STRANGE & INTERESTING TALES from a Custom Home Builder

As a custom home builder, we’ve encountered all kinds of strange and interesting tales. Thought I would do a short, lighthearted, post about some of these.

One of the more memorable and strange requests was from, I’ll call him “The Bachelor”. He was doing a whole house remodel and wanted his and her toilets….side by side. I couldn’t ask about why because I didn’t want to know. Oh boy, women want the man to use an entirely different bathroom, much less sitting on the john next to him! We didn’t end up doing the job but I often wonder if he found “The One who would sit by his side, come what may”!

Women don’t want this kind of sharing!

Then there were the people who wanted us to remodel their home and at our first meeting, they produced a sketch of the layout they had drawn up. Wait…why is there a bathroom that opens up into the kitchen? The woman thought it would be really convenient. I will always laugh replaying in my mind Kevin trying to explain to them why it wasn’t a good idea!

Kevin recently visited a home that the people had purchased for the land, not the home.  They were wondering if we could help them fix the home. Some of the problems would have been hilarious if someone didn’t have to figure out how to fix and pay for them. Here are just a few of the problems:

  • The showers controls were totally outside of the shower, requiring one to exit the shower to change temp or pressure.
  • The hood over the stove was so high that the exhaust system was useless.
  • An old remodel had expanded the kitchen but they placed the refrigerator around the corner and from the cooking triangle one had to go around this large island to get to the refrigerator.
  • Then there was the wet bar where someone had either not wanted to waste a pre-cut countertop or someone did a lousy job of measuring and the top hung over the sink on one side by about 2 inches.

Several years ago we encountered the strangest floor plan I’ve ever seen. The people had bought it site unseen before moving here from Ohio. First of all, there was so much wasted space. The rooms were small but the halls were huge- like 6 feet wide and when you walked through the front door, you stepped right into the dining room. There was no pantry in what was a huge kitchen but rather it was a converted bedroom that was located down a long hallway. Words cannot express my dismay!

Then there was our client who didn’t want to have to leave the Master suite to get to his liquor- well it would have been a long walk- I’ll give him that. So, we built a wet bar in the bedroom. Along the same line, we built an indoor putting green adjacent to the master so that our client, an insomniac, could practice his game instead of roaming the halls at night. Hey, this is exactly why people build custom homes!

And, of course, we’ve built many cool safe rooms but I can’t disclose any details. Let’s just say that the options out there now for these are mind blowing.

Or our custom home client who had a little kid’s mini kitchen just off the main kitchen. Mini fridge, microwave, sink and cabinets were stocked with all of their favorite snacks. I actually really like this- it’s keeps their little fingerprints off the one in the main kitchen 🙂

Then there was the time we built the rectory for the Catholic church in Ahwatukee and Kevin opened up a cabinet door and a huge gila monster emerged! I’m sure the priest forgave his language, given the situation.

Back when we were first getting started, we built a custom home for an engineer who counted every 2 x 4, 2 x 6 and piece of wood in the entire house making sure he wasn’t getting ripped off. Nothing against engineers, as they happen to be some of our best clients, as they appreciate the quality and efficiency of our homes.

Some of our favorite clients were Italians who immigrated to Canada and we built their second home here in Arizona. She was Sicilian and about 4′ 10″. I think I told in a past blog how she rolled out her homemade pasta every day but couldn’t comfortably do this with a normal counter height. So, we built the island at a very low height and made some other adjustments to make living more convenient for her.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with this. We did a full remodel on a townhome and Kevin went to pick up the final check. He left and was at the end of the block when his phone rang. It was the woman. She asked him if he could come back. When she opened the door, she grabbed him and hugged him in a full-on frontal position and kissed him before he knew what was happening! I guess she was super happy with us- or with him rather. A simple thank you is just fine!

Hope you’ve enjoyed these Strange and Interesting Tales!

COST PER SQUARE FOOT: WHY IT’S A TERRIBLE WAY TO PREDICT THE COST OF YOUR HOME

“How much will my house cost per square foot”?  It’s a question that builders get asked a lot and it’s a fair question.  However, when a potential client asks this question without plans in hand, builders literally cringe.  It’s not that we don’t want to answer it, it’s just that there isn’t a simple answer and builders struggle to communicate  as to why there isn’t a simple answer.  In addition, it’s a terrible way to predict the cost of your home.

Imagine if someone called up a car dealer and asked how much it would cost for a car.  They tell the salesman that they are looking for a really nice car but not top of the line.  The dealer would have to have much more information in order to even come close to an estimate.  First of all, “really nice” is relative.  To some, a Ford Explorer might be really nice but to others, that might mean an Autobiography Range Rover.   Big difference in price.  And beyond that, do they want leather seats? A sunroof? What about the stereo system? 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive? Turbo?

Now extrapolate that out into a custom home that is many, many times more expensive, thereby exaggerating the price range differences.  In addition, there are far more options on a home with a very broad range of costs.  When you carry out all of the potential differences in all of the thousands of potential components in a custom home, the range is so wide that you might not even land in the ballpark.  We really have no idea how much your custom home will cost without seeing at least conceptual plans.

