In this article, we are going to compare custom home builder with general contractors, and which service to hire for what project.
L. Patten & Sons has over 50 years of experience building custom homes in the Collingwood and Blue Mountain area - contact us today to start on your dream home.
Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail and complete customer satisfaction are just a few of the qualities to look for in any home builder or general contractor. Let’s dig in and discuss this more in detail!
Custom Home Builder vs. General Contractors
What’s the difference between the two?
A general contractor is responsible for gathering and organizing the material, labour, equipment and services necessary for the construction of the project. They often hire subcontractors to perform the various tasks involved in completing the project.
In other words, general contractors are not specialists in home building or renovations. Instead, they hire experts in different trades at different stages to complete the project.
A custom home builder, on the other hand, completes the whole project on their own from start to finish. They have a team capable of doing all or most types of jobs in home construction, from design all the way to the finishing touches.
Sub-contracts may be given for jobs that need special licenses, such as plumbing and electrical, for example.
A custom home builder will be personally involved in every aspect of the construction project, helping make your specific dreams become reality
Benefits of Working With a Custom Home Builder
Personal involvement
A custom home builder will create for you a unique dwelling space designed according to your specifications Not only can you choose a particular location, you can customize your home to your vision for it.
Everything from theme to layout, fixtures from floor to ceiling, and all points in between can be tailored according to your specifications.
At the beginning of the process, you meet with your custom home builder to discuss dreams and budget.
The next step is to meet with a designer and architect who will put together preliminary drawings to be reviewed and reworked as needed to ensure your total satisfaction with the end result.
The design stage is not complete until you're satisfied. With L. Patten & Sons, every minor detail is taken into consideration through the entire development process, and it shows in every home we build.
To help spark ideas for your dream home, be sure to look at 5 of the Most Inspiring Custom Home Designs
Quality assurance
Custom homes carry the name of the builder, and the company’s continued good reputation will be at stake based on the success of the project.
Warranties, service call schedules, and operation of systems within your home will be reviewed with you, resulting in peace of mind and a smooth transition into your new home.
Builders in Ontario must provide warranty coverage as described in the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act
Prior to your possession date, you will meet with the us on site to do an inspection of the home. Together, we will note any deficiencies or seasonal work that may not be complete.
L. Patten & Sons, for example, is a proud member of the Tarion New Home Warranty Program, meaning your investment is protected from the time of deposit to possession and beyond.
Exceptional customer service
It is important to understand, going into a build, what you should expect from the builder.
The key to any good relationship is communication. A custom home builder will no doubt have a standard of customer service that they hold to, including guaranteed responses time and clear channels of discussion.
A custom home builder will provide exceptional customer service
When working with a general contractor, you may not know how often you’ll be updated on the status of the project - Will you get updates weekly, monthly, or daily, and from the contract or the sub-contractors?
General contractors can certainly offer exceptional communication, but adding subcontractors can make things more complicated. Having said that, working with a good company will generally take care of these issues.
A custom home builder will also be able to more easily streamline the project, having worked with an experienced team for years and relying on trusted tradespeople for sub projects.
A general contractor may have the best of of intentions, but outsourcing the work opens the door for miscommunications and delays, much to everyone’s consternation.
Also, once you move into the home, there will likely always be a few things here and there that need to be fixed. It’s important to know that the builder will come back to double check things once you’ve moved in.
When To Hire a General Contractor
General contractors are ideal for renovation projects that:
Will take longer than a week
Involves several different subcontractors
Requires permits
So if you are having a major home renovation done - your bathroom, kitchen, or basement, for example - it’s a good idea to invest in a general contractor.
More specifically, a kitchen renovation requires the work of several tradespeople. A general contractor will find and hire them for you, work out the administrative details, and ensure your kitchen renovation is completed on time and on budget.
If you are building a brand new home, on the other hand, you will want to hire a professional, certified home builder.
General contractors oversee all aspects of bigger renovation project so you don’t have to worry about it
Looking for the Best Collingwood Custom Home Builder? Trust L. Patten & Sons
If you are ready to work with a custom home builder in Collingwood or a nearby area, make sure you get the best service and experience with L. Patten & Sons.
We're so focused on your satisfaction that you can expect a call back from us to ensure everything is in tip-top shape.