Custom Home vs Production Home: Which is Best For You?

Building your dream home is one of the most exciting experiences of your life. From finding your plot of land to seeing your home rise to receiving the keys upon completion, it is a process riddled with ups and downs. And once you commit, a simple question must be answered.

Will you choose a custom home builder or a production home builder?

Both have advantages, but how do you know which option is best for you? Riverview Custom Homes is Calgary’s luxury custom home builder. As an award-winning group of experienced architects and designers, we want to help you understand the differences between custom and production homes, so you can decide which option is best for you.

Custom Home Benefits

A custom home is precisely what its name suggests, a home that is uniquely yours, fully customized to your needs, wants, and preferences. This one-of-a-kind home is constructed exclusively for you. Everything from the design to the location is all within your expression domain. And while the custom home builder may use blueprints produced by an expert home designer or architect, the final call for the house’s layout, size, and design is under your guidance.

While the most obvious advantage is the personal expression and customization aspect, many other benefits exist, such as:

Flexibility with your budget
Quality of materials
Customizable options
Design a home to match your lifestyle
Make your home eco-friendly
Greater sense of pride and satisfaction

Production Home Benefits

A production home uses a specific house design that has been repeated with many other homes. Production homes are commonly found in neighbourhoods that large-scale home builders constructed. Substantial land segments are branched and divided to simplify the construction process for production homes.

This home variation also has its own set of advantages, which include:

Energy efficient
Provides both home and land as a packaged deal
A range of house plans are available

Which is Best for You?

A custom home or production home, which is best for you? The answer to this question requires a little self-awareness. Do you want a home that is uniquely yours? One that matches your style, tastes, and preferences? If so, then a custom home will be the perfect fit. You will have complete control over everything from the type of tiles on your walkway to your doorknobs and flooring.

However, if you prefer a passive approach, where all those details are handled for you, then a production home is the best choice.

Your Trusted Custom Home Builder in Calgary

Both custom and production homes are excellent options. But if you want the home of your dreams to come to life with architectural brilliance and superior craftsmanship, consider Riverview Custom Homes for your project. We build luxury custom homes in Calgary with an award-winning team of highly skilled craftsmen, designers, and architects.

Let’s start your dream home today.

Best Custom Home Builders in Calgary: Riverview Custom Homes

Custom home builders come by the dozens in Calgary. Some are very good, while others – for numerous reasons – don’t quite have the luxury of claiming that distinction. But this may make you wonder; which custom home builders in Calgary are the best? Of course, “best” is subjective. A couple of terms you can use to replace the word “best” with, however, are qualified and experienced: Two qualities that separate good companies from exceptional ones.

And as it turns out, those are two qualities that the builders at Riverview Custom Homes have. So if you are planning on building a custom home in Calgary, you might consider hiring Riverview Custom Homes to take care of it. Here is what you would gain in the process:

1. Quality

We strive to offer nothing less than quality to our customers. Throughout the building process, we work with you to ensure you are satisfied with the results. After your home is built, we also take the time to address any problems and questions you might have. Our final goal is your ultimate satisfaction, and we won’t stop until you are completely satisfied with your new Calgary custom home.

We house a team of experienced designers, architects, and craftsmen. Moreover, each member adds their unique brand of sophistication to every project, creating a distinct piece of architectural brilliance that is uniquely yours.

2. Experience

At Riverview Custom Homes, we have experience and can prove it. Just view our portfolio or read the reviews people have written to get a feel for our level of expertise and craftsmanship. Our builders and architects have decades of combined experience planning and building beautiful, quality custom homes in Calgary.

The experience is evident in the fine craftsmanship of each project we accept. With proper material utilization and decor arrangement, we create the home you have always wanted.

3. Knowledge of Custom Homes

Custom homes require care and diligence from start to finish. Unlike production homes, they must be built from the ground up – starting with the planning process. Here at Riverview Custom Homes, we have constructed enough custom homes in Calgary to know how to deliver what you want. From modern to traditional homes, there is nothing we can’t build.

Our team possesses a deep body of knowledge regarding custom homes. This expertise not only allows us to understand the construction process, but your wants and needs as well.

Want Your Dream Home? Consider Riverview Custom Homes

Riverview Custom Homes is Calgary’s premier luxury custom home builder. And with numerous awards such as Single Family Home Builder of the Year (2018, 2020, and 2021) and a dedicated team of professionals, it’s easy to see how we’ve earned and maintained this designation.