Curves are more expensive than straight

You can imagine the cost difference between a ceiling like this and a flat, 10′, ceiling.

A few months ago, a potential client was trying to figure out how much framing would cost, knowing that this has become the major cost in a custom home.  “Well you know how much it will cost per square  foot  to frame a house, right?”, they insisted.   No, we don’t.  Is the house going to be a simple rectangle or will it have angles or curves?  Also, did you know that it costs far more per square foot to build a long, shallow home than a big square home? That’s because the ratio of walls per square foot is much higher in a long rectangle than a square.   Is the lot flat or will earth work be required?  Are the walls 2 x 4, 2 x 6,  or 2 x 8 or a combination of these sizes? How high will the ceilings be (10 ft versus 8 ft makes a big difference in price) and will they be the same height throughout?  How many window and door openings, etc. etc. etc.  And that’s just the framing!

An area that impacts the cost in a huge way is that of finish materials.  Take for example an appliance package.  You can get an entire suite of GE Stainless appliances for $3,000 but just your Wolf Dual Fuel Steam range can set you back almost $20,000.00.  As you can see, there are so many elements can drive huge price differences, making a cost per square foot estimate

This Wolf 60″ Dual Fuel Steam Range will set you back almost $20,000.00

very unreliable.  To illustrate even further how difficult it is to give a cost per square foot estimate that will even be relevant…. we could build several homes with the same exact plans, on the same lot and the cost per square foot could vary from $165- $385-  just due to the variances in the finish materials selected!

Then add the fact that different builders quote cost per square foot differently.  It used to be that only air conditioned square footage was the number that was used (called livable square footage) but now some builders are including expensive non-air-conditioned space (non-livable), as well. Let me explain, back in the day the non air-conditioned spaces were relatively inexpensive shells: garages, patios, etc.  But many custom garages now have cabinets, epoxy floors, a sink, a ceiling fan, expensive garage doors, exterior architectural elements, etc.   Patios no longer just have the standard grey broom finished concrete.  They  have expensive flooring, outdoor fireplaces, and the same expensive roof over it.  If you have that expensive non-livable square footage being thrown into the livable square footage, it makes the cost per square foot in the a/c space deceivingly expensive.   Imagine if one builder is giving a cost per square foot estimate based on this method versus one who is quoting it based only on the livable space?  This would be skewed on the low side.  Think about it, an expensive garage has a far greater cost per square foot than a basic bedroom so by excluding this from the cost per square foot estimate, you are leaving out some major costs.  Something else to keep in mind when talking cost per square foot is that,  all things being equal, a smaller home will have a higher cost per square foot because expensive spaces; such as, kitchens and bathrooms, are a greater percentage of the overall space.

When a builder is pressed for an answer on cost per square foot , if he (or she) guesses too high, the client may not move forward with a home that actually would fit within their budget and if he guess too low, they may proceed and then not be able to afford the home.  It’s a real catch 22 and that’s why builders hate this question and struggle to answer it.  It’s not as simple as one might think.

Some things can you do to make sure that you don’t end up with a home you can’t afford to build

First of all, you can have your builder show you some plans, elevations, the finish material list and approximate cost of some of the homes they have built.  That way you can get a general idea about what kind of home  can be built in a certain price range.

The other is to get architect and building designer recommendations from your builder. Find one that’s a good fit,  then have everyone sit down to discuss the client’s expectations. If both the builder and designer think that this is doable, then you can proceed with confidence and if not, then you can decide where you go from there. If you move ahead, then you have a team who is well aware of the parameters in which they must work and the builder can check in with his trades and weigh in in real time.  In addition, if the owner is going to use an interior designer (highly recommend), then this is the time to bring them in, as well.

I can’t even tell you how many times people have come to us after plans have been drawn with an expectation of a certain price point based on a cost per square foot estimate and then are highly disappointed to find that the price comes substantially higher.  Often this is a result of the plans being designed with expensive architectural details or materials that aren’t easy to eliminate without going back to the drawing board.   Sad.  

I hope that this has given you a little more insight into why builders struggle when you ask them about cost per square foot.  They aren’t trying to hedge or be vague.  They just know that there’s a good chance that they will be wrong without more information.  Please feel free to share your input, questions or stories and let me know if there is subject that you would like me to address.

By Kimberley Cullumber Alexander, Partner,  Alexander Enterprises Construction & Development, Inc.

Disclaimer:  This content is proprietary and can only be shared as a link or if credit is given to the author.

CHOOSING A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER … are they more than glorified babysitters?

