Custom Designed Home Vs Volume Builder: What Is the Cost? (Part II)

Sustainable Architecture with Family in Front Yard

PART II – LIFECYCLE COSTS

The cost of living in a house is a major expense over a long period of time which can often be overlooked by those building their own homes. A key difference which can set a custom home apart from a project home is the potentially much cheaper cost of living in and maintaining your home.

Energy consumption is a major cost of living in a home, but this can be minimised through great design. Correctly orientating your house in order to use the sun’s solar energy to your advantage is one way to achieve this. A great designer will develop the best floor plan for the site, taking advantage of passive heating and cooling techniques and lowering your energy consumption.

Continue Reading…

Custom Designed Home Vs Volume Builder: What Is the Cost? (Part I)

Money House

If you were looking to build a home, would your first stop be with a building designer/architect or a volume builder? I am biased (I won’t tell you which way), but here is my comparison between an architect’s custom home and a volume builder’s project house. It is centred on everybody’s favourite topic… Money.

There are good reasons to build a custom home (unique design) or a project home (off-the-plan & volume built), with each having benefits over the other. Those believing that one is cheaper than the other will find that it is not that simple.

PART I – BUILD COST

The cost of constructing your home is the main concern of most potential home builders.

Continue Reading…