New Custom Home Build

[Anonymous]

Hi DCUM - seeking recommendations for an upper-mid range custom home builder. I know BOWA/Thorsen/Banks/Zantzinger are top-end, but coming in at well over $400 per square foot, they are sadly out of budget. I’m also aware of builders like Artisan, but having looked at their builds vs the land prices, it really seems like the quality doesn’t match the price.

I’m looking for a custom (not semi-custom, but truly custom) home builder that will do quality work in the $300-360 per square foot price point on a 6,000-8,000 square foot house in the McLean/Great Falls area (excluding price of land).

What say you DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Try ACG Custom Homes.

[Anonymous]

(OP): Thanks, any experience working with ACG?

[Anonymous]

Our friends used Brush Arbor and were unhappy with the quality of their build. Just sharing because it can be helpful to know who to avoid.

[Anonymous]

Artsian is the WORST

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(OP): Thanks, any experience working with ACG?

Haven't worked with them, but have seen a few of their houses and had a couple of extended conversations with their team when we were trying to decide between renovating an old home and tearing it down and rebuilding. By the time I found them, I was very knowledgeable about all aspects of construction--exterior and interior--so I had a lot of rigorous questions that they answered very thoughtfully. I think they are also building some more interesting looking homes--not just the big white boxes that that you see everywhere.

We didn't go with them because we decided against the tear down due to a likely future move away from the area, but if circumstances had been otherwise, I think I would have enjoyed working with them.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but want to bring this thread back.

[Anonymous]

For truly custom, start with finding an architect and finding a suitable lot.

Builders are not as good at design as they think they are.

[Anonymous]

Try this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1176568.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For truly custom, start with finding an architect and finding a suitable lot.

Builders are not as good at design as they think they are.

This. Interview a few architects and decide on the one you'll work with to develop your design. Then have the architect help bid out the work to custom home builders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For truly custom, start with finding an architect and finding a suitable lot.

Builders are not as good at design as they think they are.

This. Interview a few architects and decide on the one you'll work with to develop your design. Then have the architect help bid out the work to custom home builders.

That standard recommendation is fraught with risk.

Architect will design something that doesn’t hit client’s budget.

Will push builders to low ball preliminary estimates so that they can draw the construction documents - the bulk of their fee.

Then bids will come back over budget. Will either push for redesign to cut scope - in my experience will charge client for this time - or work to find a builder to bid it for the budgeted price. If the later will likely be new or inexperienced builders or a low baller. The former may work out ok - not likely but possible. The later will not. Either way it likely wont be one of their tried and true builders…

At this point the Architect is heavily invested in ensuring that the plans get built so their motives get sketchy.

Not a good look when you spend well into the six digits for a set of plans you cannot afford to build.

You’d be surprised at exactly how pissed clients can get when they shove a set of 100k+ plans in a drawer never to be built.

And for the bid process, the real hard part is unless you have done a lot of construction is to not be seduced by the low bid.

It happens.

If I’m 1M, the other bidder is 1M, and the third guy is 850k - it is going to be really hard to turn down the 850k bid.

And yet the market is telling you it’s a 1M job.

But the Architect is going to tell you that the drawings and specs are the same and that he’ll oversee construction (and charge for construction administration) so you will be ok until you are not….

Remember it’s not the first number that matters - it’s the last number. How you get there matters….

Build a team from the start.

Have the builder involved in pre-construction.

Have him/her sit in during design and call out things that will impact budget.

It will save you time and money.

I find most members of the design community talk about the need for checks and balances with the construction team. The truth of the matter is that the design team also needs checks and balances.

Very, very few Architects will agree to have a builder actively involved in pre-construction. They want full rein on the design process and control of the job.

Caveat emptor.