One of the most frequently asked questions we receive involves the types
of homes to be built upon any particular homesite. The answer we reply
with is "The home of your dreams". This is because we are a custom home
builder. This differs from a production builder such as Pulte or KB Home,
or even a luxury production builder such as Toll Brothers. In the Woods
of South Barrington, Toll Brothers is building a series of homes, some
of which have alternative elevations, but the client must choose one of
the models that Toll Brothers is offering. While some people prefer the
limited selection, many others prefer the flexibility offered by custom
homebuilders such as ourselves. We are able to offer the client the home
that best suits their lifestyle, budget, tastes, and design preferences
(subject to the subdivision covenants and the laws of physics!). We're
able to work with the client to design a home unique to their wants and
desires.
We are also often asked "How much do your homes cost per square foot?"
This is a difficult question to answer, without a specific home and client
in mind. It's like asking "how much does a sedan cost?" Well, there are
sedans made by General Motors, Lexus, Mercedes, and others. Even within
a particular premium brand there are different classes. Mercedes, for
instance, offers 11 different sedans. And, these are "production" automobiles.
Our product is custom, so the possibilities are endless.
In considering the cost per square foot of a home, a couple of examples may help. Imagine a home that is 5,000 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. This home could be built with 5 fireplaces, or with just one. Certainly 5 fireplaces would cost more, but the square footage would only change minimally. They would be essentially the same home, but one would have a considerably higher cost per square foot than the other. Similarly, the amount of technology in a home could be a big differentiator. We could build the exact same size home, with all the same finishings, but in one home include a security system, surveillance system, whole-house audio, distributed video, central vacuum, home theater, and sophisticated lighting system. Essentially the same home, with two very different costs per square foot.
The purpose of these illustrations is to help describe the differences between the "production" home process and the "custom" home process. Toll Brothers does a great job with the offerings in their portion of the Woods of South Barrington, just as we do with the custom section.
To help describe the types of custom homes we envision for the homesite we are offering in the Woods of South Barrington, shown below are pictures of two homes we have designed. Please note that these are simply ideas to consider. When we meet with a client and reserve a homesite, we begin the process of designing the home of their dreams, with each one being as unique as the people who will occupy the home.
Please contact us with questions about the design process and more information about the differences between production homes and custom homes.
