1. 'Mass Built New Homes' (Track New Homes or Tract New Homes) - Are pre-built and finished, and ready for the purchaser to move into upon settlement of all the necessary paperwork. The general contractor has made all of the choices during new home construction, often the landscaping has also been completed.
2. Customized 'Spec' Homes - Most general contractors have recognized that their clients prefer to have as much choice as possible when building their new home. Many of the larger general contractors have responded by building developments full of new homes in which they allow some limited selection of interior fittings, eg. cabinets, flooring products, lighting and plumbing fixtures, wall paint colors, etc. These products are often referred to by the general contractor as custom homes, but they are really only a partial custom solution. This solution appeals mostly to new home buyers who want to move in quickly.
3. 'Hybrid Custom Homes' - Many general contractors will go further, and allow for limited changes to their floor plans, ceiling layouts, and exterior features. There are extra architects fees to be associated with these changes. Some of these general contractors will even allow their clients to select the site for construction of their new home, sometimes within a restricted development area, or sometimes from all locally available residential building lots. The resulting product should be considered a hybrid of the mass built new home and the true custom built home. This approach is often easier for the general contractor to implement than a true custom built home, because there are usually only minor changes to his familiar new home building plans. Many people believe that this solution is a cheaper alternative to a true custom home, but in my experience as a general contractor that is not always the case.
4. 'True Custom Built Homes' - A true custom built home is built by a custom home builder / general contractor who allows his clients to choose everything. This type of residential construction is often regarded as the 'creme de la creme new home construction option, and it is usually associated with high prices. Both of these impressions are myths. It is true that custom built homes can include many expensive options, but they do not have to.

3. Have A Custom Home Design, But Need Help Managing The Construction?
When building your own home you must plan the building schedule carefully. A typical new home construction task list contains many steps to completion. Several general contractors offer construction management services. If you hire a general contractor as construction manager, you will be responsible for financing the entire new home construction project, including purchase of: lot, building materials, fixtures and fittings, etc. Your construction manager should guide you through the process efficiently.

An experienced construction manager will identify reliable subcontractors and ensure that the various subcontractors overlap each other efficiently in performing their work. The total time required to build a 3000sqft custom home design would usually be about 6 months. However, weather and other factors, such as your choice of materials (eg. bricks vs. vinyl siding), can affect the schedule significantly.

Efficient management of the different custom home construction tasks requires experience and a good working relationship with the various subcontractors involved. Inexperience can lead to a significantly extended construction schedule, increased waste and increased cost. An experienced local custom home builder should be able to manage construction of your custom home design on a flat rate basis, saving you time and money. Highview Homes (Grand Island, NY) offers construction management services in the Buffalo - Niagara Falls region of WNY.

4. Tips - Selecting A General Contractor / Construction Manager For Your Custom Home Construction
When deciding between a general contractor or construction manager to build your custom home, the first step is to realistically assess your own capabilities to contribute to the project.  If you are capable enough, comfortable enough and have sufficient time to handle the accounts and paperwork, a construction manager will generally be less expensive than a general contractor.  However, if you overestimate your capabilities, and cause delays to construction, the final cost could be greater than if you hired a competent general contractor, who can handle all of these tasks.

The second step is to decide what level of customization you require in your new home (from 'spec' home to true custom home), and find a proven local general contractor / construction manager with a demonstrable portfolio of homes in that category. Check references and testimonials, and view some of the homes that this general contractor / construction manager has built.  Make sure that warrantees have been honored and all bills have been payed, where appropriate.  Inquire about the general contractors ability to manage the work crews, sub-contractors and suppliers - and also to interface with local building department officials.

Thirdly, do not rush into signing anything.  Build a relationship with your candidate general contractor / construction manager first.  You will have to get along with each other through the stresses and (hopefully minor) problems that are intrinsic to new home construction.  Find a competent local general contractor / construction manager (with a proven record in your area) and make sure that you can work together compatibly, and your new home construction project should run smoothly - with the minimum number of problems.

 A competent local general contractor / construction manager is easily judged by their proven experience and success in your region.

Recommended Further Research Resources
How To Plan Contract And Build Your Own Home - Richard M Scutella and Dave Heberle.
The Complete Guide To Contracting Your Home - Dave McGuerty and Kent Lester.