What Is a Semi-Custom Builder?
What Is a Semi-Custom Builder?
Direct answer: For West Michigan buyers building a new home, a semi-custom builder is the middle tier between production and fully custom: they start with floor plans and designs already picked out, and they are willing to tweak them for you.
The next tier up
You have production builders, and then you have semi-custom builders. Semi-custom is sort of the next tier.
A semi-custom builder already has floor plans and designs picked out. They have designers, and they know the price schedule for those houses. That starting point is what separates them from a fully custom build.
Willing to tweak it for you
The difference is flexibility. A semi-custom builder is willing to tweak things for you.
Say you want your master bath a little bigger, or your master bedroom bigger, or you need a bigger living room. They are willing to adjust the wall structures and things like that to get you where you need to be to build that house.
A process like custom, with a starting point
The process is still similar to custom. You might go to different places to pick things out — different cabinet manufacturers or flooring people or whatever.
But you are not fully designing your own blueprints and putting them out into the market. You have a starting point, and you adjust from there. That is the semi-custom idea in one sentence: a plan that already exists, shaped to fit you.
Key takeaways
A semi-custom builder is the tier between production and fully custom.
They already have floor plans and designs picked out, with designers and a known price schedule.
They are willing to tweak the plan for you — a bigger master bath, bedroom, or living room, including adjusting wall structures.
The selection process is similar to custom: you still visit cabinet, flooring, and other suppliers.
The difference: you start from an existing plan instead of designing your own blueprints from scratch.
FAQ
What makes a builder semi-custom instead of custom?
A semi-custom builder starts with floor plans and designs already picked out, while a fully custom build starts with blueprints you design yourself.
Can a semi-custom builder change the layout?
Yes. They are willing to tweak things — a bigger master bath, bedroom, or living room — and adjust wall structures to get you where you need to be.
Do I still pick out finishes with a semi-custom builder?
Yes. The process is similar to custom: you go to different places to pick out cabinets, flooring, and other selections.
West Michigan New Construction FAQ Series
Financing a New Construction Home
Can You Build Some Yourself?
What Is a Semi-Custom Builder? — you are here
What Kind of Builder Are You Looking For?
What Is a Production Builder?
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=1qRXyODgdxs
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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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