CUSTOM VS. SEMI-CUSTOM HOMES

So you want to build a custom home in Calgary. This is perfectly understandable. After all, Calgary has everything you could possibly want in a city. Everything from spacious communities and first-rate amenities, all the way to beautiful scenery and kind people. But here’s the question: Do you know what type of home you want to have built?

Riverview Custom Homes can help you figure it out. We are a team of custom home builders in Calgary that specializes in building stunning, high-quality, luxury homes. As such, we can help you determine which home variation is right for you. Keep reading to learn more.

Custom Home vs Semi-Custom Home: What’s the Difference?

Building a home is difficult, no question. And the process of designing is easily one of the most difficult parts of all. If you are currently in the process of planning your home, you have to understand the differences between a custom home and a semi-custom one. And as your Calgary custom home builder, we here at Riverview Custome Homes are here to educate and inform.

To put it simply, a custom home is a completely original home that has never been built before. Everything from the floors to the layout is personalized to fit the needs and personality of the house’s future owner.

Semi-custom homes, on the other hand, are homes that allow people the freedom to personalize them… up to a certain point. While some features are pre-determined, others can be changed to fit a person’s preferences.

Advantages of Custom and Semi-Custom Homes

Each home variation has its advantages. As such, it’s important to be aware of them so you can make an informed decision. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the benefits associated with custom and semi-custom homes:

Custom Home Advantages

A custom home gives you full freedom and flexibility. You get to pick and choose everything from the layout to the lot location. This level of choice can be very refreshing as you can express yourself via your custom home to whatever degree you wish.

Additional advantages include:

Budget flexibility
Quality of materials
Full customization
Fit to match your lifestyle
More pride in the home
Control over the size of the home

Semi-Custom Home Advantages

Despite all of the advantages of custom homes, don’t rule out semi-custom homes, as they offer a lot of utility as well. Some of these advantages may not be obvious at first. But once you learn about them, it could easily sway your decision – depending on how committed you are to a custom home design.

Advantages of a semi-custom include:

Don’t have to design a home from scratch
Relieved of the burden of making all the hard choices
They are faster to build
More economical

Which Style of Home is Best For You?

So which is best? And more importantly… which one should you choose?

It all depends on your budget and whether or not you are ready to wait longer for your house to be built. If you have the energy, time and money to plan an entire house from the ground up (with the help of an architect, of course), then there is no reason for you not to go with a custom home.

You’ll absolutely revel in the freedom that it gives you. However, if you just can’t work your way around building a custom home, don’t sweat it too much either. Semi-custom homes offer a wonderful foundation upon which to build your home, and you’ll still have plenty of choices to make.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to which home variation is best. Choosing a custom home or a semi-custom home is a matter of preference and circumstance. If your preference is to go for one over the other, and your budget allows it, then that’s the decision you should opt for.

At Riverview Custom Homes, we are your custom luxury home builders in Calgary. We can create your dream home with the highest quality materials and architectural brilliance that will bring a new level of vibrancy into your home and life. Contact us today to learn more.

5 MYTHS ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME

Many people dream of building a custom home. And it’s easy to see why: the range of control, the customization, and the lot choice – among many other things – all make custom homes an appealing alternative. However, there are many myths surrounding the topic of custom home construction.

At Riverview Custom Homes, we are among the best custom home builders in Calgary. As such, we’ve heard all the fables. And that’s why we’re here to dispel the myths associated with custom home-building projects.

So keep reading to learn 5 myths about custom home projects that are based more on superstition than reality.

1. You Need to be a Professional Designer

As your trusted Calgary custom home builder, we want to assure you; you don’t need to plan and design every inch of your house on your own for your custom home project. Far from it. It’s fine to contribute however much you feel is necessary. So please don’t think that you need to have every morsel of your home planned and accounted for.

However, the more you do know what you want, the better. Our expert craftsmen can guide you through the process and ensure that the details are sorted. Moreover, our custom home builders can also create an architectural masterpiece for your home, even if you’re unsure of what you truly want at the moment.

2. Custom Homes Take a Long Time to Complete

Whether your home is custom or not, there are many variables to consider for the timeline of a home construction project. For this reason, you can’t control all of the factors that will play a role in the time it takes to complete. Poor weather conditions, budgeting issues, human error, etc, can all impact the timeline.

