photo by Travis J Photography
You've probably heard me rant & rave about Clearstone Builders, but today you're lucky enough to hear from them yourselves to see what awesome insight they have into the building process. I interviewed Spencer of Clearstone Builders for this article and think you'll find his informative responses very helpful! Especially if you're looking into building. I want to tell you first hand, that this company is the best of the best. I've worked with them on all 3 of my custom homes and literally cannot say enough good things. Their attention to detail is unlike anything else I've seen-- plus, they're honest, truly talented and genuinely committed to their clients. If you want further proof, ask ANYONE they've ever built for. You can see by the reviews on their website how their clients feel about them. They only take on a limited number of jobs to ensure their homeowners get the best care-- so if you're in Utah and interested in building with Clearstone Builders, be sure to get on it soon! Anyway, enjoy this info & I'm also sharing photos from some of their past projects for you to see exactly what I'm saying about truly incredible work. Leave a comment to let me know what you most enjoyed learning about custom building!
Q: What are the main differences between fully custom residential building and non-custom residential building?
Answer from Clearstone Builders:
There are many differences between fully custom homebuilding and non-custom (production) homebuilding. With production homebuilding the homeowner is bound by what fits in the builder's pre-selected options, i.e. floor plans, home style, materials, finishes, etc. If a homeowner wants to "upgrade" to something that is not a standard option offered by the builder then the cost for this upgrade will be a lot more than what it would cost in a custom-build situation. This is how a production homebuilder makes their money, on upgrades. The base cost of the home is low and the homeowner is charged a lot for upgrades. Production building is great for those that don't want very many "upgrades" in their home.
A custom homebuilder will generally not charge extra for custom options, or things that aren't considered standard. In many custom-build scenarios the homeowner is only charged for what the house costs, plus a fee, no matter what style, materials or finishes are used. If a homeowner wants some unique elements in their home that aren't considered standard then a custom-built home is probably the way to go.
photo by Jessica White Photography
Q: Is custom building more expensive?
Answer from Clearstone Builders:
Not necessarily. With a production builder the options available to the homeowner are usually set forth in a very organized way that helps the homeowner to know, right away, what the cost of a certain selection will be. This makes it easier to have a set cost and to not go "over budget". When building a custom home the options and possibilities are endless and some homeowners have a hard time keeping themselves on track and within their budget. A good custom builder will be able to help a lot with this but ultimately it is the homeowner that is responsible for keeping the costs down.
photo by Travis J Photography
Q: What decisions should the homeowner be prepared to make if they are going to custom build?
Answer from Clearstone Builders:
When building a custom home the homeowner can be as involved as they want to be. Some homeowners want to be involved in every little decision throughout construction and others want to only be involved in the finishes that are visible at the end of construction. A homeowner that wants to get deep into the details can be involved in deciding on the strength of the concrete used for the foundation and selecting the features and efficiency of the heating equipment. Most people don't realize how many details go into the construction of a custom home. Those that don't enjoy the nitty-gritty details can expect to decide on the style and colors of the cabinets and what tile they want in each bathroom, among other decisions that probably shouldn't be decided by the builder. A good homebuilder will be able to ask questions and understand what details are important to each homeowner throughout the course of construction so that the homeowner is as involved as they want to be.
photo by Jessica White Photography
Q: If interested in custom building how does one get started?
Answer from Clearstone Builders:
The first thing to do is to find a building lot that fits ones needs and wants. There are many ways to find residential building lots and the cost of the land can vary a lot depending on many variables. I highly recommend that a custom homebuilder be consulted before purchasing a lot to see if there are any potentially negative issues that might not be apparent to the average homeowner. After deciding on the lot it is advised to design the home with the help of an architect. The homeowner will need to give direction to the architect on the style, size and many features of the home. I would highly recommend having a custom homebuilder involved throughout the process of design so that he/she can give valuable insight into the cost and feasibility of the features of the home that is being designed. It is important to, early on in this process, know one's total budget. Talking to a construction/mortgage loan professional about how much home cost one can afford will help to be able to design the right house to fit the budget.
photo by Travis J Photography
Q: How long does the building process typically take?
Answer from Clearstone Builders:
Once the house plans are finalized then the plans can be submitted to the city (or local jurisdiction) for the building permit. The timeline for this process can vary from city to city but will generally take around 1 - 1.5 months to complete. Once the permit is secured and construction begins the house can take as little as four months to complete but will often take much longer depending on the area, design, size and complexity of the project. Weather can be a factor in the construction timeline but doesn't usually add a lot of time to the schedule as we can usually continue construction throughout the year.
photo by Travis J Photography
Q: How much contingency is recommended?
Answer from Clearstone Builders:
A healthy amount of contingency cost is a good thing to have included in every budget. There are often "surprise" costs that are unforeseen before construction and a contingency of about 5% (of the total estimated cost) can usually cover these unexpected costs. Most banks that give construction loans will require a larger percentage than this because they expect the homeowner to go over budget on some things during the construction process.
