A home is a place where one can live, feel at ease and relax. Tampa custom home builders have been creating custom and semi-custom homes for decades. The demand for both types of residences continues to grow steadily. Here is how you can tell the difference between custom and semi-custom homes, and what they mean for your custom home designs.

Custom Homes

Custom homes are built entirely according to the design that the customer wants. When you have a custom home built, you make all of the final decisions. The floor plan, the details, the choices of materials are just a few things that you have to decide. The advantage of having a custom home built is that custom home builders in Tampa, FL can create exactly what you envision according to your unique preferences and requirements.

Semi-Custom Homes

Semi-custom homes start with a template and let you make choices about the finished design to personalize your residence. For example, your house may share a floor plan with your neighbors at first, but you can make substantial changes to the overall design. In the end, your house may not look anything like your neighbors’ homes. While it is not as bespoke as a custom home, it is a good alternative to making a house better-suited to your wants and needs.

Level of Control

Custom homes give homeowners the ability to choose every little detail of their home, from the layout of their rooms to the colors of their walls. On the other hand, with semi-custom homes, builders create a basic design and allow homeowners to make changes to the design as they see fit. There may be a few limitations in place, but homeowners can go a long way toward making their homes unique.

Difference in Cost

Custom homes are usually more expensive than semi-custom ones. Custom homes are more time consuming to build due to the customization features, while semi-custom houses can be built faster and cost less. These two types of housing will have their own benefits and drawbacks for homeowners. Therefore, it is important to choose the one that fits their lifestyle and needs best.

Build Times

Custom homes take longer to build since they have to go through the entire design phase and planning. Due to the long build time, custom homes are usually more expensive than semi-custom homes. However, the return on investment is worth the extra cost if the home satisfies the homeowner’s needs and budget.

Semi-custom houses are built faster and usually cost less at the beginning. However, the features and options that homeowners choose during this time may be the deciding factor in how much the home costs later on.

Level of Customization

When it comes to customization, custom homes are the best option for homeowners. Homeowners control every single detail of their home from the layout of their rooms to the colors and materials they want. They even get to pick the architectural styles. On the other hand, with semi-custom homes, builders create a basic design and allow homeowners to choose some options.

Whichever option you choose, the quality of the builder is one of the most important considerations. When you have the right custom home builder, your project can give you the results that you want. Choose Alvarez Homes for access to the best team of custom home building experts in the Tampa Bay area.