But even with these considerations, the time frame of a custom build isn’t that much different than that of other home construction projects. The primary reason a custom home might take a little more time is due to the feature selection and design process.

3. Building a Custom Home is Hard and Complex

This is really a matter of perspective. Sure, such a project does have its complexities, as does anything else of this magnitude. However, building a custom home can actually be a very rich, rewarding, and enjoyable experience! You get the full range of creative expression. Everything from the location and layout, all the way to the windows and light fixtures – you have dominion over almost every detail.

Additionally, at Riverview Custom Homes, we go above and beyond to ensure your experience is a pleasurable one. We work to simplify the process for you so you’re not bogged down by the overly complex details.

4. You’ll Go Over Budget

Understandably, one of the primary stressors of custom home building is money. But that doesn’t mean a custom home can’t be built within its allotted budget. And the best method to ensure this outcome is communication. Let your home builder/designer know right from the start what your budget is for each expenditure.

Talk with the team and work with them so that everyone is on the same page and there is no confusion in regard to budgeting. This will go a long way in keeping spending under control.

5. Builders Lack Communication Skills

Don’t let this myth keep you from your dream home. Painting each person in a group with the same brush is silly. The truth is there are plenty of builders with excellent communication skills. In fact, we here at Riverview Custom Homes take pride in the communication we demonstrate while on the job. It’s part of what makes us so efficient and respected.

And while there are certain builders out there who do lack this essential skill, there are plenty of others who use and practice it as a regular part of their day-to-day operations.

Final Thoughts

Many myths just don’t hold up when you look at the facts. And this is apparent when looking at the custom home builder myths. Recognize that with the right custom home builder, the myths that you’ve heard through the grapevine simply don’t apply.

At Riverview Custom Homes, we provide custom luxury accommodations with our expert team of designers, coordinators, and managers. Moreover, we’ve been presented with a myriad of awards that have cemented our prestige. These include the 2021 BILDCR Award by the Building Industry Land Development (BILD) Calgary Region awards. Additionally, we’ve also won three top awards in the categories for Best New Home as well.

So if you’re ready to actualize the dream home you’ve been envisioning, then contact us today to see how we can help.

HIRE THE RIGHT CALGARY LUXURY HOME BUILDERS, SAVE MONEY”

Planning the construction of a custom home in Calgary can be a challenge. In between trying to figure out what style of house you want to build, you also have to figure out who will be in charge of building your home. For many people in Calgary, this is easier said than done.

In today’s society, too many Calgary luxury home builders only care about money. They don’t care about the quality of the services they offer to their clients. As a prospective client, it is imperative that you spend some time looking up the perfect home builders.
(Previous bit sounds a little incendiary)

Not only will doing so save you a LOT of trouble down the road — it might even save you a lot of money as well. Keep reading to learn more.

Hiring the Right Custom Home Builders in Calgary

Saving money while building a house is important. This is especially true with luxury custom homes in Calgary as a lot more money is on the table. Now, as a prospective client, you might be asking yourself: how do you sift between the good and the bad companies out there? It’s a simple process. It does involve some a little work, however, you’ll find that the effort is well worth it in then long run.

Begin first by realizing that not every home builder is created equal. What that means for you is that you can’t expect every company out there to offer the same services at the same rate. Building a house is a huge investment that often lasts a lifetime and beyond.

But with that in mind, here are a few practical steps you can take to find a quality luxury home builder in Calgary:

1. Referrals

Who do you trust most? If you’re like the majority of people, you trust your friends and family the most. They’re the ones who will be honest and straightforward with you. As such, begin your search for a luxury home builder within your current network.

Has anyone in your network recently had any home renovation projects? If so, contact them and ask about the company they hired for the job. This is a great way to begin building your list of potential contractors.

2. Online Searches

A quick Google search is all it takes to find contractors in your area. But that doesn’t mean all of them are qualified to get the job done. As such, be sure to scour the online reviews, see if you can speak to previous clients, or give the company a call and ask for samples of their work.

The purpose of this process is to help you gather enough data so you can make an informed decision.

3. Specialization

If you can, try to find a contractor who specializes in your particular project. This will help ensure a quality job and that you get your money’s worth. Additionally, it will also help weed out the companies who are not a good fit.

