How does a production builder differ from a custom home builder? Can I hire a production builder to build a custom home?
A “Production Builder” is a term used to define a builder who works in a very limited function of the word Builder, as they stick to volume builds such as developments and are dependent upon client supplied direction such as prints and site preparation.
Custom Builders are more of the term Complete Builders, as these are the people who can take your idea and wants and build them into reality. They are dependent upon nothing as they can design and deliver prints and design to your specification, and help to design and build them. And more importantly they will know how to develop a site into a build ready site, and will not be dependent upon only buildable development lots.
Each has there place in the world of housing construction, and each is very different from the other. A production builder used for a custom build is a sure fire recipe for disaster - it is like asking a podiatrist to do your heart surgery because after all “isn’t he a doctor and all doctors the same?” Just as there are different Doctors who are specific to different areas of medicine, there are different Builders and Contractors specific to theirs.
I would not say that a production builder cannot build custom, though the production builder specializes in constructing multiple homes with the same general floor plan (townhomes, condos, duplexes and smaller tract homes) and are built on an assembly line type of process and their crews are generally better trained for such scopes of work. The custom home builder generally has the experience with their crews that understand a broader range of construction techniques that are often found in “custom”. If you’re looking to build custom, I would say it’s best to find a builder who specializes in custom.
Hi Mary, a production homebuilder is a builder who offers a home for sale along with the lot. These builders usually build large quantities of homes within a subdivision. They either have purchased the land and developed the land into lots or they have purchased the lots from someone who has already developed them. They have their own plans which they build from and will not deviate from those specific plans. But they do give the client limited options to choose from ie elevation, flooring, appliance, interior paint color just to name a few. They begin their homes more times than not with out a buyer but there are times they will presale one of their homes on one of their lots or in the middle of construction they will sale one of their production homes and allow the owner to make certain changes or add upgrades to their home. But they will not build your home on their lots or build your home on your lot. Production homebuilders are sometimes referred to as tract homebuilders or speculative homebuilders. Production builders are opposite of custom homebuilders where the custom homebuilder will build your plan on your own lot. With production homebuilders, the potential customer has less freedom in the decision making process but there is a good chance the production homebuilder can build the same square footage home for less money.
According to newhomesource.com
[https://www.newhomesource.com/.../is-a-custom-or-production-builder-right-for-you ]
A production builder can usually deliver the same size home for less money than a custom builder. The reasons lie in volume purchasing power when buying building materials and land and a higher volume, often systematized approach to construction.