Spec Home or Custom Home
When faced with the exciting prospect of building a new home, many potential homeowners are stumped on where to start due to the dizzying amount of options on the market. From manufactured homes to complete custom builds, there are a million choices for someone when they are looking for a new home.
From the dirt, to the doorknobs!
Disney Homes has been building new semi custom home in Washington State for over 20 years. If there’s one thing we are good at, it’s turning a piece of dirt into a beautiful home, complete with doorknobs!
It’s your home so why shouldn’t you be the ones calling the shot’s when it comes to the final design of your new home? At Disney Homes, we want anyone looking to build a new house to have every possible advantage and all the help they need to sort through the dizzying array of options in the new home market in Washington.
We’re here with a guide on the differences between some principle options in the home building market. More specifically, we’ll discuss the variations between spec homes and custom homes.
Disney will help you analyze the pros and cons and get down to deciding what is the BEST option for you and your family.
Spec Homes
Spec (short for ‘speculative’) homes are homes built by contractors on property already owned by them with the purpose of selling them to whoever happens to fall in love with it. The contractor determines the design, and the home is typically finished or nearly finished by when someone buys it.
Pros of Spec Homes
For many people, when they think of the phrase ‘dream home’, a vague outline paired with a strong idea of how they want to feel in their new home comes up. Still, they may have no clue how to narrow down the specifics of how to achieve said ‘dream home’ feeling. Some homebuyers will just know it when they see it.
Choosing a spec home is a great option in that scenario because it means far less decision-making involved than in the case of building a custom home. Instead of spending months planning, researching, and debating on what you want, you can leave all of those details in the capable hands of the architect, builder and designer. This will minimize stress and keep you from having to be involved in the build every step of the way, if that is something that doesn’t appeal to you.
As an added bonus, spec homes often end up being rather more budget friendly and offer simpler financing options. You will also be able to move in sooner, as spec homes are typically already finished or almost done when their new owners make the purchase. If you’re in a hurry to move in and you want to close quickly on your new home, spec homes are a wonderful choice.
Cons of Spec Homes
Some home buyers don’t jive well with the idea of many of the design decisions being made for them. The home may end up being built with features that you won’t necessarily use and don’t want included in the price. For those who know exactly what they want down to the nitty gritty details for their dream home, a spec home may not be the best option.
Another Con of Spec houses is that in an attempt to maximize profits, it is unlikely that the highest quality materials, accessories (fixtures, lighting, paint, etc), or appliances are going to be used.
At Disney Homes, we make the process of buildilng your new semi custom home as simple as possible.
Custom Homes
As the name suggests, custom homes are built to the specifications of the future homeowner. The home is typically built on property already owned by the homeowner, and the plans are drawn up according to their wishes.
Pros of Custom Homes
With a custom home, you will have much to think about, but the end product will match your vision with precision.
You can choose the property location, the floor plan, and even the placement of your outlets and fixtures. Both big and small details will be at your dictation.
You’ll be able to see the daily progress of your home build and be as involved as you’d like to be. Many prospective homeowners find the process exciting and feel that the end product truly belongs to them, especially since the home can include custom features built just for them and their family.
For example, retired homeowners may want widened doorways or other considerations to cater to their circumstance. Families with young children may want a playroom. With a custom home, the possibilities are endless.
Cons of Custom Homes
The process of building a custom home can be much longer and more costly than that of purchasing a spec home. It can be quite overwhelming, especially for home buyers that have a hard time visualizing what the end result will be.
The price tag is generally heftier and the financing trickier than with spec homes. Building a custom home may not be the best option for those who are impatient to get into their new home as soon as possible.
Semi Custom Homes
An Even Better Home Building Option
With both spec homes and custom homes offering such strong pros along with a few cons to contemplate, it can be a tough call.
Here’s the good news:
With Disney & Associates, you don’t have to choose! Here at Disney, we are proud to offer a hybrid home building option we call semi-custom homes. Our semi-custom homes are a perfect blend between a spec home and a custom build.
Countless PNW residents are falling in love with Disney’s semi-custom home building option. It takes away the headache of starting from scratch while still providing a unique yet affordable home built just for you and your family.
Don’t Compromise on Your Dream Home in the Pacific Northwest
You are building your dream home – you shouldn’t have to compromise!
Whether you have decided to build a full custom home, or aren’t sure where to start, we’d love to hear from you.
With both custom and semi-custom homes to choose from, you and your family will get EXACTLY the home you want in Washington!
Contact Disney & Associates today to get started on planning your semi-custom home!