However, a word of caution; just because a contractor has limited experience with your particular project doesnt always mean they can’t handle the job. If you’re dealing with a contractor who is a real go-getter and goes above and beyond for clients, they’re tenacity and commitment to service is often enough to ensure a job well done.

You can determine if your prospective contractor has this quality by asking to speak with previous clients, or simply by checking their reviews.

Conclusion

Hiring the right luxury home builder in Calgary is simply a matter of research and due diligence. If you cover those bases and are patient enough, you’ll most assuredly find what you’re looking for.

And if you need further assistance with bringing your dream home to life, consider Riverview Custom Homes as we are Calgary’s premiere luxury home builder, bringing architectural vision to the real world. Contact us today to learn more.

How Much Money You Need to Budget for a Home Renovation Project

We’ve all heard the horror stories of renovation project costs gone wrong. Whether it be a family friend who tried to opt for the cheapest materials – and paid the price. Or a coworker or colleague who failed to properly budget, and as a result, was taken aback by inordinate and unexpected expenses.

Whatever the case, covering the costs of custom home renovations in Calgary require diligent planning. The utility of a well-thought out budget is invaluable with such projects. For this reason, it’s essential to know how much you should budget for your upcoming home renovation.

Keep reading to learn more.

Why Home Renovation Projects Go Over Budget

The simple truth is that your home renovation project will be more costly than you think. This is due to the many moving parts and external variables at play. And if your home renovation is a particularly large project, even the best custom home builders will have a difficult time trying to ensure nothing throws your budget off.

However, one way to save yourself a lot of time and money is to ensure you have a competent crew to begin with on your project.
Be sure to properly screen your contractors. Check online reviews, ask for photos of previous projects they’ve done, ask friends and family for referrals, etc.

Poor contracting isn’t the only reason home renovations go over budget. Many times, homeowners under budget, and simply don’t have the funds for what they want. This typically happens because they are basing their financial projections on what they viewed online via YouTube, Google, or perhaps even what they’ve seen on TV.

A good rule of thumb for an accurate home renovation budget is take what you’ve estimated, and times it by two or three.

How to Prevent Going Over Your Budget

With overspending being such a problem for most home renovation projects, it’s a good idea to look into ways to prevent it. And one of the best methods is simply getting your contracting team involved. Taking the time to carefully plan with your contractor prior to any work taking place is a very prudent idea.

It’s easy to get a bit overzealous and let your eyes overload your wallet. Your contractor will help bring you back down to earth with a more realistic representation of the costs for the materials needed to complete the renovation.

As such, you’ll know whether you need to either adjust your budget or adjust the scope of your project.

Ways to Save on Your Project

Organization

An effective method (that is often overlooked) for staying in the parameters of your budget is quite simply: organization. Budget estimates, permits, contracts, receipts, materials, etc. All of these variables must be accounted for and organized appropriately. Know the cost of each item and ensure it’s documented on a spreadsheet.

Vet Your Contractors

Nothing is worse than unknowingly hiring an incompetent contractor. You might as well throw your hard-earned money out of the window. Vet your contractors before you take on bids for your home renovation. Browse through their reviews, ask to see other projects they’ve completed, speak to previous customers, if possible. Was the contractor professional? Were they competent? Was the job done by the deadline and on budget? These are important things you need to know before hiring a contractor.

Consider a Renovation in the the Off-Season

Generally speaking, the off-season for contractors and builders is in the colder months. As such, depending on who you go to, they may offer some type of deal or discount to incentivize you, as work is typically slower for them during this time.

Renovation Budget: How Much is Enough?

Budgeting a minimum of 20% more than the estimated cost of the renovation is ideal. Grab a calculator, be practical with your budget, and ensure a fortuity line for 20% of the calculated price is added.
Additionally, it would be wise to consult with and work alongside your contractor, in addition to your architect (should you have one) to assist you with remaining pragmatic in regards to material costs and the estimated timeline.

Final Thoughts

With budgeting being such an integral part of a home renovation process, ensuring that it’s airtight is crucial. That’s why we here at Riverview Custom Homes provide cost management strategies in the form of detailed budgets before a project even begins.

We will craft your home with excellence and exceptional craftsmanship – and we will do so in a cost-effective manner. Moreover, we have been crowned the 2021 Building Industry and Land Development (BILD) Calgary Region Builder, which means, if you’re looking for expert builders, quality design, and immaculate architectural artistry, then you’ve come to the right place.