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So imagine that you have worked for years, saving enough money to finally build your dream home.  You get a few builders to bid your home and you figure that they are all about the same, I mean, how hard can it be to babysit a bunch of construction workers?  Might as well save some money and go for the lowest price, right?  One truth I’ve found to be true over and over again  is this quote by Red Adai that the owner of our elevator company has as a byline on his email signature,  “If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur”!  Nowhere is this as true as it is in choosing a custom home builder.  Many times over the years we have seen where the cheapest bid ended up being the most expensive.  This can be due to inexperience,  incompetence or intentional deceit, among other things.  There is no need to for this to happen to you, as there are quality, seasoned,  builders in every part of the country.  You just have to know what to look for.  The builder you choose will be the determining factor as to whether your project is a disaster or a success.

The client is good at their particular field, and that’s why they have hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to build a custom home in the first place.  However, they are not experts in the intricacies and complexities of custom building, so the situation is often one of Buyer Beware. They don’t necessarily know how to tell if corners are being cut or games are being played.  This is why it’s essential to find a builder with a long track record (do you want the surgeon who has only done a few surgeries or do you want one who has operated on hundreds of patients?) and who has the clients’ best interest at heart.    As builders, we feel that one of our key roles is that of the homeowners “Protector”, per se.   A builder is the homeowner’s advocate and one with integrity will not allow the customer to be taken advantage of, spend more than necessary and he keeps everyone in check, so to speak.  Another way a quality builder protects the homeowner is by surrounding himself with like-minded trades, suppliers and reps.   The team we surround ourselves with prides themselves on educating the client, when needed, so that that homeowner can make wise and informed decisions on their selections.  In addition, these reputable companies will be there to help should any issues arise down the road.

A few months ago, we got a call from homeowners who were upset about some issues that had cropped up in their custom home that was about 4 years old.  They said they choose their builder because he was about $50,000 cheaper than the other 2 builders.  He had a winning personality and a clean record with the registrar but had only been building for a few years.  They said they knew of our reputation and thats why they called us to give honest input on the issues (keep this point in mind when you get to the end of the paragraph) .  When Kevin got to their home, he found that the upstairs shower had not been waterproofed or sealed properly and water had been leaking down the wall into the bathroom below, which had created a substantial mold issue.  Also, the granite top in the kitchen was cracked and come to find out there had not been any support placed below a span of 7′ of granite!   In addition, there was a good chance that the backsplashes would be destroyed when the granite was removed.   Also, the sub-floor had been installed poorly, there were leaky skylights and the shower in the master had one of those rectangular drains that was placed along the top of the sloping shower floor, forcing the owners to swish the water towards it with their feet in order to drain the water (I don’t even have words for this one),  just to name a few of the issues.  They said they had no idea at the time that they were choosing a custom home builder how many things could go wrong.  Oh, and he is out of business now.   I’m sure that this guy was well-intentioned but he clearly had no clue how to tell if the work being done was done properly.  They may be able to recover some money from the Recovery fund but that is a real pain in the you-know-what and only goes up to $30K.  After Kevin pointed out the issues, told them what needed to be done and gave them a competitive price to fix everything, they thanked him profusely but said they needed to find someone cheaper because they were already out so much money.  I guess they wanted to learn the same lesson twice!

Just a point I would like to mention here that is a real point of pride to me, and has a lot to do with choosing a custom home builder.  After Kevin graduated with a business degree, he went to work as a roofer and then a framer.  He had already been doing restoration work in high school but said that he was not going to be one of those drive-by builders.  He wanted to know and understand everything in a hands-on way.  So, I had convinced this California, surfer boy to move to Arizona after he graduated, and he went to work for a roofer in what was one of the hottest summers on record!  When he didn’t run back to Cali, I knew then that he would be an outstanding builder!  My point is not that every quality builder needs to have worked in the trades, but that they possess a deep knowledge of the nuts and bolts of building.

Complex 2nd story addition on a custom home we built several years earlier. We were able to preserve the existing ceilings, which is extremely difficult to do, which saved the homeowner’s a great amount of expense.  Kevin and our amazing framer figured out a system to keep the ceilings below in tact and the only evidence of all the demo above were a few nail pops.

Most of our clients come to us on their second custom home,  as after the first one they understand and appreciate the value of a seasoned builder who has survived the ups and downs of the economy.  A true professional will not only save aggravation, headaches and time, but they are almost always less expensive in the long run.

Think of a home builder as the hub or conductor that is orchestrating a complex project where quality and timing must be coordinated like a fine machine to pull off a successful project.  We interact with, coordinate and/or manage hundreds of people on any given project; such as,  the architect or building designer, engineers, interior designers, the lender, title companies, government authorities, inspectors, suppliers, reps, subcontractors, owners, HOA associations, architectural review boards,  realtors and developers, just to name a few.   In addition, a builder has to be able to solve problems and issues creatively, efficiently,  and in a cost effective and timely manner because many challenges arise on every project- it’s just par for the course. Also consider that the standards for your project will rarely rise above the standards of your builder.   So you see, there really are very important things to consider when choosing a custom home builder and we really are more than babysitters.  

Thank you for joining the conversation, which has been more of a general overview; however,  in Part II,  I will give you the insider details on what to look for when choosing a custom home builder and the Red Flags to watch for.