What Is a Production Builder?
What Is a Production Builder?
Direct answer: For West Michigan buyers building a new home, a production builder is a builder who builds a lot of houses and many units consistently over time, following a system — and there is nothing wrong with that.
Good or bad? Neither — it is about the process
One question Steve gets: what is a production builder, good or bad? There is nothing wrong with them. It is about the process they go through, and how they build a lot of houses and many units consistently over time.
That consistency is the whole idea. A production builder is not building one house at a time from scratch. They are running a process, over and over, and that process is what you are buying into.
Spec houses, models, and a design studio
A production builder builds spec houses, and they can be the only builder in a neighborhood. Usually, though, it is about the process: they have a lot of models you can walk through, and they have a design studio.
The finishes work one way. They only build their specific kind of house. You go in, pick one of their styles of houses — say, one of ten styles — and that is what they build. Then you change paint colors and granite and other selections within that system.
Value, with limits on customization
A production builder is very systemized. You can get a lot of value there, because the process is efficient and repeatable.
What you do not get is as much ability to customize all your selections. You are choosing within their system, not redesigning the house. If that trade — value and efficiency for less customization — fits what you want, a production builder is a good fit.
Key takeaways
A production builder builds a lot of houses and many units consistently over time — there is nothing wrong with that approach.
It is about the process: spec houses, models you can walk through, and a design studio.
They build their specific kind of house: you pick one of their styles, then change paint colors, granite, and other selections.
Production building is very systemized, so you can get a lot of value.
The trade-off: not as much ability to customize all your selections.
FAQ
Is a production builder a bad choice?
No. There is nothing wrong with production builders — it is about the process they go through and how consistently they build many units over time.
What do I actually choose with a production builder?
One of their house styles, then selections within their system: paint colors, granite, and other finishes.
What do I give up with a production builder?
Customization. You get a systemized process and a lot of value, but not as much ability to customize all your selections.
West Michigan New Construction FAQ Series
Financing a New Construction Home
Can You Build Some Yourself?
What Is a Semi-Custom Builder?
What Kind of Builder Are You Looking For?
What Is a Production Builder? — you are here
Finding Land
How to Interview a Builder
How Long Does It Take to Build a House?
Price Per Square Foot
Custom Builder
Watch me explain it
Here is an older video of me explaining the process. It might be older, but the info still rings true.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrUNQyB09WQ
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Author: Steve Volkers, Associate Broker, Steve Volkers Group at Five Star Real Estate, Grand Rapids, MI — phone 616-717-2179, stevevolkersgroup.com
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