Choosing a custom home builder: Pairing the right lot with the right builder

When deciding to build a custom home, the first step is to select the perfect piece of property. As the saying goes, “Location, location, location,” is the most important consideration in real estate. But determining the best location for you and your family will depend on your specific needs. “Think about what area you want to live in,” says Gretchen Coley, a real estate broker with Allen Tate in Raleigh. “What area or particular neighborhoods in your community will suit your family the best?”

For example, if proximity to a place of employment, to children’s schools or to the airport is essential, then a location that is within a reasonable distance to these is a prime consideration. But if you or your family’s most important need or goal is to live in a quiet retreat in the countryside, factor that in when considering home sites or looking at land that is available.

If you decide on a lot within a community, it is important to determine the amount of privacy your family desires. You may prefer a wooded home site or a more open view. The location of your home within the community also makes a difference. You may want to be close to the neighborhood amenities or if privacy is a must, then you may choose a lot that backs to the woods.

From a practical standpoint, you will also need to think about the type of house you would like to build before making a final selection on a piece of property. If your preferred architectural style leans towards the traditional, then you need to look for a lot that is relatively level and flat and suitable for the construction of a Colonial Revival or Craftsman-style home. If you lean toward more contemporary architecture, you might be able to purchase a lot with a steeper grade and then design and build a dramatic modern home that is adaptable to the topography of the lot.

Another factor to consider is the orientation of your home on the lot itself and what type of view you want to achieve from your rear deck or front porch.

In some cases, you may purchase a lot owned by a builder or land developer and then work with a builder who owns the lot or is approved by the developer to construct your new home. In other situations, you may purchase land owned by an individual and choose your own custom builder.

Secondly, Upchurch asks, “‘Does the builder like you?’ This usually draws a chuckle from the buyer,” he says, “but by this I mean, ‘Does the builder think he/she can realistically meet your needs and expectations? Can they build the home that you need with the features that you want at a price you are willing to pay? If the answer to this question is no then it doesn’t matter how much you like the builder or he/she likes you. And if you meet with several builders and this answer is consistently no then you may need to re-set your expectations.”